Finding Peace at the End of the Day.....

Do you ever have one of those days when it feels like you're hopscotching from one rug to the next, only to feel each one pulled from beneath your feet the moment you land?

It's been one of those days.....one of those days when the climb is feeling rather steep and my legs are feeling pretty tired.

I write this post not to complain and whine about the things that, at the moment, seem insurmountable. 

No, I write this in order to put words to my need to trust....and reinforce my belief in the everlasting promise that "all things are possible with Christ, who strengthens me".

Sometimes, we just get to clicking along on autopilot, feeling like we're accomplishing much - mostly due to our own efforts.  (Well, at least I do that....)  When I embarked on a career in real estate a couple of years ago, I know that there would be many things beyond my control along the way.  The nature of the beast is that not all of the cogs in the machinery always work together and there would be disappointments (not only for me, but also for my clients) along the way. As frustrating as it is, I can't always "fix" everything.

Days like this serve to remind me that any success I have is not necessarily attributable to my efforts.  In fact, it's mostly despite my efforts!  Days like this are a reminder that, in myself, I am weak.....and someone up above thinks I need a "little period of readjustment" to put things back in to perspective.  Tough, tough, tough for me - being the control freak that I am! 

And, so I surrender it up tonight.  With the pups sleeping around my feet (having sat here consuming way too much coffee and fretting for the last couple of hours), I give it up and TRUST GOD to give me the wisdom and patience to deal with situations that seem borderline disastrous in the dark of the night. 

How appropriate that this is the "verse for the day" that came up on my Bible app today......

"Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary 

and carry heavy burdens, 

and I will give you rest." - Matthew 11:28

Don't you just love when God sends a little tangible reminder like that just when you need it most?

In the Blink of an Eye.....

Our whole world can change. 

A few days ago, I heard a piece on the news about a 16-year boy who sank the winning shot at the overtime buzzer to lead his high school basketball team to a championship victory and a perfect season.  A few minutes later, he collapsed in the midst of the celebration and was pronounced dead at the hospital only two hours later.  He had an undiagnosed heart condition and suffered a massive heart attack.  His name was Wes Leonard. 

Wes Leonard, 16, being lifted to the shoulders of his teammates only moments before he collapsed.

When I heard this news on the radio in my car, I was overcome with grief and emotion.  As the mother of three grown children, I cannot even begin to imagine how his parents must feel. What a tragic loss for his family, his teammates and friends.  At one of the finest moments in his life, just as he was experiencing jubilation and joy over his accomplishment - literally being lifted to the shoulders of his teammates, his celebration was cut short and the lives of all those around him were changed in the blink of an eye. 


As my mind struggles to comprehend why something like this happens, my heart hears a soft whisper -

"You know not when I will come for you, my child.  

Learn this lesson - live every moment well and to the fullest, 

as if it were your last."   

When one day I find myself about to draw my breath, I would want to know:

• I lived my life to the fullest, seizing every opportunity offered, without fear. 
• I did right more than I did wrong and I learned from my mistakes.
• When my head hit the pillow every night, I gave thanks for my many blessings.
• Those special people around me knew, without a doubt, how much I loved them and how special they were to me because I told them and showed them daily.

Since none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, or even the next moment, we must choose to trust.  And believe.  For all the planning we do is for naught unless we are prepared to let go of this world and move on to the next with a ready and willing heart. 

My prayers go out to the Leonard Family, 

that they will know a special peace and comfort that can only come from our Creator. 

Think about it.


Jane

Celebrating with Chile!!!

Like so many other people around the world, I have spent every spare moment since about midnight last night watching as the Chilean miners, trapped 2,300 feet below the surface of the earth for the last 69 days, are being pulled to safety.  What a wonderful day for so many families and for the world at large ~ to see this rescue unfold!

For a moment, try to imagine what being trapped like that must have been like.  It's impossible to comprehend how it must have felt, both mentally and physically, to be in that dark, hot and inaccessible place so deep in the earth.  For the first 17 days, those 33 men were completely shut off from all contact....surviving on tiny rations of food and drink, not knowing if help would come.  They were in a confined space, with the temperature hovering around 90 degrees and humidity at 80%, no fresh water, no bathroom facilities, none of the comforts we take for granted on a daily basis.  Can you imagine???  How easy it would have been to give in to fear and despair.

Yet, they apparently remained calm and organized, drawing strength from their shared Faith and training. 

Once they were found to be alive, the nation of Chile went to work on their dramatic rescue.  They brought in experts and help from around the world and started drilling a shaft through solid rock to reach the men.  Early estimates were that the miners wouldn't be rescued until around Christmas, but here we are, in mid-October, watching each man lifted out into the fresh air and reunited with his loved ones.

My hat is off to the Chilean government for their handling of this entire situation!  To see their President stand at the rescue site and personally greet and welcome each miner as he emerges, to hear of the united effort of the government and people of Chile to bring a happy ending to this story.  I think we can take a lesson from the strong and faithful people of this country who focused only on the successful rescue of these men.  There was no finger-pointing or blaming for the situation; there was no sensational use of the event for political gain.  The attitude of the country was one of determination and unity.


One of the first miners who emerged from the narrow rescue capsule made this statement ~

"I have been in a place with God, 

I have been in a place with the Devil.  

I reached out to God."

WOW!!!  That simple statement leaves me speechless with its sheer power and wisdom.  I want to dwell on it, bury it deep in my heart, and aspire to be able to utter the same words. 

With the emergence of each man, I feel renewed Joy and am so thankful for the Miracle of their rescue!  God is so good!!!

Jane