Well, we VanHaitsmas like to start things off with a bang. Yesterday (Jan 1,11) morning Rina fell and broke her arm. I don’t have to tell you how terrible I felt and even feel, especially since I was in the room with her when it happened. Watching her now struggle to eat with her left hand, play, look at books, listening to her cries, wiping her tears… I LONG to tell her it’s all going to be ok and she’ll never have to go through this again. That she’ll never hurt like this again. That I’ll never let anything bad happen to her again. But I can’t… bc today more than ever I am aware life can hurt – shortly before Rina broke her arm I got the phone call that my grandpa passed away and not only am I in pain for Rina but I am in pain for myself.

As much as I desire to be I am not God. I can’t see the future, I can’t protect my children from everything. I can’t heal their pains or mend their hurts. I can’t stop things from happening. I can’t even promise her that she’ll never hurt again bc I know she will. I can’t tell her I’ll always be there for her, that I’ll never leave her or forsake her. I can’t promise she’ll always have my shoulder to cry on or my hands to wipe away her tears. BUT I can lead her to the One who can and does.

The Lord God we serve is the Rock on which we stand. He is the hope that we must cling to, the tower of strength we must run to. Ps 121 states “I lift my eyes up to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the Maker of heaven and the earth.”

As much as I desire to protect my children I cannot. What I can do is lead them to the One who can. The maker of heaven and earth, God to the vanishing point, Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, the Lord Almighty, God of heaven and earth, Helper, Healer of wounds, mender of breaks, my Lord, my Savior, my God.

And wouldn’t it be terrible if I tried so hard to be Rina’s Savior that she never realized she already had a real one?

May we learn that the only Rock we have is the Lord God almighty, and may we bring others to His tower of refuge and strength.