MODERN-DAY STORIES
«The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help. He rescues them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed» (Psalm 3417, 18).
Later on I found out that it was due in part to the fact his dad had had to go on a business trip for several days. At his age, I had the same reaction when my dad went on business trips, so I soon empathized with him.
The truth is we bid each other farewell that afternoon with his eyes full of imminent tears and I walked back home.
I prayed for him because I understood him, but while I went up the road I started thinking that his experience didn’t only remind me of my childhood.
That day I was also missing my heavenly Father. I had drifted a little from Him because my schedule was full of things to do and I hadn’t spent time with Him. I felt I really needed to talk to Him and spend more time together, to hear Him more . . . And even though I didn’t have a headache, I perceived the typical symptoms of spiritual emptiness within me.
Jamie made me realize we don ‘t always react with a lot of pain when we stray from God, that we’re sometimes indifferent to that distance and that we end some days without having communicated with Him enough and it doesn’t seem to affect us a lot.
Several days later, with a triumphant grin on his face, he came into the classroom holding his father’s hand and gave me a delicious cake.
And you? Do you feel that perhaps you ‘ve drifted from Him or that you miss Him?
Our heavenly Father doesn’t grow tired of showing us, even through the smallest details, that He’s eager to spend time with us and that at His side our tears can tum into joy.
“His heart is open to our griefs, our sorrows, and our trials. . . . We may keep the heart stayed upon Him and meditate upon His loving-kindness all the day. He will lift the soul above the daily sorrow and perplexity, into a realm of peace” (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, ch. 2, p. 12).