Sunday Afternoon Tea

I often receive the same statement from comments and e-mails. People are either surprised or thanking me (or both) that I'm so honest about my life, my trials, etc. It always makes me smile because this is the very reason that I blog... to share... to teach... to know we are not alone.

I've been writing for a long time now and through the years, many have encouraged me to write a book about the experiences we have been through and what we have learned along the way. Whenever I prayed about it, I heard that still small voice say... write. Not a book and not articles but just... write.

It wasn't until Stephanie told me about this whole blog thing and "encouraged" (pushed) me into blogging that I understood what He had been saying all these years. Just write. Sometime in this past two weeks, I passed my 1,000th post. That's a lot of just writing. :)

These past few months have been quite difficult as once again, I found myself in the midst of a perfect storm situation with difficult circumstances, health concerns, and catastrophic finances all combining to cause hurricane force winds coming against my faith and at times... my sanity. Since my children have questioned my sanity for years, I suppose the storms have mainly come against my faith... and hope.

Yesterday I completely forgot to take my first insulin shot of the morning. Both the first and the last shots are not combined with food to remind me and Saturday morning found me completely off my usual schedule. (I have my cell phone alarm set at 8:00 PM each night to remind me to take my last shot.)

I was sitting at the computer close to noon when it hit me... I'd forgotten that shot. It's not one to forget as the two shots of long term insulin, taken twelve hours apart, act as a foundation to the other three shots taken before each meal. I immediately took my blood sugar readings and they were astronomical. Between that error and fighting an infection, I decided not to work tomorrow at the bookstore (as offered) since my immune system is already compromised. Silly me.

I was thinking later in the day how my faith acts as an anchor in the storm, just as the long term insulin works to anchor the other shots. It was just a word picture that came to me as I was complaining to the Lord after finding out our car's problem was actually the transmission and that means... we park it and depend on Old Faithful. Sigh... yet another financial hit and that coming after my stove gave me problems yesterday morning. We won't even talk about possible election results.

You see, I've been so busy that I've been running on last week's quiet times. My prayers have been mostly "HELP" and "Please protect "insert family member" today". When one is facing hurricane force storms against their faith, one needs more than passing prayers and a promise box.

I sat in church this morning, alone in my thoughts as communion was offered. I felt such peace and thankfully... the return of hope. One of the songs we sang during communion was Above All and I pondered the verses...

Above all powers, above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms, above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what you're worth

He is in control. Whatever the election results. Whatever storms come our way. Whatever circumstances we find ourselves in are those of our family members. He is on the throne.

It is only when I try to live my life without the true Foundation each day that the winds can blow me into despair or doubt. He is on the throne. For that, I am eternally thankful.

I may reach Heaven out of breath, having used every ounce of faith given for the journey... but I'll reach it and stand before Him someday having walked the course and kept the faith because He is on the Throne. I will lay my crown at His feet, knowing full well that He was the Foundation that kept me on the journey. :)