Just in the past week, I have spoken to several women who are crying out with desperation for a relationship. The old “child chant”-‘he loves me…he loves me not’…sometimes rings as if to haunt throughout a woman’s life. In our chant there is a longing to receive that “one true love”. “What threatens this nation is the fact that many people have become so frustrated that they have altered the Master’s plan to fit their own situation and needs(TD Jakes).” Consequently, we have lovers and do not really love, and we rush ahead of God to find our own “true love”, when the real love that God meant for us to be with has to settle for a second best, and what is even worse so do we. “That is what we do when we enter into “pseudo” love affairs. They mimic marriage and actually mock it. I realize that many of these pseudo relationships are sincere and meaningful to the participants. But, it is possible to be sincerely wrong (TD Jakes quote).” I always tell the girls wait patiently for what is best for you, refuse to settle for second best!!!

Hope literally means to desire with expectation of fulfillment, to wish, to want, confident expectation, to place confidence, rely…and a number of other definitions. When we lose our hope, we lose all desire with expectation of fulfillment…we stop believing that what we long for will be fulfilled, we stop wishing, wanting, we are not confident to expect any good thing. Think about what gets your motor going every day. Is it work, going for an appointment? Meeting a friend or a loved one for lunch? Finishing an art project , praying, studying? What if there is absolutely nothing for you to do but eat, sleep, and breathe? What is the expectation then? I believe we always need to expect something good, wait patiently for the fulfillment of whatever that something is. What are we waiting for? Something good!!!! We need to guard against letting go of hope- many things that are counterproductive for our contentment , peace and livelihood…we do need to let go of…but always try to expect something good is about to happen and you will not let go of your hope.

A couple of days ago I was coming in from parking my car in the garage and there scurrying down my driveway (which is about 50 feet off the main street in my city) was a mother, woodland duck and four baby ducks. They were waddling…  as if annoyed by my presence… up the middle of my driveway. Yes, you guessed it… they were heading for the busy main street. My heart moved with compassion as I pondered what was about to happen. How strange…what are they doing here in the middle of this busy city, there are no ponds, no fountains with enough water to call home.

Many of us when roaming in unfamiliar territory may find ourselves running straight for a very destructive end as well. …my mom used to say “don’t run in the woods in the dark as you can not see the cliffs or drop offs and you may run into them”. All of us face new territory… transitions in our lives are always an opportunity to grow. Always use wisdom to think before you act, make wise choices.

People need a permit in New York to get a pistol and we all know that it is illegal to drive a car without a drivers license (or permit) which requires a test to ensure roadworthy skills. When we go to the altar to get married to our future mate we need a license … to marry. It boggles my mind how anyone, anywhere without any restriction can be a parent, whether in your right mind ,  emotional setting or bedlam. Funny- how parents who are opting to adopt undergo intense scrutiny yet “the parents of a child” are not given the same scrutiny whatsoever.. of course unless brought to the attention of family court…or parties involved make a complaint. Yesterday…a three month old child was shot and killed by his father…this was a domestic violence situation. This is insanity.  It has been said …”if she is being beaten she must deserve it, she must like it”, the mindless comments go on and on. No one deserves to be beaten, ridiculed, mocked, belittled,emotionally tortured or imprisoned in their own home. My heart goes out to the poor mother of this child -it was not her fault-she was trying to end a nightmare in her home…domestic violence. This poor, sweet angel was just relying on his parents to nurture and take care of him, trusting them to love him unconditionally. The fact that children go through the tyranny that they do… when living in domestic violence- was just brought to the forefront by this helpless, tiny, martyr. Bless this family , O God.

When I was in England, we strolled through the majestic grounds of the Blenheim Palace. As we strolled our eyes beheld a magnolia that was purchased by a royal family donated to the garden… in full bloom, it was a breathtaking sight. Hiding behind the magnolia tree was finely, groomed hedgerow that led into the gate to another garden… hanging above the entrance was a sign that read: Secret Garden. There was such peace in that place. Here the rhododendrons lined the walk in clusters of pinks, whites and purples. The grass did not even look real it was so carefully cultivated. It was a safe place. Each one of us has a safe place to go within ourselves, when it seems you can not go on, when things are so crazy, so lonely….there is a secret place in knowing the Lord in having His presence with us in being able to retreat to that safe and peaceful place in the Father’s arms. There, He takes away the hurt and the pain. Come to His Secret Garden and find refreshing.