“Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it . . . for the Lord gives to His beloved even in her sleep.”  Psalm 127: 1a & 2b

After graduate school I got a job directing small group homes for developmentally disabled children.  This job demanded most of my time and attention, and I was eager to do well having spent years preparing for such a position.  One morning one of our teenage clients ran away.  We called the police, put her picture on TV, but by 10 PM no one called.  As I drove home, the responsibility of this client’s life weighed heavily upon me.  I had given this job everything, and my best was not good enough.

I wanted to be able to go to God, whom I had ignored for many years.  I began to take stock and knew my life’s priorities were out of order.  This job had first place in my life:  before God, my husband, family, friends, and even my own health.  I promised I would put Him first, and let Him tell me how to get the rest of my life in His order, and I begged Him to put my client in a safe place.

At 3 AM, I awoke to a phone call from a Catholic priest.  A family found her at 11 PM and took her to him. I knew God had heard my prayer and that everything would be OK now that I was committed to following Him.