This morning as I wrote in my journal today's date, I was reminded once again of my daddy. It has been 66 years since he passed away, and every year I often pause and think of him, and what our life - that I can remember of the age of 6-7 - was like, and what it was like the years after. Sixty six years. Yes, the thought of that can make one feel old, can it not? At 73, I still miss my dad and wish he had lived to raise us kids. Would our lives have been any different?
I certainly believe they would have been. But God can see things that I cannot see. He knows things that I cannot know. And because my dad did pass, and our lives were changed in that moment in time, I can look back and still see the hand of God upon me. He allowed me to go through some very tough things. But because of them, I am more aware and more conscious of these things. He allowed me to do some very stupid things. And because of that, I know what shame feels like and how easy it is to become filled with the worldly things. And because He allowed me to marry and move out here, He allowed troubling times that would cause me to run back to Him and allow Him to love me, forgive me, fill me, and remove my sins and set me free.
He is a good, good father, and what He has done for me, He will do for you. All you have to do is ask Him, and give Him your life and allow Him to mold you into His perfect image. Doesn't mean I do everything right - I certainly don't. But, I have One who will always be there to guide and direct my path. So I like to think that my dad's passing served a good purpose. After all, there are things that I cannot see, cannot know, but my God sees all and knows all. He knows our lives from birth to death and all that will happen in between. It's hard to thank God for the trials and hardships, and easy to thank Him for the good times and the rewarding times.... but in ALL things we are told to thank Him.
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV): "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
Being content isn't a 'thing', it is a choice. We can choose to be content with what we have, or we can always crave more. I choose to be content... but will admit there are times I'm in the 'more' category, especially when it comes to knowing God. I always want to know Him more.... and I have learned that 'things' I 'had to have', after a time, do not mean as much. In fact, I have some 'things' I'd like to get rid of... we probably all do.
It was nice to have the TV off last night so that I could read. Hubby turned it off 'on his own' right after the news. I grabbed a book and got several chapters in to it. After a couple hours , though, my eyes were burning and heavy, so off to bed we went. I miss those days when I could sleep in as long as I wanted and I could stay up all night if I wanted (and did many times in my single years!) and read a good book. I wouldn't dare stay up all night reading now... I get 'missed' if not in the bed and hubby can't sleep. Of course he tosses and turns most of the night anyway, so he tells me. He believes what his Fitbit tells him... I tell him it's not accurate cause it will reflect 'awake' every time he flip flops. Yeah, he does big flip flops. LOL
Dang! I just choked on my coffee! I picked up my cup to take a swallow and it went down the 'wrong pipe' I guess (why do we say that? We only have one pipe!) and I grabbed my cup to spew it back into the cup versus all over my computer. Guess I won't be drinking the rest of that! What was THAT about! LOL
With that, I guess I'll hush for today. It's Tuesday, I'll have a few hours alone as hubby has his Bible study, then will go to lunch with his friend, then his doctor appointment got moved to this afternoon so he will head on down there - wow - I'll be home alone a large portion of the day. Too bad I have to work - but still, what can I get done while he is gone? I'm thinking of washing down the doors; I've noticed a darkened area on a couple doors where our hands have been as we shut the doors. If I don't forget, I can do that. Don't have that much in my laundry basket so no need to do that. Hmmmm. I'm sure my bosses will give me lots of meetings to create today as they didn't have much yesterday.
Breakfast with my favorite boss tomorrow so will be gone most of the morning. YAY! I've got a lot of things going on the rest of the week...after today. Breakfast Wednesday, lunch with a friend on Thursday, lunch with friends from the RV park on Friday, and Saturday we will be heading to Tucson, with a return on Sunday. Spending money like we have some. Oh well, can't take it with us.
Wow - my mind was going off on another road, but lucky you, I erased it and am now going to end this. Hope you have an amazing day!
Blessings!
