Scattered Thunderstorms

For the last three days, the weather channel has forecasted scattered thunderstorms for our area. That normally would not be a big deal except that I had planned a "surprise" for my husband who was out of town for three days which required me to do some work outside. The scattered thunderstorms presented quite a challenge, but I managed to overcome it, and was amazingly able to bless my husband (with the help of MANY friends) upon his arrival home. (I'll tell you about the surprise in another blog entry).

All was 'right' last night. My husband came home, was delighted by the surprise I planned for him; the boys slept a long night, giving Lawrence and me a little extra sleep that we desperately needed. But, we got out of bed, and were greeted by our own custom made 'scattered thunderstorms'. Here's what it looked like:

Lawrence needed some underwear; the only ones clean smelled like fuel due to our gas dryer emitting some foul oder into one of my recent loads of laundry. (still don't know what that's all about) We found an unidentifiable bug in our bedroom. You would think this girl from the country would 1. know her bugs and 2. not be frieked out by them, but neither is true. My husband read through the mail that came yesterday, two letters of which were collection notices for hospital bills that we've been told again and again by both our insurance company and the hospital that we are not responsible to pay...a quandry for sure. These notices come just when we are planning to re-finance our home. I had a difficult conversation with my husband over the phone while he drove to work that drew out my heart's inclination to fear and be selfish all at the same time. And, my sons have a violent diaper rash that I have been unable to treat with every recommendation and prescription our doctor has suggested. All this before 10 am.

I know there are too many of you who can relate to the morning I just described. The temptation for me in these moments is to be shaken, to melt into a puddle of tears and fear the worst, to feel overwhelmed by all my responsibility and fall, rather jump, into a pit of self pity. All these responses are first, not godly, nor are they productive.

God, in His mercy, is reminding me more and more quickly in these moments that I have a choice. I can throw up my hands and decide to give up and give in to temptation or I can persevere by praying and seeking perspective from His Word. By His grace I chose the latter this morning. I picked up a magazine my husband receives and read an article by Nancy Wilson. It was on having a Sabboth meal, something altogether unrelated to the circumstances of my morning, but in it was this quote which encouraged my heart immensely and set my gaze in the right direction once again.

The point is to celebrate before the Lord around the table, knowing that He is preparing a table for all of us where He will be seated at the head.

That simple phrase provided a wonderful reminder that this world and all its trouble--it's not my home. I'm here for a short time. I may endure many trials, big and small, but it doesn't matter because I'm not staying here. I'm moving on to Heaven, where there are no unidentifiable bugs, smelly underwear, violent diaper rashes or medical bills, and where there will be no scattered thunderstorms, because the SON shines brightly all day and night there.