God of All Comfort

Family Circle by Lee Stroncek

"When as little children we have cuddled up
into our mother's lap after a fall or a misfortune,
and have felt her dear arms around us,
and her soft kisses on our hair,
we have had comfort.

When, as grown-up people, after a hard day's work,
we have put on our slippers and seated ourselves by the fire,
in an easy chair with a book,
we have had comfort.

When, after a painful illness, we have begun to recover,
and have been able to stretch our limbs
and open our eyes without pain,
we have had comfort.

When someone whom we dearly love
has been ill almost unto death,
and has been restored to us in health again,
we have had comfort.

A thousand times in our lives probably, have we said,
with a sigh of relief, as a toil over or burdens laid down,
Well, this is comfortable,
and in that word comfortable
there has been comprised more a rest, and relief,
and satisfaction, and pleasure,
than any other word in the English language
could possibly be made to express.

We cannot fail, therefore,
to understand the meaning of this name of God,
the God of all comfort."

~ Hannah Whitall Smith ~