Here's mom and dad... also known as Flo and Joe, respectively.
Aren't they adorable? They were married for 59 years. Then my dad changed his mailing address to Heaven...three years later mom went, too.
It's been a challenge learning how to live without them. To say adapt is woefully inadequate.
Since their passing, things have changed in consecutive 360* circles. Repeatedly.
As a young woman, I couldn't even imagine getting married.
When Jesus throttled my world at thirty four, I slowly grew to think that getting married would be a really cool thing.
Now, years later, I am learning to function as a single woman, for all intents and purposes, alone. Alone in a world designed for "twos."
It can, at times, be incredibly lonely.
The married couples usually tell me that I am better off single - "Married people are often as lonely as single people." "Marriage is overrated." "You're better off, you won't have to deal with divorce."
Wow...
How do I maintain sanity in all this?
Firstly, I am incredibly thankful for a God that takes care of me, and sends people to make the journey a little easier...
I keep my focus on the race that I am running... I am running to win... "Don't you realize that in a race everybody runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!" 1 Corinthians 9:24
and
as far as heaven goes, Jesus said it really well:
"When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will ALWAYS be with me where I am." John 14:3
I can't imagine a better place to be than in His arms, can you?
and
Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize that there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you Lao Tzu
and
"Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth." 1 Timothy 6:6
So, let hope arise, and dare to trust the One that holds you in His Hands.
The best is yet to come!
God bless-
Lori
So, I am a dyed in the wool Red Sox fan. I love watching, (at least when I have time) the boys give their all, doing what they love to do!
I think the thing I love best about them is that they don't quit. They're scrappy!
"We don't give up, we don't give in," Will Middlebrooks said. It doesn't matter what the scoreboard says. We're going to come out, we're going to fight, we're going to grind it out." 1
There are so many parallels for me, personally.
As a musician, I can attest to giving all I have to a song. Whether writing it, interpreting it, or out and out note thievery, lol, there is generally an odious (to the non musician) amount of practice required.
Heaven help the poor folks I live with, doomed to an existence of endless repetition. The same parts over and over and over and over and over and over... amen... (For you math types, think of PI :)
As a Christian, truly that line from Will Middlebrooks inspires me.
Like the Sox, I need an attitude of cannot quit. No matter what. As I watched that plucky team pull it's way out of the bottom of the glass, I determined, again, to dig in...
- When the checkbook bounces so hard it makes a basket.
- When there is a diagnosis that doesn't make sense.
- When the job is gone, the car is broken, and the cupboard is empty.
- When there are no options. Period.
It has been a season like that for me. A really long one.
So, I have two options. Give up, or go on. Option one isn't going to get me very far...
So I look up and remember. I remember all the answers that I have seen; sometimes the question never even left my lips.
Best of all, I am not alone. The amazing power of God and all of Heaven stands with me. As His child, I can take courage to keep going!
"Be (stay) strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!" Ephesians 6:10
So, if you are tempted to quit, DON'T! That answer or breakthrough might be just around the bend.
God Bless!
1 CNSnews.com - "Napoli, Victorino rally Red Sox past Yankees 12-8" September 7, 2013 1:35 AM
Mike Fitzpatrick, Associated Press
.JPG)
