As I sit here on a warm, sunny Sunday afternoon, I'm reflecting on yet another week that has flown by, and the word that keeps going through my head is "Flexibility". It is definitely a word that applies to my week...hang in there, it's a bit of a long story....
After visiting with my Mother-in-Law at the hospital last Sunday (she's doing very well after hip surgery and should be back home in a week), it was MY Mom's turn to go to the hospital on Monday night...! She is just fine now (had a bit of thyroid trouble that caused her to almost pass out), but it is always a scary thing to ride in an ambulance to the ER and be admitted for overnight observation...bless her heart. We are so grateful that everything is fine, she checked out OK, is taking her thyroid medication, and she is much, much better! Her "adventure" is yet another reminder of the fragility of life and the way things can and often do change in a mere moment...
I was so grateful that I had the flexibility to be there with Mom early the next morning (my brother and sister-in-law were there Monday evening when she went in). It was great to sit and visit with her until the afternoon when she was released. It was a very sweet time as we talked and talked, which is our favorite thing to do, pondering who would be voted off of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol as well as the mysteries of life, the joys and frustrations of family, and the goodness of God. My husband and I spent the night with Mom and Dad Tuesday night just to make sure all was well, and once again, I was so glad we had the flexibility to do that.
I went home Wednesday afternoon, and went right back to Mom's Thursday to drive her and Dad to Beaumont for the day for a previously planned visit with my aunt (Mom's younger sister) who is battling brain cancer and recovering from her own hip surgery. Another of my Mom's sisters and both my uncles were there too. It was a wonderful visit full of hugs and laughs, deluxe chicken salad sandwiches, and more talking and talking (it was fun to hear my uncles who are in their 60's weigh in on Dancing With the Stars and American Idol too!! :o) As we were driving home, we were again so grateful for flexibility. My Mom wants to visit with her sister and all her family as often as possible...because life is fragile, and moments are precious...lessons brought home again and again this week...
We spent another night with Mom and Dad Thursday night, (and watched American Idol results together of course, which was fun) and I planned to go home Friday morning and start searching Craigslist for a good used washing machine - seems the one at the home we rent to our tenants stopped working. But, Mom and Dad and I agreed to go to a quick garage sale (or 2) Friday morning before I left. While I was getting ready that morning, I felt the Lord impress on my heart that I would find a good washing machine at a garage sale, pay X amount for it, drive to our house, get our truck, bring it back to Mom's, and have my hubby come to Mom's after he gets off, and we would go together to pick up the washing machine and bring it to the rent house and hook it up. He laid out the plan for the whole day!
So, sure enough, at about the third garage sale we went to we asked if they had a washer for sale, and what do you know, they had one in the garage that they hadn't set out yet...it was only 3 years old, a Whirlpool, worked great, and they wanted X for it, exactly the amount the Lord told me, oh, and I had that much cash on me too. The woman I bought it from (who was also a Believer!) said her husband would be home at 6pm to help us load it, so, I went and got the truck and hubby and I picked up the washer after his work and installed it at the rent house, and it worked great - all as the Lord said!!
No, this past week did NOT go as I had planned...not by a long shot. But, the Lord knew what the week would hold, and He set everything up so that I would be able to flow with everything that happened. He's so very good...
So, why the frogs...??
To remind us to Fully Rely On God....instead of on our own understanding. We have precious little control over our circumstances, but we can TRUST in the One who sees the whole picture...
Here's verse five as well as verse six in The Message version...how very appropriate for my week...for my life...for all our lives...
"Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don't try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (The Message)
I have no clue what this week will hold...but I know the One who holds Me...and that's really all I need to know.... Have a blessed week in Him friends!
