A Pause In The Rush May Change Your Whole Tune

We have friends. Really. We do. 

They have retired well.  

 Donna and Harold have been faithful friends through the years.

First Gary, and then they inherited me. 

Harold and Gary played music together, while Donna and I forged a friendship.

It was Donna and Harold that we asked to be Elijah's God parents.

Donna felt uncomfortable and not spiritual enough. 

I told her she would get that way. 

Philippians 4:6-7

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Praying for a baby as they grow into adulthood will change anyone. 

 Each summer Harold and Donna come and stay for a few weeks in their trailer 

looking at the mountain. They don't stay looking at the mountain the whole time. 

They do do others things. 

Harold is our resident "if it's broke, I'll fix it."

And Donna is my cheerleader. We play games, chat, shop a little. 

This year they decided to stay a month. Their grand daughter was graduating from college and Elijah was graduating from High School. 

Donna attended every dance performance, Lacrosse game and Senior activity I went to.

We planned meals together, and planned the day. It was so much fun.

She was my encourager and travel companion. 

People said you have someone in your house for a month?

They have their schedule and we have ours. 

We hardly saw them. 

Our house is big enough. 

Heck, there are places I haven't seen in this house, in 20 years, it's so big. 

(I am not kidding)

After Elijah's graduation Donna and Harold headed back to North Carolina. 

It is always hard when they leave. 

I love having them here. 

My kids love having them here. 

And I think they love being here too. 

They loved our Pemberly and he loved them. 

And when 2 weeks after they left, he was hit by a car and died in my arms; 

Donna sent a beautiful note and poem to soothe our aching hearts. 

They were gone for a little over a month, when our world was shattered.

And they came back. 

And they stayed. 

This time, Harold couldn't "fix what was broke".

But they patched, and sewed seeds of much love on this broken family. 

Donna guarded me like a mama bear. 

She sat with me while I cried. 

She answered the phone and loved on the little girls. 

I don't remember much about that time. 

I am just glad they stayed. 

The other day Donna sent me this link. 

Such a simple message. A typical scale; yet when played with pauses,

 it becomes the message of hope and joy for all Nations. 

May this Advent Season cause each one of us to breathe in deep; 

to take a pause in the everyday.

 To be a message of hope, and share the joy of that One little Child, 

born in a manger.

And the joy, the unspeakable joy that will rise in my soul, 

will be because of the joy that only a Savior can bring. 

It is deep down, where the holy meets the finite.