At 2:15 a.m. my phone emitted a soft “ding” notification of a message. I reached over and looked at the screen. It was an irrelevant, seemingly erroneous message from someone I had worked with last week. So I disregarded it and then realized my right jaw was aching. Not enough to wake me, the notification had done that. But it was enough that I couldn’t return to sleep. The dull ache has happened several times in the last 8-10 days. I lay there wondering why it is happening and thinking I may need to schedule a dental appointment. Then I remembered the fever blister on my upper left lip and considered it might simply be a function of broader oral nerve involvement in inflammation. .
As I lay there I heard another soft ding at 2:46 a.m. It was a young adult with whom I have had a mentoring relationship for three years, whom I had housed for a season, taught budgeting, worked with through a failing relationship, helped buy a car, and discussed spirituality and Scripture with for hours at a time.
The tone of the texts was full of regrets and self-recrimination. The emergency mental health hotline provided by a counselor for such dark nights had failed to answer so the lament had come to me.
“I just couldn’t sleep and didn’t know who else to text. 💓”
After 30 minutes or so of texting back and forth:
“Good night Mrs. Cathy. I love you. Thank you for everything.”
Me:
“Rest. I love you, You are one after God’s own heart. Keep your eyes, mind, heart and ears attuned to Him.”
Caller:
I Will. Thank you. ❤️”
Me:
“Thank our LORD. To whom we are both indebted for His mercy, love, and grace. For God’s glory, others’ gain, and the fullness of His good to and for us”