I don’t know about you, but I am having a time this week working through uncertainty. Oh my goodness, I wish I could see everything clearly and know how things will turn out. I think of the time those precious kids spent waiting in the mine before they were rescued. I think of my two friends whose children were stuck in Haiti due to a strike over gas prices. And one of them was set to be married the very next week! Though both situations were resolved, as a mother, I could almost feel the anxiousness those parents must have experienced.
Uncertainty is a tough cookie to wrestle with. Of course, the turns of life are unpredictable—no one can know what is coming tomorrow or this afternoon—but how sweet it is to remember that our faith is in a God who does know what tomorrow holds and whose love for us never wavers even the slightest bit.
However, even in the midst of such hope and truth, waiting is very hard, especially when it involves children.
From my time living at home, I clearly remember my mother’s Biblical reminder: “Be still and know that I am God.” Always emphasizing the “be still” part, I think she knew that stillness is 95 percent of the solution to anxiety. Be still and relax. I wish I could stop my thoughts and mind from making a never-ending to-do list or rehashing things over and over, but that’s human nature, isn’t it?
Be still. Part of pondering the beautiful moments in our lives is slowing to a halt and embracing the moment. I am learning to relax. It doesn’t come easy for me because of my nonstop nature. Even as a child, sleeping was a waste and naptime was nothing short of torture. Now, that one I have grown out of!
Be still and take in the moment. Be still and rest your mind. Be still . . .
A week ago, I made a commitment to sit down and do nothing but relax at the end of each day.
The first couple of days, everything in my house seemed to beckon me into action. The mat needed to be thrown in the laundry, the orchids needed their weekly watering, and good grief the peace lily had already wilted!
The third day, I decided that being outside was better. So, as I sat, God sent the most beautiful red birds to greet me. I watched them as they ended their day flying about without a care in the world. The bright red male birds showed off soaring while the drab females seemed to gather food. I often wonder why the females are drab . . . but that’s another blog.
So, my place is on my porch, where clouds slowly shape shift and the sunset takes its time. The leisurely pace of the evening sky creates a beautiful backdrop to my world and reminds me to set my own agenda to a similar speed.