An interesting thing happened to me today. Actually, two things, but simultaneously. But let me back up a little, and brag a bit about my oldest, my young lady, Victoria. Not to worry, I'll take turns bragging about my other kids at some point as well.
Victoria just recently turned 14, and has taken to learning how to play the guitar. I taught her (and a few of her friends) a few chords last semester in our home-school group, and she's taken off from there. She loves to pick up the guitar and just play whatever comes to mind, as she's able. She'll play it by ear if she has to.
And yet, although she's very, very good, she's not perfect at it. She'll still pause from time to time to figure out where her fingers go, or how to strum a certain song. She'll still get the beat wrong once in a while, she'll still, well...mess up. But that's to be expected, right? She's learning. She's practicing. She's getting used to it. She's getting better.
Today she was in her room, practicing a song she wants to play for our church group on Sunday. What a friend we have in JESUS. I'm sure you're familiar with this old hymn, written by a man well acquainted with grief.
Well, while she was in her room, practicing, I woke up from a nap on the recliner (yes, I still get to take naps once in a while. Isn't life grand?) with a question from my three-year-old son.
Is this Jesus?
I was a little drowsy at first, but tried to focus on the figure he held in front of my face. It was a shepherd, from the manger scene. I shook my head, no, but he was gone before I could respond. He was back a few seconds later, this time with what appeared to be another shepherd. Or Joseph, I really wasn't sure.
Mama, is THIS Jesus?
In the background, I could hear Victoria's sweet voice as she practiced her guitar....What a friend we have in Jesus....all our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer!
My son asked for my attention again by tugging on my arm: Mama! Is THIS Jesus??
Victoria kept singing in the background beautifully, with mistakes and all:
Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Mama!! Is THIS Jesus???
I wanted to jump up and shout it from the roof top: YES!!!
Yes, yes, oh, YES. THIS is JESUS. Our most faithful friend, our trusted companion, our steady Rock. Even when our fingers falter when we are learning to play our guitars, teach our young sons, or whatever it is our hands are set to do....even when our beat to the music (or to His perfect rhythm for our lives) is off....even when we are not perfect at life and we still, well....mess up. Even then, we have a friend in Jesus, who took on our form so that we could call Him Friend.
I leave you with a link to the hymn with the words for you to read. I trust that today, regardless of what you are going through, you will find yourself in His arms, shielded, because I can tell you by my deep, personal experience: you will find solace there.
What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M Scriven, 1855
