The Fruit of Tears

Sorrow is a fruit; God does not allow it to grow on a branch that is too weak to bear it. --Victor Hugo


God will never give us more than we can handle, and He uses the trials of this life to make us stronger and to point us back to Himself.  Too much comfort and earthly joy can breed attachment to this place, but God allows sorrows and pain to make us long to be home with Him.


I am reminded again of the Sovereign Grace lyrics to "In the Valley" :


. . . In the daytime there are stars in the heavens
But they only shine at night.
And the deeper that I go into darkness
The more I see their radiant light.
So let me learn that my losses are my gain,
To be broken is to heal
That the valley’s where Your power is revealed.


The darker our sorrow, the greater the glory of the Lord and the brighter the light of His Celestial City shines.

It is Well

Once again, I find myself understanding anew the sentiments in the hymn "It is Well with My Soul."  Trials have come and sorrows like sea billows have rolled.  Through it all, peace like a river has comforted my soul, and God has taught me to say "It is well" even through the darkest of days.

Clinging to the arms of my Savior, I have learned that Jesus does indeed offer balm for the wounded heart and that His all-encompassing love brings healing when we need it most.  

On Sunday, I heard a sermon that cut straight to my heart.  In it we were told repeatedly that "the storm will pass and be over."  No matter the storm in my life or yours, it will pass.  It will end.  In the end comes the calm.  In the end comes joy.  

Psalm 30:5b, "... weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."

Our sorrows and trials probably will last for more than one night, but look forward to the joy that comes when the storm has passed and with the dawning of a new day.  

Fly to Jesus

. . . Sometimes the way is lonely
And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain, then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live! . . .


 . . . And with your final heartbeat 
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side, and
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live! . . .

God

God is never bigger to us than when we are prostrate before him in submission, and His love is never greater than when He is tenderly healing our broken hearts.  His infinite wisdom is never more evident than when we do not understand, and His ultimate sacrifice is never more magnificent than when He calls us to make one of our own.

The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away.  Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Holiday Highlights

As usual, our Christmas "vacation" was a whirlwind of cooking, baking, driving, and visiting with friends and family.  At the end of it all, on our last two days with Patrick off and with time as just our own family, I came down with a stomach bug and couldn't leave the sofa or my bed.

All in all, though, we had a fun-filled week.  Here are a few highlights:

Natalie met her cousin Addison.  Addison thought Natty's Piglet was great . . . and Natty thought that Addison was great! 

Daddy fell asleep and Aunt Beans decided to pick on him as payback.

Natty met Paschelle when we saw Aunt Naomi and Uncle Peter!

Mommom gave some of the guys Poppop's old ties . . .

My sleepy Santa.

We're tiiirrrreeeddd . . . 

No Wrapping Yet!

This Christmas is very different from any other for me: it is the first year that I don't have finals (yay!) and it is the first with a baby.  Any hopes that I had of this year being stress free and of having my shopping/baking done early and without much effort on my part have been . . . dashed.

Don't get me wrong--this holiday season has been AWESOME and Natalie has been a champ as she's been dragged along on all day shopping trips (yes, trips as in plural trips) with my mom--but I am so worn out now that I'm finding things to do to avoid wrapping presents.  Shopping?  Check.  Baking? Check.  Wrapping?  For some reason the pile of presents that I'm excited to give (don't  get me wrong--keeping them a secret from the recipients has been KILLING ME) is like a black cloud looming over my head.  Sooner rather than later, I've GOT to get around to it, but not right now.

For now, I think I'll brew another pot of coffee and enjoy this delightful face for a while longer.

Another Card to the Deck

Ever heard the phrase "You've just lost your man card" said to a guy who has done something that is considered less than masculine?  Why don't we ever hear about woman cards?  And why are said cards (whether the existing male version or the newly invented female one) always taken away and not given?

Every so often, I do something that makes me think, "NOW I am a real woman."  My latest addition to my rolodex of "woman cards"?  I made a turkey.  My first.  Wow.  The only thing that I could think of when I pulled it of the oven (aside from how beautiful it looked) was how utterly and femininely accomplished I felt.  Not that men can't cook turkeys . . . but you get my point.  As I type, turkey stew is simmering in the  crock pot and my husband is likely enjoying his turkey sandwich for lunch at work.