Holy Moments

The news I received this morning brought me to my knees in sorrow and prayer. One of my oldest friends lost her son, born two days after my Devin (we were in the same hospital at the same time) in a car accident last night. Another boy's life was also lost (I attend church with his grandparents) and a girl is still in critical condition. 

There are absolutely no perfect words at a time like this. Only love, support and prayer. And lots of it. 

I didn't think I could come here today and carry on with my 31 Days of Everyday Magic but then I heard a quiet whisper from God reminding me that it is in times like this, we (his children) most need to seek it out. So here I am, on this fourth day, with my humble attempt to do so.

Who knows why things like this continue to happen. I know well enough that we can just about drive ourselves insane if we spend our time and energy trying to make any sort of sense out of it. I also know that, as Psalm 34:18 tells us, the Lord is closest to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. 

My hope and my prayer is that these newly crushed and grieving mothers (and families) will feel His holy presence and love in the deepest, most intimate way imaginable and that through it they will find the strength, hope and comfort needed to carry them through the darkness, one day at a time.

While I have not lost a child, I have experienced tragedy and loss in a very intense way and what keeps coming back to me now is a moment, a holy moment, I was graced with in the early hours of my grief that I attempted to convey through words of a poem I wrote about a year after it happened. 

I am sharing it again here today because I cannot think of anything more magical than that which I felt on that night all those years ago.

Heavenly Embrace

My very soul was wilting away... 

could barely muster the energy to breathe 

I did not want to carry on here... 

just wanted to be at peace 

The moment I was alone, 

the grief smothered and left me weak, 

I was defeated by its asperity, 

unable to wipe the tears from my cheek 

Those tears felt like hot lava 

and my heart like a molten rock 

I felt trapped inside my own body , 

with no key to that forceful lock 

I wanted to break away 

from the shackles binding me 

Desperate for alleviation... 

just wanted to be free 

My naivete had been dissolved 

and my nerves were left exposed 

I just could not conceive it.... 

how suddenly that door had closed 

My spirit felt despondent 

I had reached the moment of truth 

So I prayed with all I had left 

and now I'm living proof... 

Living proof of what He can do 

I prayed to Christ for help 

and instantly it was given me 

for His Loving Arms I felt 

Words could never do It justice, 

this Heavenly Embrace I received, 

but a warm tranquility came over me... 

A Love greater than I'd ever perceived 

I was given just enough solace 

to inspire me and give me the hope 

I needed to continue on here... 

I now knew I could cope 

So if you ever find yourself facing 

a storm you don't think you can bear, 

remember to ask Him for guidance... 

And my friend, He'll always be there 

Please keep these families in your prayers,

*Please note that when I chose the word "magic" for this series of posts, I was in no way thinking of an "abracadabra-hocus-pocus-spell-conjuring-witchcraft sort of magic.  I had this particular definition more in mind: 

• a quality that makes something seem removed from everyday life, especially in a way that gives delight.

  synonyms:

  allure, attraction, excitement, fascination, charm, glamour