| Hi, everyone! I continue to give thanks for the ways in which we have been able to reach out to one another through emails, phone calls and Zoom video gatherings. We held another worship service yesterday morning and for the first time, we had a children’s message during the service AND we gathered the children and teachers online after the service for a Sunday school lesson!! Thank you CedarKidz, CedarTweenz, and KidzWorship teachers for your faithfulness and willingness to reach out to our KidZ in this difficult time and new way of teaching. Sunday afternoon, while looking on FaceBook, I came across this dialogue with God. It touched me and I share it with all of you now. Me: Okay, God, here’s the thing. I’m scared. I’m trying not to be, but I am. God: I know. Want to talk about it? Me: Do we need to? I mean, you already know. God: Let’s talk about it anyway… We’ve done this before. Me: I know, I just feel like I should be bigger or stronger or something by now. God: *waiting patiently, unhurried, undistracted, never annoyed. Me: Okay. So, I’m afraid I’ll do everything I can to protect my family and it won’t be enough. I’m afraid of someone I love dying. I’m afraid the world won’t go back to what it was before. I’m afraid my life is always going to feel a little bit unsettled. God: Anything else? Me: EVERYTHING ELSE. God: Remember how your son woke up the other night and came running down the hall to your bedroom? Me: Yes. God: You were still awake, so when you heard him running, you started calling out to him before he even got to you… remember? Do you remember what you called out to him? Me: I said, “You’re okay! You’re okay! You’re okay! I’m here.” God: Why did you call to him? Why didn’t you just wait for him to get to your room? Me: Because I wanted him to know that I was awake, and I heard him, and he didn’t have to be afraid until he reached the end of the dark hallway. God: Exactly. I hear you, my child. I hear your thoughts racing like feet down the dark hallway. There’s another side to all of this. I’m there already. I’ve seen the end of it. And I want you to know right here as you walk through it all, you’re okay. I haven’t gone to sleep, and I won’t. Me: *crying. Can we sit together awhile? Can we just sit here a minute before I go back to facing it all? God: There’s nothing I’d love more. May each of you know the peace of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ surrounding you, waiting for you to draw near, holding you in a comforting embrace, now and always. Pastor Sherry |