Sometimes worship is joyous and loud. Other times, it is as silent as breath- a holy listening.
And for me, it is sometimes thankful tears.
Today, I worshiped with my family. My very large congregation was packed and we were right down front. It was joyous. It was loud. Then, we began singing “Never Once”.
“Standing on this mountaintop, Looking just how far we’ve come,
Knowing that for every step
You were with us…
Just then, my 9-year-old snuggled close to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. Long, soft dreadlocks fell over my arm. Big brown eyes turned up look into mine.
“Never once did we ever walk alone.
Never once did you leave us on our own.
You are faithful, God, you are faithful ..
I remembered how just about this time seven years ago I stood over her as she lay on a bed in Haiti. She had dysentery and I was changing her diaper for what seemed like the thousandth time. She was tiny and frail- a two-year-old in a size three month onesie. Every “mother alarm” in my head was screaming for me to get her to a doctor.
But my hands were tied. The paperwork wasn’t finished. The next day, I would have to return my frail baby to the orphanage and go home.
“Please, God,” I begged through my tears. Take care of her until I get back.”
Today, I worshiped with my daughter in my arms- tall, strong, beautiful. A mocha skinned, dread locked wonder and almost seven years home.
God took care of her until I got back and walked with us every step of the way. He is faithful, so faithful.
And sometimes worship can only be thankful tears.
Watch for my December blog event- “A Middle Eastern Advent: 25 Gifts For The Western Faithful”. It will be Christmas through the Middle Eastern cultural lens each day in December.
Thankful tears are definitely the best ones. You are blessed indeed.
It is hard to believe how far she has come. From wabbly legs that barely kept her upright to strong legs, a powerful weapon on the socker field. So thankful.
So true tears that are thankful are kept in golden bowls, this is a new poem I have been given and I have been trying to get to come to life. Being a dyslexic sometimes words need time to find their place; Amen