Day 27

An up and down day. Down, because Jon and I woke up with different agendas. I planned breakfast for the kids, to get them up and motivated. He planned on an early start to the house. We compromised, had breakfast and still got to the house fairly early. Down, because at the house I wandered about looking at all we still had to do and it seemed so overwhelming. We made good progress today, though and that is encouraging. Down because I finally cleaned out a container of pictures that were ruined in the water, pictures that I had yet to sort and put away. How much better, though, to be able to hug my children, rather than just look at pictures. If I had to choose, the choice would be obvious.

We did get a lot accomplished. Our bedroom, bathroom and Jonny’s bedroom, save the small closets, have all been sheetrocked. Jon picked Heather up at college yesterday. She and Samantha scrubbed mold off trim, cleaned muck off the bathroom floor and were a great help in our work on the house. Daniel, Matthew and a few of Daniel’s friends continued to bag debris. Jonny and Spencer were helpful also, doing some of the smaller jobs that needed done.

During one of our breaks, I played with Jonny’s little brown mouse. Since Jonny has always liked the brown mouse, she has survived many a snake feeding, the white ones being fed to Daniel’s snake instead. Now that Daniel’s snake has disappeared, the little brown mouse has become Jonny’s pet. I’m trying to get her to trust me; I hold my hand near her and talk quietly to her, trying to get her to stop running from me. I hold food in my hand out to her, to see if she will trust me and take it. I place my hand over her, talking soothingly to her, trying to calm her fear of me. If only she would just rest in my hand and let me pet her, she would see that she is safe. As I do so, I think of our loving Father, who also tries to calm us.   So often, life’s storms have caused us fear and tribulation and we run about like a mouse in a cage, seeking safety. If we would only stop long enough to realize that our Father’s hand is upon us, wanting to give us refuge and rest. He speaks quietly to us, desiring to sooth our fears, but we are so busy running, we do not hear. How He must long for us to just stop and allow Him to calm us, so we would realize we are safe and He is in control.

During these difficult days, we on the coast must pause in our cleanup, and find a quiet place to meet our Lord. He will give us the strength and courage we need to face each moment, each trial, each long day. He is our fortress, our refuge, our rest. The burdens of this life are so heavy. But our precious Savior tells us “come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

What a wonderful promise from our Lord. So many need rest for their souls right now. Pray that our Lord would speak to their hearts and take them to those quiet places, where they might find rest. Pray that we would cast all our cares upon Him, because He cares for us.

Grace & Peace