I realized something important this morning with God helping me. No two lives are the same; no two experiences of life are the same and think of how many people have lived and walked this Earth! Life that is rich is lived with God beside you sharing and growing into understanding and love and that takes time and a lifetime of experience unique to you and God. I keep thinking that as I share my experiences with God, you will find that same experience I love, as well. Isn’t that what we all expect in varying ways? We get upset because people don’t feel the same way we do, react in the same way we would. We want sameness and that always boils down to we want what WE want, and we want that for everyone. God wants so much more. He values the uniqueness that is you and your life experiences He already knows and values as no one else possibly could value.

In 1 Samuel 1, we are still in the time of the judges and this chapter is about the unique experience of a mother and child. Unique because it is this mother and this child. Hannah is a wife of a man named Elkanah and he has a second wife named Peninnah. 3 times a year this family goes up to Shiloh to worship God at the tabernacle. Hannah is barren and in great distress because Peninnah keeps provoking her because she is barren. While they are at Shiloh, Hannah leaves her family to go in quiet to pray. And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” v. 11.

Sitting by the doorpost of the Lord’s house, Eli, the priest, misunderstands Hannah’s misery and praying and believes she is drunk and rebukes her. He misunderstands her personal walk and judges her. “Not so, my Lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” v. 15-16. So Eli tells her to go in peace and “may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” v. 17.

Hannah took her anguish directly to God and began a walk that was personal to them. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” v. 20. Hannah didn’t forget her promise to God. After Samuel was weaned, around 3 years old, Hannah took Samuel to Eli, to the house of God. “So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshipped the Lord there. v. 28. Hannah continues to see her son as we see in the following chapters. His walk with God is now different as is Hannah’s. Each walk different and unique and needed…nothing wasted with God with us.

I confess I spend a lot of time worrying about our kids and grandkids. God reminds me I am loved and so are they. Their walk is unique as is yours with God and that is how God planned it. Be at peace and trust our Heavenly Father. He loves us well and values our uniqueness. There is no one we can trust ourselves and our loved ones to more than with God. His walk with you will be rich and filled with understanding of your experiences in this life we all share differently. Thank you Lord for so expansive a love.