A couple of years ago, my then six year old granddaughter, Abi cried with a broken heart because her tent, situated in our family room, had collapsed. Capitalizing upon the teachable moment, I gathered the weeping child onto my lap, seated on the couch. “What can we do about this problem?”
Hope was restored after a gentle discussion of alternatives. The happy girl set about the reconstruction project, assisted by her younger sister, Hayley. I then returned to my kitchen projects.

Perhaps an hour passed, consumed with busy play and childish talk. The three of us sat down to eat lunch. Abi asked me if I had seen a certain movie. I replied, “I’m not sure. I don’t really remember. I guess Nana’s just not that much of a movie girl.”

Suddenly, the silent four-year-old observer, Hayley, spoke up facing me. “Now what can we do about this problem?” she asked.

Many times as I have lived my 6o years of life, I have needed ‘a gentle discussion of alternatives.’ And for that reason our loving Father has given us people in our orbit with whom we can connect, share our hearts and gain from their perspective. It’s not that we always, or even often, do what they would do, but just the ‘sharing’ opens up the world of alternatives and hope. The Father has His close Friends, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. All three are relational and since we were created in His image, we are also relational. (Genesis 1:27 KJV)

Because of past negative experiences: harsh words, a slap, a look of condemnation (to mention only a few) we tend to close our hearts to even affirming relationships. We are not open to give or receive love, which produces a lonely life that cannot reach its potential.

We need each other. Not in a needy, unhealthy magnetic sense, but in open, transparent communication. If you have found that relationships are not safe for this transparency, continue to search for those God has given in your community. Search person(s) who help you to grow and to open up the world of opportunities before you.

Psalm 139:2 says, “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.” KJV

What a comfort this has been to me! We all know that God knows our thoughts, but how about the fact that He ‘understands’ our thoughts? This motivates me to run my race with fervor! And we can have healthy relationships with people who resemble God in this way.