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Devotional

Five Minutes in Kenya

by KAREN BRADLEY BEAUTY Worshiping God
Five Minutes in Kenya
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.”
Psalms 9:1-2

My heart moped. The gray winter day mirrored my mood. Lord, I miss the sunshine in Kenya.


My mind drifted. The hot water kettle whistled. Lord, I miss the tea in Kenya.


My eyes misted. The living room felt empty. Lord, I miss my friends in Kenya. 


I try to concentrate on the Psalm open in front of me to no avail. I sit and stare and wonder why it’s so hard to focus. I wonder when -- if -- I’ll go back to Kenya. 


Soon, my wondering turns to prayer. Help me, Lord, even as I grieve Kenya, to be thankful for the beauty right here, all around me. Help me be thankful for the stark winter day, my bland cup of tea, and even my empty living room. 


Mid-prayer, my phone chimes. Messenger video call. I click it open and a cheerful face fills my screen! It’s Zuri, my good friend’s six-year-old daughter. She simply says, “Do you want to see a leopard?” 


“Zuri? Is that you, Zuri? You see a leopard?”  


“There’s a leopard in the tree. Can you see it?” she asks, as if I’m right there with her in the safari vehicle, on the Maasai Mara -- in Kenya! I strain my eyes and just barely make out the leopard, lounging on a limb, tail dangling. 


“I wanted to show you the leopard, Aunt Karen,” she says. Her mom and friends all greet me then we say good-bye. No more than five minutes have passed. 


My heart sings, my mind clears, my eyes mist but, this time, with happy tears as I thank the Lord for his loving, perfectly-timed, beautiful gift -- a video call from Zuri in Kenya.  


“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2 


Dear friend, the Lord knows when your heart mopes. He knows when your mind drifts and your eyes mist. He knows when you miss a place and people you deeply love. Our all-knowing, all-loving, all-beautiful heavenly Father knows you and loves you. Please trust him today with your tears of sadness and your tears of joy. 


(My friend named her daughter “Zuri” which means “beautiful” in Kiswahili.) 


Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, when we feel empty help us turn to you. Open our eyes to the beauty around us, wherever we are. Open our hearts to the beauty in your Word, wherever we are. Open our souls to the beauty of your love for us, wherever we are. We pray this, trusting in the beautiful name of Jesus. Amen.
Question for Reflection

Is there a Bible verse that helps you refocus on the beauty of the Lord?

Comments
Karen Bradley
February 22, 2022

“One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 27:4