He is Near.

Prayer rises from our humble den - our family house of prayer - a fragrant incense, and we barely take a moment to consider how quickly it moves to our Father's throne.  In an instant He hears.  Our God who hears; our God who sees.  He is near.

Lately, our hearts burn with prayer requests so near.  Oh, yes, we pray for our nation, for Israel, for China, for Mozambique, and our darling sponsored child in India... but my prayers take on more urgency as I press through the complexities that fill each day.

Prayer ... the only viable alternative when faced with the ever shifting landscape of mood swings, heartache, drama, laughter, tears, squeals, and squabbles that accompany life with six girls ages 10 - 18.

Day One, as beautiful, smart, funny teen comes home in tears, rejected and "friendless" ... with best friend hundreds of miles away.  I sigh, compassionate fingers tracing the beauty of golden waves that frame her face.

Day Two, as classic beauty's eyes darken at the thought of a future that is both too close and too far away ... not to mention impossible to fathom.  I hold her hand as we walk, talk, walk, talk, and find at least a light of breakthrough.

And I hug and hold tight beautiful birthday girl who joins the ranks of double digit girls.

Day Three, as recently added beauty struggles to gain footing in a new school when the educational system has failed her for a decade. And I assure her again, "You can do it."

Day Four, as dark-haired beauty's eyes brim with tears, as she realizes that her life is perched at the brink of another world - one called adolescence, and she has no idea what that is supposed to look like and how she is supposed to fit in.  And I hold her close against the storm.

Day Five, as mommy/teacher winces at the seemingly insurmountable hills that stand between each young beauty and her future dreams.  How will the two ever overcome the odds that others have stacked in front of them?  How will one make a decision among a myriad of possibilites?  How will another stand strong in her commitments in a world that constantly tells her to do the opposite?  How will mommy/teacher reach them all and teach them all and not fall flat on her face in the face of everything?

And yet, falling flat on my face is not so bad when Father God is here to lift me into his arms.  Was it only last week that I cried and cried at his feet, crying for the loss and pain that my own arms cannot heal?  Yes, His arms are the ones who can heal them .. and heal me.  The God who hears; the God who is near.  So near.

So near to me now.  I fall.