Sunday, November 4, 2007

Dearest God,

It's a funny thing what the mind will do. After church I came home, slipped into my jams and laid down on the bed to rest. It had been a very big week and weekend. I had counseled a lot last week with members and friends of members. Some pretty deep emotions.

At home I was up early and to bed late. I had cleaned and cooked. I had entertained. I had reconnected, reunited. My emotions had run the gamut from being concerned about family coming together to the sheer unadulterated joy of being together. I was exhausted.

As I lay in bed, I could hear the sounds of yesterday, allowing them to replay in my mind. I smiled, laughed out loud, even got teary with joy. I thought of each of the little ones and their possibilities for a more fruitful life because their parents have reunited. I thought of my brother and my prayers for his recovery from surgery. He's just a week out and he bled through three times yesterday. I thought of my daughter reaching out to a cousin. And all the cousins posing for a picture in the backyard. I thought of my nephew's wife who was here without her navy husband currently stationed in Japan, spending time with her, never having really known her or her children. And I thought of myself and the pain dissolving. Although my home was filled with silence, the memories came to life, one after the other in slow progression because I didn't want to miss a one. Peace.

Thank you,
O dear Gracious God,
for memories
that fill my heart
to the brim.
I rest easy
as I think
of each one,
as I think of you.
I trust in you,
Lord,
I trust in you.

Love, Andy