Be Strong and Courageous        

At a table in the breakfast room of an Arkansas motel, three-year-old Madison squeezed my hand and prayed, “Thank you God, for my Meema and my bagel.” I thought, Oh God, protect this precious, little girl. I struggled to surrender my granddaughter’s future to Him, as my son’s marriage crumbled.

 In the middle of Madison’s chatter about orange juice and butterflies and when would we get to Texas to meet her baby cousin, a breakfast attendant approached us. Her nametag told me she was Patricia. Tall and slender with shoulder length, blonde-silver hair, she wore wire-rimmed glasses that framed her blue eyes. “How ya’ll doin?’” Then she thanked us for praying because “it’s a rare sight these days.” What she said next spoke straight to my struggle.

“I want you to know God’s hand is on this child. She is set apart for Him. Don’t you worry. She’s gonna be okay. I won’t forget your face and when the Spirit brings it to mind, I will pray for you.”

Tears trickled down my cheeks. “How did you know?” Patricia just smiled and hugged me. “Ya’ll have a safe trip now.”

On our way out of the breakfast room, I stuck my head into the kitchen. “Thank you, ladies.”  Drying her hands on her apron, my Arkansas angel walked toward us. “Hey sugar, before you go, God gave me something for you, ‘God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind.’”

I got goose bumps or as some say—glory bumps. I’d memorized and remembered Second Timothy 1:7 countless times through the years. Especially in those recent months that Madison and her parents lived with us. It gave me courage when fear told me to worry. It strengthened my mind and reminded me my emotions are not to manage my life. After big smiles and good-bye hugs, I took Madison’s little hand with renewed courage to trust God with her future.

Within a year and a half, my son and his wife divorced. But, God provided for Madison in a way I never imagined. At six-years-old, she got a new mom. In July, they celebrated the two-year anniversary of her adoption.

Life doesn’t wrap up nice and neat like we envision. We don’t know the outcome to our challenges but God does. He’s here and He’s already there. When our emotions scream and all we see is worse case scenario, we can trust His presence and promises.

When worry wants to steal our trust, may we hear the promise again, in that sweet southern drawl, “It’s gonna be okay, sugar.” No matter the outcome, we will be okay. God’s got us.

“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:9. Peace and courage for your journey, my friends.