Drawing Us Back to Jesus

I remember being a little girl and listening to cassette tapes in my mom's station wagon.  There were five of us kids, me being the oldest.  As I sit here thinking about all the trips we took in that station wagon, what I remember most is one voice playing on the stereo, specifically.  It was that of Miss Sandi Patty and songs from her children's album called Sandi Patty and Friends.
 
Are you picturing a car packed full of kids and a mom and dad in the front seat while we all sing kids songs about Jesus?  I know you are because so am I!  A real "Kumbaya" moment.  I would love to tell you that, but the truth is, how I remember those beautiful songs Sandi sang is only by the grace of my Savior.  There were some fun family trips, don't get me wrong.  We didn't grow up with a lot, but my mom would pack that station wagon with a cooler full of hot dogs, popcorn, and Kool-Aid so we could go to the drive-in and not have to pay for concession snacks.  Some of my fondest memories come from doing a lot with a little!
 
Typically, though, what would start out as a "fun" trip turned into my parents fighting.  When dad wasn't there, it turned into trips to visit him in the county jail.  Can you imagine my mama with five littles driving from the San Fernando valley to East Los Angeles all on her own?  Imagine also that she packed that same cooler with food and water for six people.   Those were the longest days of waiting.  We waited in the car, waited in crowded waiting rooms, waited hours to have fifteen minutes with my dad.
 
Then, on the car ride home, was that sweet voice of Miss Sandi Patty!  She sang about how God gave us beautiful feet to share good news (that one really made us giggle – a song about feet?!).  She sang about how God knew me in my mother's womb and how special I was to Him.  She sang about sharing and being kind but also about being afraid.  Those songs echo in my heart today.  In some of the worst times of our lives my sweet mama turned on kids songs about the love of Jesus to drown out the events of the day.  I can't help but be drawn to the words of those songs right in this very moment.  I get it now.
 
That's what my mom was doing in the car with us; drawing us back to Jesus.  There is an endurance and an obedience that my mom had all those years ago that is the very posture that I want to remain with me and with my family, in especially such a time as this.  I am reminded of exactly how faithful God was then and is now.
 
Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him, I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in times of trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.  (Psalm 91:14-16)
 
Sometimes we have to change our perspective in our circumstances.  We may have trouble here but, oh, how sweet is His love for us.  He longs for us to sit at his feet—or in my mother's case—to sing Sandi Patty songs in the car with five unruly kids after a long day!  I can’t help but smile now.  

Wherever you are and whatever is weighing on your heart or feels heavy in your hands, with belief or unbelief, give it to Him. He's there with you.  He was there in that car with my mama and He is with me while my tears hit the keys as I type this.  His fingerprints are all over our stories.  God has not left you alone.  He has not forgotten you.  He sees you.  He knows you.  That is my Joy and my Hope.  May it be yours this day.