What a Week!
It’s been an unusually challenging–and rewarding–week around here. The last week of September marks some sad anniversaries in our home, as my husband’s oldest son and my mother both died in late September: Sean in 2006 and Mom in 2008. It also is a time of joy, as birthdays of our younger grandson, our beautiful daughter-in-law, and Rich’s dad all fall during this period.
This year we’ve also been doing our best to support Rich’s daughter, who lives with us, as she worked through a major life decision. Both grandsons spent last weekend with us. It’s exhilarating and exhausting to care for those precious little boys. So we’ve been busy, busy, busy.
Oh. And my husband’s cell phone gave out on Sunday, as well.
Tuesday brought news of the tsunami that affected Samoa. I visited Samoa as a graduate student; my prayers turned to the good people of that island, and especially the family who hosted me during my stay.
Wednesday I drove to San Diego to meet my father and brother at the cemetery where my mother rests. But first I stopped by my auntie’s convalescent home for a care conference and visit.
Last night we spent a few hours at the Verizon shop replacing Rich’s cell phone.
Never a dull moment. Our anti-hecticity plan seems to need fine-tuning.
This Friday morning, I am filled with peace and joy.
The week brought literally hundreds of moments when tempers could have flared. We could have exchanged unkind words. We could have wounded one another. Or we could have quietly failed to care for one another during the rough bits.
But God has carried us through the week, tempering our impulses, opening our hearts. Rich’s daughter has made her decision and is moving with resolve to enact it. The little boys are safely back at home with their mothers. My friends in Samoa are safe. My auntie is doing well. The phone has been replaced. And tomorrow, it’s Saturday.
He is good.
1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have
peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because
of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege
where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing
God’s glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and
trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance
develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of
salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how
dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts
with His love.
Romans 5:1-5 (NLT)
It’s nice when those birthdays are so well-placed. As time goes by, I find my mom’s birthday harder than the day of her death (maybe because her birth date was important for more years), but it’s nice that my nephew’s birthday is the day before hers. It helps.