Oh Foot!

Dan had complained about pain in his foot for a while. He was finally convinced to have it checked out. He came home from the Podiatrist’s office explaining his procedure in detail. He was given a series of painful injections. “The needle was really, really big,” he kept repeating.

I looked at him, smiled, pointed to myself and said, “Remember me, cancer patient?” (We know about needles.) Without missing a beat he responded pointing to himself, “Remember me, wimp?”



For sure his ordeal was painful and I do sympathize. However, his foot is now pain free. I would agree with his observation on aging. “If it doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t work!” Some days it does seem that way.

While we do have our aches and pains, we are blessed beyond measure. We still have the presence of mind to acknowledge them, have them properly treated and even complain. That within itself is a gift.

This week I found myself running late for an appointment complaining about every little thing. A question formed in my mind; “What really is important to you?” I felt ashamed of my pettiness and repented. I began to thank God for the many things He had provided me with just that morning. I even thanked him for humid weather and my frizzy hair day! Maybe there is still hope for us.





Ephesians 4:29 - Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Facing the Wind



Just Wed---September 5, 1998




Dan and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary this weekend. We didn’t do anything “big” to mark the occasion. That is planned for next year. We did spend the long holiday weekend doing our favorite but simple things.



Me on top of Julian Mountain (CA)




Dan enjoying the waves-LaJolla Cove (CA)



We made an overnight trip to visit with relatives. Of course, there was laughter and lots, and lots of food. As I have said before, it is the Southern way; if you can’t fix it feed it!



Our friends of Grace invited us to share with them in their Labor Day activities. There was softball, cookouts and worship in praise and baptism. The testaments proclaiming lives completely and miraculous changed was awesome.



Formerly the site of a church camp, Grace is located on 60 plus acres. We enjoyed hiking in the woods enjoying the beautiful weather in between activities. We hear some folks are a bit stiff and sore today, but I am sure that is just a rumor.




Safe or out????

 


Beautiful Labor Day Weather

 

Yesterday morning we loaded up the bikes and took them to the park. It was a beautiful September day with blue skies and cool but gusting winds. Still needing rain badly in this area, the wind produced clouds of dust in the distance.

As we began our ride, the wind was at our backs turning bikes into sails. It was when we faced the wind the struggle came. We could barely turn our pedals. The wind almost held us in place. We were not sure if we could make it. The harder the wind blew, the harder we peddled. At one point in the trail, a sudden gust of wind hit us sideways almost knocking us off the trail. We took turns falling behind the other in single file, the one in front taking the worst of the wind.


The bike ride is just like life and marriage. Even on the best and perfect days, life can suddenly turn difficult. It is at those times you press in together. You watch the others’ back, hold on to each other and trust God to help you stay on the path.

The things we have experienced in our marriage many couples don’t survive. We have been blessed. The difficult times have drawn us closer rather than separating us. We thoroughly enjoy the times in our lives when the wind is at our back. It braces us for the inevitably of facing the wind.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Green Lights

Today I traveled with my husband Dan on business. Occasionally he asks me to go along to visit with his customers. As is the norm, he takes what he calls short cuts to avoid traffic lights. I call them detours as generally they are anything but short. Nevertheless, the man hates traffic lights and goes to great lengths to avoid them. We spoke of a new application being advertised. It claims to judge your speed and approach to hit all green lights. He is totally psyched about the possibilities.



Since we would pass through the city of a friend, we arranged a visit. I met Mrs. W through a call with the ACS Reach to Recovery program. She too is a breast cancer survivor. Small world that it is, we soon realized her son was a friend of ours. I have always heard that bad things come in threes. I don’t know if that is true but, this family certainly has had many trials and heart aches over the last few years.



It does certainly seem that life sometimes is just too overwhelming to bear. Often times in our sorrows we feel God has distanced Himself from us. We wonder if He still hears or cares.


As Dan navigated around his red lights a thought crossed my mind. Would it not be wonderful if life was green lights only? What if we had an application that could time our lives to avoid all of life’s red lights—pain, sorry, loss and disappointment?



It will never happen on this side of heaven. We were born into a fallen world. We are imperfect as our actions often prove. We do have a perfect life application available to us. We do have God's promise regardless of what comes our way; He will never leave or forsake us.




"Jesus Wept" by Erik Hollander

 

Help me each day oh Lord to have faith and take courage while waiting for Your green light.


Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on the LORD!
Psalm 27:14