Taking Care of Business

Just a few short months after losing my dad, my mom (who has been chronically ill with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and Addison's disease) fell during physical therapy and shattered her right shoulder and hip.  They were able to do a hip replacement but the shoulder will just have to heal on its own.  I spent 10 days in Temple helping her and my stepdad while she was in the hospital and dealing with finding a good rehab center for her.  Folks, I'm here to tell you - it is more than difficult to be old in our society.  I sat in the rehab center during lunch with my mom and looked around at the elderly people as they ate lunch and thought "my mother doesn't belong here."  Then I looked at her and she looked just like them!  It was sobering and sad.  I am so grateful that we have lots of family in Temple to help them when my siblings and I can't be there.

Notwithstanding the circumstances in my family, there is the political and economic climate swirling all around us with messages of doom and gloom.  As believers we have the hope that is within us - Jesus Christ our hope of glory.  He is still God.  Nothing is impossible for Him and nothing is too hard for Him.  

To fret and worry, to allow circumstances to threaten our peace is lack of belief.  I read a quote this week that said 'the greatest gift humans can give God is to believe Him.'  That would be to believe that the hearts of the kings are in His hands, that nothing can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, that within Him we have a sabbath rest.  

When God rested on the seventh day of creation it was not because He was tired - it was because the work of providing mankind's every need was finished in six days.  That is why the Christian is to have a continual rest in his soul - because we believe Him that it is indeed "finished."  Everything we need has been provided.  Everything we most deeply desire is prepared for us.  

While it's hard to not dwell on the negative and plan for the worst - the deepest desire of God's heart is that we would trust Him and believe Him that He can and will take care of us.  I have chosen to rest.  My personal mantra these days is "I believe You."   The byproduct?  I have peace and He has my trust.