A prayer in the presence of a loving father by Michelle Keshat.

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 3418.

The second the bus stopped at the corner, my little girl climbed off and ran as fast as she could toward

where I stood. Something wasn't right. She was crying and immediately my mind

jumped to the worst case scenarios.

It wasn't quite so dramatic.

Someone told her they didn't like her anymore.

In typical grade school fashion, the mood of the relationship had turned sour on the playground.

As a result, my girl fell out of the other girl's affection.

There on the street corner, I held her close while she cried.

I was glad she told me, but what made me most proud was what

she said next. When we get home, can we cuddle? For years, I've been working with my girl to learn how to ask for what she needs.

Typically, she either guts it out or reverts to theatrics.

Instead, we've discussed how to use words to communicate needs.

That day on the street corner, she did just that. If only I could learn to do the same. Most days I'm glad to be an adult. I mean really who

wants to travel back to the days of diapers or pimples. When I'm hurt or discouraged or afraid, however, my adult skin wears thin.

When bills demand payment and parenting proves impossible,

when marriage is hard, friendship struggle, and

doctors appointments fill a calendar. Then I wish to travel back in time, when a girl's

greatest fear could be soothed in a mama's arms, held close, all was well.

To a child, there's nothing greater than a parent's ability to comfort. But comfort doesn't come so easily to us grown-ups. Where do you and

...