Did you ever notice that some roads seem to take longer than others? Not in actual time, but in perceived time?
When we were kids, there were even 10 mile rides that seemed to take FOR-EV-ER!
Then there are 'life roads'. These roads also can be perceived as taking no-time-at-all, to seemingly endless. Andy Stanley quoted his wife, in reference to time and parenting as, 'The days are long, the years are quick.' (my paraphrase) So true of many life roads.
It seems with Lyme, I've been on a very long road- it seemed especially long when I began the journey, each day held what seemed like years of time... Now, I can't believe I'm 31 months into treatment! And, I am so thankful for the progress made in fighting this disease; balanced with knowing I need to continue to battle on.
My battle has intertwined with my dad's health challenges. I am his primary caregiver/manager/healthcare directive appointee/POA. He has had one health challenge tumble after another for the past five months. Definitely a roller-coaster like road we've been on.
Dad has had a full, long, vital life- for which he is thankful. But, the multiple severe health issues now find him facing days of palliative care. I'm walking along this road with him.
It has been a challenge to try to keep up/not lose any ground gained against Lyme during this time. (You Lyme Fighters know that stress is to be avoided- HA!)
Still, our Hope is with us, our Strength, our Comforter... in Him we trust for mercy. Our God is beyond what we call time- He created time after all. He works in each moment of each of our lives- as we serve Him, He expands that time; in our weakness and pain, He redeems.
These days and hours seem long, and we seek Him. We trust He has more appointed according to His will as we travel this Shadowland road~ May His will be done, and may we be attuned to what assignments/lessons He has for us along this way.
Blessings-
(This is the Psalm on which I am ruminating these days~)
Psalm 31
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
A Psalm of Complaint and of Praise.
For the choir director. A Psalm of David.
31 In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge;
Let me never be ashamed;
In Your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of [a]strength,
A stronghold to save me.
3 For You are my [b]rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
4 You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of [c]truth.
Let me never be ashamed;
In Your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline Your ear to me, rescue me quickly;
Be to me a rock of [a]strength,
A stronghold to save me.
3 For You are my [b]rock and my fortress;
For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.
4 You will pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
5 Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have ransomed me, O Lord, God of [c]truth.
6 I hate those who regard [d]vain idols,
But I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
8 And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
You have set my feet in a large place.
But I trust in the Lord.
7 I will rejoice and be glad in Your lovingkindness,
Because You have seen my affliction;
You have known the troubles of my soul,
8 And You have not given me over into the hand of the enemy;
You have set my feet in a large place.
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow
And my years with sighing;
My strength has failed because of my iniquity,
And my [e]body has wasted away.
11 Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach,
Especially to my neighbors,
And an object of dread to my acquaintances;
Those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind;
I am like a broken vessel.
13 For I have heard the [f]slander of many,
Terror is on every side;
While they took counsel together against me,
They schemed to take away my life.
My eye is wasted away from grief, my soul and my body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow
And my years with sighing;
My strength has failed because of my iniquity,
And my [e]body has wasted away.
11 Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach,
Especially to my neighbors,
And an object of dread to my acquaintances;
Those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I am forgotten as a dead man, out of mind;
I am like a broken vessel.
13 For I have heard the [f]slander of many,
Terror is on every side;
While they took counsel together against me,
They schemed to take away my life.
14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord,
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant;
Save me in Your lovingkindness.
17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You;
Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in [g]Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
Which speak arrogantly against the righteous
With pride and contempt.
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in Your hand;
Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.
16 Make Your face to shine upon Your servant;
Save me in Your lovingkindness.
17 Let me not be put to shame, O Lord, for I call upon You;
Let the wicked be put to shame, let them be silent in [g]Sheol.
18 Let the lying lips be mute,
Which speak arrogantly against the righteous
With pride and contempt.
19 How great is Your goodness,
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man;
You keep them secretly in a [h]shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.
Which You have stored up for those who fear You,
Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You,
Before the sons of men!
20 You hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the conspiracies of man;
You keep them secretly in a [h]shelter from the strife of tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord,
For He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.
22 As for me, I said in my alarm,
“I am cut off from before Your eyes”;
Nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications
When I cried to You.
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