This quote, attributed to Ashleigh Willard Bauman hit me right between the eyes. I was immediately reminded of two mothers who represented two different attitudes to the storms and sorrows in life. One is a mother who entered the church and prayed: “Lord, I am fed up of my son. You know he does not listen to us, his parents. He cares little for us, he comes home late, he habitually gets into heated arguments with his father, he fights with other boys, he takes drugs and alcohol, and he gets into trouble with the police. I do not know what to do with him. I am ashamed to call him my son.” The second mother, suffering from advanced cancer, prayed thus: “Lord, I know I have only a few days to live in this world. You have always been good to me and I believe in your goodness to me until my last breath. I am thankful to you for so many people who lovingly support me and care for me. In spite of the pain and sufferings, I experience a deep inner peace that comes from your presence in my life. I believe that you have the power to make everything right for me despite my weakness.
When misfortunes strike us, calamities take away what we hold dear, sickness paralyses us, death separates us from our dear ones, we fret, we fume, we complain. Our everyday worries such as family finances, enough food on the table, raising kids, unfaithful spouses and betrayal of friends force us to ask God why always me and not my neighbour for whom everything seems going right. Often the storms that strike us are big indeed. They weaken us and sometimes strike at the very roots. What we forget at these times is: If the storm is so big, how big my God ought to be! There is no storm, no calamity, no battle, no sickness and no struggle beyond the power of my God. He has the power to overcome even the fiercest storm as we put our trust in him:
“In You, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be ashamed; in your righteousness deliver me. Incline your ear to me, rescue me quickly; be to me a rock of strength, a stronghold to save me. For you are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake you will lead me and guide me.” (Psalm 31:1-3)
