When You Long for Sunshine Days

I had a plan for the morning. New week, new day…Monday. But hey, I can roll with it. I mean practically every blooming band has a song about it, but really Mondays are like grace, really. Fresh starts. First day of the week, and a whole new possibility lies before me like an open road.

The hardest part about starting a new week, is in the prioritizing, right? What needs to come first, what needs to be done, what can wait.We choose A1, B2, C3, and so on. Or we make our to-do list. It allows us to feel in control. Or gives us the illusion we have a part in it. And we do though, I mean obviously, some things need our attention. So this is where it gets hard. Because what when your plans, are not your own.

Fate throws you that curve ball, you hadn’t anticipated.

I am a hater of curve balls. I like a slow and steady pitch. I like routine. I want you to pith that ball right over the plate for me, because I’m telling you the only hope I even have for making contact with that ball is if you serve it sweetly. Slowly, predictably. Come to think of it, Wiffle Ball is more my speed.

What when the child is suicidal, the husband unfaithful, the car engine dies instead of your abusive ex-husband, your health care run out just when illness walks in and you are weary of the stinkin’ balls that keep coming your way? Furthermore,  if the weather man predicts snow one more time, you will show up at the station and slap him.

What if you long for sunshine days and all you have is one long forecast of snow daze. 

Friend, my heart longs for sunshine, especially in the current challenges I face, but I am learning that the weather, or life’s circumstances do not deserve to hold power over me. Discouragement creeps right into those cracks and crevices, we are unaware exist, until we sit wondering what hit us.  It’s in these moments, I have learned to set aside my plans and acknowledge the Master of the Plan. I check myself with him, and ask him to show me where my heart is leaning, just off center. I ask Him to align my off-center heart to His and to perfectly align my will with His. He is faithful. Sometimes it’s nothing I have done, but just His drawing me into closer union with him. He is sovereign.

On a rainy family Maine vacation this past Summer, I learned an interesting lesson when we stopped in to a beading shop to make some jewelery. I found a little hand painted sunshine bead. I chose to use it as the focal bead on my necklace creation. As I worked on the necklace and then as I wore it during the rest of the week I felt reminded to bring my sunshine with me regardless of the weather.

When the sun seems far way, sometimes you have to carry your own sunshine with you wherever you go.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-7

Another thought I pondered was that although God, seems far from the circumstances we suffer at times,  the truth is He is with us always. We carry Him within wherever we go.  So, carry that sunshine with you wherever you go, and recall the Sonshine shines from within, wherever you are, always.

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Lord, I thank you that contentment is a gift cultivated by connection with you. I thank you that you long for us to know that deep contentment that comes in knowing Christ, and allowing Him full reign in our lives. Be at the center of all we do daily, not just on one day when we show up at church. Lord God, the issues of life and death are in your hands, you hold all things together by your power, grace, mercy and truth. Answer our longing with your very real presence. Attend to the broken-hearted today, and to each one who has need, may you be that answer to prayer. Amen.

*Grateful for our smaller than usual church  service yesterday(due to snow), when our Pastor purposely interrupted his teaching on the book of Acts  to tackle  the topic of Contentment. Yeah, it was awesome. Teaching and testimonies both.

photo credit: Andréia via photopin cc

 

 

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