Trust With All

In You, Lord my God, I put my trust. – (Psalm 25:1, NIV)

Lord, I put my life in Your hands. – (Psalm 25:1, ERV)

Forever I will lift up my soul into Your presence, Lord. – (Psalm 25:1, TPT)

 

Today is a long-awaited day, as it will be the start of the first time that I have spent seven consecutive nights in the same room as my spouse since the end of April. During the day, as there is much to do with and for mom, I am typically occupied enough that I am able to be fully invested here, and present where I am planted. However, during the time that mom rests or when all is silent and still, my heart aches for my family and my home. This upcoming time of reprieve and refreshment is what my heart has been longing for. Each day, I continue to learn to place my life in the Lord’s hands, and trust Him with all that I am. Some days are far easier than others, yet He remains faithful, even when my faith wavers. It is my hope that both as I go and when I return, He may use me as His instrument of peace and shine His light of love through my words and actions.

Yesterday was a bit of a tired day for mom, as she woke twice in the night, and then rose to eat breakfast extra early. She didn’t really get the rest her body required, so by noon, she was dragging. During her occupational therapy appointment in the morning, mom overcame a giant obstacle. The exercises Larissa wanted her to do to strengthen the right side of her body, required mom to kneel on the floor. She was terrified to be on the ground, as the last time she was on the floor was when she had a frightening fall in the middle of the night, on one of her first nights back home. Thankfully, she was not harmed in any way at that point, but it was traumatic for her, and the very idea of being on the ground became a space of terror, rather than something that might actually be beneficial. Mom fought past the fear, and knelt to the ground to participate in the exercises. Her courage and strength astound and inspire me daily, and yesterday was no exception. After OT, we had a quick bite of lunch, followed by speech therapy. Though mom was weary, she rallied well, and did a great job. Her speech and word recall are remarkable, and have recovered and been restored the fastest. Most people would be unaware that she had ever even had a stroke, based on speaking with her. Today, mom has physical therapy and occupational therapy back-to-back. Both are fairly early this morning, then we have down time to wait for Megan’s arrival. My sister is driving this time, so we do not have an exact time to expect her. We anticipate late afternoon, but much is dependent on traffic and road work as she travels. Join us in praying for a safe journey, as it is typically a seven-hour drive.

In all things, and at all times, may we ever place our trust in the Lord.

 

In all things and times,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

Choose trust in the Lord;

For He is faithful,

And true to His word.

His grace is enough,

And He does provide;

All that is needed,

In love, He supplies.

Be it time of rest,

Or strength to endure;

God is the giver,

Our hope held secure.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that when we place our lives in Your hands, You provide all that we need, as it is needed. Thank You that You love us best. Forgive us for our frustration and fears when we are at the end of our own strength and resolve. Teach us to trust You more, as it is in that very space of our own end, that Your strength and power are made most evident. Show us how to love, encourage and support those around us best, so that they may know Your love tangibly. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we trust You will all. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

But I trust in Your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in Your salvation. – Psalm 13:5

To Build Up and Encourage

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. – (1 Thessalonians 5:11, NIV)

So encourage each other and help each other grow stronger in faith, just as you are already doing. – (1 Thessalonians 5:11, ERV)

So support one another. Keep building each other up as you have been doing. – (1 Thessalonians 5:11, VOICE)

 

Though I know not their heart after God, it is as if each one of my mom’s in-home care team has chosen to live this verse out as their life’s ambition. It takes a special sort of person to do in-home care, as I imagine one is never sure what they will encounter when they approach a home for the very first time. Each and every one of the care providers who has entered mom’s home has been an incredible source of encouragement for mom. Their positivity about mom’s progress thus far, and their excitement and motivation to walk this road of healing beside her, is faith-building as she continues to do the difficult work each day. Yesterday, as I asked mom if there was anything she would like to do or anyone she wished to see, she actually took me up on the offer for the first time and named the names of three of her dearest friends. I immediately sent out messages to them, and they responded promptly with enthusiasm. My heart lightened too, as I sat with the four of them and enjoyed the familiar banter among dear sister-friends. The sharing of life together was a needed boost for all of them, and each seemed to walk away encouraged and built up. After the ladies had been visiting for a while, mom’s in-home nurses arrived to do their check-in. They encouraged the girls to keep visiting while they checked in with me about particulars, and made sure to let all of them know how wonderful such visits were for mom and her rehabilitation and recovery. Pathways and progress multiply in the familiar, and in the last 24-48 hours, I have noticed a significant increase in the strength of her voice.

