This is about grandchildren--how I don't have any and perhaps never will.
Now, all you dear grandmas out there, please don't feel sorry for me! For I don't pity myself at all, you know, about not having grandkids. Even as my friends have become grandmothers to tiny bundles of sweetness, almost never have I felt jealous--and the times I have--those feelings were oh so fleeting. Here for ten minutes, gone for ten months.
The decade of my 40's (I've written here before) was plain ol' enchanted. And although the start of my new 50's decade hasn't felt quite so magical--still--the daily lessons continue, guiding me to more peaceful tomorrows if not always outward, then certainly inward, where God dwells.
And where He hangs out, well, that's one glorious place to be! This is one thing I know.
So. It came to me this morning so clearly, yet simply, that therein lies the explanation for my inner happiness even though all the world may have grandchildren (or houses with everything, extra money, stand-out talent, a 30-year-old's body, a vacation home or 300 comments after every blog post) while I don't:
God is my portion.
He completes every incomplete equation in my Life, so much so that, on most days, I don't even notice anything as being missing. The potential for peace of mind, joy in tiny things, contentment-on-the-way-to-change, well, always I feel it's here and waiting for my next move.
For what, really, can be missing from a life which seeks the fullness of God? From a heart that longs to run hard after Him, to find Him and keep Him close? After all, when God's around there is fullness of joy, a joy unspeakable and full of glory, even. And with all that joy dancing around, who even notices anything is missing?
At least, that's what I believe. And that's what I'm coming, as the years fly by, to know and experience for myself.
All because of the overwhelmingness which is God.
******
Colossians 2:10
"And you are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power..."
I agree with you, Debra. I happen to have 4 biological grandchildren and one adopted one...none of which we see that many hours a year. So few hours that we are not much connected, though we love them and hope things are good for them. It takes more than "quality time" to make relationships, it pure and simple takes a LOT of time to make close relationships anyway...and that for many known reasons, and other unknown reasons, we do not have. But we are happy. Why not? Just as well be and GOD DOES make up the difference...and besides, the Kingdom life, which may not be so far off, will be so very different. We have everything possible to look forward to and we do!! I read a very excellent book once called A Distant Grief. That phrase "a distant grief" has come to mean many things to me in my life, beyond the scope of that book. I am so glad I came across just that title...because in so many areas of my life, yes, certain things are griefs...but GOD with time, makes them distant ones. So we can go on, so we can have a happy life, no matter what has been denied to us. This short little life is such a small thing when considering eternity...we just need to pass our tests well here...and then one day we will be where every single part of our heart will be fuller than it was ever possible to be here. I am so grateful!! We are so blessed to live in an age when it is easy to learn many things, read the Scriptures (easily had for so many) etc.
ReplyDeleteBlessings on you, Elizabeth in NC
Oh, Debra, AMEN to that!
ReplyDeleteI lost my job last week.