The Comfort Zone

^{Psalm 23:4}  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Hanging on the back wall of the toy store was the softest snuggle pet. My grandson was coming into this world in the next few weeks. I reached up and touched the little brown and tan pony. He was so soft and cuddly. His body was not really a body of a horse but a miniature blanket to be held in a child's hand. A cream colored satin ribbon was the border of the blanket part. My fingers ran across the cool fabric. I closed my eyes as I squeezed the soft velvety fabric and imagined little Brody toddling through the house with his snugly pony in tow. I could see him curled up in his bed with the pony tucked in tight underneath his chin. Forget Dave Ramsey! This was a "need" purchase! Everyone needs their own piece of comfort to cling onto.

Rewind a few years ago and there I was curled up in my bed. My daughter and her friend walked into the house bearing gifts after a girl's day of shopping. They had brought me comfort.
Sometimes we just need pampered. I was feeling pretty alone. My husband had moved out. He had filed for divorce. I was looking at an overwhelming amount of hurdles to jump. I wasn't feeling up to "life". I was in serious need of comfort.

They brought me lavender lotion. I love lavender. It is such a soothing and calming aroma. It relaxes me.
They brought me Godiva Chocolates. True comfort food. True bliss.
And they brought me the softest ivory full length robe. I had never had a robe so luxurious.  I closed my eyes and ran my fingers across the ribbed cloth, feeling the ridges of soft, lush fabric. I squeezed it between my fingers and pulled it up to my chin. There isn't a day now that I don't squeeze it around my neck after I put it on. It is soft. It is warm. But, it is also comforting.
The robe was intended as a luxury gift.
It is indeed that.
Maybe they didn't even realize, but they had brought me comfort to cling onto.

We all need it.
Comfort.
The dictionary says that comfort means to soothe in a time of affliction or stress. There isn't a time in our life that we haven't needed soothing. As a child, we wanted comfort as our mothers applied a band aid to that invisible scratch. A trip to the Dairy Queen always seemed to dispel that Little League game loss, and tell me a woman whose face doesn't light up when she receives that unexpected bouquet of flowers? (just because she has had a bad week)

Writing this blog about going through a divorce has been a comfort to me. I believe in the pay it forward philosophy.
I have had some amazing feedback in messages from women and men who have been through a similar experience. I have had children of divorced parents thank me for making them aware of how their parent felt. Some people have told me they have cried through my writings. Some have found the bits of humor I sometimes add in to a story.

I like to think that somehow these writings are giving comfort.
Like the lavender lotion, they soothe.
Like the chocolates, they satisfy.
And like the plush robe, they envelope the heart and soul and comfort.