Getting Up Again and Again

 

Life has a lot of trying and trying again. 

This picture (above) is due to encouragement to a friend who

I sadly rarely see but always feel seen by. 

***

Sometimes it's hard to keep moving.

I am deep in a long term writing project and have hit

some significant roadblocks.  Trying to leave them 

(the road blocks) behind

and focus on something different is not an easy thing to do.

***

Today I had some simple but real successes:

1. I was tired but kept going, which I knew was what I needed to do 

2. I got some laundry done (the chore, along with dishes that never ends) 

3. I walked about 2.5 miles today

4. I managed to call my Grandma two weeks in a row (my ability to 

keep doing what I used to do before I got really sick has been lessened) 

***

Tomorrow my goal is to go to NYC and read more of a book for

research for my long term writing project, 

possibly go to breakfast with my Husband 

and renew my membership at the MET Museum. 

***

I, like many, especially who are Orthodox, have had our

hearts rended in pain over the suffering of 

this Monastery and this new article gave me

consolation.  I will say one thing:

there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1)

and I refuse to go into any thing remotely close to an

argument over the suffering that these Monastics have endured.

Only God knows the future and why everything that happens, happens.

***

I have been asking God for help having a thankful heart.

A thankful heart is a lighter heart and I have miles to go on this.

***

Safer Than a Known Way

I read this book last week.

It was really good.

I feel like I need to surrender more to God

and my path is to do what I have been doing:

asking God to give me a thankful heart, 

for everything.

***

The book is by the last woman who served and cared for

Corrie ten Boom in her last 7 years of life.

A really special picture of Corrie, whose books I have loved 

since I was 13 or so, and of a woman learning to let God lead her

and to give up her own ideas and realizing that 

God's plan for her life is best.

***

A lovely young woman at one of my churches, who I have had the 

prieveldge of seeing grow up, and I had a really good talk

because years ago I had broke my ankle and now she is suffering

a similar but different situation. 

***

How beautiful when one's pain can be used years later to 

relate to another person and encourage them. 

***

I know I must grow in this. 

***

May God have mercy on us!