ann kiemel

she's eleven years old.

petite.  wide-set blue eyes

and blond hair.  a little, stuffed

horse is always under one arm,

and her t.v. is  turned to

nasa.  this is bailey.

she is one of six children,

and her parents are recovering

addicts with me.  her mother, sarah,

is the one i've been taking to

doctors and hospitals.  they have

found a mass pressing against

one kidney...in her uterus.

bailey and her parents were

leaving my house the other night

after school shopping when

suddenly, bailey, quiet and

reserved,  flew back in the door

and wrapped her arms tightly

around my waist.  i held onto her,

soothing her.  speaking quietly.

"i love you, darling."

"it was so fun shopping. that back-

pack on wheels, especially."

she didn't budge. her face pressed

into me. arms remaining locked,

behind my back.

"bailey, everything is going to

be okay, sweetheart."

she looked up into my eyes.

studying me...and held on harder.

"Jesus is with us, doll,

and i have complete peace

about your mommy.  i'll always

stay close to you. always."

i buried my face in her warm,

sun-soaked hair.  i kissed her

forehead.  one more earnest

look into my eyes.  one more

squeeze, and she was gone.  

one beautiful little girl.  fearful,

and needing reassurance.

one of my sons called tonight.

needing his own comfort. as you

know, when my children call,

my world stops.  all obligations

are dropped. forgotten.  nothing

matters so much as that son's

personal turmoil of the moment,

and God's power to bring peace.

this is a true picture of Jesus.

we are never alone with Him. we

run to Him, and He is always waiting.  

we nestle into His

powerful warmth and love,

and the troubled waters cease.

"and Jesus says, 'come to the

waters...stand by My side. I

know you are weary...  you won't

be denied.  I saw every tear

that in darkness you cried....and

I am here to remind you that

for your sins I died."

most of life is made up

of hard-fought battles, but

who would we be without

the pain and hardship that

draws us close to Jesus and

each other? our humanity is

what reminds us all who God

is and what we aren't without

Him.

"with the Cross of Jesus...

marching as to war!" 

run to Him today.

He is waiting for you!!!