Recently, I experienced the unexpected in my personal life - my husband and I separated, decided to not be married anymore. But it wasn't an easy decision, and I am grieving this loss, still quite fresh to me.
I cried out to God because my heart is weak, and he answered by showing me that Joe and I don't have to experience total loss. In the midst of everything we remain best friends. He came over earlier this week to help me make peppermint ice cream for Christmas, and tomorrow we plan to catch up on some of our favorite TV shows that have been previously recorded. Most importantly, we still share our faith, and have decided that both of us will stay at our home church and be in fellowship with people who care for both of us.
Still, I have my bad days when all I can do is cry. Remembering what we once were to each other is sometimes painful because our relationship can never be the same. Mealtimes will be different as I cook only for myself. We cannot hold each other, cuddling in bed as we did before. And though this may sound silly, I grieve the fact that I no longer launder his clothes. When laundering my own, I look at the puny load and feel an immense sadness.
And then there are times when I view the future with great hope as God promised in Jeremiah 29:11. "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope." (CEB)
Though no one knows what lies ahead of us on the road that we must follow, we take the next step, and the next, and in doing so we claim the promises of God who will never forsake us. My wish for you this day is that you may experience our Lord in both the routine rituals of life, and also in the unexpected. Peace on earth - goodwill to all.
