As I sit in the coolness of the forest 

Tears streaming down my face

I hear footsteps 

But not my own 

I lift my head from my hands and gaze around me 

Then I see Him 

He’s standing at the edge of the forest gazing at me 

I slowly rise to my feet, feeling a strange connection to this man 

He slowly approaches me 

I fall to my knees 

Something about this man feels holy 

He kneels beside me and lifts my chin up with his hand 

As I gaze into his eyes I wonder who this man is 

He wipes away my tears and smiles tenderly at me 

“Dear heart, why are you crying?” He whispers, His eyes never leaving mine 

I whisper back, “It’s been a rough season”

Even as I say the words more tears trickle down my face  

But this time they don’t go unseen 

He sees them and wipes them away 

“Dear heart, I know it’s been hard,” He whispers 

I fall into His arms 

I feel Him embrace me with with a love so strong that it overwhelms me

He holds me tightly and says, “I am with you ’til the end of the age”

I gasp and pull away from His embrace 

It’s as if a veil has been torn away and I’m seeing Him for the first time 

“Father, Father!” 

I cry, tears streaming down my face again 

He laughs and smiles 

“My daughter,” He says, wiping away my tears again 

“I am here; I will never leave or forsake you”

I fall into his arms again 

“Please don’t ever let me go,” I whisper, clinging to him tightly 

“Never,” He whispers, holding me in his arms 

Then without a word or a warning He’s gone and I am alone in the forest again 

I gaze around me uncertain if this was all a dream 

But then I feel peace wash over me and I feel something like a tender embrace 

Then I hear it 

A small whisper in the wind 

“I am with you always”

I breathe in deep knowing my Father will always be with me 

I lay back on the ground and feel my Father’s presence all around