As I grow older, I have discovered
"living" has a way of weaving unexpected twists and turns in my
life. There are those mountain top experiences filled with overwhelming
joy and hope. I have discovered that many times mountain top experiences are
followed by a descent to the valley below. Walking through the valley can be
lined with heartaches, disappointment, pain, and isolation. Although
I am never sure what lies ahead of me as I travel through life, the mountain tops,
and the valleys, I am certain that I do not travel alone. Whether up on
the mountain top or in the valley below, there is a rhythm, a heartbeat and
melody that runs through all life. The Creator and the created. Be
still, listen, watch closely and you will see it and feel it surrounding
you.
I have been reading a book
by Sharon W. Betters and Susan Hunt, "Aging With Grace." I have
been reminded while reading this book of this fact, that more days are
behind me than are ahead of me. I understand I have no control on the number
of days I have left; however, I do have control of how I decide to live during
these last days or years granted to me by God. "When
we put down the pen, stop trying to write our story or the stories of
others, and wholeheartedly trust the author of our story to write his gospel
story on our lives, we begin to see the mundane and the miserable
moments as essential sentences that eventually become a majestic story of
grace, because the plot of dirt where we die is also the place where we
flourish."
The Creator and the
created. In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The
earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And
the spirit of God was hovering over the face of the water. Silence, stillness.
Then God said, "Let there be light; and there was light! In my mind's eye
I see the darkness, feel the stillness that surrounds me, I hear the voice
of authority, deep and commanding, God speaks, and the darkness is shattered,
and light is born. A melody of sights and sounds.
I love music, it fills my
soul with peace and wonder. I can get lost in the sounds of the soft
cords of a piano, the pounding sound and excitement of an orchestra or marching
band. Music can bring me to laughter and a smile, or it can usher me to
tears. It can move me to dance, or it can hush my soul as I sit in silence
while the lyrics whisper to my heart.
Music, melody, notes on a
page. It brings me comfort to know that the Lord knows me intimately. He
knows the melody, the notes, the lyrics of my life. Psalm 139 tells me
that God knows my words before I speak, He knows my heart, He knew me before I
was born, in verse 11 David writes," I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night- but even in the darkness I cannot hide
from you." In the valley of hurt and despair I remember God charts the
path ahead of me, that every moment He knows where I am, the darkness cannot
swallow me, and this brings me comfort.
I have come to know this
truth, God uses the hard moments, the difficult times in my life to grow me,
nothing is ever wasted. I have also come to understand and recognize
God calls others to walk beside me, traveling companions, each designed with a
specific purpose. It could be a conversation with a friend or someone
directing me to see a hard truth or hold me accountable for an action or
comment made in haste. What a wonderful gift from God, family, friends,
traveling companions.
Reflecting on the book
"Aging With Grace" I discovered that I have been too busy writing my
own story. I have had pen in hand, writing what I think I should do, what I
believe God wants me to do. It is time to put down my pen, let go of the
"I" and to trust the Author of my story, to write my story. To
put self aside, be humble, be still, and allow Him to write the rest of the
story of my life. To flourish where I am planted, to live each moment, the
mundane and difficult, to share my story as a reflection of the majestic story
of God's grace.
I must admit to you it
takes me days, often weeks to write my blog. I begin with a thought in my mind
and where I think I need to go, however, often, where I began is often the
ending of my blog. I began this blog about a month ago with these words from
Ecclesiastes chapter 3, There is a time for everything, a season for every
activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and
a time to harvest....
Flourish where you are
planted, put down the pen and allow the Creator of the created to write the
story of your life and you will find freedom.
Cheryl Thornsbrough
President, Co-Founder
Her House
Quote: Aging With
Grace
by Sharon W Betters & Susan Hunt
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