I have so much to be thankful for; seeing God’s word and his works alive from the moment I awaken.

As in most mornings, my eyes open and I thank Him for the breath in my lungs and the beat of my heart.  I ask him to open my eyes and my ears to what he wants me to see and hear, that I may acknowledge it as such and follow Him in my heart and my words and in my deeds. 

The first thing I read today is Rita Simmonds “Almsgiving” poem.  It gives me pause on how the almsgiver personally looks at the homeless and respond to their presence.  The poetess writes how the almsgiver is PLEASED TO SEE HIM(HER)!,,, not moved by the act of giving as much as that she is in the mere presence of the needy.  No judgement. Just compassion.  

It reminds me of two recent situations that triangulate with this. 

First, at pickleball the other day a player confided in me how shallow her thinking is.  Let’s call her Marie. She said “I am so unaware that other people have so many problems in their lives that we’re unaware of”. She went on to speak of another player, her partner on the court in the last game she played.  During pla , that player wasn’t make good attempts to reach the ball that was lightly tapped over the net, “dinked” and it meant “side out”; the other team got the ball back and along with it, to start adding more points to strive toward the goal of 11 and win the match.  Marie then said “I had no idea she had such a difficult situation with her back; her disc is all messed up and she’s playing with constant pain and it limits her ability to move quickly”.  She realized there are times when we need to open her heart and mind, accept there are things we don’t fully understand, and place our own mercy and grace into situations we encounter.  Indeed, we can all better ourselves, and help others, if we apply the “First seek to understand…..” adage in our daily experiences.   

Another situation I became aware of was the case of a woman who has multiple, I mean, MULTIPLE, medical problems.  Because of the treatment she is receiving for her advanced cancer, she has lost the function of both her thyroid and adrenal glands, has acquired Type II Diabetes and is on replacement therapy for all.  She now suffers a significant decline in her quality of life. But you wouldn’t know it!  She starts every day, literally singing “Good Morning! Good Morning!” and finishes every day with “It’s another day in Paradise!”.  What most bothers her, though, is that she has gained a considerable amount of weight. So much so that she cannot reach down and put her own socks on her feet and feels bad that her husband needs to put her socks on her while still hopeful that someday she’ll be able to do that for herself.   And she told her husband all that to which he replied, just as I read in ‘Almsgiving, that he’s just happy they are still on this side of the daisies and they are in each others presence!  Putting socks on her feet is just a manifestation of his total love for her.  Reassuring her she will be putting her own socks on when the Lord sees fit for her to do so, and that they can pray that it will be in His will soon. 

Over the past several days, as the war against Iran continues to rage, I sit and watch what information provided.  I don’t want to invest too much intellectually or emotionally because it’s not something I can do much about.  It’s not that I don’t care. I’m just being mindful of my thoughts concerning it. Nobody knows what’s going to become of the country, the people, the nearby countries nor the world at large. I pray for peace and resolution. Honestly, I know that God is very much aware of what is going on.  God is in control.  And what rings out in my mind is:

“Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalms 46:10 NIV)

In the book of Daniel, in the Old Testament books of Scripture I am again reassured by His Word, helping me reconcile what is happening as we watch the calamity in the Middle East:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
    wisdom and power are his.
 He changes times and seasons;
    he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. (Daniel 2: 20-21 NIV)

“He deposes Kings and raises up others…..”. Why would I think that this is not what is happening today in the Middle East?

Amidst all that He has revealed in my mind and in my heart, I will try to move peacefully through this day.