What Do They Do?

Last night I read a precious post written by a dear blogging friend about her journey last year with her sister that was battling a fatal illness and the days leading up to her going home. This blogging friend is sharing her full heart and deepest emotions as she approaches the anniversary of her sister's passing and in turn is blessing everyone who reads these passages. On this latest post, I left a comment that ended with – "What would we do without Him? How do people survive that don't really know Him?"

After logging off and shutting down the PC, I went upstairs to begin the nightly rituals of preparing for bed. While measuring coffee to fill the filter basket, my mind went back to that post and memories of the passing of my Granddaddy last year intermingled with my thoughts..."Lord, thank you for the peace and comfort you gave when I lost Granddaddy....I don't know how I would have made it without you... How do people make it that don't know you?"

You Know What They Do...


Excuse me??

You Know What They Do, my child...


What are you saying, Lord?


You Know What They Do, my child, when they don't know Me...


Who me? Now, remember Lord, I was raised in the church...went while I was still in the womb...Mother and Daddy were Christians...both sets of Grandparents...lots of Aunts and Uncles and cousins...You know You blessed me with a wonderful family with a Christian heritage, so I always knew about you Lord...

What about before you KNEW ME...

oh...

those times...

You mean the hiding behind fake smiles and pretending everything was okay and feeling so empty inside and trying to do things all on my own and trying to find comfort in material things and other people and trying to measure up to what I thought I should be and failing miserably and crying so hard in the night that it felt my heart would burst from the pressure and carrying burdens too heavy for one soul to bear and questioning "why, me" and running and running and running and never getting anywhere except farther away from home?

A prodigal, a lost sheep, a wanderer, and then...that Amazing Grace that welcomes me exactly as I am...warts and all...is finally accepted...that stony heart is broken open and unconditional love and true mercy flow into my soul as I run into His arms...

"My people have been lost sheep;
their shepherds have led them astray
and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill
and forgot their own resting place.

Jeremiah 50:6 TNIV

I DO know what THEY do when THEY don't KNOW the LORD, because I am THEM, you are THEM, we are THEM, and we KNOW that ALL are prodigals trying to find their way home.

This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
"I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is good for you
and leads you along the paths you should follow.
Oh, that you had listened to my commands!
Then you would have had peace flowing like a gentle river
and righteousness rolling over you like waves in the sea.

Isaiah 48: 17-18 NIV

Oh Lord, please forgive me for forgetting where you have brought me from and all you have done for me. Without You I am nothing, for any love, hope, peace, or strength I have comes only from You. Please help me to have more compassion for those who don't know you - really know you - so they will hand their burdens over to You and hear You call them by name.

I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43: 1-2 NLT