Embracing the pain

It is the heat of summer that awakens me in the middle of the night, and drives me to the computer screen. I begin to write about the quiet of the house, and how much noise there is in a quite house. The hum of the air conditioning, the gurgling of the coffee pot, and the never-ending shuffling sound of an old dog who can't seem to get comfortable on the hardwood floor at my feet. He does indeed have a comfortable, soft bed within reach, but perhaps it is his instinctual loyalty and desire to be close to me that keeps him laying on the hard floor. I wish sometimes that I could muster the loyalty to the Lord like an old dog has loyalty to his Master. Perhaps I could learn to welcome my pain, embrace my pain, even love my pain. Because I know it is my pain and suffering that draws me to freedom in Jesus Christ. My instinctive desire to be close to Him. It is in suffering that I am drawn close to Christ. And in my suffering, I am set free. My suffering I offer to you Lord Jesus to be close to you. Amen