My son told his story again. This time to a group of mothers. I found myself feeling heavy with guilt, “Where was I? – Why didn’t I see what was going on?” Every time he speaks I hear something new. Even though I’ve dealt with the guilt before, it’s easily accessible.
Later, driving in the car alone, God reminded me of the love my husband and I had poured into each of our children from the day they were born. He gave me an image:
A giant loom weaving threads back and forth. The threads were love shown day after day. They were knit together, making a strong cloth of trust underneath our children. Incase they should ever fall.
Ok, this was really cool. I was crying, but I felt better.
Then I thought of our oldest son who didn’t come to us until he was 18. His mom had been unable to care for him after his father passed away. I knew from his story there was love in his home, but so many of those core threads were severed at a critical time.
“What about him, Lord?”
Again I saw that giant loom weaving threads to finished-off a cloth.
God used our family to strengthen what had already started, and to repair what had been damaged. I began to think of other family relationships. So many displaced kids stayed with us for years. Having burned bridges with their own families, it was easier for them to live with us. Easier to let us love them.
My take-away? Parents may fail, family may fail, and the System may fail …but God’s love never fails! When we use His threads of love, they are eternal and healing.
ForGlorySake! -Anna
