Not only is his timing exactly planned, but also his instructions to those who walk his errands.
Life and Breath and Everything Else: Psalm 78:13a
Published with the permission of Lauren Dawenport. See her blog.
Some of you will know that for 24 years I have been living with the chronic fatigue syndrome ME. That means that my batteries run low quickly and I have to lay down and recharge 2 -3 times a day.
After all these years I and my family have found ways to cope and I even see God's blessings through my illness,( at least in retrospect).
I was allowed to be a stay at home Mom from when Serina was a baby after my collapse.
All family members have been knit closely together, because we needed each other to make life work for the one we all loved the most, the divine gift, baby Serina, only niece and only grandchild.
As Serina grew older both husband Gunnar , my brother Kel and my parents grew life threatening ill in just a short time.
Again, we were able to be there for each other.
I admit I felt I'd reached a point of total helplessness when Serina also came down with ME last June. As my Mom was heading towards the end of her life, my daughter had just finished her education and about to begin her life.
I have learned to walk on promises and take one step at a time over and over again. Sometimes I envy people who can plan a half year ahead. I just have to recognize, this is not for me.
So often I've woken up in my childhood room reading the text over my head. Never will I leave, nor will I forsake you. Signed God.
If I could share how these words have given me new strength and new hope.
I love the Sisterhood of the Traveling Scarf and Terry in particular, since she has come to stand so close to me and has also adopted Serina as her prayer child.
I wondered if I even would be able to take part in this year's adventures. I just thought, let me wait and see.
After serious praying, some new and very promising neurological medication against the ME symptoms came available in Norway this February. Serina started in March. Lots of side efferents which meant trials to all of us.
We have learned to embrace the good moments and we indeed do.
Life is so precious and so are smiles, laughter, companionship, hugs, games, food and the odd outdoor expedition.
Had Linda not enclosed an extra pair of socks, I'd had to wait until Monday. The Lord knew and he inspired Linda, that's for sure.
In a week or two I shall also try out this new medication. Then I would not have been able to write, at least not if I must go through similar side effects like those of Serina.
God sees and plans so many steps ahead, while I hardly see the end of a day.
Praised be his name. Praised be his love and fatherly concern for each and everyone of us.
11 comments:
dearest felisol...you needed those sock that sweet linda sent to you and i needed YOU!...it was so good to read your post and your two verses about god opening up the sea and god never forsaking us even though i have failed miserably the last week, i know that he will never leave me![and he has already forgiven me]
dad golden will be so happy when i read him your posts...all the time he is asking about his "norway" and his "new yorker"[donna]...
felisol, i never really knew what ME was and so i just googled it and i never knew that you and serina had it...i have prayed but now i will know what to pray for.
felisol, i am glad that you are standing on the promises of god and that your little flower princess looks so happy in this picture...she is truly your treasure just as much as gunnar and kel...all of you have a blessed lords day....love terry
And God delivered exactly what you needed! I love it! You post at a pace that treats you kindly! God will give you wisdom to share each day whether at home or at a flea market. Oh 'how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.' Romans 10:15
You are LOVED!
i'm smiling here in canada ... God is so wonderfully kind to His maid servants ... blessings on you!
Smiling here in GA too....pryaing your sock adventure is lovely and that your new meds treat you well. Love you, Sister!
dear felisol..it sure is lending an ear to the devil a dangerous thing...for the last week he has sorely tormented me and here is the story.
last saturday welland learned that one of our most beloved politician man passed away at the age of 60...he was at first an alderman and then he went on to sit for the niagara regions provincial seat..he was loved by all, elderly people who he used to go to the market for and buy flower bouquets and just give them out to the elderly...children, loved him .. i one day saw as the santa clause parade was going by and the children saw peter, they ran past santa clause running and shouting "peter, peter,peter!" , running right to his willing arms,...i remember delivering mail to this one elderly man's house and the sign he had on his door said, "if you are a politician and if your name is not peter kormos, don't bother knocking!"
