Hidey Holes
by
Rebecca Somoskey
Have you ever watched a child run to his secret place when life gets overwhelming? That secret place where no one can watch as he or she nurses their wounds. It might be a secluded corner, behind or under a bed, or even in the bottom of a closet. In Texas they call them "hidey holes".
My husband’s place of refuge was under and behind the old wood cook stove. The stove stood on legs that lifted it off the floor just enough to leave space for a young child to lay. When he got a whipping or suffered some injustice he’d crawl under the stove where it was warm, then cry until he fell asleep. My hidey hole was wherever I could find to be out of sight of everyone else; a rather difficult thing to do when you live in a three or four room house with Mom, Dad, and six siblings. Often I’d retreat to the outdoor toilet. Nobody would bother me there unless they had need of the facility.
As adults we still have our hidey holes. We may find a place to be alone. and we suffer alone. Or we immerse ourselves in some activity that pushes the pain to the back of our minds. These could be television, sports activities, work, food, drugs, alcohol, sex, to name a few. The problem is, by using these as hidey holes, the pain is only masked, not erased.
Children of the Lord have learned that God wants to be our refuge, our hidey hole. Not only that, He wants to completely erase the pain. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." David talks about it in Psalm 91. He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings thou shalt trust.... (Verses 1&4) Where could we find a better hidey hole than in the secret place of the Most High. And as a mother hen gathers her babies beneath her when the storm or danger comes, we find shelter under His feathered wings. Talk about comfort and safety!
Life is battering millions of our children mercilessly and the pain grows greater every day. Many are abandoned, abused, rejected, hungry, homeless. They often suffer from fear, failure, poverty, loneliness, illness, and depression, and it touches every level of our society.
We must teach them now, because life does not get any easier. So I challenge you reader. The next time a child in your world needs refuge, regardless of his or her age, take them by the hand and walk with them to the feet of Jesus, our closest hidey hole. Hug them. Cry with them. Pray with them, and above all tell them what God has promised to do for them. No greater gift could you ever give to one of God’s little lambs. (See Psalm 27:10; Isaiah 40:11; Mark 10:14. Also see "Feed The Lambs" in the poetry section of the website.)
