Dear Reader -- The following was a letter I sent to a friend who was feeling miserable. She compared herself to Elijah sitting under the Juniper Tree. I was moved by her note and I addressed my reply to "Ellie" The following is a real letter to a real friend - much as the Epistles are "real letters". I hope it ministers to you. -- Charlene.

Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." -- I Kings 19:3-5 NRSV

"Ellie"

	May I join you?  I'd love to give you a hot cuppa and a hug.  
So imagine I am.  You know, Job's friends would have got it right if 
they'd just sat with him.  Threw another piece of wood on the fire.  
Passed Job some bread and stew.  Cared for him.  Had just been 
ravens to him!!!!

	All a body wants sometimes is to be held, to be given 
permission to just let go and be still.  We mothers & wives are not 
good at treating ourselves with a lot of respect.  Tell me, what's the
worst thing that would happen if you didn't do anything, any running
around, taxi-ing, cooking, anything for 3-4 days?  Let the men be 
helpless.  They'll soon figure it out.  I do remember, with fondness, 
one time that I'd had it.  I went on strike.  I posted a sign too.  
My family was aghast, dumbstruck.  "You can't do that!"  "Oh yes 
I can and I have."  "But...but...."  "No buts!"  When they all, hubbie
included, realized I was serious, they had to deal with it.  I posted 
my terms and conditions and went and rested.  They actually became
very solicitous, very nice to me.  I reminded them that I didn't make 
the messes but I cleaned them, etc.  I told them I was an important 
person too and I needed some things but mostly I needed them to 
work with me, not against me.  It worked!  We had a family meeting,
discussed things, shared and decided some guidelines.

	You know what our men suffer from?  A bad case of 
"learned helplessness."  And we women always run to the rescue.  
Maybe it's time to re-think it.  What would the Lord rather you be 
about and how can that be accomplished?  You cannot serve the 
Lord if you are burnt out trying to meet everyone else's 
EXPECTATIONS.  Perhaps it's time for a retreat.  Do they have 
those in your church?  At a retreat you can unwind, spend some 
more deliberate time in prayer and communication with God and 
His holy word away from all your normal hustle and bustle.

	Perhaps God is calling you to a time of reflection on who 
you are and what you ought to be about, and how that can be 
made to happen.  Sometimes the well runs dry.  You cannot water 
the flowers when the well is dry.  You have to wait for the well to 
refill.  I'll bet there are some really good books that will help you
in your church library.

	I am tempted to say to you, to that PART of you that is 
Martha: "Martha, Martha you are anxious and troubled about 
many things.  One thing is needful..."  

	Hear these words,"Take care of yourself my beloved 
daughter.  I, your Father, know that you have need of rest, 
recreation, reassurance and re-filling.  Come to me that I may give
you that rest, that you may be re-created, reassured in my love 
and re-filled with my bounty.  Be still and know that I am the Lord 
your God, the Almighty, Lord of creation, Author of grace and 
compassion and Giver of all good gifts.  I love you my child."

	It's time, Ellie, to crawl up on the Father's lap in that big 
old rocking chair of His to be held, cuddled in the Comforter's quilt
and rocked and sung to.  It's time.  Go there.  Say "Hi" to God for
me while you're there.

	God loves you and so do I.  Ellie, I send you my blessing. 
Blessed may you be in your going out and your coming in.  Blessed 
may you be in your rising up to face the day and in your lying down
at night to rest.  Blessed may you be in the bosom of your family 
and in the bosum of your church.  Blessed may you be in your 
ministry of The Well and in your ministry of the Web.
	Read the psalms.  There you will find much solace.  
And keep in touch.  God has a blessing planned for you.

Love, Charlene

PS: I'm sitting under the tree with you, remember, and I'll stay with 
you as long as you need to be there.  We'll share the warmth of the 
campfire and the mugs of tea.  And we'll sing and cry a bit and 
laugh a bit together.