5 Years Ago This Week

Five years ago this week Russ had his stroke. We rejoice that against all odds Russ is alive and getting along amazingly well. He walks around the house with a cane and is able to do many things on his own. He continues to go to an adult care center three times a week for therapy. I'm going to get in big trouble for posting this picture with chocolate smeared on Russ' face after licking the beaters. But doesn't he look content...or is that sheepish?

Strength and Hope

This morning I opened God's Word thirsty for refreshment. These words in the Phillips Paraphrase spoke peace to my heart.

Hebrews 6:18-20b
So that by two utterly immutable things, the Word of God and the oath of God, who cannot lie, we who are refugees from this dying world might have a source of strength, and might grasp the hope that he holds out to us. This hope we hold as the utterly reliable anchor for our souls, fixed in the innermost shrine of Heaven, where Jesus has already entered on our behalf...

There are still thousands of Japanese in shelters due to the Tohoku earthquakes. They've lost so much. These refugees live in a dying world. To have someone come and offer them strength and hope must be amazing.

God offers me that same strength and hope today. Though not a tsunami refugee, I am physically and emotionally tired. I'm taking God up on His strength and hope offers and finding fresh joy for this day.

In addition to the treasure I read in the Bible today, strength and hope came in the form of carrots. Russ' therapist brought us fresh carrots from Kiyose (neighboring town). They are beautiful, reportedly sweet, and not contaminated. How like God it is to bless us with both an abstract and a tangible display of His care for us.

A New Normal?

Saturday a friend said it was the first day since the earthquake that it felt like a normal day for her. The next day another friend said the same thing. Today was my first day for things to feel a little more routine. I rode public transportation that ran according to the posted schedule, I passed a gas station that was open but didn't have a line of cars waiting to buy gas, and I even saw toilet paper for sale.

But then tonight I received a phone call from someone asking a favor of me that would require several hours of time. It felt like an overwhelming request even though it wasn't something difficult for me to do. Under ordinary circumstances I would have just made the time to do it, but tonight I hesitated and said I'd get back to her.

I've realized that even though we are not in a hard-hit area, we are all affected deeply by Japan's pain. Every time I think about how cold it is for late March, I think of those up north struggling to keep warm with snow and no heat. The young woman staying with us while she helps with the relief effort is working so hard. Stress is really exhausting.

This week is Spring Break at the school where I work. Please pray that each of us (staff and students) would be refreshed.