There is so much to be thankful for. Life every day is a gift. The fact that our friends and neighbors and our house on St Croix are fine, though battered and bruised, is a blessing beyond belief. The fact that we just lived a wonderful four months of travel and friends and family and beauty has been great beyond words. So. Why am anxious? Why am I having trouble sleeping? Because I am sinful. Because part of my sin is being a control freak who hates waiting while hurricanes and closed airports and no electricity possibly for months are things that I want control of but do not have. This is a concept that I’m struggling to grasp. I should say continuing to struggle to grasp. So. What to do? Remind myself every single moment that God is good all the time. Hold on to the fact that His Grace provides an eternity of blessings.
Clearly I can not get the airport open (I can’t even get a call through to St. Croix to ask the question!) But I can accomplish something. I can enjoy today. I can (and am!) thankful for the extra time we have here in Virginia with our son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter. I can reject the pain in the pit of my stomach that is my worry and I can enjoy the last of the Fall’s fireflies, the warm days and starry nights and the acorns thumping to the ground.
I can hold on to the wonder of our recent gypsy summer and hold on to scripture. So. With joy and in peace I am sharing some pictures that I took this summer along with some wisdom …
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…
He leads me beside still waters…
He restores my soul. (Psalms 23)
Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea inform you. Which of these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this? In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind.” (Job 12:7-10)
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands… Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4)
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” (Isaiah 55:12)
“Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20)
“Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars. Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created. He set them in place for ever and ever; he gave a decree that will never pass away.” (Psalm 148:1-6)
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