LORD, DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR LOVED ONES

LORD, DO WHAT IS BEST FOR OUR LOVED ONES



Do you ever feel a loss at how to pray for your family? Some years back, my friend’s son was dying of an alcohol-related disease. At first, we were praying, “Lord, heal him.”



I remember one morning, feeling that perhaps he wasn’t going to make it and later that day his mother said to me, “Donna, I just started praying, Lord, do what’s best for him.” He passed over to the other side that day, the day his mom prayed the prayer of true relinquishment. She knew she didn’t want him to suffer anymore and that he would be present with the Lord when he crossed over. Now, please know that every time a mom releases their child, doesn’t mean that the Lord is going to take them home. Don’t let fear take root in your heart.



But it does mean that we as moms know that we can’t plan, fix or help our children when they make certain choices in life. When I get to the place that I’ve prayed every prayer, put every child, grandchild and great-grandchild (Yes, I have one of those, now) on the altar before the Lord, all I can do is say, “Please do what is best for my children and grandchildren.”



That is probably the closest to “Let go and let God” prayer I can pray. It may be my own, “Serenity Prayer.” It may be my “Keep me when I don’t want to be kept,” prayer. It may keep me sane another day, it may be part of my ‘SHOW ME HOW TO LIVE” prayer.




Let’s get serious. These are desperate times for people. There are many of you, that have plates so full, I plead for mercy from the Lord at all times for you. There are so many who have lost children and grandchildren to deaths of natural causes, diseases, and addictions. Many have lost spouses and feel that loneliness. Many know the trauma of losing people who are still alive, but dead
to them because their lifestyles have become too chaotic. The very person you are trying to help may separate themselves from you. What we release to the Lord, he may send back in a better way, but sometimes, even then, it may be a process of work at that relationship. Life isn’t easy, people! But with the Lord as our help, we can live fully and love well. In fact, that’s the only thing I hope people say of me when I’m gone, that “she loved well.”



Sandy Swenson who wrote TENDING DANDELIONS has put so many poignant quotes in her book that they would be worth the price of buying it. Here’s one:



“Imagine trying to live without air. Now imagine something worse.” (Amy Reed)



Today when I read the page by Sandy, THE LAND OF TEARS, I wished it was posted somewhere so you all could read it. I relate to her heart so often. I keep several recovery books right there with my Bible to put good things in my head to start the day. But some days they give me the release to cry, before I press on to the reality of life.





Here are some verses from Isaiah 42, THE MESSAGE to hang on to; find a Word from the Lord and you’ll make it through the day.



“I am God. I have called you to live right and well.
    I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
    and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light:
    opening blind eyes,
    releasing prisoners from dungeons,
    emptying the dark prisons.
I am God. That’s my name.


But I’ll take the hand of those who don’t know the way,
    who can’t see where they’re going.
I’ll be a personal guide to them,
    directing them through unknown country.
I’ll be right there to show them what roads to take,
    make sure they don’t fall into the ditch.
These are the things I’ll be doing for them—
    sticking with them, not leaving them for a minute.”



And my favorite:

“He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt
    and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant,
    but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.”



Let’s go out there and love well, people!