Timing

Let's go ahead and skip the "hello, strangers!"

I've been so absent from my little, itty-bitty place in the blogosphere these past few months. It's certainly been a trying year. I've chosen time with my little family (love you, John and Hoosh!), extended family, friends (though not nearly enough!), and students over daily posts and comments to other blogs. I know this has been the right decision, but I would by lying if I said I didn't miss writing and communicating with all of you!

So...timing...today was a tough day. I felt emotionally, mentally and physically drained. And apparently it was evident, as many people at school took note. I went to a great dinner with my hubby and in-laws before they all headed to Bloomington for the IU game, while I went home to be responsible and work, sleep, etc.

But...I was in a funk. I was distracted from work. TV was boring. I couldn't focus on my book. I was just feeling...ugh.  So I got on my knees and started praying; praying for guidance, strength, peace, wisdom, faith, trust. I poured my heart out. And when I was finished, I was suddenly compelled to pull up my Christmas list on my phone. I was drawn to Amy Grant. And the song I came to? "Breath of Heaven (Mary's Song).

Wow. The words in that song - a song I hadn't thought of since last Christmas - spoke to me and lifted me. I sang my heart out. I don't think it was an accident that I was directed to that song. To those words. Though my prayers might not all be answered immediately or in my time, I felt that God was trying to tell me that He heard me, and that I wasn't alone.

And then it got better. I saw my devotions book and realized that I hadn't done my devotions today. The message: Through the Dry Season. I couldn't believe it was a coincidence that I came across this, and I felt so compelled to share it with you. It comes from Joel Osteen's Your Best Life Begins Each Morning devotional book, a wonderful Christmas gift last year from my mother-in-law Leslie.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven; a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot. {Ecclesiastes 3:1-2}

"We all go through dry seasons in our lives, times when we don't see anything happening. Maybe you've been praying and believing, but your prayers aren't being answered; or, you're giving, but you don't seem to be getting anything in return. Maybe you are doing your best to treat people right; you're going the extra mile to help others, but nobody is going out of their way to help you. What's going on? Is God's Word a lie? Do these principles not work?

"No, these dry seasons are proving grounds. God wants to see how you are going to respond. What kind of attitude will you have when you are doing the right thing, but the wrong thing keeps happening to you?"

Maybe this isn't applicable to you in your time of life. Or maybe, like me, you read that scripture and those words at just the right moment. I will continue to focus my trust in God's providence and to have faith in wait and trial.

Wishing you all a joyful start to this holiday season, and hoping to share some festive recipes and decors with you along the way!