If I Could I Would

If I could, I would protect you from the sadness in your eyes…I know I can never cry your tears. But I would if I could [Regina Belle, 1993]. Don’t you wish you could sometimes? On the last day of classes my students used the prompt ‘If I could, I would…’ to create sentences as part of their reflection on the past year. As they shared, I too reflected internally on that ‘If statement’. I’ve struggled with this a number of times. Recently I’ve watched a friend of mine struggle to accomplish a career-related goal. The area she’s challenged in is not at all a problem for me. If I could, I would do it for her—but I can’t. I cheer her on. This is her mountain to climb. Her processing. You watch those you care about walk through difficulties and challenges of all kinds. You long to make their world a little easier. Take a piece of your heart and heal theirs. Give them your vision; longing for them to see what you see. You try to discern between helping and enabling. The lines are blurred sometimes, and you want to be the deliverer—but know you can’t or shouldn’t. Their story is theirs to write and theirs to tell.

There are times you wish you could ease their pain or rescue them from a certain journey, but you can’t. You watch helplessly as the giants you admire slowly diminish in strength and clarity of mind. They once held and supported you – they carried you until you could walk on your own. Now you carry them–shielding them. If I could, I would turn back the hands of time. All too soon we discover it waits for no man. The days slip away and often takes much along the way. You wake up one day and the landscape of current situation has changed. Things and people are missing. Sometimes it’s you that may have to move on; it’s you who have changed. If I could, I would…tell it all to stand still. Just for one more minute–If I could.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:8-9

***Thanks for reading. Here’s the truth- God can. When He doesn’t, there’s always a great reason.