Dear Friend,

Years ago, when the kids were young, we were at the pool with another family.  Their 2-year-old daughter was standing on the step, her dad nearby.  She took a step forward and down to the next step, so the water was over her head.  He described what it was like looking down at her face, through the water, her round blue eyes staring up at him in surprise.  He scooped her up, and everything was fine, but that image stayed with me.

The last time you came to our house for dinner, 3 or 4 years ago, that image came back to me.  In spite of all that was going on in your life at the time, the conversation stayed very superficial.  I remember looking at you across the table, and it felt like I was seeing your face slip below the surface of the water.  I thought, “We’re losing you.”  I could have reached out to you, with some kind of more real conversation, but I didn’t.  I’m sorry.  Over the past few years, it was like a layer of very clear but ever-thickening ice grew on the surface; we could see each other through it, but no sound came through.

Last Sunday, it was like you broke up through the ice.  I’m so grateful to have you back.  I picture you now, shivering a bit as it’s always cold when one comes out of the water, but Jesus is there to wipe your face and wrap you in the thick warm towel of his grace.

…But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.  Luke 15:20

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I’m praying for God’s work and glory in your family, in each individually and as a whole.

Love,

Barb

(I wrote this letter to a real person, but not one of my own children.)