What's Next?

 

The past 30 days have been somewhat surreal to Rhonda and I.  Not quite what we thought this stage of life would be.  Through these days of hardship, we see God working in ways that  have yet to be revealed. Two weeks ago I was driving half-way across the USA and flying around the country to care for my folks. Just last week we were scrambling on finding a ALZ home for Rhonda's mom, only to find ourselves preparing for a memorial service in a couple weeks. We make our best plans, but God intervenes and straightens out even  the messy stuff.
When you don't get what you expect the natural order should produce, you question what went wrong, when the first thing is expecting a natural outcome of events should make sense.  Really?  Are we that nieve?   Where and how do we learn to trust when things do not go as planned? It is said we learn the most when we struggle - not when things go easy.  We end up relying on our own intellect and abilities to figure stuff out.  So some lessons learned from someone who usually gets it pretty close to right.  My diet of humble pie is not what I think I need.  I need to push back from the table, get out of the way and watch God do His thing.

Test Prep - TRUST

 

Our post-Christmas world has been a challenging one.  It seems that our personal focus has been distracted by circumstances that have been thrust upon us, making us take a stand or step up to advise or engage in problem-solving that has few easy answers.  So goes life with aging parents.  Perhaps it is our first encounter that hits so close.  Dealing with frail moms and dads test the mettle of one's love, concern, stress and focus.  Both our parents have undergone extreme struggle since January 1 while in our presence. In both situations, we were forced to make decisions that were not embraced.  In other words... we weren't ready for dealing with messy stuff with our parents.  For the first time, we were put in the role of being a "decision-maker" for parents who played that role for us for several decades.  Then, when we are pushed to pick up some slack, we are overwhelmed with the details and consequences of plain old age.  No easy answers here... but a simple child-like faith that we made decisions that will be in the best interest of each of them. We can't see into the future but must trust that God will handle the big stuff if we make a good attempt to handle the small stuff.  But why does this feel like such big stuff?    The old hymn  " I am trusting Thee Lord Jesus"  serves as a reminder:
"I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus;
Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever
And for all."

I am trusting Thee to guide me;
Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying
All my need.

5. I am trusting Thee for power;
Thine can never fail.
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me
Must prevail.