Well, it has been a while since I have taken the time to blog and I'm ashamed that it has been so long since I have posted my thoughts. I am not sure of the exact reason, but I guess it is a combination of the holidays, being busy with the kids, work, etc. but it has mainly been because I haven't felt a story stirring in my mind for several months now. Not that I have been in a rut, because I really hate the thought of that word, but I really haven't had many ideas pop in my head like they did when I first started the blog. Even now, as I am starting this post, I have no idea where I am going with it:) I am actually in the back seat of a car riding home from Valdosta. I came here for work and without three little kids tugging at my legs and screaming for my attention, I have had a lot of time to think. Unfortunately, I have had a lot to think about after the recent, unexpected death in our family last week and some other terrible accidents I have heard about lately. For some reason, when death occurs or some sort of sadness takes place, it seems to be followed by rain. This time, it was followed by a straight downpour....so bad to the point that schools were closed. It was really bad weather, but it has finally cleared up a little. Anyway, what I am getting to is this..... Sadness can sometimes be related to rain and the dreary weather that comes along with it, but the sun will come out again. Even in the flood with Noah, a dove eventually came back with an olive tree leaf to let him know that their was in fact life on the earth once again. I don't know about y'all, but this gives me hope. And the older I get, the more I realize that we may not receive all the hope we long for here on this earth. It may be when we meet The Lord in heaven before we finally live out soaring on wings of eagles like Isaiah 40:31 speaks of because the ultimate hope that Christians will experience will be eternal life. I know, that I know, that I know, that this is the only reason I can make it through some days of my life considering the loss I have experienced. That and also realizing that it could always be worse. God may not always deliver us from pain or hurt here on this earth, but one day when we are united with our Savior, we will experience joy like never before and pain never again. When I think of hope I think of it as waiting for The Lord with expectation and truly believing that He can do exceedingly more than what we can ever ask or imagine. Now how often have you truly lived with this type of hope and expectation? I know at times I haven't like I should. I pray that I can change my mindset and live with the expectation that God can do great things. I have always been taught this, but have I always believed it 24/7 and 100%? No...absolutely not. We all have had our moments of doubt. Today I believe it more than ever. Like I always say, God is so good in a world full of bad things. There are many things that satan will try to divert our attention with, but keep your eyes on the prize of Jesus and remember the best is yet to come.
Lastly, I leave you with this. When it is raining and there are thunderstorms, the kids always seem to end up in our bed. The other morning after it rained all night, I made the comment to the girls that even though they didn't like the rain, it shouldn't scare us because things need it to grow and that it comes from God. Hadden then responded back to me by saying, "Mama, I am not scared of the rain when I am with you in your bed." I just thought that was the sweetest thing ever said but the more I thought about it, the more I can see how God was speaking to me through her (which happens all the time with my little munchkins!). Like the rain, we may not always like or understand the things we go through in life but we may need these things to happen to us in order for us to grow and put our trust more in Jesus just like the plants need the rain to grow. It is also not quite as scary to go through the storms of life when we are safely in the arms of Christ just like she feels more safe in the arms of her mama and daddy. Wow. Thank you Lord for reminding me of this right now as I type this blog. Your love is never ending and your arms are wide enough to hold whatever trials we may be facing. We always have hope in Him....eternal hope. Amen and amen!