Beyond just yesterday, there has been an outpouring of encouragement and support for not only mom, but for my sister and me as we walk this road to recovery together. Mom’s living room and kitchen are lined with cards that have been sent over the last month by family and friends, far and near. Dear ones have been taking my boys to school in the mornings, and I know the same has been true for my sister when she is here as well. Our communities have rallied around us and covered us in prayer. We have been built up and encouraged, and are encouraged to do likewise. May we ever reach out and support one another; for we were indeed created to be in a community.

 

Build up each other,

A sweet photo of mom and some of her besties from last year. ❤

Encourage, reach out;

Help one another,

It’s what love’s about.

For God created,

People to all need;

Sense of belonging,

A community.

Family and friends,

The gifts whom God gives;

To walk alongside,

To thrive as we live.

Let’s choose encourage,

Love well and build up;

Bless one another,

Fill up empty cups.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You call us to encourage and build each other up. Thank You that You place people in our lives that do so when we need it the most. Forgive us for the missed opportunities to offer a word of encouragement or to come alongside another who needed a boost. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would listen to Your leading and encourage and build others up in the same way that You encourage and build us up. Show us how to love those around us in a way that strengthens and builds up where they are depleted. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we praise You for the encouragement that we have received and seek Your heart to extend the same to others around us. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; You encourage them, and You listen to their cry. – Psalm 10:17

Speak of What’s Seen

This morning, as part of my reading plan led me through Acts 4, my heart fixed on verse twenty. “For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” – (Acts 4:20) A multitude of moments passed through my mind, as I thought of the Lord’s faithfulness – again and again.  However, the display of His goodness that is the most recent and readily recalled in my heart and mind, is how He so graciously provided for my dear friend Anne, in the final few months of her life.

For those who have read the various things that I have written about Aine (pronounced On-ya, Gaelic equivalent to Annie), this may be a bit of repetition, but for those who have not, this is some of what I have seen and heard that I cannot help but speak of now.  Aine, began battling stage four breast cancer in 2004.  After a mastectomy, she actually seemed to be doing very well, and the cancer was under control – or so she thought.  Fast forward to 2008, and spots of bone cancer were discovered in her femur, spine and a few other small spaces.  At the time, radiation was done for the largest spot on her leg, and was left at that.  She maintained her busy, active life, and gave little attention to the cancer that was trying to creep in.  In 2011, the cancer had become invasive enough that she at last relented, and decided to go ahead and give chemo a try.  At first, the chemotherapy did bring her numbers down.  And then it seemed to stop working.  It was a roller coaster of treatment trial and error, and all the while, Aine was upbeat, positive, and trusted that the Lord would heal her.  Late 2012, she began getting migraines.  She had never had them before, so this led to a series of tests.  By January 2013, we knew that she had multiple brain tumors.  In February, she underwent full-brain radiation.  Remarkably, the tumors responded very well.  Most of them shrank or disappeared, and the migraines ceased.  Unfortunately, the bone cancer had been unattended during this time, and was spreading like wild fire.  She faithfully rallied, enduring a few emergency hospital stays, fighting what we thought was the end, because she had become so ill, all the while, holding fast to her faith in our Heavenly Father.

On to the part that I can’t help but speak of…  By late July, Aine was in bad shape.  We knew the end was near, and she needed care and a place to stay.  Aine had no family nearby, and was single.  Her church family gathered around her and truly held her up and provided for her every need.  Dear friends poured out resources she did not anticipate, and a home for her to stay in was provided by the perfect hosts, those whom God had clearly called.  Aine was loved and cared for until she drew her last breath, and though she was essentially an orphan by the world’s standards, she had not ever been alone – either spiritually, nor tangibly.  Today, I know with utmost certainty, that my sweet sister, Aine, who loved to dance and hike, is dancing and moving freely on streets of gold – surrounded and held.

Stay not silent,

the blessings, do share;

for they build up,

reminders HE cares.

Let others know,

how He’s been right there;

they too can trust,

in Christ’s tender care.

Speak of His good,

tell of His great grace;

make known His peace,

accept and embrace.

As we reach out,

give ourselves away;

we’re living words,

our actions do say.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great faithfulness, even in what seems to be such a space of struggle.  Thank You that above all things, You are good.  Help us to speak about what we have seen and heard of Your faithfulness; for You are worthy of all of our praise.  Forgive us for fixing our eyes on the struggles, rather than on the remarkable provisions You grant in the midst of them.  Teach us to hold fast to our hope in You, and lead us to live in such a way, that our very lives speak of Your goodness and grace.  May we live in love, so that others too, may come into a lasting relationship with You.  Be glorified in both the struggle and the standing strong.  Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

“He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” – Job 8:21 NIV