Wednesday, August 19, 2009

When Trials Come

It has been a very trying week for our family. Monday night I came close to losing someone dear to me. After calling the ambulance I asked the Lord to save her life. It is a feeling of terror which is hard to explain. As my daughter and I left to meet her at the ER, I prayed for peace for my friend and her husband and for my family.
My mind whirled with questions mixed with many what ifs.... At the end of each question and concern I came back to the same answer...
God was in control. No matter what the outcome. God created my friend and He loves my friend more than I ever could. He knows the number of hairs on her head and He knows the number of days she will live on this earth. Though I couldn't remember the reference, the Lord put this verse in my heart and mind that night.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.

My friend is recovery and though I don't want to give out her name, we do covet your prayers as she starts a rehab program.


Wednesday, August 12, 2009

My Unfriendly Neighbor



I walked outside one day and looked over at my next door neighbor. They appeared to be doing yard work and moving at a snails' pace. I wanted to be the first to say Hi to them because most of the time people see me before I'm able to see them and I know I come across as unfriendly. I was so excited to be able to see them first and threw up my hand and said "Good morning". They did not respond right away and sometimes I speak too softly so again in a much louder voice I said "GOOD MORNING". Still no answer, now I was a little ticked about their rudeness. My daughter who was about 11 or 12 at the time, came out to see who I was talking to. I explained and said I would try once more to get their attention. She simply grinned and as she walked away from me she said "Mama, it's their garbage can".
Through the years I have learned to laugh at myself. Having a sense of humor is vital. It is also important to realize that things are not always as they appear. What I saw as a person was in fact a garbage can. We have our own preconceived ideas of whom a person is before we get to know them. We judge too quickly or just write them off. Mine was a garbage can that I thought was real but often "real" people are cast off as garbage and ignored. God taught me a great lesson that day. I also learned to get a little closer to the object I was speaking to to make sure it could speak back!

Hebrews 13:2-3
Don't forget to be kind to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! Don't forget about those in jail. Suffer with them as though you were there yourself. Share the sorrow of those being mistreated, for you know what they are going through.

Monday, August 10, 2009

The Toy

I just placed in the garbage can a toy that my son has held onto for many years. It was a simple toy and beat up by time and wear but it held great significance to him. A friend whom he lost years past played with this toy with David. It took time for David to release this item but he no longer needs it to remember his friend. There are some things we need to hold on to in life and some things that we need to say goodbye to and move on. Not that we forget those memories but sometimes they bind us to the past.