Whether it’s a slight breeze, a duck dipping down under the water or a big rock being thrown in, the ripple begins and spreads. In this moment, it was all beautiful, but looking at the ripple effect this evening makes me think of the damage that is done when one person’s dishonesty is believed by unsuspecting people. It’s even worse when I am the one in the middle….I am the one who must come up with the proof that a statement was untrue and that the sky is really NOT falling down. The sky may be temporarily ugly (life’s difficulties with aging parents, etc.) but it isn’t falling. I am so grateful that God put a bit of clever thinking into my head at just the right moment, so that I could provide proof. When you ask for help, it can come from interesting places and people; we’ve seen that, and I am comforted to know that among our friends and family, the needed help will come. I do have my dull moments when I am tired of dealing with all this “stuff”. Those dull moments are when I just want to move away or at least hide so that I won’t have to carry this load with the tricky little edges. Funny thing is, without fail, the best Bible verses pop up at me inside my soul and the one I hang my heart on right now is “MY grace is sufficient for you”. Jesus is grace. Jesus is sufficient for me, therefore, I’m in a place where his love and compassion envelopes me. This is amazing truth. There’s no need for Pity Parties, no need for “Awwww, I feel your pain” or anything like that. This is life and life is tough. Life is toughER. Life is also beautiful and crazy and ridiculous and well, add your own words, because mine are about used up already. May God’s grace ripple through your soul.
Comments (19)
…and wonderful and unexpected and amazing….Love this. =)
Life can be tough, but it’s short and eternity is long and that’s what we need to keep our focus on!
Happy evening.
@Elizabethmarie_1 - Excellent words, Liz!!! You are SO right! This life is short! I yearn for eternity!
we are here to prepare ourselves for that eternity, not just bide our time. thankfully God is with us every step of the way. even the most insignificant and mundane chores take on an awesome purpose when done for His glory. Have a great day!–karen
Love to you, Gail. Your description of LIFe is pretty much right on.
…..and the same blessing right back to you, my friend.
Love those ripple pictures.
Life down here is made up of tough times in the valleys as well as times on the mountain tops. Those valley’s are not fun but man do they ever draw you closer to God. Keep holding on to God’s grace, it will be sufficient and enough for today and I know he will bring you through it all!
…and meaningful and complicated and fleeting and precious and terrifying and sweet… “Great faith is the product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great test. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials.” – Smith Wigglesworth
How wonderful that He’s speaking to your heart and that He showed you a way to prove the truth! He is always faithful!
Un huh—-unconditional love—& then there is his arms I gladly settle down knowing all is well with my soul—hugs friend
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Hi Gail, love your spiritual visual aid–the rippling waters of life.
We took care of my wife’s mom and aunt in our home for 5 years. The aunt had to go to assisted living for a short wile due to Alzheimer and her mom to a nursing home for a few weeks before she passed away. My wife believed that God’s Word taught that children are to take care of aging parents. Scripture seems silent on what a tough job that is. I am proud of my wife and was happy to help her, but she needed many breaks during that time due to the very critical attitude of her mom and later the aunt.
I wish you well.
Life is so short it is likened to a vapor in scripture. I am 79. It seems like only yesterday that I saw the most beautiful girl in the world.
frank
@lifeontheWink - Beautiful, Karen! I sure don’t want to be here, simply to bide the time but to glorify God and live life to the fullest, as far as I am able!
@quiet_hearts - My dear friend, I hope your ripples are blessings!
@threejoys - Thank you, Cordy! I could almost feel you smiling!
@redladybug18 - I LOVE your wisdom and positive, encouraging words. Yes, those valleys are tough. Also, climbing UP to those mountain tops! Once you get up there and breathe in His glorious air, there is such a freedom.
Hugs to you!
@TrentTribe - THAT quote is WONderful!!!
@SealedbyGrace - He works in pretty amazing ways and I slept so well that night and every night since, actually!
@Mymanyblessings - I love how you said that! I’m envisioning that unconditional love and settling down in His arms…it’s the best place to be.
@ANVRSADDAY - That is pretty much encouraging to me. I do remember that scripture; it’s one that my younger sister hung her hat on, so when she pushed us to find a place for mom and dad, I thought “Okay, I guess we need to do this, because who else will?” I know that we have to trust that God has it all worked out as far as needs for the near future. He knows hubby and I can’t take too much stress. It’s already been alot at times, without this even being the toughest part. I do want my parents to be treated with dignity and not all caretakers really care. Norma sounds like a real gem and I love how you refer to her the way you do. She is so very blessed and you are as well!
Wow just too wow for words I like the picture of clear blue water rippling in the sun light very cool
Then my crazy humor took over and I thought of a joke a friend sent me today
Do you know what it is called she s bunch of short people do the wave…. you guessed it the ripple.
But anyway your post was beautiful I totally enjoyed