Silver Linings.

This Summer in North Carolina the days were filled with sunshine. At first I was thankful for every drop of golden sunlight. In the morning I would receive the dawning sun with joy, tracing it's daily path through the sky till it disappeared into the chorus of dusk, till it's morning resurrection. The days passed quickly and as I quickened my pace to match the demand of the growing season. My spirit of thanksgiving faded without my realization. You forget about the things you have every day...till they are gone. One day I woke up and the sun had disappeared. Angry clouds marched across the sky and a bitter cold wind out of the northeast bit into my skin and down to the core of my being. In that moment I did not remember the months of sunshine and blue skies. Without thought I complained. This was not my idea of a good time and I mumbled and grumble while I clumsily fumbled about my tasks with benumbed fingers and chapped hands and cheeks.it seems silly now because I knew the summer would not last forever. I knew the cold days of winter would eventually come. I knew that life is not all sunshine and flowers. But while I was comfortable I failed to cherish those things, even though I knew they are temporary; relative to time, as everything in this earthly life. On the same note the seemingly bad things do not last forever either. The clouds bring much needed rain to a farmer's parched fields. the storm is followed by a magnificent rainbow, reminding us of God's promise from so long ago. Some things, like stormy weather, appear to be "bad", but when we see the big picture we see the benefits it brings. and we know that behind those dark clouds the sun is shining and unseen to us there is a silver lining.

What thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might.

I once dated a man, with whom I was afraid to hold hands. Not because I was shy but because I knew my hands were rough and callused instead of soft and smooth. I was looking at the scars and marks on my hands the other day. I am no longer embarrassed by their roughness, because I know the stories behind it. I look at the marks and I see the long days in the field and nights where I didn't get enough sleep. I see a steady hand on the steering wheel, gentleness to teach a goat kid to suck, and pat a babies back, and strength to pull ropes tight and hold boards in place to nail. I see fingernails that will never be manicured because they need to be short so I don't nick a vegetable, scratch a cows teat, or catch on equipment and get ripped off. I see places where I have scars from accidentally cutting myself when I intended to cut a plant stem, and I know I learned the hard way that a sharp knife is less dangerous than a dull one. I feel the bumpy ridge where the bones knit themselves back together when I got wrapped up in the collar chain of a cow I was determined to be more stubborn than even though she weighed at least 8 times more than me. I remember that day like it was yesterday and almost laugh at myself for not realizing how badly I was bleeding till I saw the look on my friend's face when he saw it. I feel the stiffness in my knuckles on the frosty mornings, ruefully reminding me of all the times I should have worn gloves and didn't. My trigger finger goes numb when I hunt, taking me back to a summer day in the blueberry patch when I tried to "fix" my flip-flop and folded the knife up on my finger. The wounds have healed and the scars faded. I currently have "reminders" that I am learning to respect the wood stove and the stacks of firewood that I need to keep the house cozy. 

I look at my hands once again and see that God put in me strength and willingness for the tasks that lie ahead, may I do them with my might.

Listen to the waves of the ocean...

This same Jesus who walked the sea of Galilee and stilled the raging storm with 3 simple words...still controls the might ocean.

From frothy angry waves to gentle lapping kisses along the shore...what a beautiful illustration of his Grace. 

Letting summer leaves go...

Welcome home, Rugie!