When I hear the word leaning...

The first thing that comes to mind is the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

I've never seen it except in pictures.

In my mind right now I see a lonely old tower that looks like it needs another tower to keep it company and maybe a stony shoulder to lean on. :-)

Then I started to wonder how many of us are like that tower.

Standing all alone with life a little off kilter - or a lot off kilter, depending on the circumstances.

We may be surrounded by people, family, friends, but still all alone and leaning....

Here on earth God has blessed me with people to lean on.

Dustin happens to be one that can be leaned on literally and figuratively. :-)

I treasure his hugs like nothing else.

After my crazy "witchy" day, all I wanted was one of his hugs.

I can wrap my arms around his neck and just lean.

I know He isn't going to lose his balance.

I know He can support me.

I feel safe and know I won't fall.

Though the hugs aren't the same, I've also been given family and friends who I can lean on, no matter what.

But what happens when they just aren't enough? Because let's face it, sometimes they aren't.

You may not be facing my particular problem, but you may have lost a baby, have child with a disability, job problems, marriage problems, money problems... the list could be a mile long.

No human is strong enough to hold those leaning towers up

When I was having my phone throwing etc., etc., etc., day I pulled up a Streams in the Desert devotional.

It is the reason I am thinking so much about leaning.

I don't usually put the whole thing up on my blog, but it spoke so deeply to me in my particular need I thought some of you might enjoy it, as well.

Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved?" (Song of Solomon 8:5).

Some one gained a good lesson from a Southern prayer meeting. A christian brother asked the Lord for various blessings -- as you and I do, and thanked the Lord for many already received—as you and I do; but he closed with this unusual petition: "And, O Lord, support us! Yes support us Lord on every leanin' side!" Have you any leaning sides? This humble man's prayer pictures them in a new way and shows the Great Supporter in a new light also. He is always walking by the Christian, ready to extend His mighty arm and steady the weak one on "every leanin' side."

"Child of My love, lean hard,
And let Me feel the pressure of thy care;
I know thy burden, child. I shaped it;
Poised it in Mine Own hand; made no proportion
In its weight to thine unaided strength,
For even as I laid it on, I said,
'I shall be near, and while she leans on Me,
This burden shall be Mine, not hers;
So shall I keep My child within the circling arms

Of My Own love.' Here lay it down, nor fear
To impose it on a shoulder which upholds
he government of worlds. Yet closer come:
Thou art not near enough. I would embrace thy
care; So I might feel My child reposing on My breast.
Thou lovest Me? I knew it. Doubt not then;
But Wing Me, lean hard."

I don't know about you, but I'm going to lean as hard as I possibly can.

I love that not only can He hold me up, but He knows my every thought, fear, and insecurity.

Lean away my friends!