Lame Duck

Hi! Long time no see. My latest excuse is that I have no computer at home from which to write, and using an iPhone has some frustrating limitations. I guess I could make it work, (as I am doing right now) but the flow just isn't happening. We'll, I'll try my best (autocorrect notwithstanding).

I'm feeling inadequate in a few ways these days. My parents are at a stage in life where they will need increasing care, which I can't necessarily provide due to my need to work and earn income. This also affects my ability to spend time with our kids, and now our new granddaughter. And we have my niece and cousin living temporarily with us, both who struggle with anxiety and could use more encouragement, which I feel inadequate to provide. At work I'm finding it harder to concentrate at the task at hand with all these other concerns rolling around in my brain.

BUT, the LORD has blessed me over and over again!
I have an iPhone with which to communicate and write.
God provides strength and grace to help me do what I can for my parents. And they express their appreciation verbally now in ways I don't remember hearing as a child.
Times spent with our kids and granddaughter are wonderful!
The progress our niece has made towards independence is amazing.
I've been able to reconnect with my cousin and learn more of her story.
God has provided a great helper at the office, which allows me to attend appointments for parents and take my vacation weeks without worrying about how things are managed while I'm gone.

The road ahead may still be long and bumpy, but I know God has it in his hands and will provide just what we need at the appointed time.

I'll try to write more regularly as I walk with mom and dad dealing with health issues, but I've got a not-so-great track record of good intentions with limited follow-through. We shall see what unfolds.

Poor, long forgotten blog, so sorry I've neglected you.

My devotional reading in the morning usually finds me following the latest entries on the Ravi Zacharias Ministries website called "Today's Slice", and Tuesday's entry by Margaret Manning really has me thinking about God's grace, and the beauty found even in the midst of suffering and brokeness. Especially since I find that I experience more of God's grace when I finally reach the end of myself. Not that His grace isn't there when I'm doing well or feeling like life is blessing after blessing...and not that grace is always necessarily apparent at the deepest moments of suffering. Maybe it's the bitter-sweet flavour of it in hard times that gives variety to life? Maybe it's an opportunity to experience the overwhelming love of God, which the spirit within senses but the finite brain can't quite grasp? Or maybe it's a reminder that He bears the scars of suffering beyond ours and has triumphed, which gives hope to those hopes-dashed moments.

Just don't know

So much going through my head... where to start?
How about, IN THE BEGINNING.

Hmm, big topic. Are you up for it? I guess it depends if we're talking THE beginning, or mine. We can try either! But for today, I'll just say, what starts me up in the morning is the knowledge that I'm loved by the Eternal Almighty Father God. He loves me with bedhead, bad breath and ever increasing achy joints. He loves me in good attitudes and bad. He loves me past, present and future. And to think that this One has a plan for me... even for ordinary today... makes today extraordinary! (No caffeine needed.)
And, He loves you too.
I think that's all I'll dwell on today. I'll probably get myself in a little deeper next time.
P