Jessica lay sprawled across the bed. Her mother was placidly propped against several pillows, reading her Bible, which was her habit each night between the hours of nine and ten. Her daughter's leg draped across her own legs and her arm tightly gripped her waist. Tell tail signs showed her daughter had been crying. Dripping mascara had formed rings of black around her lower lashes and her makeup had the dewy look of having recently been wet. The scene was not an uncommon one. She turned the page and continued reading. Years of knowing her daughter had taught her that eventually she'd begin to spill the details of what had spurred the tears.
Jessica had a way of feeling most things with a deep acuteness. It often worried her about how sensitive Jessica was and how easily she slid between buoyant happiness and utter despair. When she reached the lower parts of despair only prayer and a quiet comfort helped. She began to stroke her hair and swallowed her own tears. Just seeing the anxiety across Jessica's face caused her head to begin aching and her stomach to squeeze in pain. She was tired from a long day where she had spent most of it by herself. The highlight was seeing Jessica almost dance through the back door that evening after work. Her presence always brought joy and light into the house. She kept reading and waiting.
"Mom I feel so alone. I got another wedding invitation and it'll be another wedding to attend alone. I hate going! Why is it that God hasn't sent me someone?" Jessica began as rivers of tears began working their way down her face.
She closed her Bible and began rubbing her daughter's head.
"I wish I had an answer darling but the one I have you aren't fond of". She replied quietly.
"I know I should depend on God and I do but still...is it wrong to want someone? It doesn't feel fair to be left alone. Marta has known this guy for only 6 months." Jessica answered a bit angrily.
"But would you want Marta's fiancé? Anyone can get married, Jessica, but do you want just anyone?" she replied. She had repeated this question many times over the past few months as wedding invitations for Jessica's friends poured in. She had prayed earnestly that God would send someone to Jessica but for the moment things remained as they were. In all honesty, she was relieved. She wasn't sure how she'd live without her only child.
"Well I don't want just anyone! Yet I don't want no one!” she said as she looked desperately up at her mother.
"We'll keep praying. You know God puts the solitary in families. He promises that. For the time being you have your father and mother who love you very much. Isn't that enough?" She said pleadingly.
Jessica continued to sob. There wasn't much else she could say. She was sure that once the right man arrived all these anxious moments and tears would be soon forgotten. Jessica was so young.
"You're so young Jessica" she said, trying to comfort her.
"You were married by this time mom" she stated with passion.
"It didn't mean I was happy. You should never get married just because everyone else is or because you think you'll never find someone else. I made a mistake marrying so young. Waiting means God will bring you someone better." she said earnestly.
"I think you're just tired dear. Why don't you have a light snack, cast all your cares on God in prayer and head to bed early. I promise you that by tomorrow morning you'll feel much better about all this." She said.
In time Jessica left her bedroom and disappeared downstairs into the kitchen. She began to pray that God would begin to comfort her daughter. Her thoughts began racing through all the day’s events and wondering what else she could’ve said or down to make her feel better. She didn't have an answer to Jessica's anxiety. Her only answer was prayer. A little after 10:30, much later than her usual bed time, she turned off the light. She hoped her daughter would do the same.
The following morning Jessica joyfully arrived in the kitchen. Her makeup was perfect, her hair straightened and her smile wide. She wanted to ask Jessica if she felt better but feared that asking would only remind her of last night's troubles. Her daughter sat down to breakfast and chattered happily about the soon to be workday, her weekend and their next mother daughter brunch. All seemed to be forgotten. She was thankful for answered prayers. She had always found that a little food, an earnest prayer and a good night’s rest was the start to feeling better. Everything always looked brighter in the morning after you’d given God time to work.
Jessica had a way of feeling most things with a deep acuteness. It often worried her about how sensitive Jessica was and how easily she slid between buoyant happiness and utter despair. When she reached the lower parts of despair only prayer and a quiet comfort helped. She began to stroke her hair and swallowed her own tears. Just seeing the anxiety across Jessica's face caused her head to begin aching and her stomach to squeeze in pain. She was tired from a long day where she had spent most of it by herself. The highlight was seeing Jessica almost dance through the back door that evening after work. Her presence always brought joy and light into the house. She kept reading and waiting.
"Mom I feel so alone. I got another wedding invitation and it'll be another wedding to attend alone. I hate going! Why is it that God hasn't sent me someone?" Jessica began as rivers of tears began working their way down her face.
She closed her Bible and began rubbing her daughter's head.
"I wish I had an answer darling but the one I have you aren't fond of". She replied quietly.
"I know I should depend on God and I do but still...is it wrong to want someone? It doesn't feel fair to be left alone. Marta has known this guy for only 6 months." Jessica answered a bit angrily.
"But would you want Marta's fiancé? Anyone can get married, Jessica, but do you want just anyone?" she replied. She had repeated this question many times over the past few months as wedding invitations for Jessica's friends poured in. She had prayed earnestly that God would send someone to Jessica but for the moment things remained as they were. In all honesty, she was relieved. She wasn't sure how she'd live without her only child.
"Well I don't want just anyone! Yet I don't want no one!” she said as she looked desperately up at her mother.
"We'll keep praying. You know God puts the solitary in families. He promises that. For the time being you have your father and mother who love you very much. Isn't that enough?" She said pleadingly.
Jessica continued to sob. There wasn't much else she could say. She was sure that once the right man arrived all these anxious moments and tears would be soon forgotten. Jessica was so young.
"You're so young Jessica" she said, trying to comfort her.
"You were married by this time mom" she stated with passion.
"It didn't mean I was happy. You should never get married just because everyone else is or because you think you'll never find someone else. I made a mistake marrying so young. Waiting means God will bring you someone better." she said earnestly.
"I think you're just tired dear. Why don't you have a light snack, cast all your cares on God in prayer and head to bed early. I promise you that by tomorrow morning you'll feel much better about all this." She said.
In time Jessica left her bedroom and disappeared downstairs into the kitchen. She began to pray that God would begin to comfort her daughter. Her thoughts began racing through all the day’s events and wondering what else she could’ve said or down to make her feel better. She didn't have an answer to Jessica's anxiety. Her only answer was prayer. A little after 10:30, much later than her usual bed time, she turned off the light. She hoped her daughter would do the same.
The following morning Jessica joyfully arrived in the kitchen. Her makeup was perfect, her hair straightened and her smile wide. She wanted to ask Jessica if she felt better but feared that asking would only remind her of last night's troubles. Her daughter sat down to breakfast and chattered happily about the soon to be workday, her weekend and their next mother daughter brunch. All seemed to be forgotten. She was thankful for answered prayers. She had always found that a little food, an earnest prayer and a good night’s rest was the start to feeling better. Everything always looked brighter in the morning after you’d given God time to work.
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