A RESTFUL PATH

A Restful Path

 Isaiah 40:31

“But they that wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

I had been looking for the perfect photo to go with this verse to help me visualize and better understand what this verse is saying to me today, and how to apply the promise.
  Of course I started looking at paintings of eagles. I had given up the search until now.

This photo of my Mom was taken impromptu.  She did not pose for it, but it is a real picture of a woman waiting on God.  You see, at the time of this photo, Mom was in early stages of Dementia or Alzheimer's disease.  We were not sure at the time.  She was often fearful, often in tears realizing something was very wrong, helplessly out of her control.

  I believe that as she stood there watching the day end, as she often did, she was 'waiting on the Lord.'

 God is not saying we are going to fly, but that we will mount up, or rise above.

  We will not suddenly look like an eagle in the blue sky hovering on a thermal,

 but we will look like us....
only better.

It is a rising above, we are able to see a larger picture. When we do, I think we are better able to accomplish our duties in a way that energizes us so we have what it takes to be patient and kind right up to the moment we are finished for that day.

The waiting on the Lord will enable us to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit when our spirit is exhausted.

Our teaching, our nursing, our parenting and our interaction with strangers and spouses will have a better quality to it when we begin with conversing with the Lord, then waiting and trusting.

A fragrance.

            A lightness,
                      A freedom

 In reading the introduction to "Spiritual Disciplines’ Handbook" by Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, I was intrigued as she pointed to a new look at a familiar invitation from Jesus. 

"Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls."

Matthew 11:30-31 is so familiar to us that we tend to not let the import of these words of Christ sink into our hearts. Here is how "The Message" renders the verse:

"Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

My soul longs to live freely and lightly.

 When I hear these words I imagine walking with Jesus, the wind blowing through my hair.

  No purse over my shoulder, no shoes, no physical pain or emotional anxiety.

  We are singing and laughing and there is no looking over my shoulder fearing that somebody will be offended by how I sound or look or act.

      Spiritual, emotional, physical and mental energies are restored

in His presence.

I am thankful to be reminded that as believers in Christ, His presence is in us.

  By waiting on Him and listening to Him we honor Him. We allow Him to manifest Himself to us.  A few moments to keep company with Him sounds too simple, but what a marvelous gift!

 

This path to renewal is such an easy one, so much simpler than many, yet the very essence of life itself;  the source of peace and unity and kinship with our Creator, our Comforter, our Savior and our Friend.

 Do we avoid quiet time with God for its simplicity? 

Are we allowing ourselves to be deceived into thinking that some more difficult self-sacrificing task would please Him more? 

Today we are discussing and reminding each other to do ourselves a favor, and spend time with God.

  Today the path to renewal is an easy one with lots of cozy places to rest and listen and wait.

Lets encourage each other to sit still and invite Holy Spirit to explain to us what "waiting on God" will look like for us today. ...and be renewed.

               "Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

PS: I found  these photos as well, that remind me to 'sit and keep company'…..Dad and my brother Steve just keeping company.

CfR

As with all my blogs, my goal is to strengthen and edify the sisterhood of believers, thus strengthening the family.

I welcome your comments that will shed insight on this aspect of our lives, and encourage someone else.

CfR

    OLD HEDGEHOGS ARE BEAUTIFUL 　
　

　


So, little Emily was sitting on my knee yesterday and we were sharing a tender moment that included I love you, smiles and kisses.

She took my face in her little 4 year old hands and said "Nana I love you but I do not like your hair cut short."

I was a bit surprised, but amused.

"So I should let my hair grow long again?" I asked the diva.

She smiled at me and said as she looked right into my eyes "yes, let it grow Nana, because you look like a ....a….ahhh, a hedgehog!"

Well this conversation has taken a turn now hasn't it!

I am looking at her because she is so cute and I am somehow so proud of her for being straight forward and talking so plainly to Nana.

For a moment I think this is good practice for us both as I see her standing before me at 11 with that hand on her hip that will likely be barely covered by a neon pink and purple mini shirt, flashy boots and hoop earrings just daring a Nana critique session.

I was brought back to reality by the tiny nose pressing on mine and the big brown eyes questioning my reaction to her constructive criticism.

I laughed and squeezed her to my heart and said "OK, Lady Jane,...I will let it grow some because I know you don't want your Nana looking like a hedgehog!"

Then, with the curly brown sea of hidden tangles tickling my face I whispered in her ear "Do you know what you look like?"

She giggled, not a bit worried.

I said "a pretty little Emily!"

She whispered "I know!" and hopped down and the moment had past into time, but not before I had determined that I will never cut my own hair again!!!

Later when Wayne came home, I was standing before the mirror trying to make my hair as nice as I could. He came in and we began to share our days incidents. We try to share the 'Kid" things of the day with each other so I quickly told him of the incident of Emily and the hedgehog.

I had not completed my dissertation before he interrupted me and said (and I am not kidding!)

"Well, isn't she smart to come up with that description because that is..."

His voice trailed off as he slowly stood upright from where he had been lounging on the door post.

Apparently He didn't like the expression on my face as I had whirled around to face him, still holding the hair spray, my mouth open in shocked surprise

  

"Well, ...Hon!...hedge hogs are cute, I mean it is cool that she would compare your hair to a hedgehog....I mean, ...ahhhh...I LIKE Hedgehogs!

I think they are Cute!!!..

Come on Char!”….he begged, fearing I know not what.

                 

He left the room, poor guy, but not before I assured him he was not in trouble.


I took another look in the mirror, looking for the animal I had heard so much about that day.

The musings of that time before the mirror went something like this…..

“So, its a little spiky..”

."Why did I cut my beautiful long hair?"

I recalled the incident.

Tuesday was very hot and humid. I was tired. I had come in from working in the yard and saw this old sweaty lady with long straggly hair looking back at me from the mirror, and I just had to do something.

I saw the scissors, (which I have since taken out of the bathroom and hidden in a safe place) and I cut my hair.

Simple...well, not really.

I cut, then had to trim for that to match that. Then trim again because that didn‘t match that.

Well, that's how it was.

But now as I stood looking for the hedgehog, I see an old lady with a cute spiky haircut.

More than that...I see myself, amused at the work of God in my heart that is allowing me to stand there, my feelings not a bit hurt, my sense of humor aroused, still in love with and loving my husband who agrees with a 4 year old about my hair.

How could this transformation have taken place? What had happened to the woman who was so insecure for so many years that she would have at this point, believed she really did look like a hedgehog, Why wasn’t I in tears and on the downward spiral to a depressive session?

I suddenly realized; the difference is Grace.

I am seeing Grace.
 An acceptance for who I am.
  Thankfulness for life.
  In living long I am aging into Grace.
 It comes from knowing I am loved unconditionally. It comes from knowing I am formed and created in love.

I smiled in amusement.

I had absolutely until this time hated the aging process.

Youth is recommended by its strength and beauty.
I know I squandered my youth, not accepting that I had beauty.

Old age is recommended by its humility and Grace.
Last night I began to give up hating the aging process.

Right there, looking into that mirror, I choose not to squander these years as well.
  I am what I am. I look like I look.

Why should I dishonor the Creator by complaining about, and spending time bemoaning His choice of packaging for me.

I felt a peace come over my heart.

I pushed back a swatch of hair that the spray missed, and in doing so I saw things I never saw before…the curve of my cheek bone… and it was beautiful, the glint of happy tears in my green eyes and that too was beautiful.

And I decided ………………..

Old hedgehogs are beautiful.

Charlene Eagles Richmond