Monday, March 9, 2009

It's A New Day

It's only 29° outside, but the sun is up and SHINING in the east, along with some scattered clouds. The west looks like winter, but spring is coming. For sure.

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

LIFE! (.... sigh.....)

I haven't posted for a month. It's been hard to be "up". Life has been tough.

But we're on a week sabbatical right now. Getting a break with Larry and just be-ing, is restful. I finished one book, am halfway through the next, and bought another at Walmart yesterday.

I have my camera along. Went back and looked at pics I have kept on camera, and found some from Christmas. Joy was talking through the Nativity story with the boys, and they were manipulating and talking about the characters as they knew them. And they do know them. Not necessarily as you or I know them. But they can identify.

That hit a chord. We all can identify our concept of God. He may mean peace, or challenge, or security, to one or the other of us. To me he means Lordship. I can talk to God about my pain or anger, as well as my joy or thanks. Right now there is not a little pain and confusion.

But with lordship, the responsibility does not rest on my shoulders. Someone else is in control. Someone else holds responsibility. Someone else has the power and makes the decisions. And Someone else gives the strength.

Joy learned she is carrying a girl -- we are all celebrating! But there is a shadow of fear due to technological investigative technique. The fear could be all for nothing -- or it could be for something that may bring more fear and unknown outcomes. I don't have energy for fear right now. Life has me sighing enough without new fears.

I am resigning my pain and confusion over what I do know -- but don't understand. So I will likewise surrender the pain and confusion that may or may not be ahead. I am not a fatalist. I am a survivor. I am really a victor, but a tired one today.

Everything will be OK.

A sister just forwarded me the story of a young man drowning in a bog, saved by a farmer. The father wanted to repay the farmer, but the farmer said he could not accept payment for doing what was the only good and right thing to do. Still, the father wanted to show his gratitude so offered to educate the farmer's son. The farmer's son studied and eventually discovered penicillin, which has saved many lives including -- again -- the life of the boy in the bog.

The boy in the bog was Sir Winston Churchill (the one name I knew).

I am convinced that God has our best interests at heart, whether we believe it or not. My grandsons don't believe it, when their mom or dad say no, and I sometimes wail like they. "Why, God?" But my Lord God is the Good Shepherd who will lead me to green pastures and still water when the winter is over.

I can wail, or I can trust.