Not always the way things appear~

In December of 2015 one of my co-workers gave each of the ladies in the office a small Poinsettia. Mine sat on my desk for a while, but wasn't getting the light she (yeah, I named her Abby) needed so moved her into a room by a window so that she could bask in the sunlight. I left a note near her to "water me if you see that I need a drink". She did much better by that window. She's gone through lots of changes, like shedding leaves, growing bigger, to even looking like death this past Christmas. To the point that people were picking on her grisly appearance. There were some beautifully fresh cut flowers sitting next to her on the ledge that evening, and I have to admit she looked pretty bad. But she was not given up on. She was watered, turned regularly so the sun shone on all of her, and loved - not given up on or thrown away as suggested by some. Today, nearly 5 months later, she is vibrant, tall, and full of life! I'm so thankful that my life, much like Abby, with the ups and downs, thriving and languish, was cared for in a loving and nurturing manner. It shows me that the lives we pour into should not ever be given up on as dead and hopeless. It may look impossible, it may seem that the only option is to walk away, but when things look bleak we should continue to love and nurture. As long as the soil is good and there is a little life in there, there is hope! I can tell you for certain that those beautifully fresh cut flowers that sat next to her that day making her look even more pathetic, have long since lost all life. All of their colorful petals have fallen off and they have been disposed of. But look at Abby today, she has beautiful green and red leaves on her and she's standing tall. She's made it through an ugly dry season and come out beautiful.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your love and Your nurturing. Thank You so much that when we looked hopeless, You still poured into us. Thank you for the foundation that I have in You. Thank You God that You never leave me nor forsake me. Thank You for showing me that while there are others around me that look beautiful on the outside, they still need You. Outward appearance is beautiful but it only lasts a short time. God I seek to be more like You inside and out. Continue to form me into being more like You, loving, nurturing, caring, constant, and persistent. I know this means many more times of trials, and I welcome them if it means being more like, and closer to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Today's (short) thoughts~

May 2, 1992
26 years ago today I walked down the aisle to commit and join my forever with another.  Our invitation was a verse from the book of Ecclesiastes.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  It was not quickly broken, but it was in fact broken.  10 years ago, my now ex posted on a social media page a picture of the two of us with the caption "16 years and I still get that feeling".  Only months later he was expressing that he didn't know if he was still in love with me.  This made zero sense to me.  It could be only one thing.  That in fact was the thing.  He had allowed the devil a foothold and the devil did his finest work and destroyed a sacred union.  It has been nearly 10 years and I still get that sucker punched in the gut feeling of overwhelming pain and sadness...  

I will never celebrate 17 years of marriage with someone again.  I will never celebrate milestone anniversaries with someone at my age now.  This saddens my heart.  Thankfully, I have the love of the Lord.  I still have the pain, but know my future is in His hands and do my best to trust and rest in that. 

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" (Ecclesiastes 4:12).