As we parked in our daughter’s driveway to join them for the fourth of July celebrations, our three-year-old granddaughter Irene, came rushing out their door. Tears streamed down her face as she ran to me as fast as her legs would carry her. As she covered the nearly fifty feet, she sobbed over and over, “Nanny, Nanny.” Reaching for her, I scooped her up in my arms and held her close. “Oh honey, what is the matter?”

Too upset for words, she pushed out her lower lip. The red and swollen lip said it all. She had taken a fall and wanted me to comfort her and make her feel better. Or at the very least, get as much mileage out of the owwie as possible.

As the mother of now grown children, it had been some time since I’d felt needed to comfort my children’s owwies. Holding little Irene, a sense of warmth spread through my heart. Her crisis seemed to fill a void I hadn’t realized was there; the need to comfort my loved ones. I fussed over her and when we hugged again, I told her it would be okay. Soon the tears dried and we were onto more fun things.

Later in the evening, as I got ready for bed, I reflected on that sweet moment when all Irene wanted was to tell her Nanny about her owwie. It caused me to think of my Lord and Savior, and I wondered if perhaps He felt the same; watching us go about our lives, sorting through the painful, difficult moments, and waiting for us to run to Him to share our hurts. In our adult independence, sometimes we don’t pause to recognize our comforter is right there.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV).

In this journey of life, at some time or another, we all need to be comforted. I also think we were built to comfort others because doing so creates unique connections.

What a blessing to comfort my granddaughter and connect in that tender way. I suspect God takes great delight in pouring out His comforting love as well. He awaits us with open arms, ready to scoop us up, to soothe our hurts, and remind us everything will be okay. As I go about my days, I want to be more intentional about giving my Creator the delight of being my Comforter.