Gloryteller

“I don’t know how to begin.”
“Begin with a prayer.”
“I don’t know where this is going. It’s been so long.”
“You’ll find your way. My hand will be on your back.”

A prayer. The most basic and uncomplicated childhood prayer:
Now I lay me down to sleep, (stand near?)
I ask you, Lord, my soul to keep, (stay here?)
Protect me in the dark of night, (I fear!)
And wake me with your morning light. (oh, hear!)

That’s the prayer I prayed every night until I fell off the edge of the world, figuratively speaking.  I added those parentheticals today, like written emoticons. But God answered those prayers far into my future without my awareness. Awareness came long after their utterance.

BUT GOD is a mighty little phrase, is it not?  Unaware of my future “falling away”, I had told him I would go to sleep spiritually. How did I know? How did I know to ask Him to keep my soul safe and protect me during the coming dark times? I didn’t. They were just prayers, often said by rote, or habit,  without thinking of their meaning. Yet, what I asked, He did. He provided the knowledge and the meaning for me. Perhaps I held just a grain, a seed, of meaning in my heart that He saw. I hope that is the way it was.

He did stand by me. He did stay near when I was oblivious and should have been in terrified fear for my soul. Looking back, He was there,  I know that now. He was with me, keeping my soul, through many dark nights and days that I didn’t even perceive as being dark. He heard! He protected not only my soul but my body. Through the course of “living”, I could have and should have died many times. His hand was on my back, just as it is as I write this. Even this, I could not do without Him standing close.

This is the best part: He did awaken me with His Light, and to His Light, and I shall hold that Light, who is Jesus, in highest regard forever. That’s more of my testimony and I’m telling it – yes, Glorytelling it –  ere long I’m able.
Happy Advent, people!