The "Folgers in your cup" Moment, Gone Terribly Wrong Day #22 of Thankfulness

I envisioned a "Folgers in your cup",  kind of welcome home. 

The college girl is home. 

The kind of nice, clean house, bread baking; welcome home. 

A Saturday full of fun activities. 

I tried. 

I planned. 

Yet what we got was not what we had planned. 

Is it ever? 

Do we really have things go the way we wanted? 

I watched as my son wailed as he brought his injured puppy home. 

Something inside me snapped. 

When you see your children experience

 raw grief it does something to you. 

I have watched as they watched their 

Nana painfully slip into God's hands.

Then I watched them as our

3 year old ball of fluff died in my arms. 

Two weeks later I watched as I had to share that their beloved brother now resided with the King of Kings. 

And 2 months later that their dad was entering a fight for his life with the demon of cancer. 

 I watch as I share how our finances are a wee bit tight right now with the Organic switch over. 

And then I watch in horror as my farm boy's beloved 9 month old puppy companion, best friend is injured. 

I find myself not making rational decisions. 

I agree to something far beyond my ability or station in life. 

And the "Folgers in your cup" moment is gone. 

The real hard hitting, leave your gut aching part of reality is here. 

The littlest farm girl and I head to our knees. 

My farmer, college girl and farm boy

 have all headed to the Emergency Vet. 

The heart wrenching sobs of the littlest send me to the brink of grief. 

I watch her wracking body. 

I have only one thing to offer to this family. 

Hope. 

Hope in the One who allowed, even this,

 to pass through his fingers before it came to us. 

Trust in the God who is good; whether Loki lives or Loki dies. 

You see, the "Folgers in your cup", moments can happen. 

And when they do they are precious. 

We need to be ready for them. 

They will come. 

They just may not be when you expect them. 

They come as your spirit aches and you ask the littlest to pray. 

And her words and prayer make you realize she's not so little anymore. 

And all the teaching you have done through heartache and tragedy have been woven into the fabric of her being. 

That when the college girl is faced with an emergency

 her voice becomes soft and calm. 

And she is able to help that farm boy do what he needs to do. 

You realize the hope and trust you have spent a life time teaching has been ingrained in the hearts of your wee ones. 

We don't know how God will continue this story. 

The outcome; unknown to us. 

We do know that He will be with us through it all. 

No matter what. 

That He and He alone is that, "Folgers in your cup," moment. 

Isaiah 42:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Be Anxious For Nothing

Be anxious for nothing. 

Only when I have prayed hard?

No need to be anxious.

When I have saved enough money in my retirement?

No need to be anxious. 
When I have anticipated every problem and am assured that I have done every thing to thwart an issue.
Then I do not need to be anxious. 

When do we not be anxious? 

What about the time when you haven't prayed?
That item left off the list. 

When something isn't planned all the way through. 

Is that the time to be anxious? 

Be anxious for nothing. 
My son walks out the door.
He kisses me.
He says he loves me.
I cringe. 
I've heard those words before.
I don't want him to leave.
He's heading to race.
In Derby.
Without me.
We've had conflict.
Be anxious for nothing.
I don't want him to go.
We haven't prayed.

Be anxious for nothing. 
What does that mean?
How do I live as one who has been ransomed?
One that is wrapped in rich love.
When we reach deep and look to eternity the view changes.
When all of our being longs and groans for that which is to come; strength prevails.
I can not change the circumstances of my life.
Yet, I can surrender all.
To the One who knows.
Who loves us with an undying love.
He's there.
He will fill us.
He understands the hurt, the heartache, the joy.
There's more to the verse. 

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Be in prayer. Set your requests and hearts cry before the throne of grace.
And wait for the peace.
The troubles will remain.
The circumstances unchanged.
Yet peace will prevail.
God is working.
He will never leave or forsake us.
Even in the deep anguish.
In death. In cancer.
He will remain.

Be anxious for nothing.
Not just when you have prayed the right prayers.
Walked the high road.
Be anxious for nothing.
When you haven't done those things.
Be anxious for nothing.