"Lord, you establish peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us." ... Isaiah 26:12
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Big Adventurer Tom arrives home tomorrow! Yay! Finally I'll be able to call in falsetto to the cats, "Daddy's home! Daddy's home!" and we'll see if they recall what that means.
Six weeks home-alone-but-not-alone has made me an adventurer, as well. These weeks! An ultimate vacation where Grace invigorated me, surrounded me, glowing off the mirrors and windows, making the air so heavy with gratitude that it eased me upon my couch to relax and meditate and learn from quiet thinking, music and tv. Often.
I needed this winding-down time. Tom needed his South African journey (for many reasons) and we both felt Grace bathing every moment in liquid-like peace.
This was incredible. God-designed. And I think we saw in deeper ways why letting God empty your trash and replace it with His treasure, instead, leads to incredible days 'whether apparent or not', and whether others ever understand or agree.
Tom's planning another long trip in May, though we've learned at our advancing ages never to grip our plans by their necks, but rather, to hold them upon opened palms, for that is wiser. Yet if he goes? All will be even better next time, for I'll have Springtime and all outdoors rather than, primarily, the walls of our home and snow and ice and shivering sparrows out the windows.
I'll have gardening. Walks around the block and to the river park. Green everywhere instead of grey and oh, warmth ... blessed Springtime warmth.
But in the meantime, is it back to the daily grind? No, in God, there's no going back, no coming away unchanged, no labeling precious days that way. There's much to glean and learn and create and--with God beside you--Life feels a whole other way than the majority perceive it. So what is left is to share.
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I let the radio play when I leave the house and this week when I opened the door, gripping my plastic grocery bags, the song, 99 Miles From LA--a song I'd loved but not heard in decades--wafted down the kitchen stairs, stinging my eyes instantly with grateful tears.
One more gift during this time of enchantment from the lover of my soul.
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"For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit)." ... 1 Peter 3:10
Glad to hear Tom is nearing home again...that will be good. And good that your time apart has been good too (Skype is so helpful too!!) I so agree with doing what GOD wants us to do often seems to leave others not understanding (and in our case we have been written off by friends and even one of my brothers...oh well...tis not THEM we need to please!!...though I admit to being astonished at times, because our path in no way bothered other's lives...amazing!!)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth in NC
Love your new photo on your header! Or maybe you've had it for a while and I'm not as observant as I used to be. lol. Enjoy Toms homecoming, Debra. It's hard for many people to be alone and I'm glad you're comfortable with it. When our kids were little my husband would be gone for 3 weeks each summer for the Navy. Seemed like a long 3 weeks sometimes....and it always seemed that things around the house broke when he was gone. lol.
ReplyDeleteWishing Tom Godspeed as he returns home to you, dear Debra, and the four-legged babes!! You have personified patience and faith in the midst of a long separation and difficult winter season. We know Who has stayed close by your side--our Heavenly Father!! Enjoy this special time.
ReplyDeleteDebra, that's great news!
ReplyDeleteLike Bonnie(above),thngs always seemed to break down, when my dh was out of town, too.
So happy for you! Joyce
Love the Chagall painting in this post. It seems to radiate all the joy I know you and Tom will feel to be together again. Peace to you, Debra! And joy!
ReplyDeleteThank-you, Everyone, for your happy words about Tom's soon return and your encouraging words about your other observations! I appreciate each of your comments much! Blessings, Debra
ReplyDelete