Today, as I folded old newspapers for the bottom layer of mulch around our front porch, I remembered the news. I hesitated to fold up the miners’ widows and children and place them down there with the earthworms. From an armload of the past year, I folded up wars and rumors of wars, and earthquakes in diverse places. I folded up a presumed leader or two who are all but jumping up and down with whining to rule the world. I put them all, all, all where they would molder and kept on about my business as if nothing were happening, only slightly disturbed, only somewhat concerned. I’ll probably mail more money somewhere, to help.
Yesterday I bought and planted. Tomorrow I hope to sell a few things. Tonight we’re having leftovers from a couple days of entertaining. I jokingly told my husband, “It’s either eat leftovers or else buy another fridge, take your pick.”
My calendar blackens fast. I face deadlines. The socks will not fold themselves.
Annie Herring called this state “earthbound”. That’s what I am—thinking about the dryer buzzer, or worse, the mulch, instead of the pain around me.
Just in this country, how many women lost their husbands to unfair mining practices lately? How many to unfair auto accidents, unfair divorce, unfair medical mistakes, unfair imprisonment? How many women lost children to similar causes, and more, such as school attacks and Ritalin-induced suicide last week, or murder? The toll is breathtaking. They would not all fit into the sanctuary of my church. Each one needs to know the power of God to get them through this. Few do. This, at last, breaks my heart. How will they cope? How will they survive without our wonderful Lord?
The world’s ways will not cut it. Although the world now acknowledges the need for forgiveness, it refuses to acknowledge the gift and the Giver of forgiveness. Only those who know the Lord’s way will truly thrive. Healing is right at hand, but few will take the cure. Most prefer the slow, scarring way with pockets of infection remaining below the surface.
I need to know forgiveness. I need to become closely familiar with her. She is such a true friend and has the balm for my every sore spot. I want to heal, to have only faint scars, not deep pockets of infection. I want to walk straight and with only a slight limp. I never want any wound to disable me permanently. Forgiveness can give me this.
Forgiveness is an often mis-defined, mysterious lady, so seldom sought out, yet totally reachable. There is no reason for the mystery, except our stubborn disinclination to hear her hidden song.
Oh, the glory of shedding misconceptions about forgiveness and taking up her gift!
Home's Cool! 
I like you. I like the way you write. My writing feels so…like a hammer. Yours is like a quilt.
Thanks for this one, today.
Oh, Dear…
Thank you for these kind and gentle words. I never perceive the hammer in what you write. I love your writing and would love to continue with you via emails.
Still, when you are, like me, too old to manage a hammer, you will take up quilting, and wish for your hammering days back.
“Healing is right at hand, but few will take the cure. Most prefer the slow, scarring way with pockets of infection remaining below the surface.”
I like these two sentences especially. It helps me to remember that by not forgiving, I am hurting myself and my relationship with the One I love best!
Me too. Thanks, Amy.
Newspapers are so full of bad news, and there is incredible injustice in the world. I like to believe we can change that through forgiveness and walking without offenses. I sincerely desire to see former enemies turned into friends this year, in my own life… and across the world. It’s one of the things I’m believing for this year! I’m glad there are people like you out there who offer solutions instead of simply complaining, for that’s what it takes to being change!
Thanks for this wise input, Susan, and WELCOME to Home’s Cool!
What a wonderful plan you have shared with us, here! It is said that every trouble in the world is a relationship problem and sometimes I believe it.
We will always have tribulation in this world, without making any of it for ourselves! Your aim is high and I pray you see great success! 🙂
In response to your header home is the place where I hope my children can always feel safe and have peace of mind. My 64 year old mother’s strange negativity still invades my home. I am only saying this because my son Ezra who lives with me is more vulnerable. My father is dying. Although it is sad to see God’s creation die I am glad because it frees Ezra and I to feel safe. I want my home to be clean and happy always. That sun spot on the carpet feeling should always reside here. Some times I get worried about the things that I have been writing about on here and so I reach out to the news media to find a bigger picture. Lately, that has made it worse. Bad weather and strange wicked news permeated.
Dear Jessica,
I am so sorry to hear that your dad is passing. Of course, it is sad! And that sadness can be made even sadder if the relationship was not good, was not fulfilling. I am so sorry. People mess up. People sometimes hurt those they should have protected and taught, instead. And that hurts most, because it damages trust.
I feel honored that you would place a portion of your trust here, for me and my commenters to see. You are brave.
And there is peace to be had. It is a peace that nobody can understand or explain. It is a peace that the world and its newspapers cannot give us.
It is found in God’s forgiveness, which was given to us on Calvary.
Calvary provides a wonderful, unbelievably calm hiding place from the strangeness, the negativity, the invasion, the death and sadness, the worry and wickedness…
Because Jesus, alone, can love us with that perfect, sunny-warm tenderness and understanding that we all crave.
I am praying you can be comforted and strengthened in that love.