So I was sad about being catless and Tom and I had finally begun working on decluttering the garage/barn so when we'd grown tired I asked him to buy us some sherbet. Which he did, gladly.
And as we sat watching an American Pickers rerun suddenly I thought, "Hey! I can take back my room upstairs now."
So that's what I did and oh, the excitement! Tom went out to mow upon his tractor and I skipped upstairs and began cleaning the room I'd not slept in for one year. I removed Naomi's things (she still has a bit of stuff left here) and vacuumed and dusted and then when I went downstairs to bring my clothes back up, I stopped at the computer for an email check.
That's when I saw it. The email from the Buffalo Court. And this is what it said:
"This letter is to inform you that your request to have your Jury service postponed has been approved. Your jury service has been deferred by this court."
Oh my goodness... I screamed. With joy, of course. And then I whispered, "Thank-you, Jesus" probably 8 times while running out to Tom where I shouted into his ear (over the din of the mighty tractor), "I got an email and I don't have to do jury duty!"
I ran back inside, grabbed my clothes and returned back to my upstairs room with I Love Lucy playing and my veins pulsating with glee.
And too? I felt thankful that I'd been firm with myself when I mailed-off my form to the court (with my whinings of why now is a horrible time for me, personally, to do jury duty). I told myself that in no way would I allow myself to spoil the next three weeks with dread. Instead, I'd choose to believe I would not have to drive those 35 miles to downtown Buffalo and not have to explain there just why this was an impossible time for me.
So I didn't. Allow myself to dread that possibility, I mean. Whenever that temptation arose I chose, instead, faith that I'd not have to go. Belief for a good outcome. And then firmly chose to think about something else.
Again, oh wow. I have my own special room back during these days of packing, a getaway place of peace, plus, I don't have jury duty. And well, let's just say I hardly slept last night there upstairs, for the excitement was too great. My heart felt utterly joyful and I even went downstairs at 4:00 a.m., made hot chocolate and came back upstairs to watch Gilmore Girls (1st season) before actually cleaning the (crusty) floor of our half-bath-maybe-someday at 5:00. Humming all the while. Grateful out-of-my-mind.
Happy days are here again.
So let this encourage you. If you are facing a hard time and just hanging in there as best as you can, putting into practice all the good things God has taught you, well, a reward is coming if you keep believing, even when things look as though they'll never change. Do what you can and then God will do the rest.
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And let me add--jury duty is a wonderful thing. Truly. But there are times in each of our lives when--emotionally--it would send us over the edge. And for me, this was one of those times.
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