oh beautiful girl of mine.
no matter when, no matter where, no matter why.
i will always come for you.
if you get that shaky feeling in your tummy, you just pick up a phone and call me.
even if you begged to go, even if all the friends think the movie or the activity is a good idea, even if you feel like you'll be the odd one, even if it's super late, even if you feel like where you are isn't where you should be, even if . . . especially if . . .
i've told you. and told you.
and you listened.
you called me. on a tuesday afternoon. not long after i dropped you off. and you told me the movie wasn't one you wanted to see. and i was saying that i'd throw my shoes on and be there in just three minutes while you were saying that you needed me to come get you.
and there you were. waiting.
and i jumped out of the car and wrapped you in a hug and bustled you into the car with me and you talked a little bit.
but the next morning we talked a long time. we talked about how Jesus went to all sorts of places to get all sorts of people. and i told you that i'd come anywhere. for any reason. to get you.
it's easy to know that i would come if things are fine and clean and nice. Jesus went to those places - banquets, temples, open fields - to get people. but he also went to the dark, ugly, hard places.
Jesus went to the grave to get Lazarus. he was dead and rotting. and it wasn't his fault. but where he was was awful. and Jesus went right to the entrance of the cave, to the dark, to the stench and called Lazarus out into the sunshine, into the fresh daylight, and made him whole.
Jesus went to the graveyard to get the man indwelt with demons. he was yelling and writhing and cutting himself. and it wasn't his fault. but where he was was awful. and Jesus went right there. and he called the demons out. and he stayed with the man while he calmed and washed and cleaned himself.
Jesus welcomed Mary Magdelene and forgave her and even though she had made wrong decisions and was in a place that was wrong and horrible - a place that many people would have judged her for - Jesus went and got her. and he welcomed her and forgave her and restored her.
Jesus will always come for us. anywhere. whether where we are is because of our choices or not our fault at all. whether where we are is ugly and horrible or clean and nice. if we are lonely and lost and need finding and sometimes forgiveness and restoration, but always love, He will always come for us.
and i, a mom, will fiercely follow His example. i will come for you, my daughter. anywhere.
'even if i was in africa?' she asks me. 'i would find a way,' i say. always, i will come for you. always.