Whispers of Grace

Photo by Susanne Barrett

They whisper as I pull them apart into sweet sections for my lunch. Yet that simple act, inserting thumb nails between sections and exerting pressure against each to separate the skins, causes pain.

Although today is spring-warm, and I opened all our living room windows and the kitchen sliding glass door to welcome January sunshine, my fingers remain stiff. Curled and bent. Straightening them hurts.

I try not to notice the disfigurement of index fingers--the way they crookedly lean toward the other three fingers, the knuckles large and crinkling. Wistfully I glance toward the skein of plush purple on my desk that I hope to crochet into a scarf for my girl.

But not today.

I stay busy, often too busy, not allowing myself to dwell on negatives, not letting my propensity to shoulder blame burden this day. My phone chimes church bells at 12:30, and I dismiss boys to lunch and myself to prayer.

I turn to Midday Prayers for the Friday Nearest to January 8 in The Divine Hours: Prayers for Autumn and Wintertime. And among the sections of Scripture I pray, this line of poetry calms throbbings of heart, even while fingers stretch and strain to lift book, to turn page:

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all your marvelous works.
Psalm 9:1

My soul finds peace here in His Word...in Word Made Flesh, in Him Who came to dwell among us. He is no stranger to pain; He knew it well. Very well. And He suffered it willingly for me.

And thus I give thanks each week with the Gratitude Community, the same way that Ann started her Journey of Thanks.

The last Collect for Midday Prayer this day resonates, drawing my heart ever closer to His:

Almighty God, who promised to hear the petitions of those who ask in your Son's Name: I beseech you mercifully to incline your ear to me who have made my prayers and supplications to you; and grant that those things which I have faithfully asked according to your will, I may effectually obtain, to the relief of my necessity, and to the setting forth of your glory; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

He inclines His ear.

He hears.

He grants.

He relieves necessity.

He sets forth His glory.

I find balm here. And pain throbs less, and heart sings more.

And for that, I give thanks.


Hearing His whispers this day,