October 30 was my last post, how time flies! This is definitely a good thing as walking through sadness can be rough at times, so when time flies I love it. A favorite book of mine on widowhood spoke of losing ones soul mate (husband) after many years can be one of the hardest things in life to endure. I'll have to agree, and losing two husbands has tested me greatly, but also gave me strength I didn't realize I possessed.
Thanksgiving and Christmas as well as New Years holidays have passed by with much to be thankful for! Lots of parties and even weddings as well as a trip with my daughters to New Port Beach and their families! I roomed with 5 young women, 2 granddaughters and 3 significant others of my grandsons. What fun it was for me to share time like this with part of my family. I had so many fun get-togethers with family, when I counted them up I had had 5 different family Christmas parties and numerous other fun times with them all. 12 of us were able to go to Disney's California Adventure and we stayed together all day! There was also a wedding in Alabama with my sister's family and one at home with my daughter's in-laws! I felt very blessed, not to mention about 6 more parties and outings with friends! Yes, I felt a bit social these past two months!
I enjoy letting all of you know I have a good life, that God is watching over, with much to do. Even though there is sadness over loss there is not loneliness. I don't have the excuse to say I'm lonely as anytime I feel the need I can call a family member or friend to do something with. The sadness comes in with the fact that the loved one I enjoyed so much with is no longer here. I ask myself often - now Vera how do you face this loss and sadness that can pop up at the worst of times. When one least expects tears just come, it's ok to cry and even good for me, but I don't like to in the middle of the grocery store or any number of other public places! I dislike making people uncomfortable! Enough on that subject - but how do we coup with hardships in life that come our way?
I recently read an article about taking a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is not a vacation it is a journey which is supposed to teach lessons of Godly dependence. I have had the privilege to take a couple of these kinds of trips. They were not what you call fun, they involved hiking over rough terrane, for me I seemed to fall a time or two (so embarrassing). Also I would do things that might need confession on my part or forgiving others. The point is as I pondered these things, I decided life is like this. It is filled with things we don't always like to do or places we don't want to be, yet we have no control whatever over where God will call us to walk. We can either walk with grace, confession, and forgiveness along the way or we can complain and grumble and make the world around us miserable. That is my goal to walk where God has asked me to walk with His Grace, assurance, trust and be certain that one day everything will be perfect! My family will be altogether never to have to part again! Hurrah!!! A pilgrimage I think is keeping our eyes on the goal and know that no matter how hard the journey one day it will all be worth it!
"Now my heart is troubled, but what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? No it was for this very reason I came to this hour! Father glorify your name!" John 12:27-28a
This verse has become a theme verse for me. A great one to come to mind as I walk my pilgrimage. I hope it gives you some grace and hope to walk where God calls you to walk!
