We Shall See

The air was so cold yesterday.

It is feared that illness is visiting our home again.

We had plans for a lunch Saturday and Sunday here.

I am already holding out little hope for them; 

it just seems that when sickness comes, it does not leave for a while.

I am concerned and doing my best...

***

I finished a book; I have thought about it, wrote about it for myself but

not here.  But it made clear that it is not an easy thing to know

what it means to love others who see the world quite

differently than you do. 

The author's eyes looked so kind; and so they are; but yet

it's like we are on different planets. 

***

The book I have been talking about at length is quite different... 

***

I finished my re-reading of Dragons in the Waters by Madeleine L'Engle.

I liked it as always; I read it because it has to do with

coming to terms with the frailty of us all and 

how to love the one who is real and not

the idol that one wanted to create. 

***

Meanwhile, I have gotten out chicken soup from our freezer

and more chicken broth...

***

My Husband sent me this quote:

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: 

First, by reflection, which is noblest; 

Second, by imitation, which is easiest; 

and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” 

~ Confucius

***

My dear sister-friend sent me this one:

"Those who have completely subjected their will to the will of God 

are never fickle in their spirit. If something sorrowful that disturbs their soul occurs, t

hey calm themselves with wise reflections.

Their only source of joy and consolation is God's goodwill for them. 

This removes them from all confusion and sorrow perpetrated by others, 

even if such sorrow repeats itself, 

sometimes increasing day by day.

However, their loyalty to God's will creates 

such a sweet consolation and calm in their souls that they, b

eing firmly convinced that all that happens to them is either willed

 or allowed by God, consider even the worst deprivations and sorrows 

to be for their correction or for their greater reward.

And so they rejoice in all misfortunes, 

for even in the midst of deprivations and afflictions t

hey see God's will and continue to hope for their salvation, 

even more than when everything goes well in their life."

+Saint John of Tobolsk, The Sunflower, p. 216

***

This line especially struck both of us:

Their only source of joy and consolation is God's goodwill for them. 

***

Beautiful.

***

I have so much to learn about what it means to love;

and it is so true that all love one can give is from God...

***

When I feel like a storm (this time illness) maybe coming,

it's hard to not just give up in ways;

how to be in light of changes such as these;

well.... we go only by the grace and mercy of God.

***

May God have mercy on us.