A Promise, A Prayer and Another Promise

The other day, I made a promise to a friend that I would pray the remainder of my morning rosary for her. (Ed Note: I usually pray my rosary in the car on the drive back from dropping kids off at school, which gives me time for FOUR decades, leaving me to fit the FIFTH one in at some other point during the day).

As it worked out, I was left praying the fifth joyful mystery for my friend--the finding of the child Jesus in the temple. As I hopped back in the car for another trip, I listened closely, meditating on the scripture, when I suddenly heard something with a new set of ears:

"Your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety. Jesus said to them (Mary and Joseph), 'Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' " Luke 2: 48-49

Suddenly, a great burden was lifted off my heart. The worry I was carrying for our not-yet-named newest child(ren) dissipated. Because as we wait for news, as I wear a path through the floor with my pacing in nervous anticipation, I found peace through God's word about the safety of our child. In our absence, God is with her (or him..or them).

It was a truly joyful meditation on that final decade of the mysteries of the same name. The promise I had made to my friend was fulfilled and in return, I was reminded of another promise made by God to us, His children.