Comforter

Recently we attended our church's family camp.  To me, family camp is a wonderful weekend.  It is very busy for those with young children, but the conversations are so meaningful and the food is so good, and the laughter is contagious and there is joy all around.

The theme verse for our camp is Psalm 73:28, "But as for me, it is good to be near God.  I have made the sovereign Lord my refuge, I will tell of all your deeds."  When I am up at camp I feel near God.  I feel his presence.  It truly feels like a refuge.  I come away blessed each year we go as a family.

On that Saturday, I was sitting there, pondering what God might have in store for me while we were at camp.  For me I thought it was cool that I was so expectant for God to work something in my life, that he might have something for me.

Evening came and it was time for Vespers.  If you don't know what Vespers is, it's worship and devotional time.  We gather together, sing songs, and listen to a counselor give a talk.  We started to wind down and this song began.  It's called Comforter.

(chorus)
Come to me, I am the comforter
Come crawl up on my knee
And lay your head close against my heart
Find your rest in me

When it hurts too much to cry, I will hold you
When you feel like you will never make it through
When you need someone to hold you
I'll enfold you in my arms
For my child, I love you

(chorus)

When the days are long and life feels so empty
In the lonely nights I'll stay right by your side
When you can't explain your feelings
I will listen to your heart
I will hear the thoughts you hide

(chorus)

As I sang this song, the tears began to fall.  I wasn't thinking of myself, though this song could apply to so much in my life.  I began to think of my son T.  He has been diagnosed with ADHD and there are many times that I find him so annoying.  I love that boy, but man.  He moves, and talks, moves and talks.  He annoys his siblings and it seems he doesn't even realize it.  I feel like I'm constantly getting after him to stop.  As I listened to this song, I thought of how he might feel when we get after him.  How hurtful our words may come across.  Though we don't have bad intentions, what we say and do could be hurtful to him.  T is such a sensitive boy.

I don't want my children to hurt.  I don't want to hurt my children.  The thought of any of my children hurting brought me to tears.  The thought of them gong through a hurt that I can't help broke my heart.  But this song reminded me that though this world brings trouble and through we will suffer with hurts, that we have a comforter.  He will hold us and listen to us and comfort us.  I want my children to know that when they are hurting and feeling alone, that God is their comforter.  The perfect comforter, who knit them together and knows them inside and out.

I learned that night, that though my intentions are good, I need to be more thoughtful with what I say and do.  To lift T up and encourage him.  It may be frustrating and annoying, but it is who he is and he is my son.  To show him through what I say and do, and how I react that I do love him unconditionally.  This song reminded me that my children are not alone in this world and when I can't make things better they can find comfort in God above.  I want my children to know that deep in their hearts.

I don't know who wrote that song, but the words are not my own.  They belong to someone and, whoever that someone is, God breathed his love for us into the words.  So thank you.  I found the words in our camp 50th anniversary memory book.

Beneath the song there are two Bible verses

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

Matthew 11:28
"Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."