What a Week!

Each morning, I start off by giving my day to God. I will accept whatever comes my way, knowing that this day is His. When this week started off, my life was very different than it is today. On Monday night at a Bible study, we were asked to make a note of what the biggest stress in our life was. At the end of the study, we talked about praying that God would take away that stress - we were studying in the book of James. My biggest stress was, though I am sad to say this, my job. The hours are long and the days run into one another. The greatest thing about this job was that I got to spend every day, Monday through Friday, with 100 of my favorite preschoolers! God bless 'em, they just brought me such joy. I went to work on Tuesday, having prayed for God to relieve the stress and, well, He did. Under circumstances I did not choose, God gave me my answer. With great sadness, I resigned. My eyes haven't dried completely yet, but I have learned some very important lessons in the last couple of days. My husband is amazing! He has had the opportunity to really minister to me and he has pulled me along each day. He reminds me over and over that God is in control of my life and that I have asked Him to be in charge. Another thing I discovered, although I've known it all along, just started taking if for granted, if that I have 3 remarkable children and a remarkable son-in-law. After I left that day, I called my daughter Christine, who was at my house as soon as she could get there. She has an amazing ability to just show up and knows just what to say, sometimes nothing at all. Of course, she brought baby Jack - how could anyone not be cheered up by that angel! Next, my daughter Emily called me - of course Christine had called her brother and sister. She was ready to drop everything, just 2 weeks short of college graduation, and come home and just give her mama a hug. She is such a precious woman of God and I am so proud of her, especially at this point in her life. Shortly after, my baby, Brad, called. "Mama", he said. "Are you okay, because I can come home if I need to." The tears hadn't stopped flowing and each comment from each of my children helped me to get a whole lot of crying done. The two other most important people in my life, my mama and daddy, were right there for me, too. They both reminded me that I had been through tough times before, and that I would get through this. But, as always, they would be right there, if I needed them. As I get older, I realize that we never really outgrow the need for our parents support...they are a constant source of love and encouragement. I am blessed with the best and for that I am thankful! That night, when I went to bed, I got on my knees beside my bed - I haven't prayed like that since January 1999. I gave the day to God again, for I know He really had it all along. Each day gets easier, but the tears still flow. I guess God knows that they have been stored up for a really long time. I miss my little friends, but I pray for them each day, that they will continue to grow as our Lord Jesus grew. This is my very first blog, and I thank my sweet daughter, Christine, for having the patience to help me through it. Another reason she is so special - she always is willing to help whoever needs help, even her sad old mom! Those prayers in 1999...they were for her. At the darkest time of her life, God reached down and touched her broken body. God answered my prayers for her so generously. I know His answer to these prayers now are being revealed to me and each day, I step out in faith, a little stronger, walking in the direction that He is leading me. I hope your days are blessed.