I recorded this conversation in 2002 when Maggie, like Alexander, had had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week.
Me, trying to comfort Maggie: Remember sweetie, the Bible says, “The Lord is near to the broken-hearted and saves those crushed in spirit.”
Maggie: Mom, I’ve just had a bad week, I haven’t been trampled by a horse!
Me: Ok, got it. Ratchet back the hyper-spiritualizing.
Recently I’ve circled back to Psalm 34 where that verse is found. It’s a “praise-the-Lord-even-if-I’m-dying” Psalm, because God is present. It’s a good reminder Psalm. God has used it in my life in some of the lowest times (can you tell from all the scribbling and times I’ve dated it?)
But on other days I love it that we also have the “crap-life-sucks-and-never-will-get-better-so-let’s-kick-ass” Psalms.
Psalm 35, for example Continue reading
