Joy in Suffering

There has been much talk recently of trials and suffering.  As a world class complainer, I find the topic difficult to wrap my thoughts around.

Why can’t we just fix it?  Why does it have to be this way?  It must be my fault because this doesn’t happen to people who do it “right” or “better”.  I do not understand.

This morning I tried to explain 9/11 to my 8 year old son.  I couldn’t do it without tears.  The fear I felt that day came rushing back.  The memory of standing with co-workers watching the news in a large downtown area far away from home surrounded by strangers was overwhelming.  Trying to keep it together as I rode back with a gentlemen my father’s age across the deep south was difficult.  The man was born in Iran and fled decades ago because the same thing that happened that day in our country happened in his country to a much greater degree.  He understood what had happened.  He already knew what it all meant that day.

I am working on understanding and by working I mean praying.  I know seeing the joy in trials and rejoicing at my pain when the suffering is unbearable will not come from me.  It will not come from my heart.

It will be gift, a blessing.  To rejoice in God being glorified during tragedy, to embrace pain as a gift, as an opportunity is not in my nature.

10 years later many blessings can been seen.  The gifts shining against the backdrop of such pain makes them shine that much brighter.  Embracing my children that did not exist on that day and to count my blessings since then is overwhelming.

I pray I can look faithfully to God during trials, large and small.  I pray I can thank Him for His gifts even when I do not understand them.

Today I am thankful for brothers building memories.

I am thankful for father and son making memories.  Memories made not on my timeline but His.

Today I am thankful for brave men who run toward the sound of battle. 

I am thankful for the pain of that day and many since.  Those wonderful days have molded and changed me for good.  Not goodness from my own heart but goodness given to me by the only One who has any to give.

I pray it is the same for you.

Tackle It Tuesday-All Tied Up

 

If you are like me then you are surrounded by cords.  Everything plugs in, syncs, or charges these days.  We have a surplus of power cords, usb cords, audio/visual cables, cables for televisions and computers, adapters, data cords, etc.  It is a challenge to keep it organized.

I regularly go through the piles to thin it out but inevitably it spreads across the house as devices die or move.  Another issue we face as military is moving which means we might need that cord at the next house.

Today I organized the piles.  First I found everything around the house and garage.  There were several locations that developed as I have tried to organize over the years.

Next my husband went thru the pile disposing items we no longer used.  Below is what was left after the decluttering.  2 large boxes to one small pile!

Then he wound each cord, zip tied it, and sorted according to type.  He had to do this because I have no idea what each cord does or if it was important.  I placed each type in a plastic bag and labeled it.  We ended up with 6 different bags. I thought about just writing with a sharpie on the bag but it wouldn’t show up as well as the white label.

Large easy to read labels will prevent digging through the box and putting new cords away easier in the future.  Items left out  were too large for a plastic bag or in their own bag and unique so easy to identify.

Finally, I put them sitting up with the labels showing in this Rubbermaid 10 gallon bin I bought at Lowe’s last year.  I put this bin on the storage shelf next to the door going into the house coming from the garage.  Then I labeled the bin and dated it.  The date was so I would know the last time I decluttered it and when it is time to do it again. 

This is a busy door and it is easy to reach.  Because we look for cords once or twice a month it is best to keep it convenient.  Otherwise I am more likely to either forget where it is or put off a task because it is too hard to get the box down.  I feel much better now and I have some free space in the office.  I wonder what I can put there next week.

God Is In The Details

 

Recently my grandmother passed away, somewhat unexpectedly, and we needed to head home.  We were unprepared and couldn’t afford the trip.

My family insisted we come home and offered to pay for the tickets and provide us with a car to drive.  Even with such a generous gift there are still many small things that need to be purchased on a trip with 3 small boys and 3 dogs to leave behind.

We had to get there quickly because DH had to come home right after the funeral.  We planned as best we could, still missing a few key things like how to unlock the front door for the dog sitter and accurate feeding instructions.   We lost one night of sleep, finally got confirmed tickets at 4:30 am, and boarded our plane at 6 am.  Everything was working very well for such short notice.  We were even able to find tickets from the airport here to our destination with only one layover and no body scanners.  A miracle!  And at half the price!  Another miracle.

On the flight we bought some snacks for the kids because I did not pack any food and we were all without breakfast.  Not a good combo for a 3 hour flight.

Our layover was at DFW in Dallas where there was a USO.  This meant free food and a safe place with cartoons to sit with the boys.  Perfect.  As we were checking in  with the USO the flight attendant from our flight walked up to us to give us our money back.  She said that military gets free snacks on flights and thanked my husband for his service.

On our second flight we were on a prop jet which the boys loved.  The little ones fell asleep almost immediately and our oldest was content to watch iTunes on the laptop.

I don’t remember much about the second flight.  I had been awake now for 28 hours.   We got off the plane with our usual chaos, the boys eager to see Nana and their cousins. 

As they all ran ahead a gentleman who was on the plane with us walked up beside me. He handed me a folded piece of money and simply said “God told me to give this to you.”  I took it because I honestly didn’t know what else to do and asked him to repeat what he said.  He repeated himself and said “You know?”  I said I did know and thanked him.

He walked on and I didn’t see him again.  As I finally caught up with my family at baggage claim I told my husband what just happened.  I pulled out the bill and unfolded it to finally see he had given me a $100.  We were surprised and very thankful.

After we returned home I realized I had taken a picture of our mysterious friend.  I was playing with my camera settings during that flight and taking pictures of anything interesting near me.

So thank you friend whoever you may be.  We don’t often see the results of how God uses us but many times we are the recipients of that faithful obedience.

Thank you Lord for caring for the birds of the field and our trip home.  Nothing is too small or impossible for You.  I am grateful for the reminder.

Tossed About

I just wrote about distractions (see previous blog entry) and how they are inevitable. How they should be welcomed because if we are to trust that God is in control then those distractions are not distractions but part of His plan. Right?

Whatever they are they still rush past me tossing me about. Whether they be little or gigantic I grow weary of the pushing and pulling.

After being tossed about a few months ago (I am sure it had something to do with DH being gone on training) I was reminded of these verses: Ephesians 4:14-16 "so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."



This reality hit me that I was that child, tossed to and fro, drowning from the waves of the life I am living. I wanted to stop the waves never realizing that I just needed to find an anchor.

Every time a wave hit instead of turning to God in prayer I tried to work my way out of it. I still try but not as often and I don't get that far before I remember that I don't like the tossing and I am not a good swimmer.

To all who served.....

I say thank you.

I am daily reminded of your sacrifice and the lives you led without the luxury of technology, cell phones, and skype. You did it without great equipment or pay.



You did it knowing that many of you would not return home. You left knowing you would only be writing letters that would reach home after a month's journey.



Your children did not always know you when you returned. Parts of your life had moved on and still you served. Many will never fully understand all your sacrfices and that is okay.



So thank you from those of us who do understand in part. I know this not why you served but still we are grateful.