be still

we are going on week number two of having sickness in some form residing at our home. first it was me with the sinus crud...finally in the end stages. next was my littlest with one of the nastiest coughs i think i have heard. it has a firm grip on him and we just cannot seem to shake it. my eldest is in an on-again-off-again state of illness...so we are just praying that it wraps itself up quickly and is over with.

i don't think any of us enjoys illness. the extra time at home is nice. the wearing of pajamas all day is a nice break. but the actual illness...not so much fun. colin (my littlest) thinks that being sick means that you get to hang at home in your jammies, watch extra tv and play video games. oh, how he has gotten to learn this week that that is not so. he has fought me intensely each day that he does not need rest. he does NOT need rest. and yet, each day as i make him purposefully be still for just five minutes...he falls asleep and naps for a few hours.

looking at him right now, peacefully sleeping on the couch...makes me appreciate these still moments. i love his energy, but i love how peaceful he can be too. i am truly hoping that these still moments help his body heal and that we are running around like crazy again soon...

He saves me

psalm 116:1-6 (msg)

I love God because He listened to me,

listened as I begged for mercy.

He listened so intently

as I laid out my case before him.

Death stared me in the face,

hell was hard on my heels.

Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn;

then I called out to God for help:

"Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!"

God is gracious—it is He who makes things right,

our most compassionate God.

God takes the side of the helpless;

when I was at the end of my rope, He saved me.

unlike the psalmist, i am not in a life-threatening situation, but i have been/am in a difficult season. i have been trying every day to talk to Him about it all, but i will not lie, there are days that i have been weary of talking...and hearing and feeling nothing but silence. i know that He is there. i know that He listens and loves and cares. but silence is hard. waiting is hard. being unsure of my direction is hard. not knowing what is going to happen next is hard.

then i read this and am encouraged...He is listening. He will make things right. He is compassionate. He will help me. He has saved me in the grandest of ways and will save me each day. all i simply need to do is to cry out to Him. look to Him. depend on Him. the littlest thing in my life does matter to Him--He listens so intently. and He will answer...