This morning I woke early. The Lord has been doing that to me lately. I am loving the moment the sun casts its colors upon the mountains in the distance and reflects upon the lake just off our balcony view. Today I did what most of us do. I stretched, brushed my hair, slipped on my house shoes (it’s still chilly here in the mornings and evenings) and padded to the kitchen for coffee as I stared out the sliding glass doors at the ducks and geese swimming across the “lake”. They call it a lake here. But as I am from the “lakes area of Texas”, it appears to be more of a large pond.

This home is new to us. We are still settling in, hanging pictures on the walls, and finding a home for little nick nacks. I’ve hung curtains in the bedroom, found my throw pillows, organized the kitchen, and more importantly-alphabetized my books by author and made a space for prayer, study, and creativity…😁.

Today, as it has been several times in the last few days, my heart is full of many things. Grief and Sorrow dwell together with Gratitude and Joy. They hold hands and march together as we, ““Let our eyes look directly ahead, And even let our eyelids be fixed straight in front of us.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭LSB‬‬

We dwell not upon the sorrow, but upon the gratitude, know Paul encourages us to be sorrowful, yet ever rejoicing. Thus, I lift up my heart to the Lord for the sorrow of:

Children who have been abandoned, stolen, abused, hurt in ways I cannot imagine. My heart aches for them. My heart cries out to a Father who hears- that He will send a rescuer and someone to show them true and everlasting love. That they will have arms wrapped around them with no selfish motive. That their hearts and minds and bodies will be healed and whole.

I think of my grandchildren and ask for miraculous protection in a world holding evil which wishes to destroy them. I miss their physical presence as we live so far apart and long to wrap my arms around them .

The women I have come to know who themselves have suffered loss and hurt and are praying for the restoration of joy.

I also, especially this week, think of the loss of those who have passed from this world to the next. My husband’s mother, my dad, my grandparents. I feel the sorrow of loss and pray for my mom and her sisters who feel the loss even greater.

Lately I have been holding onto things which help me remember them. My grandfather’s old Odeco jacket, my Dad’s ink pen, Nunu’s jewelry, dishes, furniture, pictures. And things Mom has given me me which feel like home. I sing nursery rhymes, recite Mother Goose rhymes, and quote southern colloquialisms. These things bring me joy. And I am reminded that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. They encourage us to see further than they saw. They surround us witnessing their hopes for us spring to life.

But mostly today I am grateful. I am grateful that the grace of Christ Jesus has been poured out upon me and lavished upon me with a love so great it is incomprehensible. And yet, Paul has prayed for us to indeed come to comprehend so great a love.