Dear Lord,

There's no use trying to figure out why that snake bit my grandson. Already I've heard a thousand reasons...each one the authority on it. Those who couldn't think of a reason, put it on You.

I just want to thank you for getting him well, for keeping him from being too sick. We could tell it was a bad one from the marks on his arms and all that swelling. He said to thank you for him, too. Right now, he thinks he may never swim in Strong River again. At first, his mama wanted to drain it dry and kill every snake there, but that's because she was scared and worried. She knows now there was a reason.

There's always a reason.

I don't know what it was.

I just know it tendered my heart towards him a little more.

It tendered my heart towards You, too.

Dear Lord

I know how Mary must have felt when she held her baby in her arms for the first time, knowing one day she would have to give him up to the world.

Even knowledge of a divine purpose didn't stop her heartache, nor Yours.

Now the same old world that destroyed her child is trying to destroy mine.

If there's a special lesson to be learned from all this pain, Lord, please help me hurry up and learn it.

Dear Lord,

When she was just a baby

And got pinched fingers and hurt,

I hurt.

When she got older

And experienced hurt feelings,

I hurt.

Then when she grew up

And out of my arms and into the world,

And hurt for all the things she couldn't have;

I hurt because I had to refuse her.

Even when she chose to go against my wishes

And eventually got hurt,

I hurt all the more.

At times I feel myself growing cold and distant,

Immune to hurt.

Don't let me do this, Lord,

For as long as I hurt,

I care.