Comfort, Oh Comfort

My daughter, 6, has been visiting the school nurse probably about 3 times a week recently. The nurse called me and told me about her regular visits--she called my daughter a frequent flier--I laughed!

The circumstances usually include a substitute teacher, which she did mention when she woke up this morning. Whenever there is a sub, she visits the nurse. When she is bored, or doesn't want to be out at recess, she visits the nurse. When there is too much noise, she visits the nurse. Well, you get the picture. We talk with her about these frequent visits, tell her about the little boy who cried "Wolf," bribe her with a trip to Dairy Queen...you name it, we've tried it. But she is not one for change, and even the smallest thing such as her teacher being out for the day, sends her into worry and insecurity.

This all got me thinking about comfort. On these days where she is needing a bit more attention, the nurse is the closest person she can think of to enlist. Someone knows her by name. She feels special. She gets attention. Someone cares about her, notices her.

Much of this way of thought is not foreign to adults. If we get down to the truth, isn't this the way a lot of us feel? We all want to be known by name. We want to feel special. We would love undivided attention, someone to are about us, notice us.

Often we put our hope in things such as people, career, parenting...to find that connection, to stand out. But, the lasting most real relationship that can give us this satisfying familiarity, is a relationship with God.

He knows us by name, from before we were born.

Psalm 139: 15-16

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

He KNOWS we are special, unique. He made us and called us good.

Genesis 1:30-31

30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

We are worth more than anything else he has made, and HE notices us.

Luke 12:6-8

6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8"I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.

HE IS GOOD. HE IS THE ULTIMATE COMFORT.