wednesday came raw and clotted with storm clouds. it'd been a rough week already.
i knew to expect this, the endless loop of reteaching limits, the constant scouring and disinfecting, the one-sided loving. i knew, but somehow that doesn't make this existence any less exhausting.
but God has this way of showing up in the middle of my personal downpour. i pray for immediate evacuation, and instead He comes down and resides with me in my struggle, helps my heart expand to cover this need when it would be so much more convenient to disengage.
i was chin-deep in weariness yesterday when My All-Time Favorite Person (aka our trusty postal worker) popped up on my doorstep with a package. my soul-friend brandee baked us cookies, wrapped each one and double-bagged them. and as i unflapped cardboard to reveal those buttery rounds of perfection (that girl knows her way around a cookie) and drank in her words of kindness and affirmation, the not-aloneness of it all buoyed my spirit in a way that could only have come from Him.
and another soul-friend is bringing us dinner tonight and another sent m the softest welcome-home gift and my aunt and uncle dropped off a gorgey dresser and all of you loving us is keeping me afloat till pretty soon i realize i'm not up to my eyebrows in a sea of emotional demands at all. it's an ocean of grace, clear through.
* * *
please join us at emily's for more imperfect prose.
ps friends, if you are willing, please pray with me for the dear sosna family. they attended court with us in ethiopia back in may, and are still waiting for a letter from MOWCYA before their process can proceed. their two beautiful boys need so much to be with home their parents. thank you.
Posts
16 comments:
i love you and your story and your honesty and your words. and i think i would love those cookies!
The picture of your daughter's eyes above that chocolate-mint quake made me cry. I've never been gladder for anyone to eat one of my cookies.
praise jesus. i just love it too, that he arrives and plants at our side, during our personal downpours. what a good father. so thankful you have such encouraging friends, what a precious gift!!
praying for your friends. praying for YOU as well.
xo
"i pray for immediate evacuation, and instead He comes down and resides with me in my struggle"
such beauty and depth in this description of His ways.
that sweet girl is my new VA friend. am i lucky or what? God is good!!
Oh, Nic, you paint beautiful, emotion-filled pictures with your words. Your grace in struggle, and your friend Brandee's thoughtfulness brought me to tears. It will become easier, and in the meantime you have some pretty wonderful support happening, hang in there.
Michelle xxx
I love your description of how God resides with you when you pray for evacuation.
I've felt that too.
Thank you for sharing your life.
I love coming to this space and being renewed by your words and your images. What beauty!
oh, that brandee... she is one good gal, no? nic, i'm going to spend time tonight in prayer for you. may you know strength, and may you find little pockets in the day during which to rest. love you sister, and all that you're doing... it is good.
I was thinking about Brandee tonight, and I realized that the girl is teaching me how to be a blessing. She is a BLESSING, so I'm trying to take notes.
I want to be like her when I grow up.
I'm glad she sent you cookies. I'm glad God comes to us instead of transporting us out. Cookies are better than a fast run anyway. More delicious, less sweaty.
Hugs and prayers to you.
You have the most wonderful way with words (and pictures of course). My heart is with you. Meskie has been home a week and it too has been a bit challenging at times. It is clear she has known no boundaries so teaching some has not been an easy road. Consistency and time and we'll get there. Hang in there and let me know if you ever want to chat.
prayers for the sosna family. yes. precious, precious friends. beautiful god. thank you, nic. i hope you don't mind; i am going to share some of your sweet words with others today.=) love to you all.
God is good. Especially when He works through friends. :)
I am praying for you! May tomorrow be another day when you feel God's presence right beside you! I miss you! Amy
P.S. Those are so mighty fine looking cookies! Yum!!
found your post on imperfect prose. Love this story! I love those non-coincidental coincidences.
praying that you would be sustain in these days. that they would be sanctifying and not just tiring.
Post a Comment