Thursday, March 4 As a mother comforts her son, so I will keep comforting you.​—Isa. 66:13.

[Áine]

Thursday, March 4

As a mother comforts her son, so I will keep comforting you.—Isa. 66:13.

 

When the prophet Elijah was on the run for his life, he was so discouraged that he wished for death. Jehovah sent a mighty angel to visit that discouraged man. The angel provided very practical help. He gave Elijah a hot meal and encouraged him to eat. (1 Ki. 19:5-8) That account illustrates a useful truth: Sometimes a simple act of practical kindness can do a great deal of good. Perhaps a meal, a modest gift, or a thoughtful card would assure a downhearted brother or sister of our love and concern. If we feel uncomfortable discussing very personal or painful subjects, perhaps we can still give such practical help. Jehovah miraculously gave Elijah the help he needed to go all the way to Mount Horeb, far out of the reach of those who sought to do him harm. What lesson may we draw? If we want to offer comfort to victims of abuse, we may need first to help them feel safe, whether at their home or at the Kingdom Hall. w19.05 16 ¶11;17 ¶13-14

[Vinnie]

Jehovah is a loving father but it's interesting here that he compares himself to a loving mother.  It has been noted that many a soldier during war time under great stress or just before they die, cry out for their mothers or who they looked up to as a mother figure.  A mother is the one we go to to comfort our emotional pain or a shoulder to cry on.  A mother has such comforting qualities built into her. Jehovah knows what we need. This days text brings out a very important understanding.  A person needs to feel safe emotionally before they can unload and deal with their deepest emotional pains. Only then will proper healing begin to take place. 

 

 

[Sister Twister]

The practical help that we can give even in a small way may go a long way to build a relationship with someone and help them feel comforted at a difficult time, it may be a small act of caring but to the person who is suffering it may be so in need of knowing they are cared about.

 

@Qaplatold us an experience of giving a long haired hitch hiker $10 and then years later having it returned at an assembly from the now smartly dressed brother .

 

1 John 4 V 11 - showing love to our brothers is not for us to choose to do it is an obligation .

[Alexa]

We understand that discussing very personal and painful subjects can recall the experience of abuse. We need to do practical steps, a little gesture making sure that they feel comfortable.

[Elnathan]

The God of comfort who took care of his servants of old will never abandon us in these last days, hard to deal with. He will always be Our Comforter & loving Father.