Hello, God. It's me, Mara.

You know, Lord, having just visited with a couple of near neighbors who are moms of small kids, sharing some nighttime incidents, it brought back memories from long ago - but things like "back then" probably still transpire today.

Back then, when we were little kids, we'd go to bed and all would be hushed in our house, except for some normal night noises; one of which might awaken one of us from first sleep. Pusillanimously or nervously, we'd call out, "Mommy." If there was no answer, we'd call again a little louder, "Mom-m-my!"  If no answer, it would be followed shortly by "MOMMY!"  There usually was an answer of "What do you want?" One of us would answer, "We just wanted to know if you were still there."

As a parent, we probably think, "Well! Where do you think I would I be?" but a child needs to be reassured that someone is there, especially if a room or darkness separates them.

Lord, sometimes that is how we are with You. We get bogged down in our busy life and we stray away. We hope that You are there but we call out for reassurance, we wait for Your answer of: "Yes, my child, I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Heb. 13:5), and in our hearts we do know that that is so, but because we have wandered a little farther away, we think that You have left us!

Lord, sometimes we just want You to have "skin on," some One we can see and hear. We forget that Your Word already does that. We can call out to You any time, for reassurance, for wisdom, for comfort. Thank You for being there for us Lord any time of the day or night, to help us surmount any of our troubles.

Love, Mara.