He Promised Comfort

Jim's arm was draped around my shoulder as he moaned, "Mom, let's pray. Bobb, Al and Kimbo are all leaving and it just hurts inside." He put his hand on his chest. Since they would all be crossing the ocean from our home in Japan, this was no small parting. All had been here for parts of the summer and now it was time to head back to school in California. Bobb would be the first to leave.

We prayed that the Lord would help us as they all left and we stayed behind.

I tried to be the "brave one" in the days that followed. But I was aware that Jim (16) and Mark (11) were having a battle.

I thought about Bobb leaving. My mind wandered and I could see him as a child in 6th grade. He wore dark-rimmed glasses and they seemed to fit his studious, organized personality.

I'd think and tears would surface.

What was it? Was it crossing the ocean that made it so hurtful? Whatever it was, it was mastering us.

I comforted the boys, "The best is yet to come. God has many happy things ahead for us yet." But they were hollow words. I was already lonesome for Kimbo and Bobb and they hadn't left home yet.

I thought of my Mom how brave she managed to be as we left, one by one. She never cried in public, but I knew it hurt her so much.

But I bet I'll cry, I thought.

And then it happened. I remembered that the blessed Holy Spirit is called our "Comforter." So I prayed differently than when I prayed with Jim. I reminded the Holy Spirit that He was our Comforter and that we desperately needed His comfort.

Then I forgot about it.

Looking back later I just marveled at how the Holy Spirit did meet us and took away completely that grief, the dreaded upcoming loneliness, heaviness--whatever it was that had enveloped us for a while and threatened to swallow us up.

The last night all four boys slept side by side on foam-rubber mattresses on the living room floor with the air conditioning on. Their upstairs rooms were hot and humid. We decided to get a picture of this. Bobb set the camera and then crawled back onto his mattress. But it wasn't a sad evening. We laughed.

For lunch the next day they wanted Russian Piroshke, a family favorite for special occasions.

And then it came time to gather up the suitcases and head for the airport. I can't explain it, but we were far from a grief-stricken bunch! We were free to say good-bye happily. The Holy Spirit was comforting us. Surely we needed to be a praise-filled group. Bobb was off to Bible college for his third year. He had spent part of the summer counseling at a Bible camp. Made so many new friends. And during the summer renewed old ones. Two came in cars to take us all along to the airport. And when Kimbo left later, we handled that with grace, too!

We should be sad? No, we would be happy! We would rejoice, and we did! As each one left, we who were behind were free to help them instead of thinking of just ourselves! The Holy Spirit really did comfort us!