Roaming

My baby Molly was invited to spend the night with us as her parents were taking the older kids to see a play. I have a tendency to do many of the things that I do with the grandchildren collectively and seldom do I get a one on one with them.  But having Molly just for the night was a reminder that there is much to be learned about my grandchildren, their personalities and the interests when they are not in the midst of sibling and cousin influence. It was a cherished time and I realize that I need to do a better job of creating a one on one time allotted for each of them.  But one story that did come of this outing with Molly was this:  Molly has now been sleeping in a big bed since Thanksgiving, but this was her first away visit.  She had a good dinner, and bath and time to read and when I took her to the kids room upstairs, I put her bar on the bed that keeps her from falling overboard, tucked her in,  pacifier in tack, blanket, lovey and all that was part of that bedtime routine and I said prayers over her and then even sat in the room for a while.  

She seemed content but not yet still, and I headed out.  Within a few minutes, there she was quietly standing in the den, just watching.  I tried again, and we went through the whole routine again, next time to find her at the water machine in the kitchen. She was roaming, but not really having any centered destination. This went on for four times, the third time was fair, dirty pants but the last time she was gently warned: the next time you get out of your bed I will put you in your crib. And sure enough, the crib was the next step.  But oddly enough that is where I think she really felt most comfortable.  It was secure, a place of great familiarity, and it had bounds.  There was not a peep remaining in her and she immediately cuddled up with her blanket and was peacefully off to sleep and when morning came it was I who went to check on her and found her standing and enjoying the the scenery of the room,  not her calling out for me. 

A few years ago I wrote a devotional on roaming and it came to mind as I considered my roaming Molly! 

We all get in that roaming mode at times...we roam away from what we know to be a safe environment, we roam away from people who we know love us, we roam away from authority, we roam away from routine, we roam away from responsibilities, we roam away from needless chatter...and sometimes we find ourselves roaming because our lives are so up in the air that we have no grounding place to land.   We wonder.. looking for something yet  not knowing what it is. Something to peek our interest or maybe just something to instigate a change of environment...something that kindles a yearning fire within us that is being smothered....or maybe just maybe God is calling us to Himself..and we are being forced out of our comfort zone.... so that he can get our attention...through silence...an unconscious approach that he adheres to through his Holy Spirit.  For it is through silence that we can develop an ear to hear God's whispers...and know of his nudges.   Wandering, is an avenue that I think God uses and allows  to help us regather thoughts ...or contemplate life as it is today, replace dreams that have faded, or reestablish set goals that have become unclear....but most of all a time set aside for us to seek His will rather than try to come up with a self directed plan of our own.    Roaming, though it may seem of an adventurous state,...is also one of a restless state. For in roaming there is no security, no home base, no boundaries..We resort to silence even though we may not have sought it.   When we are in that roaming wilderness, we either are able to have a closer view of God or we feel like we are further from God depending on our perspective...I know that sounds contradictory, but perspective, I am convinced,  comes down to our faith...and our trust. If we feel further from God then don't you think it is because we are not hanging on to the truth and the promises that God has given us... God's perspective on us is not altered..he created us and loves us just as he has made us...and he sees the ultimate blessing of His masterpiece that we so often can not hardly imagine or accept to be true.   When we are roaming, we are unsettled, and find ourselves anxious and unsecured. It is our faith that is being tested.  Do we trust God?  Do we truly have a faith that gives us strength and courage in the midst of silence, or trails, or adversities? Isaiah 40:3 A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD ; make straight in the wildernessa highway for our God God has a direction that he has called us to follow....when we stray from that direction...we lose sight of purpose and we also lose footing of God's plan. We find ourselves roaming with no real direction of what God has for us to do next. I feel like I am roaming right now...seeking God's direction and trying to reestablish what His goal is for my life. He will answer me no doubt...but for now I treasure the silence...I treasure the reassurance through my faith that God will answer my quest for purpose but I must wonder a bit until he does. The silence is good...but each of us who have found ourselves wondering must be careful to not get stuck and planted in complacency. We may roam...and we may wait but that does not give us permission to stop living day to day for God and through Him. It may be years before God gives me another passion...But as I allow Him to decide what it is he has for me to do do next ...I will carry with me my home base of Faith....and be content to embrace this day that he has given me, looking for His opportunities and rejoice in them. As this year quickly comes to a close, I pray that God will help me to focus on his best and not so much my wants and wishes. I pray God will set within me a focus that clearly coincides with his purposes, and when He sees that I am wandering and roaming without direction that he will reach for me and pull me to himself and set me back on track...His track. My baby Molly was wandering and wanting someone to confine her, even though she didn't know it. Someone to help her be still and rest in the contentment of security.  We are no different than a little child, we all have the need for security and someone to guide us in the right direction for our own good. And that someone is precisely who we celebrate at this Christmas season.  Blessed are we to know Jesus, love HIm, be overseen by Him, but most of all be loved by Him.  For His love is the one thing on this Earth that thankfully has no bounds, and its roaming effect is felt in the hearts all who believe in His name.   Merry Christmas! Blessings to you and your families. Cathy