Tried With Fire

I was away last week helping my sister with elder care issues. She and my brother-in-law deserve medals for all they do for my parents because it isn't easy. The next step will be moving them from independent living to memory care for my mom and assisted living for my dad. Tackling practical stuff will be hard work, but I think it is harder seeing the decline even over the last few months. When I say goodbye, I can't help but wonder if I will see them again in this life because anything can happen. When I came back, I read this post at A Cry for Justice . This is a survivor's story, and it cut me to the heart because this line could have been my own: I didn’t tell you all these things because I was a good little Christian girl who doesn’t make waves and still thought I had to protect my abuser in some way. To compound this, I picked up a pamphlet among my dad's many books that we were trying to cull. Being a glutton for punishment, I read it when I should have b...

Big Bun sporting airplane ears in 2009 Big Bun took a sudden downturn last week-end. Although his appetite was almost back to normal, his back legs became progressively weaker, and he lost the use of his left front paw. Thus he was unable to sit up or walk. I took care of him as best I could by bringing food and water right to his mouth and changing his bedding as often as necessary, but this could not go on. So on Monday, he took his last visit to the vet, and we said goodbye. I had what I thought would be my big cry on Sunday evening as I sat next to him and gave him pets. However, there was another deluge when the vet came to take him away. So after more than a decade, there are no bunnies in the house. Even though they were never noisy, it seems even quieter. I had hoped Big Bun would live a little longer following Lizzy's loss, but it was not to be. Was it grief, old age, or a combination of the two? I will never know. I am in no hurry to adopt another bunny at the mo...

Lizzy 2003-2015 Last week was rough emotionally. One of my beloved bunnies, Lizzy, took a rapid downturn. She was unable to use her back legs and unable to eat or drink. By the time we got to the vet's office, her front paws were even weaker. Diagnostic testing could be done, but to what end? Even if the cause was discovered, what treatment could be done that would make any difference to a rabbit who was as old as the maximum average life span? There was only one viable choice given Lizzy's precarious condition, but it still wasn't easy. The vet reassured me that I had made the right decision given her symptoms and age. The entire staff were very kind and compassionate, but I still bawled like a baby and held her as long as I could until it was time to say goodbye. The next day, my last bunny stopped eating for no apparent reason and began to show the same weakness in his limbs. So it was back to the vet again. I know I shouldn't have favorites, but in my opinion,...

I'm not a melancholy person by nature, but there are times when "sorrows like sea billows roll". But God is at work in the midst of the sorrow whether its bringing me to repentance for my sins or increasing my prayers for the salvation of others: For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death. 2 Cor. 7:10 My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.Psalm 119:136

This past week was a contrast between great joy and sorrow for our church. We witnessed a young couple exchange their vows and celebrated their marriage. We also learned of the loss of a precious baby and wept for the parents. The latter situation made me long for Christ's return. This world is such a sad and broken place. We groan for the day when we will no longer feel the effects of sin. One day, every tear will be wiped away, and all that has been ruined by the fall will be renewed. But as I was reflecting on the wedding ceremony and the words pointing us to Christ and the church, this also makes me long for Christ's return. As much as I pray that this couple has a long and happy marriage, there will be a day when the shadow gives way to reality, the day when we will be forever with the Lord. God was sovereign in drawing this man and woman together, and He was sovereign in bringing this little one home. He hasn't changed. He's the same loving God and Father wh...