“Our anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strengths.”
― Charles H. Spurgeon
“Some people feel guilty about their anxieties and regard them as a defect of faith. I don’t agree at all. They are afflictions, not sins. Like all afflictions, they are, if we can so take them, our share in the Passion of Christ”
― C.S. Lewis
(lovely relief masks found under an ancient bridge crossing over the Seine in Paris as seen from a bateau / Paris, France / 2011)
Ok so you would most likely assume that if a person had a life sized one of these standing about in one’s home, there would be a certain sense of well being, an understood knowledge that all was indeed quiet on the western as well as the eastern, the northern and the southern fronts and that everything would be under control right?
And yet there is a prevailing sense that something big is coming.
Like it or not, it is indeed coming.
As in 26 days, less than a month, as in you’ve been hearing about, plotting and planning about this now for nearly 3 years. . .and yet, the foreboding sense of something huge and monumental coming, as in like it or not–it’s coming, is proving palpable.
Maybe it is assumed that everyone is hunkered down, ready and waiting.
All eyes are focused, ever so keenly scanning the horizon for the slightest bit of movement, fingers steady and poised on all sorts of triggers.
Preparedness is key!
Organization is paramount!
A stiff upper lip a necessity. . .
Andy yet. . .
You may recall that,one day last week, I had asked for prayers for my son who is suffering from complications from kidney stones. We thought he were going to have surgery this Tuesday–as in tomorrow– but it seems the doctors are opting for more tests Tuesday–as in tomorrow. There have been ultrasounds, blood work, a CT scan and now some sort of scope thingy is scheduled—for Tuesday–as in tomorrow.
For some reason, the fact that I keep reminding all living and breathing personnel residing in this particular doctor’s office that we have a wedding on June 7th—does not seem to deliver the same overwhelming sense of panic that it does for anyone but me and perhaps the bride to be, and maybe my son.
So, as of now, we’re on for a scope only Tuesday, as in tomorrow. The supposed surgery which was mentioned, the one that I think I heard as having something of a 2 week recovery time of such, as in there is this little thing such as a wedding taking place in less than a month, a wedding that has been in the making now for 3 years, as in it’s happening in historic Savannah, as in the famous park, as in this had to be set in stone over a year ago, as in come hell or high water we WILL all be present and accounted for, as in one would think a bride and groom would want to feel 100% on their wedding day, as in is this not becoming a bit of a hinderance to one’s health, as in maybe should I have gone into medicine since I seem to be the only one to have a better sense of time and priorities—or is that just a mother thing???
At any rate, I will hold onto my panic a bit longer, sharing it with this medical office as often as possible and will continue asking for prayers as I believe that prayer does indeed availeth much. . .
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
James 5:16
And since we’re now talking about confessing. . .
Remember my voila moment from the other day?
The construction of my wonderful purple martin house?
The one I worked so hard putting together so that the birds wouldn’t think of me as a slum lord?
Remember the picture of the bluebird sitting on top of the collapsing old house I was wanting to replace?
Well . . .
It’s a bit of a long story.
One I really don’t think I’m emotionally sound yet to fully discuss but let’s just say that
A. My husband who thought he would be sweet and go out yesterday morning to remove the old one and replace it with the new one discovered that I may not have assemble it exactly correctly. . .
I know this comes as a great shock, but surprisingly, it seems that maybe I did not line up a couple of arrows correctly. Of which meant the pole wouldn’t fit up inside the house.
Once the blasted thing is assembled, you can’t undo what you did—being plastic and having called for plastic bolts–there’s no unbolting plastic pushed in, as in not going anywhere, bolts. He had to rig some sort of brace. . .
B. Then there was the issue of the bluebird.
Bluebird you ask?
Remember the one sitting on top of the old house in the picture from the other day?
May I just say that my husband now feels really really badly, and I am really really sad.
There was a bit of a tragedy yesterday while he was taking down the old house—of which I’m still too traumatized to speak of—
Just remember the story of how I told you that there are the occasional usurpers who attempt taking ownership of the martin house—
You would think that with 5 bluebird boxes in the yard, a bluebird would never consider usurping a martin house. . .a martin house on a 25 foot wobbly pole perched precariously in the middle of a field?!
I don’t want to talk about it. It was an accident. In his excitement of bringing down the old and putting up the bootleg new, he never saw that they fell out. . .
I’m really sad—as is Mrs Bluebird. And it was mother’s day of all day’s—lets just say there were tears, a little screaming, a lot of feeling really badly, and the proverbial best laid plans—once again, run amuck. . .
So with all of this drama whirling about in and out of my world—may we all take pause this morning, breathing in deeply these immortal words . . .
Oh Julie…I’m glad you have the listening ears of your blogger friends and more importantly the ones of Him who loves you so much! Praying that each day will take care of itself…and that the wedding will come off splendidly. I have my son’s wedding coming up June 21…so I know a bit about the squeeze you are feeling. On my knees with you ~ Laura
Oh thank you Laura—as well as congratulations to you, your son and future daughter n law!
Brenton is our only child so I suppose these sorts of milestones and crises seem a bit greater and heavier due to his seizing all of our attentions.
And as has been his seemingly life long choosing of the short straw as it were, his dad and I can get so frustrated that in any circumstance he always has the losing end and could easily wear the medal “if it can go wrong, it will” forever around his neck—this since birth!!
There are days that I can and must simply laugh–but then there are the heavier days when we all seem to cry.
Today, I do have a sense of not so much peace, but a
“what will be, will be” feel to all of this…which is indeed a continuing lesson in trusting a loving Father who does know more than this one mom 🙂
I, we, so greatly appreciate any and all prayers with tomorrow’s procedure, as well as any determined necessary for the future, in order to ensure Brenton’s return to good health!
Happy Preparations Laura—
Julie
Definitely praying…and trusting! God bless you with His peace that passes all human understanding, Julie.
and …thank you for the warm thoughts for my son’s future wedding.
Laura
Okay, focus and breathe, Cookie. First of all God is still in control! Maybe the scope will indicate that there is NO need for surgery at least until some later day, like after June 7th.
Only the Lord knows, but He does know. So take a deep breath. Do it again! Focus on what Scripture says about the futility of worry and why you shouldn’t. Breathe again! Realize that if it is part of God’s plan that the wedding should take place on that date, nothing on earth, or in heaven or hell, will stop that from happening! Breathe again and go have a minty julep or something similar, and relax!!!! Om, mani, padme, om! Om, mani, padmi, om. Love and hugs, Natalie 🙂
Julie, prayers continue for your family and especially for your son’s health, This too shall pass. There are certain things that are not in our control. God is always telling me to rest in God and all will be well. Blessings.
Thank you Lynda. I saw yesterday that it was in the 40’s in Camden, Maine—one of my favorite places—is it still that cold with you? I will pray for warmth to wend its self your way 🙂
Hugs—Julie