"There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place."

Deuteronomy 1:31 (NIV)

A year ago in January, my dear friend Diana began to suffer again with the horrible disease cancer. It had invaded her body a second time. This was a very difficult time for everyone in her family of course. You may remember that I have written about her and her daughter Anaid. Diana is no longer with us in the flesh. The Lord took her home to glory in March of 2010. But, she is with us in spirit. We have wonderful memories, photographs and stories to tell that bring her very close to us.

As I read the verse in Deuteronomy today, I began to think about Diana. How precious to realize that the Lord our God carries us. He carries us as a father carries his son… all the way! Just recently I saw on F/B a video of a father who carried his son on a marathon….all the way! Imagine the love that Dad has for his son, and the love his son has for him, to carry him all the way to the end of the course. God our Father, it is He who carries us. It is He who loves us that much! He IS our Daddy. But I want to look at this a moment. Hang in here with me. Maybe you will have some personal reflection and encouragement from these thoughts.

First of all, as children we are carried by our loved ones to and fro. It is such a secure feeling for a child to be lifted up into the arms of their mother or father. As infants, it is the arms of the parents that calm an anxious child. Many children beg to be carried, and long to be in the safety of the arms of another. When children and parents are reunited after an extended absence (like our soldiers coming home from an assignment) children, both big and small, run and jump into their parents’ arms. It may be a struggle to carry (I’ve even seen some teenagers respond this way) but it is a joy for those in the family to pick up and carry their loved ones. As adults, we carry our little ones with such tenderness. As they get bigger, we find them sitting on our laps, wanting to be close and we enjoy that as well. As my friend Diana became less self sufficient, and especially in her last few weeks of life, her mother, Paula, tenderly carried, nursed, cared for , and even massaged her legs, arms, and hands. Paula continued until Diana reached the place waiting for her, until the Father took her home.

Our heavenly Father carries us even when we are not focused on Him enough to realize it. It’s during those times that our pain and problems surface and we lose sight of Him. But He carries us all the way. You are, no doubt, familiar with the picture/painting/photograph titled “Footsteps”. It shows two sets of feet in the sand. Then all of a sudden there is only the larger footprints showing. That’s when Jesus picked us up and began to carry us because the way was too difficult for us.

Let’s not think on just the biggies! He cares about our every need. Let me share an example. Here in Peru, the suns rays are very hot and the shady side of the street is the place everyone walks. It’s like a breath of fresh air when you get out of the sun. But in the winter time, the shady side of the street is most undesirable because those same sun rays that we avoided in summer, are those which warm us and make us feel cozy. So, naturally we meander over to the sunny side of the street. Since homes do not have heat, it’s nice to get out into the sun during the winter. Imagine having sun full blast all the time, or nothing but shade. We would be uncomfortable to say the least. God knew that. He provided both for us at our time of need. It’s His way of carrying us all the way into the next season.

In what ways have you realized He is carrying you through? Here are the lyrics to a song we all know.

There is no problem too big God cannot solve it
There is no mountain too tall He cannot move it
There is no storm too dark God cannot calm it
There is no sorrow too deep He cannot soothe it

If He carried the weight of the world upon His shoulders
I know, my brother (sister) that He will carry you

He said come on to me all who are weary And I will give you rest.