Quietness

We are so blessed to live in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains!  Many evenings we head out to any number of secluded places to hike or sit and watch Baltimore orioles feeding their young or watch the fish jump in various streams and ponds. 

Last evening we went to a very secluded place near the Appalachian Trail.  Keith and the children all went running back a trail and as their voices faded, silence settled around me.  All I could hear was the stream bubbling over the rocks, the wind whispering through the trees, and the birds singing and calling.  I just stood there absorbing it all.  As I stood there and the words to the hymn "Father I Stretch My Hands to Thee" came to my mind.

"Author of faith! to Thee I lift
My weary, longing eyes:
O let me now receive that gift!
My soul without it dies."

I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: From whence shall my help come?   My help cometh from Jehovah, Who made heaven and earth.  Psalm 121:1,2

My heart is so burdened for all the children in this world who have no one to "mother" them.  No one to care for them.  No one to make them their own.  And my heart cries out to God, "Why?"  Somehow in the stillness and quiet of the woods I found peace and courage to do what I can.  To tell their story to people who might otherwise not hear.

Those little ones rocking themselves in their cribs because they don't have a Mommy to rock them.  I will tell their story.  The older ones who just want to be loved and cherished by their own family.  I will tell their story.  The ones who are unlikely to be chosen by a family.  I will tell their story.  By God's grace I will tell their story to everyone I can!

" In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15b

I thank the Lord for quietness.  Quietness helps me focus on the truth of His strength.