“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)

“MOMMY!”  It was a few years ago and I was shopping in a local grocery store looking for some Italian spices to make my Nana’s special sauce.  That was when I heard the voice.  It  sounded so scared and so alone.  I rounded the aisle and saw her.  A little girl no more than 3  years old looking lost and confused.  I walked slowly up to her and bent down to look her in the   eyes.  There were tears in them that touched my heart.  I asked her what was wrong and she  quickly said that she couldn’t find her Mommy.         

“Don’t worry,” I said.  “We will find her.”  She reached up and took my hand and we slowly  walked down the aisle and up the next one.  All at once the girl started to point and jump up and   down.  “There she is!” she said.  I watched as the girl ran at top speed down the rest of the aisle  to a woman with her back turned.  The woman was talking with friends and I could see she  hadn’t yet noticed that her little girl had wandered off.        

The little girl grabbed her Mom’s coat and began to pull on it with all her might.  Without  missing a beat her Mom reached down, picked her up, and kissed her cheek.  I smiled as I saw  the little girl’s eyes light up with joy and her arms wrap around her Mom’s neck.  I decided there  was nothing more I needed to do.  The little girl was no longer alone.  She was home and she was  happy.  I waved to the little girl who waved back and resumed my search for the missing spices.        

In this life we all sometimes feel like that little girl.  We feel alone, scared, lost, and  confused.  But the truth is you are never alone.  God is with you always.  God loved you into life.   And God will never leave you.  All you have to do is reach out with your heart and you will find  Him there.  He will love you and be with you all through this life until you are back Home in His   loving arms, Forever!

Joseph J. Mazzella