Looking back through my 31 days of posts, I remembered some crazy something happened on day 12. I published my post just like I was supposed to. Just like days 1-11.
The next morning I pulled up my website and – day 12 wasn’t there – at all. Nothing. I messed up. Didn’t push publish or do something I was supposed to.
If you have ever sat at a computer with me for more than a few minutes, your will certainly find yourself saying, “well, I have never seen that before”. Some of the best – yep – same thing.
True story.
So is this one.
In great detail the young man behind the counter at the AT&T store explained to me he couldn’t figure out why I was having such problems with my phone. No surprise. Like I said, I have heard this before.
I laughed and explained to him my kids have always told me I must have some bizarre electrical current in my body that makes electronics do everything except what they are supposed to do. The look of shock on his face made me pause. “Ma’am, do you know they have been doing studies on people like you? They have found that to be a real thing.”
And I laughed again.
A real thing, I said to myself as I left the store – problem unresolved.
Then one day my friend called to tell me she had bought me a present and was sending it.
And that’s how I ended up with this sign – and I laughed.
It’s a real thing.
But it is not too high on my list of real things.
Learning to laugh again – real thing.
Learning how to accept my life hasn’t turned out how I would have scripted it – real thing.
Learning my tears come in all shapes, sizes and places from deep in me – and accepting them – real thing.
Learning to accept the holes in me when people are no longer in my life – real thing.
Learning what it is like to be with your mom when she takes her last breath – real thing.
Learning to recognize the sound of your heart breaking – again – real thing.
Learning some days you forget all of the above – real thing.
Learning each day is new – real thing.
But . . .
Learning the best – at the top of the list best “thing” – what it’s like when God and His love shows up in real big ways.
Learning He is in the room with you when the hospice nurse standing by your mom’s side nods – looking at her watch.
Learning God brings new people into our lives and those holes aren’t so frightening anymore – just reminders of what once was – and the blessing of what is becoming.
Learning God is so very close in the tiny hours of the darkest nights – and realizing sometimes it seems He wakes us up just to spend uncluttered time with Him. Hanging out with God – BEST!
Learning our tears come with a badge of honor – earned from the pain of breaking and sadness – abandonment and betrayal – and that in time, we remember Jesus, too, wept. Our Jesus, our savior, we can identify with.
He loves us!
See – like this!
Romans 8:38-39
For I am sure that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Colossians 2:6-7
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
Oh, there are hundreds of affirmations of God’s love for us in the bible my friends. Get in there and start looking for the ones that speak BEST for you!
Make your own list. Keep it very near to you.
So, even if my body has some bizarre electrical current that confuses every electronic “thing” around me, I am now officially posting this as day 12. So there – computer – I feel better. {Goodness – I hope it works!}
“Lord, we love how patient you are with us. We love that You speak to us through the bible and Your beautiful words there. Thank You for making us and putting us on Your “BEST” list. Forgive us when we turn away. Thank You for wiping our tears. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”