A Bit Of Jolly

Have you ever prayed for your children, but deep down felt like it would take a literal miracle for it to be answered?
Sadly, I have…


I had a dear friend who used to remind me continually of who Jesus is. Not who Jesus was, but who He is~ the same yesterday, today and forever. The same Jesus who worked wondrous miracles throughout the Bible is the same Jesus working miracles in my life today.


My friend went home to heaven one week before my dad. He was such an encourager. From the day we met him until the day he went home to be with Jesus, he continually lifted my heart when it was down. His words were like presents and hugs wrapped into one. He was always jolly, and I think of him so often.


Today I recall such a day of encouragement. You see, a mother’s prayer has been answered and my friend encouraged me through the waiting.


If you have or had teenage children (or children in general), you will understand. Although it may seem trivial compared to the heartache some are facing today, it can still break a mama’s heart when her daughter’s fight continually and you don’t see any hope at the end of the tunnel. You have visions of them hating each other the rest of their lives. Every holiday get together from now until infinity will be riddled with strife or empty seats because they refuse to celebrate together.
Yes, it was that bad.


For a few years, I think I cried over my bible and coffee every morning after they left for school.


And then one day a miracle slipped in. It was so subtle and although they are completely different personalities, my girls became best friends. And I am in awe. I had almost given up on that prayer. A prayer I prayed for almost 20 years. And when I stood back and watched it unfold, I thought about the words of my friend as he told me stories of his own two girls. How he encouraged me continually, and how his smile lit up his face as he spoke of his daughter’s sweet friendship now.


Today, I am on a Christmas shopping trip with my own daughters. Not just the two I spoke of, but my youngest and my daughter in law as well. It has become a Christmas tradition. Our “girls” trip. We get a hotel. We shop, we eat, we drink lots of coffee, we shop some more, we laugh and maybe cry, we pray, we blast Christmas music…
and this mama rejoices.


My God is so good.


Today I want to encourage you to not give up on the heart of your mama prayers. Today I want to encourage you to be an encourager. Everyone needs a bit of jolly in their lives. You can give them that gift.


I’m so thankful for my friend and I’ll never forget his words to me. Today as I sit and listen to my girls laughter in the other room, I smile through the tears and I know my friend is smiling in heaven right along with me. With a twinkle in his eye I can hear him say~ I told you Charisse.
God can do anything.


Scripture Reading:
Hebrews 13:8
Hebrews 10:24-25
Romans 1:11-12, 8:26, 15:2, 5
I Thessalonians 5:11, 17
2 Corinthians 1:5
Galatians 6:2
Philippians 4:6
Luke 11:9
John 15:7
Mark 11:24
Jeremiah 33:3
Psalm 27:13-14, 28:7, 34:17