he came to mom and dad's golden anniversary at the church and when he saw dad golden, he said. "i see cecil, that mrs. golden has finally got you to come to church!"...and i couldn't help it felisol, i really couldn't..i said to him, "well, she has finally got you to come too peter!"
oh so many good memories i have of him....he didn't profess to be a christian, and what has been tormenting me is the fact that grampa yade's son, douglas yade went to russia a few years back and was giving bibles out by the thousands to the starving people, people who wanted to meet jesus...doug wrote a book called, "to siberia with bibles", and he gave me one to give to peter, and i never did do it!..douglas went to school with peter...oh felisol, i felt like such a failure and it has taught me that i should never put off things till it is too late....i know that the lord has forgiven me and i know that he would use somebody else to have brought the word to peter and i am sure that he was given the choice , yes or no..just as the thieves on the cross were given the choice....your first post made me realize this and though my heart still hurts, that devil is not tormenting me!
as you know felisol, dad golden doesn't go to church but as you also know you, his prayer mother and the sisters are all praying and isn't that just as important as the other church activities that you are unable to preform and i know for a fact that when you are so ill that i kind of not want to ask for your prayers as i have had a really bad need of but when i do, you answer right away....you are a prayer warrior just like all of your sisters
i have done too much talking here and so i will leave for now and return later!....i love you...love terry
Dearest Terry,
Praying is what keeps me going.
When I am week, I am strong, because then God is carrying me.
Even Paul knew about feeling week. The old devil let no one in peace.
I try to come to terms with the fact, God knows what little strength I have and how many hours I have to spend in bed.
He who sees all do not condemn me. It's been a long time since my mother made me realize I have do work for God's approval, not for men's approval.
God also know how ill you are every hour of the day. Even so you carry burdens other will not touch. You are faithful in everything, but you cannot do everything for all. Your brother could have contacted the politician himself.
I bet he has never been expecting you to do everything. It was a sad thing though that the man died so untimely. I'm so happy we are not to judge anybody.
Going to church alone do not let us into heaven.Nor do our good deeds.
I pray he was saved in his heart.
That's what it's all about. Him and Jesus.
I also pray that the old devil let you go. You haven't done anything wrong, Terry. God uses us and chooses us and gives us the strength we need.
Please rest in that. The fiend comes when we are exhausted. Tell him to go.
Nothing shall separate us from God's love in Jesus Christ.
So glad the sock is bringing joy from across the seas~ Love to you "Sis"
God supplies, even extra socks!
I suffer from Fibromyalgia, and it's very hard for some people to accept something they can't "see". I'm just starting to listen to my body and rest, something I've resisted.
May the LOrd bless you and ALL of your socks as you walk this journey with the Sisters!
Thanks for all the good words.
Pat, I so agree with you. I try to explain, that when friends and family see me, that's the days I'm able to stay out of bed.
Nobody comes behind that closed bedroom door.
Gunnar is a faithful guardsman.
I thank the Lord he being so brave and kind at the same time.
My dear Elise...I am just now reading and catching up on your adventures with the socks. How wonderful that the Lord prompted Linda to send an extra pair. God is good - in the details - even in knowing you wouldn't have access to a store for several days.
I understand completely the level of fatigue of which you speak. My MS knocks me down and causes me to have to take frequent rests. There are moments when I just need to sit and it takes all the strength I have just to breathe in and out. There are days when I spend most of my time in bed...oh, how I'm looking forward to that day when we all will be made whole - either on earth or in heaven. It's going to be grand! But until then, I will continue to rejoice in all that God does - for He is faithful - in the midst of our trials - in the midst of the "thorns" we all carry....my heart will not cease to praise Him!
Amen, Deb. We shall never cease to praise him, and never cease to pray for healing either.
Backwards I can see, His will has been done.
Where I stand, I must say, God is still in charge.
Post a Comment