The Stove

“Ouch!”

The little boy jumped back shaking his hand in protest. He stared at the hot stove wondering why it had caused his hand to hurt. His head cocked to one side as he felt the pain sear through his palm. He glanced down and saw the redness begin to envelop his hand…and decided that it was time to call in reinforcements.

A blood-curdling scream erupted from his mouth and it echoed through the house. The tears came easily and the scream continued to increase in its intensity and duration. The boy threw himself to the ground and assumed the fetal positioned. He cried and waited for the footsteps to come running.

But nothing happened.

His hand was now in tremendous pain and the tears were running down his shirt like tiny streams. He began to convulse as he tried to catch his breath from the loud screams. He opened his eyes and waited for the comforting sight of his mother to come bounding into his sight.

But she never came.

“Mom!”

Nothing.

“Mommy!”

Silence.

“Mommy…help!!”

The house sucked up the cries like a sponge.

“Mommy…………are you here?” He whispered pleadingly.

He was hurt, alone, and he didn’t know what to do. The pain was tremendous and he was to young to understand……….he was……..helpless.

“Mommy…………”
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It is a common occurrence in our lives. We touch something that we think is safe and the next thing we know our bodies are wracked with pain. We stare incredulously at the source and try to comprehend why this part of life would hurt us so bad. The pain begins to spread and it knocks us to our knees and eventually we end up curled up in a ball wishing for the nightmare to end.

We cry out for help and assume that the people who have professed their loyalty to us will come running to our aid. We wait for their arrival and are shocked when the realization hits that they have turned the other way. All of those good days and now when the bad one hits we are left to fend for ourselves. We wipe the tears from our eyes and scream out into the abyss hoping that someone hears our anguish…..and all we get back is the echo of our own sadness.

Your life took a turn and everyone else just kept going straight.

There is nothing worse than the silence of the expected. We bank our choices in life based on the knowledge that there is a support system underneath us. When that support disappears we feel alone, scared, and unable to move forward. Like a child wanting his mother we cry out for help and wait for the pain to subside.

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, 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.” Matthew 11: 28 – 29

This verse is one of my favorites. My wife introduced it to me and I have used it many times during my lifetime. It tells of a God that is willing to take the weight of grief, anger, and tension off of our shoulders and help us continue on in our life. When we are burned by life and feel as if everyone has left the building it is comforting to know that we have a God who will always come running.

You are never alone and even though you may not hear His footsteps if you look close enough you can see His presence everywhere.

Even in the silence.