mourning a loss

For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God.
And I say to you,‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.
~Isaiah 41:13

this morning i received a call from a dear friend of mine. she told me her father passed away unexpectedly on wednesday. i just was shocked. i adored her parents. when i was talking with her this morning, i shared a memory.

during the first gulf war, mr. farmer was deployed. i wrote him a letter and he wrote back. i still have that letter to this day. i even pulled it out and read it when art was deployed. that is a letter that i cherish. i also remember when he returned, aarionne and i bought matching patriotic boxer shorts and shirts to wear to the welcome home ceremony. i think that night we also attended a lee greenwood concert! those are memories that i cherish.

i was looking up a song on youtube this morning and it just seemed appropriate to the news i later heard. listen to the song and read the lyrics. when we cry out to God, He is there. He is "I AM".

Pencil marks on a wall
I wasn't always this tall,
You scattered some monsters from beneath my bed,
You watched my team win,
You watched my team lose,
You watched when my bicycle went down again,

And When I was weak unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Elbow healer, Superhero,
come if You can,” and You said “I am”

Only 16, life is so mean, what kind of curfew is at ten PM
You saw my mistakes, You watched my heart break
Heard when I swore I’d never love again

When I was weak, unable to speak,
still I could call You by name,
and I said “Heart-ache Healer, Secret-keeper,
be my Best Friend” and You said “I am”

You saw me wear white, by pale candlelight,
I said forever to what lies ahead
two kids and a dream, with kids that can scream
too much it might seem when it’s two AM

when I am weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name.
“Oh Shepherd, Savior, Pasture-maker,
hold on to my hand,” and You say “I am.”

The winds of change,
And circumstance blow in and all around
us so we find a foothold that’s familiar,
And bless the moments that we feel You nearer
Life had begun, I was woven and spun,
You let the angels dance around the throne, who can say when,
But they’ll dance again, when I am free and finally headed home

I will be weak, unable to speak,
still I will call You by name
“Creator, Maker, Life-sustainer,
Comforter, Healer, My Redeemer,
Lord and King, Beginning and
the End, I am, yes, I am.”

By: Nichole Nordeman