Stand up straight and
realize who you are,
that you tower over your
circumstances. You are a
child of God. Stand up straight.
-Maya Angelou
Yesterday was hard. Really hard. All of the details don't really matter, but somehow I was just off, misdirected and over sensitive. I knew I was in trouble when the tears started to flow, and I was so missing my Mom that I couldn't stop crying. I must have said ten times, "I wish she was here to talk to. She would know what to do." I kept talking to God all day long, but looking back now, in the early morning light of today after several hours of sleep, I recognize that I might have been talking to Him, but I'm quite sure I wasn't listening to Him.
My Grandma (Nana) used to say, with a half- stern, half-twinkling look in her eye, "Sometimes days are just plain hard and then we all just need a talkin' to."
What she meant was that we all get mixed up, sad, frustrated and tied in knots, and we all need a voice to redirect our efforts. We all need someone to sit us down, look us square in the eye and say... "Yes, this is hard. It's very hard. But you are not alone in this hard. I am here with you."
I don't have very many days when I feel grumpy. Almost never, ever. But I sure as heck felt grumpy yesterday. I felt a mix of sad and mad and helpless. I felt scared. I prayed continually, but not whole-heartedly. Truth be told, I was mad at God.
Yes, mad at God.
I was tied in knots knowing my dear sweet friend, Vicky Westra... who has stage four breast cancer, was in the hospital having to have another surgery on a kidney stent that was causing her a serious infection.
She has been through so much and now this.
I just couldn't wrap my heart around the suffering she has been going through. So I told God (as if He didn't know) that enough is enough. I didn't just say it. I shouted it!
I was out in the garden working and praying and my tears started to fall. So I turned to Heaven and yelled, "Enough. Hasn't she gone through enough?"
I have to laugh a bit this morning wondering if any of our dear neighbors were out in their backyards and how my talking to God out loud might have sounded to them.
Yet I truly didn't care then, and honestly don't care now, how it sounded to anyone else. I needed God to listen, to hear my heart, to hear how scared and mad I am about the suffering that Vicky has gone through, is going through.
After a good cry and some sleep, I know that not only does God know that Vicky is suffering, He was with her in it all.
* He was there to comfort her in that surgery room.
* He was there to hold her hand.
* He was there with Vicky and is there right this very minute.
He is here!
I wish I could say that the rest of the day went better. Outwardly it did, but inwardly I was still struggling. I felt discouraged. I just let myself feel whatever came up, and kept giving it all to Him.
Giving Vicky to Him, no matter what. Letting go of thinking
this just can't turn out this way.
When I get scared like this and have a "just plain hard day", I
always feel better when I read God's word, and when I go back to Jesus Calling, a simple daily devotional. I feel better when God gives me a "talking' to."
Sure enough, I found so many "gems" that spoke to my hurting heart. Reminders about who God is and reminders that He loves me and is always there for me.
Reminders that he He loves Vicky and is always there for her, too.
And then I came upon a quote by Maya Angelou that felt like a gift from the Lord. I could almost imagine Maya Angelou, in a grandmotherly tone, saying to me...
Linda Marie...
Stand up straight
Realize who you are
You tower over your circumstances
You are a child of God
Stand up straight.
Finally, after a big ugly cry, I sat down , journaled and listened to the song Even if.
Finally, my heart felt calm.
Yes, yesterday was "just plain hard," to quote my Nana.
Super hard for my sweet friend Vicky and hard for me
as her friend. Yet I feel renewed this morning because I am focusing not on how awful things are, but how God is there in the awful.
God is here, no matter what, and for that I am deeply grateful!
Today I will remember that I AM A CHILD of GOD!...
and as Vicky always says..."All Shall Be Well!"
Amen and Amen!
God Bless!
Love,
Linda
1 comment:
You have a caring heart.
Only one of the many reasons I call you FRIEND.
Our prayers continue to be with Vicky.
Yes. He hears each one.
Sometimes He says, "Yes." Sometimes He says, "No.". And sometimes He says,"Wait."
His will is always perfect, and it can be agonizingly painful to see someone we care about have to endure hardships.
Vicky is an example of one who prays for others as she is suffering. And she does suffer. I don't know how she has managed to be such a saint through all of this. But I know that she has lifted my heart and inspired me to be on my knees for others.
Thank you, Linda, for being so open and honest with your feelings here. It's how I feel, too.
Lord, how much more can she endure? And then He gives her comfort...and that undeniable faith to
look up, smile through the pain, and face another day...and another week. All gifts. Each day with her Superman and her two precious boys is a gift.
Something you said REALLY spoke to me, Linda. I talk with Him. But I don't listen nearly as much as I should. Thank you for helping me to realize that.
I hug you, Linda. You are a precious friend.
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