A Prayer Answered, A Gift Returned

Hannah had wept and prayed for years, asking God for a child. When Samuel was finally born, she did something few of us could do: she brought him to the sanctuary and offered him back to the Lord. Her words to Eli are quiet and firm, recalling the day she stood in that same place and prayed. This story honors a mother whose love was both fierce and open-handed. Many people will be thinking of mothers and mother figures around now, with gratitude for some and with ache for others. Whatever your situation, the passage invites us to hold what we love with open hands, trusting that God cares for it better than we can. Today, thank someone who nurtured you, in words if possible. If that memory is painful, bring the hurt to God, and consider sharing it with a trusted friend or counselor.