We are not alone

AWM

Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you…
Mary pondered what sort of greeting this could be.
Luke 1:28-2

I love this greeting from the angel Gabriel. Before anything was asked of Mary, before she responded, she was assured that she was already blessed. The grace of God was already abiding in her. If you are familiar with the Christmas story, you know Mary said, “yes” to birthing Love into the world. She didn’t know what her yes would demand of her but, she would not be alone.
I am grateful for this time of year to be reminded of Mary and the assurance she embraced. Too often my pondering wants to wander in less than grace-filled territory.

I have been absent from this space for, well, a year now with a lot of ups and downs. I’ve missed this time with you. And yet, the grace and Presence I have pondered and even drawn from you who linger here, have sustained me. I have not been alone.

Just over a year ago, I was flung into an abrupt ‘yes’ when unannounced in the middle of the night, my toddler granddaughter came to live with me. Our empty nest was suddenly more lively and demanding amid commitments I was already engaged in. I drew on stores of energy I didn’t know I had. But, Grace was already with me –within and around, present in my husband, family, and the love of community. The Well has remained alive to me and been a source of sustaining presence, even though you may not have known it to be so.

I’ve struggled with how to come back here. My withdraw has not been neglect but more a matter of realizing my limitations and needing to protect myself for a time. Today I am taking my first step to reunite with you with oh so much gratitude.

One pondering at a time I’ll share my journey past and present. Maybe in some way it will intersect with yours. Circumstances don’t have to be the same to connect the experience of discovering we are not alone – Greetings favored one! The Lord IS with you. I’d like to come alongside you as you have been with me, to encourage you or simply BE with you so you too may remember you are not alone.

I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
When you walk through fir you shall not be burned,
And the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:1-2

As always,
In this together.