Saturday
Dear Elsie,
Today was the day that David had to be in China before his visa expired. He is here, in Cape Town, moving forward as much as best as he can. Keeping his sense of humour. Showing resilience. Trusting the Lord.
But it’s not easy. Today, Ingrid posted this on Facebook.
My prayer is not that David gets to China. My prayer is for David to be completely well again. He is half well and for that we are so grateful. He can get up in the morning. He can entirely look after himself. He can cook for himself and does not need help in managing his life. He could be so much worse. As the dream of China slips away, there is one thing he has said a number of times: ‘China doesn’t matter any more. What does matter is my health. I need to get well.’ Perhaps once he is better, China could become a dream again, but for today, China doesn’t matter any more.
There is greater gratitude, when you look at what you have and not what you don’t have. That helps the pain turn to peace today. David is half well. He is not completely sick. As I sat in my rocking chair this morning, this Bible verse came to mind.
Romans 5:3-5
We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
We don’t walk this journey alone. Far from it. We have God’s great Comforter who is our constant Companion if we choose to acknowledge it. He fills us with the peace that passes understanding. We don’t have to wait for the pain to pass before the peace comes. Supernatural peace trumps the peace the world may offer. Even in our greatest success, our most abundant joy, our least pain and with no suffering, let the peace that God offers be the peace that floods our soul. That peace is the lasting peace. It’s deep, solid peace – far from the fragile, fleeting occasional peace that we have on earth.
Grateful for today.
It’s not about now – we are only passing through.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you.
In His Grip,
Gran xx 🙂