Time is short

Time was short today, because I had my weekly outing to the grocery store. I confess that I came home grumpy. I’m getting tired of the mask and fussing with plastic gloves. I’m really tired of washing and wiping down the purchases when I get back.

Then I feel guilty. I have it so good. I can afford to buy the food we want. I can drive to the shop. I come home to a husband and daughter and enjoy a poached egg and coffee which they have prepared. I have no complaints, only gratitude for my undeserved blessings.

In keeping with my ambition to play my cello every day, I squeezed in a quarter of an hour just now. I didn’t bother with my glasses or the music. I played from the heart, to my king. Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. The splendour of the king. Thank you, Lord. Praise your name.

How great is our God. I am so grateful that although I have no idea how we will ever get out of this fearful pandemic, God knows. I hold before the throne of grace all those who are suffering with the illness or the loneliness or the bereavement or the anxiety or the exhaustion. Grace and peace in the name of Jesus, our Saviour.

Stuck in the Mud

A voice calling at the back door (because the doorbell doesn’t work…). ‘Stuck in the mud. Help!’

Walking each other home is a lot like getting stuck in the mud sometimes. Here we are again, with inaccurate measurements on room lay-outs, trying to figure out scales and convert from inches to metric. I threw out my careful measurements of the furniture taken before the last move, so we are left trying to figure it from the floor plan…

It’s obviously a smaller room, but how much smaller, and which pieces will need to go this time?

Frustration threatens us, cat-calling from the side-lines as we struggle to stay in God’s peace. Yet his peace does continue to remain deep within me, a peace which I didn’t have with the last move.

God knows what he is doing. There is a lot of effort being expended in keeping Mom safe and happy, but God still has a plan for her here on earth or she would no longer be with us. Her days are numbered by him, and while there are more to run, his purpose for her is not yet complete.

She is a blessing still, imparting encouraging words to her granddaughter when she seeks advice. Yes, perhaps the memory is slipping, but the smile is still broad and the faith in God remains intact.

If we are stuck in the mud, repeating what we just did, there is a good reason for it. Thank God that I am not in charge.