Let not your heart be troubled...

So, you know that scripture in the New Testament that says, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" ? (And yes, I purposely put that question mark outside the quotation marks because that statement should not have a question mark attached to it.) I have learned, and I am still learning, that is a lot more easily said than done. When my life is going along swimmingly, it is easy to put into practice, but when it is not.... Our lives have been really difficult for the last few months, and for the last few weeks especially, I have had to consciously make the choice, throughout each day, to try again to not worry. I have to try to take deep breaths to calm my aching heart. And I usually have to call my husband who will remind me for the 35,692nd time that everything is going to be just fine. It is hard to be a good mom when you are worried. It is hard to be a good friend when you can't see past your own needs. It is hard to be a patient and supportive spouse when you are desperately trying to be a decent person yourself.

I don't mean to sound gloomy. Maybe I should write posts in the morning when I am fresh, rather than in the evening when I am worn down. Life is not easy. I look forward to achieving another plateau where I can look back and think, "That time was really hard, but I am grateful for all the wonderful things I learned from it." For tonight, I will go pray and thank the Lord for the good things in my life, which are many, and try not to worry about the rest.

Better Late Than Never

Ok, well, how long have blogs been around? Quite a while, you say. Yeah. I have resisted for a long time, partly out of attitude, and partly out of lack of time. But, I am now going to repent and take my turn. As I said in my little profile, over there on the left side of the page, I am ready to start recording some experiences of our lives that are turning us into the people God wants us to be. It is not an easy journey. Really. But there are moments of joy, little promptings and reassurances that bring peace, miracles that show the Lord's mercy, and lessons we are learning that will make it all worth the journey. I'm not sure how often I will write, but since I have always been a lousy journal-writer, and because I am really trying to repent, I will try to do it often. So let it begin....