Dharma opened the door and ushered Judy in out of the cold. “Come in, come in. The kettle is hot. You can leave your boots by the door.”

            Judy rubbed her hands together. “A cup of tea sounds perfect. Oh, and you have a fire going. How lovely.” She shrugged out of her coat and Dharma hung it on a nearby hook.

            “Make yourself at home by the fire. I’ll bring the tea. Earl Gray, right?”

            Judy grinned. “You know me. With just a splash of milk.”

            “Coming right up.”

            A minute later, Dharma settled on a comfortable chair across from her best friend. “So, what’s going on with you? How are Greg and Kristi?”

            Judy’s smile dimmed. “They’re stressed. Greg’s been working long hours, and Kristi’s job is pretty demanding as well. I wish I could help them, but they’re so far away. I always imagined when I retired, I’d spend lots of time with my grandbabies, but I never thought Greg would have moved to the other side of the state.”

            “Have you ever considered moving out there?”

            Judy shook her head. “No, I couldn’t. My mom needs me here. She’s in her late eighties. She’s still living in her home with a caregiver who visits daily, but I visit her twice a week. It would devastate her if I moved away.”

            Dharma handed her a plate of cookies. “You’re a good daughter.”

            Judy took a cookie and laid it on her plate. “Thank you. But the truth is, she’s a good mother. She did so much for me over the years. How could I not take care of her when she needs me? We’ve lived our whole lives here. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Also, Don is still working part-time, and he loves it.” Judy grinned at Dharma. “And on top of that, besides Mom, I have you, and I’d hate to leave our church or our home. No, I’ll just have to find a way to budget for more plane trips. I don’t like making the 5 hour drive out there.”

            “Have you prayed about it?”

            “About moving? No. I honestly believe we’re where God wants us to be.”

            Dharma set her mug on the coffee table. “I don’t mean about moving. Why don’t you pray about Greg and Kristi moving back here? Isn’t her family around here too?”

            Judy nodded. “They are, thankfully. If they weren’t, I don’t know when we’d ever see them. At least they come out here for holidays since both sides of the family are here.”

            “I think you need to pray about God bringing Greg and his family back home. They’d have a built-in support system.”

            “It would be wonderful, but how would that work? Both of them would need to get new jobs.”

            Dharma leveled a gaze at Judy. “Do you honestly think the God who created the universe couldn’t help your son and daughter-in-law get new jobs?”

            Judy’s face brightened. “I never thought of it that way.”

            Dharma smiled at her dear friend. “Jesus tells us if we ask for anything in His name, He will answer us. If it’s God’s will for your family to be reunited, of course He can make it happen.”

            “I never thought about praying for them to come home. But you’re right. God cares about my family. Why wouldn’t He want us to be together again? Thank you, as always, for your wise counsel.” Judy pulled out her phone. “And now, I’m going to start checking the local job listings. Someone around here will be fortunate to hire my son.”

Matthew 7:7-11

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

God, so often we don’t think to come to You in prayer. We may think our concerns are too small, or even too big, for You to handle. But that’s not true at all. There is nothing too insignificant in our lives for You. You know the number of hairs on our heads. And there’s nothing too big for the Creator of the universe to handle. You want to hear from us, in everything. Thank You so much for caring. Please help us remember to come to You with all our needs. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.