My husband has a belief that the words most people really want to hear are:"It’s going to be o.k." If you read the scriptures, the words most often spoken-usually by angels, messengers of God- are "Do not be afraid". From Genesis to Revelation, your will find "do not be afraid" or "fear not" more than any other words. The scripture writers must really be on to something.

"It’s going to be o.k." and "Fear not!" send for all practical purposes the same message. I have thought all morning about the importance of these words spoken at just the right moment. I have been thinking about the words because one of the people who spoke those words to me passed on to eternal life last night. This Messenger of God, my friend’s Mother, was truly an angel and one of the best pray-ers I have ever known.  In her deep alto voice, in a way only she could, she would say: "Listen, darling, it’s going to be o.k. I am praying. " In her nonanxious way, she delivered her message to me at two very important times in my life. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer and I was frightened beyond movement and when my father had a stroke and was dying. In her simple, faithful way, she spoke those words and I believed her. At that moment in time I was consoled and comforted and felt held in her prayers- and more importantly in the arms of the Holy.

As I reflected this morning on her wonderful, generous and prayerful life, I wondered: Who will take up her words in the world? Who will speak those words we all need to hear? Is it me? Is it you?

Traveling mercies, dear one……