Blessed be Your name…

She was scared to death. She’d just heard the news. She tried to breath. She tried to think. But it failed her. And all’s she could do was watch in the mirror as tears rolled down her face. She shuddered, and turned away, trying to summon up enough courage to wash the fear and sadness from her face. It didn’t work and she crumpled on her bed, burrowing her head in the pillow, and sobbing till her shoulders shook.

She rose from the bed, wiped the tears from her eyes, tucked her hair behind her ears, silently left her room, walked down the hall, and quietly out the front door. It was a short trip to the field, and she walked out into the swaying grass. She let herself sit down, the tall weeds hiding her. Then she fell back, and looked up into the huge blue sky. She let herself get lost in the majestic expanse, the clouds that lazily drifted across the sky, and the quiet rustle of the grass and the small creatures that called the field home.

And she whispered, “Blessed be Your name, oh Lord. You give and take away, but I will praise You. Through pain and through joy…I will praise you.” And she let the tears fall slowly…

Autumn’s touch…

She sat shivering on the park bench. Leaves skittered down the bricked walkway in the autumn wind. Strands of her hair whipped around her face. But she didn’t brush them back…the wind was soothing. Its blustery caress dried her tears, calmed her soul. In the overcast sky above, she saw the thoughts she was faced with. In the swirling wind, the fears and doubts that rocked her. In the damp ground, the tears that threatened to spill over. The world was a mirror of her struggle.

–

But beyond all this, she saw the explosion of fall colors on the trees. The reds, oranges, browns, and rusty hues mixed together in a flaming pallet of hope. Their brilliance spoke of each undying tree. It was as if each mighty oak and maple, aware of the wintery months ahead was proclaiming a glorious farewell. Their beauty now spoke of an undying passion as if to speak out, “Test me and try me, but I will emerge victorious again…just you wait and see. I give up my glory now to proclaim my strength. Wait for me. When spring comes, I promise; I will be there.”

–

And somehow, someway, in autumn’s proclamation, she found hope. “Test me and try me, but, by God’s grace, I will emerge victorious again…just you wait and see. I am humbled and weakened now, but only to proclaim Your strength, Oh Lord. Wait for me, everyone. When spring comes, when this is past, when tomorrow morning comes bright and fair, I promise; I will be there. For I’ve fallen into the arms of the all-powerful, and loving God.”