October 5
Scripture focus: You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. Matthew 5:3, The Message
As proud grandparents of a new puppy, we are blessed AND at the end of our rope. We often find ourselves rising in the wee hours of the morning to let Charley out to pee. Charley feels desperate to go when she’s in her kennel, but as we head out into the twilight and the dew-covered lawn, she inevitably gets a case of stage fright. Rather than rush my grand-puppy, I carry her out into the yard, take a seat in my favorite swing, and gently lower her to the ground.
This sitting and waiting reminds me of the late nights and early mornings I spent rocking restless babies – babies who need to go to sleep, but can’t quite make it to that peaceful state of rest without the warmth of a mother’s arms carrying them to dreamland.
Last night I sat in the dark, my feet wet and body chilled by the early autumn temperatures, my mind flashed back to the many and varied end-of-rope experiences this swing has witnessed. I loved the night we covered the backyard with tents and hosted the rehearsal dinner for our daughter’s best friend’s wedding. What a fun time we had! But it was bittersweet. Two little girls would no longer work on science projects, prepare for prom, play with little Mikey. The bride was beautiful, radiant and had chosen her groom well. But the rope of childhood has come to an end. And we mourn a little as we serve the food and refill the glasses.
We’ve hosted graduation parties and thrown birthday bashes. We’ve hoisted volleyball nets and set out croquet. We’ve fired up the barbecue and been blessed when good friends helped us carry off parties that we were incapable of throwing on our own. All good stuff – but each big event ushers in a sea of change. After we clean up the debris and head inside, these endings and new beginnings remind us that sometimes even celebration means we’re at the end of our rope. We’ve also suffered in this house. It was in this same spot where we had to deliver heartbreaking news of loss on more than one occasion. It was to this swing we came and rocked when various children (ours and others) came to our home dragging along a broken heart for company. Stories of infidelity and betrayal have been spoken of as two or more crowd onto the swing and we take our toes and push, push, push against the inevitable inertia that steals the graceful rhythm of a swing if one is not vigilant.
You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. Matthew 5:3, The Message
I look forward to the day when I’m the proud grandmama of a perfectly house-trained Cavapoo. But I gotta tell you, there’s a sweetness that comes as I realize that the good things in life aren’t always good. Sometimes they’re very big bad sufferings – unimaginable losses - times when we’re at the end of our rope – but not alone - times when we lose heart and sleep, even our best laid plans for the future. It’s at times like these when we are blessed - with less of us there is an opportunity for more of God and his rule.
Recommended reading: Job 32 - 35
© Copyright 2009 NorthStar Community
No comments:
Post a Comment