Thursday, February 17, 2011

When Your Heart Can't Breathe

Have you ever been disappointed by a friend? Let down by someone you love? Did someone you count on really let you down? Yeah. Me, too. It makes your heart hurt, doesn't it? I mean, it literally feels like your heart...HURTS. To me it actually feels like my heart is gasping for breath.

As bad as that feels, there is something worse....seeing your child's heart hurt in that way. It's been a tough night at our house. I had "heart gasping for air" talks with both of my boys tonight about friendships, hurts, and disappointments.

As I was talking with one of the boys and grasping for something, anything to say to make it better, I decided that I would just pray with him. As soon as I started praying, he burst into tears. I grabbed his little hand and I prayed some more, the tears lessened, by the time I got to the "amen" his breathing had calmed and I could tell he was feeling some peace. It is amazing how a prayer can bring comfort like that. There is no greater peace than the peace of God. None. After our prayer, I decided to pick up our favorite devotional book (Jesus Calling - the kid version) for some HELP, because well, I had NOTHING. Just look at the little gem that was there waiting for us in tomorrow's reading (I figured God would be okay with us skipping ahead a bit ;-).

"No one is perfect - not your best friend, not your mom or your dad, not your sports hero or favorite television star. Sooner or later, someone in your life - someone you really counted on - will let you down. You can end up feeling angry, hurt, and betrayed. You may feel like you are falling, with no one to catch you or help you up. So who can you count on? Count on Me. I will never let you down. And when others do let you down, I will be your safety net. I will not let you crash. Not only am I always there with you, but I am holding your hand. and I promise, I won't ever let go."

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save." 
Zephaniah 3:17 

"Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." 
Psalm 73:23-26

Isn't that amazing and perfect? What a comfort to a little heart that is hurting and to a Mother's heart that feels like it is literally gasping for air. People WILL let us down. No one is perfect. We can count on that for sure.

But there is One who will NEVER let us down, 
who will catch us when we are falling, 
who will give our hearts OXYGEN when they are gasping for breath, 
who gives us PEACE amidst hurt, 
who always LOVES us, and always ACCEPTS us, and always APPROVES of us. 

And in that TRUTH we find our comfort.

11 comments:

R said...

love this! oh, how my heart hurts when my children are hurt.

Shelley said...

Amazing. Absolutely Amazing. The fact that TOMORROW'S devo was THAT. I love it when God shows how detailed He is!

Janelle said...

So sorry you had a rough night, but it sounds like God needed both of you in that place. The place where we let Him speak. The place of surrender. Its not easy to see or kids hurting, but it is necessary for growth. Times like this that teach our kids to turn to God.

Love you and love your boy!

Noteable Scraps said...

That's awesome, Alana. I've been through that with my kids. Hope everything looks brighter today!

Lynn said...

Great post. You're right, prayer is like nothing else to calm our aching hearts. I love when a scripture or devotional speaks right into that ouchie spot just when we need it. God is good.

Roxanna P said...

I love this... how helpful is the Word. Always on time and always on target.

Nicole - Life in Progress said...

If this was Facebook, I would "like" this post. Isn't it amazing how God sends just us just what we need when we need it the most?

MarytheKay said...

Oh, Alana, this is just beautiful. What a good and wise mama you are. How wonderful your boys will remember that they had a mama who prays with them through the difficult stuff...

Denise said...

the blessing from all that heart hurting pain is KNOWING, "whom have I but you."

there is beauty relying on Him only.

your boys are blessed to learn this early.

Unknown said...

Amen! So true!!! He is that friend that sticks closer than a brother (Prov. 18:24). There is no better friend.

Deb said...

You can always count on God to give you just what you need. I love that you are able to teach your boys this lesson. It's hard to watch them go through it... but you have shown them who they can lean on. Good job Mom!