In September of 1974, I wrote a letter to our one-year old daughter and started something I could not stop--yearly letters to each child on her or his birth date. Over a period of almost 30 years, I wrote 72 letters to our four children. They each received this packet of letters on a special occasion. Before handing the letters over, I made copies.
This year, Kara celebrated her 37th birthday. What seemed like every day occurrences when I wrote of them now take on another significance--passage of time, how things really do change, and the reminder of how precious life is. For example, I wrote, "Mommy likes to look at you when you are sleeping as you grow and change so much each week. You are certainly a little miracle to us." And, "Your room is a part of a storage room. It is bright pink with flowered curtains. Your bed is a hand-me-down from a friend. Your chest of drawers was a gift from Grandpa and Grandma."
Now my daughter and family live in a new home in the middle of a big city. None of her children sleep in storage rooms or hand-me-down beds. However, she views her children as miracles. Not everything changes.
Is there such a thing as routine in anyone's life? You've heard me write previously, "Life is what happens when you're making other plans." Well, this week was it. I spent three days in a doctor's office or hospital with a loved one who had a relapse. I spent another day with my aging father who has health issues. And, yet, it was good. My dad is much improved thanks to prayer. My loved one is involved with another form of treatment with hopes of good results. God is present in all things. We should always praise Him. We have fresh opportunities each day when we genuinely invite him into our lives. "Christ in us" allows us to view the world in a new way with each day giving opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
As humans we often feel quite helpless--physical pain, emotional despair, or general confusion with circumstances beyond our control. However, as Christians, we have divine power within. We can give God glory. "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." James 4
