Tag: Wishing on Willows

Excerpt from Book:

Most days she could handle the loneliness…But sometimes, like now, it grew too big to hold on her own.~Robin Price, Wishing on Willows

Devotional:

Perhaps you’ve lost a spouse, or a loved one has moved away, or all your friends are getting married and having babies while you do your best to smile from the sidelines. As hard as you try to fight it, the loneliness is there, in all its uncomfortable heaviness.

According to one of Webster’s definitions, loneliness means to be without company, cut off from others.

It’s a valid definition. I mean, who am I to argue with Webster?

However, I think most of us will agree that it’s possible, and even common, to feel loneliness in the midst of a crowd.

Because loneliness, above all else, is a feeling, and no matter if we’re shopping in a busy mall or sitting in church surrounded by fellow believers, we can feel cut off. I remember feeling that way my freshman year of college, on a campus filled with students.

Lonely. Homesick.

Those two feelings are awfully similar, aren’t they?

An empty ache in our chests. A yearning in our hearts. A slow-moving sadness of the soul.

How do we cure homesickness? We call home, of course.

I don’t think it’s any different for loneliness. We can sit beneath its heavy weight, or we can bring that weight to the One who knows how to lift it.

The next time loneliness threatens to take over, let’s get on our knees in prayer or soak in God’s promises that come from His word or sing hymns or listen to worship music or go on a walk to appreciate His creation. Let’s do whatever tunes our hearts to God’s presence and peace. Let’s let Him fill the empty ache.

No matter how lonely we might feel in this world that isn’t meant to be our home, we have a loving Father who promises eternal hope and joy and comfort for those who love Him.

Scripture:

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God! ~Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

Prayer:

Thank you, Lord, that you are bigger than our loneliness. Thank you for your faithfulness and your grace and your promise to always be there, especially when we feel alone.

If you’d like to purchase Wishing on Willows, please visit the book page for links to your favorite retailer!

A long, long time ago, when preparing for the release of Wishing on Willows, I wrote several devotionals that went along with the themes of the book. Over the next several weeks, I’m going to be posting these devotionals here on my blog in hopes that they will encourage you!

As you all probably know, yesterday was Mother’s Day, which is a lovely amazing holiday for so many and a great way to celebrate the women who have played a mother-like role in our lives.

But for those who have lost their mothers. For those who have lost their children. For those who long to be mothers but have no children to hold. For those with children who are alive, but far, far away…

Mother’s Day can be hard.

So to those who felt the sting on Sunday, this devotion is for you.

Excerpt from the book:

“If that pain brings us to the throne of God. If it brings us to our knees before the King of kings.” She placed her fingers beneath his chin and tipped his face to look up at hers. “Oh honey, there’s amazing grace in that.” ~Maureen McKay, Wishing on Willows

Devotional:

When I contemplate God’s grace, I often think about good things. Forgiveness, obviously. Restored relationships. Healing and freedom. Sometimes I even equate God’s grace with finding a spouse or getting a promotion at work or populating a big house with healthy children or fulfilling a dream.

But what if that’s only one side of the coin?

What if God’s grace comes wrapped in deferred dreams? Or broken relationships or scary prognoses from doctors or unemployment or infertility or any thorn that pierces our flesh?

As much as that empty tomb shouts “Grace! Grace!”, let’s not forget that the cross does too. With those nails and on that tree, grace and suffering are so tightly woven, the two are indecipherable.

I read the red words of Jesus—blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted (Mt 5:3-4) and I’m reminded of a woman I met in Africa. A woman, who by America’s standards, had nothing. Abandoned by her husband, sick with AIDS, six children in a squalid shack and somehow, she radiated joy. This woman didn’t have to wonder if God was enough, she knew it in the marrow of her bones.

There is a special blessing that comes in the midst of hardship. It’s in those moments, when we fall on our faces with nothing, our dreams dashed, our plans and our goals no longer, that we cling to Him with a ferocity we don’t find in the midst of prosperity. God’s presence is magnified in the hard. We don’t just have an intellectual knowledge about His strength, we experience it. It holds us together. It keeps us breathing.

And Paul’s nonsensical words—when I am weak, then I am strong? They make sense and our definition of grace expands.

Scripture:

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. ~Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

Prayer:

Father God, would your grace rain down, no matter what season or circumstance we find ourselves in. Hold us as we cling to You.

*If you would like to learn more about Wishing on Willows or purchase your very own copy, please click here!*