Pink Fuzzy Psalms

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? Psalm 8:3-4

So, I went to visit the fam over the holiday weekend. My mother, sister-in-law, newborn niece and I flew to Chicago to stay with my grandparents. Six people crammed into a tiny condo! And not having the perfect relationship with any of them, especially mom, I was a little trepidacious about the visit.

I have spent a lot of time reading the Psalms lately. I've worn out my highlighter. Two of the verses that I wanted to bring with me to Chicago were Psalm 34:7 – The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them – and Psalm 91:11 – For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. Prior to the trip, I prayed that God would send His angels as some kind of celestial force field to guard me, my mind and especially my mouth, because I knew the next few days might be somewhat difficult.

When I woke up that first morning, I was surrounded in a deep funk. I think it started when I walked into my grandparent’s bedroom and noticed the family portraits lining the dresser – my brother, sister in law and baby; my aunt, uncle and their kids; my cousin, his wife and their son – and then a picture of just me. My greatest fear – being single forever in a world of marrieds – illuminated in that dresser top of tacky frames.

I walked around the rest of the day like that depressed, bouncing dot on the Prozac ads. I was blinded by a fog of sad I couldn’t break out of. I took long walks and called friends on my cell phone and asked them to pray for me. I went back to the condo and resented everyone there for being happily married. (Or at least married).

The next morning I passed those taunting photographs again on the way to take a shower. As I set my stack of clean clothes on top of the fuzzy, rose-colored toilet cozy, I noticed a basket of devotional books off to the side. I sat down on the tile and opened one. The scripture for the day was my precious Psalm 91:11. And I smiled. And I realized that big, mighty, supreme, powerful God, who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, was sitting there with me on the floor of this lacy, Pepto Bismol pink bathroom.

And then I remembered that God rocked.