Tuesday, July 4, 2023 (this is a little late in coming with all that has been going on the last few weeks)
Yes, we are finally on the road again. Warrenton, Missouri was our first stop, visiting friends and catching up with CMI® staff regarding the Fall CMI training. The visit was short but sweet. The best part being, I got to spend a whole day with one of my best buds. We were grateful for the time.
Nebraska was not in our original plans but plans are made to be changed. Don’t we know that all too well! Nevertheless, the change was perfect. Not only did we get to see my niece, whom I rarely see, but we also got to see my brother who also lives across the street from her whenever he is in town. To top that off, my other niece of the same clan came by with her family. They don’t live too far away. The whole visit was perfect timing. If we had come a day later, we wouldn’t have been able to see the one niece and my brother would be preparing to head back to Alaska the next day. God is so good.
The evening we were all together was great, talking, laughing, and playing volleyball till we could hardly see the ball anymore. That was an experience, especially trying to avoid little bodies running all around you. The last thing I wanted to do was collide with one of them.
Before we departed, each to his/her own home (ours was parked on the street), I remembered I had a book for my two nieces, Rachelle and Lynnea. By this time, the sidewalk leading to our home was very dark. If a street lamp was present, the big tree on the side of the street just in front of us was blocking the light. Thus, as I headed down the sidewalk, it didn’t take me long to realize the sprinklers must be on. Not only could I hear them around me but I got sprayed a bit from time to time. At the door to our home, I could see one sprinkler was right by the door and the water ricocheted off the front of our Rv, making the spray much more intense. Moreover, it wasn’t rotating around like the rest. Not only that, the rotation was drawing all the others to my direction. Something had to be done fast. I opened the door and rushed in only to encounter another shock… There is nothing like being doused with cold water late at night then walk into a freezer. Well, I didn’t walk into an actual freezer, but it felt like it with the air conditioner on and all the fans blowing cold air!
Now, with books in tow, I opened and quickly closed the door three times, trying to miss the rotation. It wasn’t working. Each time I opened the door, even a crack, more spray came into the RV. Already wet, I didn’t want the books getting damaged. At that moment, my brain was numb with cold so I didn’t even think of putting the books in a plastic bag. I just wanted to get out of there as fast as possible. One, two, three, GO! I made a dash for it back to Rachelle’s house. Unbeknownst to me, Tim and Patrick had observed the entire drama and found it quite entertaining. So glad I could oblige.
Though I managed to get sopping wet, the books had somehow been protected for which I was very grateful.
The older I get, the more I realize one can never stress having a grateful heart enough. It’s easy to be grateful for the big things, but what about the little things, like 2 books being protected from the sprinklers? Do you notice, when you are grateful, you are also joyful?
I have a hat that says “choose happy”. I’d rather it said “choose joy”, for joy is not a result of my circumstances, but my heart attitude. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice!” Always means ALL THE TIME! That’s not always easy to do, but it is a command. Habakkuk 3:17-18 exclaims, “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Not only does He give salvation to the one who has put his complete trust in the Savior, but He has promised to be with us (Hebrews 13:5) Furthermore, Zephaniah 3:17 declares, “The LORD your God in you midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Don’t just skim over that verse. Stop and meditate on what it is actually saying for a few moments. How can your heart not be filled with joy over that? How indeed!
Our trip back to Washington brought us even more joy in so many ways: The beauty of the landscape daily greeting us, the safety of the journey, my cat not complaining about the rough roads, interesting weather including a hail storm where the hail was the size of peas or larger, no damage to our car or home, spending a few days with very dear friends who have moved stateside from Austria, having lunch with my oldest brother, spending a day with a sister and brother in law before arriving a few days earlier than planned at my dad’s.
The greatest joy in life is knowing my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and walking daily with Him. Isaiah 61:10 says it well, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Do you have joy in the Lord today? If not, what do you need to do to change that?
Blessings, Mari
