An accountability buddy is a must-have when you want to build a new habit or keep an old commitment fresh. Especially for things that are easy to slip-and-slide on, like exercise or a prayer schedule. Or calling your Aunt Millie.
I meet with my new buddy once a week by phone. She surprised me by asking: What was your closest moment? She meant what was your closest moment with God this week?
Well, I had a doozy to share with her. I had felt shut out and rejected by people whom I respect and whom I thought were respectful. In those awful moments of feeling cast into outer darkness, Jesus approached, put his arms around me and asked, “Don’t you know that you are not theirs, you are mine?”
Yes, Lord, but I forgot. Again.
In the moments that followed, the deep sharing in his own rejection and pain caused the pain in me to be swallowed up by indescribable joy and closeness to his love. Thinking back on it, I can’t remember how the pain felt but I remember the joy very clearly. It’s the joy that is eternal; pain is passing away.
So often, we can glide through our days and weeks feeling lonely and frustrated, as if God had forgotten about us. Or we feel rushed and empty – and we know it’s because we haven’t prayed.
Think back to your closest moment this week. It may be one that you didn’t think was grace-filled at the time, but you can see it now that it was. Remembering our closest moment reminds us how easy it is to cast the eyes of our soul to God and receive the help he’s offering at this moment. And to remember that if he seems far away, it’s we who have moved.
Scroll down below this article to share your closest moment!
Love always,
Rose
Tom Roberts
It was a moment of grace, or a day of grace. My wife has been paralyzed by a stroke for 27 years. I have never gone anywhere without her, but these days she’s not in good condition to travel. A trip we’ve taken in the past, where I work in a research lab a few days and we celebrate evenings, is now problematic. I made arrangements for her care at home while I go alone. The plan fell through and I was about to cancel the trip. Then I thought, what if we start out and turn around if it’s too strenuous, or leave early if it’s too strenuous. Let’s try it a step at a time. We’re doing it for fun, I turned down pay on purpose! It’s our time and we’ll be together. We’ll be among students. It’s an experiment, it’s an adventure; who needs golf?
Rose Folsom
Tom,
Inspiring to hear of your courage in stepping out into the unknown and living on grace.
Rose
Sal
Excellent piece Rose!! When I reflect on the journey of my life there are many instances where our Lord was close to me with His guiding hand, but it was I that pulled away! Divine Providence is once again in my life which I will share at a later date, and this time I have not, nor will I move away from Him. Over the past several years my prayer has grown tremendously which no doubt as played a significant role in my personal relationship and growth with our Lord!
Christ is the answer-always!
Rose Folsom
Sal,
I look forward to hearing how Divine Providence is working in your life and I’m sure your fellow readers will, too. God Bless you and Happy Thanksgiving!
Rose