Good morning…
One of my inner circle friends is an inner circle friend of the Haley family. I have kept in prayerful texting contact with my close friend as she inches through the grief process, intimately supporting her close friend, Dr. Carla Haley. Last Saturday both women sat together in the Pittsburg, Pennsylvania pews as the legacy of Dr. Leon Haley, Jr. was memorialized in his hometown.
“My prayers are with you as you travel and prepare for this important celebration of life,” I texted as the weekend began. “How are things going?”
“Just got to the airport,” she replied. “Having coffee in the Crown Room. Thankful to be still.”
“You being a non-anxious presence in the midst of so many mixed emotions will be a skin-on blessing from God to many,” I encouraged. “My prayers surround you as you move where God leads.”
“I love knowing this trip I am making is being carried in your heart and mind – and covered in prayer,” she responded.
The special service was saturated with songs, stories, and accolades. We live streamed the gathering from our Atlanta home. Immediately afterwards I texted my dear friend, “Amazing service. We watched it all from our living room. As everything sinks in today, please share with me how your heart is touched by your experience. Also share a loving hug with the kids and Carla from me and Steve.”
Throughout the week my friend and I have unpacked a wide range of emotions, and I have prayed diligently for her as she shares her healing presence with the mourning Haley family.
This morning at 11:00 am, we will host another celebration of Leon’s life at the Lovett School for family and friends in the Atlanta area (the service will also be streamed live here: https://vimeo.com/event/1178939/7203bdbd90). As the chaplain of the school and a longtime friend of the Haley family, my husband, Steve, will officiate today’s service. My inner circle friend who is an inner circle friend has been tasked with getting and guiding the ushers and greeters.
Yesterday morning, she sent me a screen shot with the early morning reading she had just enjoyed with God.
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Excerpt from The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst
(God promises: “I will relieve your) fretting and bring rest from all the confusion. I may give you an immediate answer. Or, I may point you on a path of discovery. Just stay with Me. My Word. My ways. My wonder. And you will know” (Matt. 11:28, paraphrase).
God’s Word addresses the approach I take with my activities: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (v. 28).
God’s ways address the attitude I have with my activities: “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (v. 29).
God’s wonder is the assurance that not every activity is my activity: “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (v. 30).
His Word. His ways. His wonder. His path of discovery. Yes, I need to go there.
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“So much resting on my heart and mind – and to do list,” texted my friend after sharing this sacred reading.
“If you discover a way I can tangibly offer support for the service,” I texted, “please know that I am happy to slip into any place you need.”
“Why don’t you join me as a greeter/usher?” she replied. “I just sent a little prayer up right before your text for one more set of hands tomorrow.”
“Excellent,” I responded. “This is one prayer God answered immediately!!! Look at that. Like a comma was placed after your reading this morning, and with the next breath God inspired me to reach out with an open invitation to help. If we focus on God’s Word, God’s ways, God’s wonders, our way forward will open before us as the LORD sees fit. I feel honored to join you as usher/greeter. What time do you need me?”
“Will send a text shortly with details, but 10 am at the entrance to the chapel by the statue,” she explained. “And thank you! Your words – so wise. God clearly with us, hearing us.”
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands” (Isaiah 55:8-12, NIV).
As we struggle to fully embrace God’s Words, God’s ways, and God’s wonders, may joy and peace lead us forth with inner circle friends this day and forever.
…Sue…
