“Hear my voice when I call, LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek. Do not hide your face from me, do not turn your servant away in anger; you have been my helper. Do not reject me or forsake me, God my Savior. Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path because of my oppressors. Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, spouting malicious accusations.” Psalm 27:7-12
The tenth verse of Psalm 27 “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me” has always caused me to consider what that means to me and also to children living in Haiti. The journey of both my parents has ended and they have received their Heavenly reward; their relationship with me has ended but my relationship with my Heavenly Father is ongoing and will never cease. The relationship that I have with my daughters continues and will prayerfully be continually blessed in the coming years. The children in attached photo attend the Lutheran school in Cap Haitian and their relationship with their parents is unknown to me, but their relationship with their Heavenly Father is assured.
The relations with their parents will be the last to desert them, but if their parents should happen to desert them for their denouncing of vodouism, there is a Father who never forgets and never departs. Some of the greatest of the saints have been cast out by their families for their coming to Christ, and have been persecuted for righteousness' sake. It has happened to Pastor Revenel Benoit in Gonaives and has probably happened in the lives of other Haitian children who have turned from vodou to accept Jesus as their risen Savior. Thank you for keeping them in your daily prayers.
I heard Alexa share a song recently titled ‘Things like that’ by Joe Nichols and I was able to locate the lyrics. It is a country song, not written in the 1800’s; not a song out of the Lutheran Service Book; but it sure has a message that needs to be heard today as it touches on the value of relationships with our children and with our Heavenly Father.
“His daddy taught him all about huntin and fishin, how to work on that old truck when it needed fixin, how to say sir and how to say mam, how their ain't nothing wrong with getting dirt on your hands. Have mercy on all of the kids out there who haven't been raised to even care about things like that these days. His momma used to cook every meal in the kitchen, she helped with his homework and taught him religion, she laid down the law and he let her know where he was going and when he'd be home. Have mercy on all of the kids out there who haven't been raised to even care about things like that these days. As the years changed him from a boy to a man he was blessed with a generous heart and a plan wherever life takes him wherever he's at he's gonna find some way to give something back. Now his weekends are spent doing what he loves most with 12 little angels who call him coach; some have nothing and some are spoiled rotten but when they're with him they're not forgotten. Have mercy on all of the parents out there who haven't been raised to even care about things like that these days. As the years changed him from a boy to a man he was blessed with a generous heart and a plan wherever life takes him wherever he's at he's gonna find some way to give something back.”
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay