"We will remember not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
but the silence of our friends."
~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Let me sing for my beloved my love song ...
What more was there to do for my vineyard,
that I have not done in it? ...
For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel ...
They have lyre and harp,
tambourine and flute and wine at their feasts,
but they do not regard the deeds of the LORD,
or see the work of his hands.
~ Isaiah 5:1,4,7,12 (ESV)
My love for family always catches me by surprise with how deeply separation hurts.
The agony of separation from my estranged brother John remains a cause of ready tears. Of all the hurts and fears I've known in life, worst has been the pain in longing for family and fear of separation.
God longs for fellowship with us. He speaks love to us in the light and shadow of dawn and dusk, in the melody of birdsong and cricket chirps, in the voice of thunder and rain. He blesses us with material abundance and eternal treasure. He stands at the door and knocks, waiting for us to make time for Him to meet us in places of highest joy and deepest sorrow and everywhere in between.
All He asks in return is our love.
It's easiest to meet the Lord on the Sunday mornings set apart to Him. It's as necessary to our souls in every other hour of the week. In our failure to make time for fellowship with our Maker, both He and we surely experience agony of separation no less than any other grief.
Father in Heaven, Beloved Bridegroom, Precious Paraclete, in the three of You is the fulfillment of our every longing. Please ease the sorrow of separation from those we love, but not so much that we forget to long for fellowship with You. Please enable us to love You ever better.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Father in Heaven, Beloved Bridegroom, Precious Paraclete, in the three of You is the fulfillment of our every longing. Please ease the sorrow of separation from those we love, but not so much that we forget to long for fellowship with You. Please enable us to love You ever better.
Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
I understand your heartache dear one, my brother does not want anything to do with me either. I love you, and I will pray for restoration for you and your brother.
ReplyDeleteOh Anne, what a beautiful post today. Tears swim in my eyes. The combination of the beautiful picture and your beautiful words is breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteIn my most humblest of opinions, one of the greatest deceptions of the evil one is to hide from us the provision, majesty, and ever-present hand of God in our lives. It's to make us think that a day can be ordinary--when in reality every breath, heartbeat, hug, morsel of food, sip of water--everything--is a provision and gift of God.
As the old hymn says, I scarce can take it in. Thank you for reminding me today that all I have is His, and that He waits for my thanks, love and fellowship.
Denise, thank you for your understanding and prayer.
ReplyDeleteGwen, in the sorrow I remind myself of how much the Lord must desire our fellowship to go to the cross so we might have it.
Theresa, the sorrow of lost communication with a beloved brother is far worse because I know he hurts and I'm unable to give him my love.
Anne, This post reminded me again to pray for God to restore that relationship.
ReplyDeleteI prayed.
Sending love to you.
And Anne? Thank you for ministering to us, even in the midst of your own pain.
What a heartwarming thought that our father in heaven longs for us with the same ache we have for our family. Lovely Anne. I missed you blog while I was away!
ReplyDeleteJennifer, if any of us stop ministering to one another at every point of pain, who would minister?
ReplyDeleteT. Anne, how happy I am to see YOU.
Prayers for you Anne...
ReplyDelete