In the way that important days also seem to be busy days I have not gotten around to posting recently on days that I had something specific to say like Veteran's Day, Aunt Anne's 80th birthday, Thanksgiving, and yesterday, C.S. Lewis's birthday.

 

So this post is going to tie the last two together a bit. I was thinking about what I am thankful for (the Thanksgiving part) and what I would want to share about that. Besides all the really obvious things- my Lord, my family, my home, my friends, all the ways the Lord has blessed and kept us- a specific memory came to mind. Last December we were sitting in the theater watching the long anticipated movie of The Lion,The Witch, and The Wardrobe (this is the C.S. Lewis part)- me, my family and some good friends. But one of us was not there. It was a dark time to me. As the following scene played out(this is from the book) it struck me as significant and I wept with grief and with *hope*

 

"We have come - Aslan"

"Welcome Peter, Son of Adam," said Aslan. "Welcome Susan and Lucy, Daughters of Eve. Welcome He-Beaver and She-Beaver."

His voice was deep and rich and somehow took the fidgets out of them. They now felt glad and quiet and it didn't seem awkward to them to stand and say nothing.

"But where is the fourth?" asked Aslan.

"He has tried to betray them and joined the White Witch, O Aslan," said Mr. Beaver. And then something made Peter say,

"That was partly my fault, Aslan. I was angry with him and I think that helped him to go wrong."

And Aslan said nothing either to excuse Peter or to blame him but merely stood looking at him with his great unchanging eyes. And it seemed to all of them that there was nothing to be said.

"Please- Aslan," said Lucy, "can anything be done to save Edmund?"

"All shall be done," said Aslan. "But it may be harder than you think." And then he was silent again for some time.

 

Early in January The Still Small Voice whispered to me in my heart, "It's going to be alright." And I really did experience the peace that passes all understanding, nothing changed outwardly, all looked as bleak as ever- but there was peace and there was HOPE- the hope of being sure of what you can't see.

 

In February things began to turn around and I thought, "this is IT, this is the fulfillment of that promise, it's going to be alright". Of course it wasn't that easy or that complete. Many times for every 2 steps forward we took 4 steps back and it has been a year of struggle. No denying that. But God has been near and working in all of us. I am thankful for His word of HOPE in my heart and I am thankful for the memory of the grief I felt a year ago and the joy and the peace that are there now.  I can honestly give thanks for the trial and for the hope that still springs in my heart, and the good things I see happening in this situation.

 

One thing that I learned that I want to share with moms out there, especially moms of teens, and I stumbled on this serendipitously(is that the word?) and I wish I had realized the power in it sooner. Keep telling your kids their story. They forget. Some lose sight of who they are really and adopt someone else's story. Share with them again their birth story, toddler stories, funny things they've done, endearing things they've done & said, talk about vacations, holidays and family traditions. Show them pictures and videos if you have them. Keep identifying them as the person you've known for years. Don't be afraid to confront the lies they are believing head on and call them lies!

 

Another nod to C.S. Lewis- from The Horse and His Boy

 

"It was I who wounded you,' said Aslan. "I am the only lion you met in all your journeyings. Do you know why I tore you?"

"No, sir."

"The scratches on your back, tear for tear, throb for throb, blood for blood, were equal to the stripes laid on the back of your stepmother's slave because of the drugged sleep you cast upon her.You needed to know what it felt like."

"Yes, sir. Please-"

"Ask on, my dear." said Aslan.

"Will any more harm come to her by what I did?"

"Child," said the Lion, "I am telling you your story, not hers. No one is told any story but their own."