See there, that gray day picture just below? See the smudges and smears left behind from little hands and pressed-down noses? That was what my window looked like on a day in 2015 when my husband left for his work trip.
He was off to someplace fun and I was left behind to wipe the noses. I was feeling sorry for myself. I always struggle to find joy in moments like these. And as I prayed for it to come, praise God, it did. I remember it, so as I often do, I took a picture or two.
I started to see beyond the smudges in the window and instead into the sky and I warmly knew that He knew. And He was with me even though I was somewhere that seemed to be so very small. And he slowly brought the joy I was lacking and comforted me by reminding me his eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.
Ironically, I later saw some pictures my husband took from one such trip, and my joy remained. Rather than being jealous or sad that I wasn’t there to see what his eyes saw, I could be wowed by and enjoy the creative hand of God and truly be thankful that my husband got to see such beauty. This ability to have joy was truly from the Lord!
I was wowed because the same God that saw me through my smudged up window, saw him through the radiant clouds on an airplane. He knew. God knew. And He knows still! It testified to me about the power of the God I serve. His ability to KNOW and love his children so mightily no matter where they are, physically or spiritually.
It can be hard to be the one left behind. Maybe your health prohibits new adventures. Perhaps you are a keeper of the young…or perhaps a keeper of the old. There can be many reasons for being shut in, but this does not disqualify one from doing good works for the Lord, nor from worshiping and experiencing God’s blessings. See David’s example below:
1 Samuel 30:
20 He took all the flocks and herds, and his men drove them ahead of the other livestock, saying, “This is David’s plunder.”
21 Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. 22 But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”
23 David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. 24 Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.” 25 David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.
Similar to Wendy’s post on Monday, we will do well to remember that God is good all the time, no matter what window you look out from.
“I will lift up mine eyes
to the hills”;
and when I fly
I will lift up my eyes
instead
to the sky;
it is the same
sure,
certain thing–
this quiet lifting up,
remembering…
I leave myself
awhile
to let my thoughts
explore
all He has made
and more;
returning
to my small load
at length,
calm,
reassured:
this
is my strength.
–Ruth Graham Bell
In Christ’s love, erika
