I’ve been feeling rather pummeled lately.  Okay… a lot pummeled.  I’m in Mama Bear mode, somebody is messin’ with my cub and you know the rest.  Today I went for a drive, a very long drive, and just tried to sort through everything that has happened and everything that has been said and everything that I am feeling. In truth I wasn’t just looking for answers but freedom, freedom to do some “house cleaning”.

I just drove, saw some fall leaves (no kidding… Hwy 42…fall leaves…awesome), and drove and thought and prayed and drove some more.  Much of the time I was praying and just looking for encouragement and… courage.  Lots of courage. Lots and lots of courage.

And then I pulled in to a rest area, checked my phone and saw a message from a friend:  God’s got your back.

I realized that in the middle of the pummeling, I heard many words.  Fancy pants words.  Just an abundance of words.

Let me encourage you in…..

Let me encourage you to do….

Consider this an opportunity….

Let me challenge you to….

Just fancy pants words that, in truth, have never really brought me encouragement.  Or peace.  They always just relayed the idea of “I’m not really hearing you”.  And so when I got the message, I immediately loved being reminded that God had my back but I also realized what words really encourage me, words that are missing from my life.

Not fancy pants words, real words.

I’ve. got. your. back.

In truth, I can’t be encouraged to do something, I can’t accept your challenge, I can’t do any of those things, those fancy pants things,  if I don’t know that someone has my back.  Someone I trust…. has. my. back.

Today one of my dearest friends,  a lady from my women’s group that I adore, just hugged me and talked to me in such a way that assured me that she would allow no one, not anyone, to drive a wedge between us.  I got the message: she’s got my back.  It so reminded me of all of Hammy’s greatly timed hugs…. she’s got my back.

I think those are the 4 most beautiful words to me right now:  I’ve got your back.   I’m trying to remember all of the ways that others show me that they’ve got my back.  And I need to remember to say these four words to others: I’ve got your back.

Dear Lil’ Cub,

I’ve got your back.  I always have, I always will.  Never forget that: I’ve got your back.

Love,

Mama Bear