Mews from Meowmix

Although the song has to do with, as I recall, the aging of a child into an adult and how quickly the years pass and they are transformed, these words describe for me peaks and valleys, so to speak, of life.  My heart rejoices about so many things and for so many people, as in a sunrise, and at the same time, there are some sunsets, too.

In my own family situation, we’ve had a lot of sunrises this summer.  Doris’ health is better than it’s been in years.  Holly was greatly blessed by God with an extension of her life after a very serious health emergency.  Two babies have been born and another is expected in a few weeks.  Patrick escaped serious injury in a 4 wheeler accident last week.

Some of the sunsets aka valleys have been, although Doris is SO much better, she still has days she feels so bad she almost wishes someone would shoot her!  They are rare, but we still have them.  Also, we lost my brother in August.  Definitely a sunset here on earth but a wonderful sunrise in heaven.

The sun set on my early retirement as I came face to face with the reality that I needed to go back to work.  I started working at job hunting diligently and am still at it.  So far, no sunrises in that department , except for the possibilities of the stay-at-home typist job I’m into training for.  Passing the assessment test was a sunrise!

I see sunrises every day in the faces, voices, and messages of people I love.  In the messages I get on Facebook from my Hailey.  Notes of encouragement from Brigitt, Rhonda, and several friends from high school, old friends, new friends, relatives…………both in personal contact AND through the medium of Facebook.  And notes of encouragement from friends who visit my blog.

I felt a sunset in my heart at the news a few days ago when one Labrador was shot in her own back yard by the police and the other Lab living there ran away, frightened.  The sun rose with the news that the one, though having to have surgery, was going to recover, but the other one couldn’t be found after several days, hence a sunset………………………….and then the sun rose again as the police helped the grieving owner look for her other dog, and found her.  She has a limp but only because she evidently hurt herself, but she had not been shot.  And she’s home safe and sound.  Sunrise.

For the most part, my church family provides many sunrises.  Sometimes, as in the case any where there are people, there are some sunsets, too.  But predominantly the sun is in the eastern sky! 

There was the feeling of the sun being low in the western sky with the news that Paul has ALS and has been “given” a short time to live.  At the same time, a feeling of sun rise when you see his faith, his strength, his devotion to his family and friends, and the encouragement he lends to them.

The sun has set, unfortunately, for a young man’s earthly life for whom I prayed diligently for healing, as did many others.  Including his mother, dad (both parents younger than I am), and two younger sisters, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and many friends.  A young man named Jimmy who was diagnosed with a brain tumor probably less than two years ago.  A young man who had gone on to college despite his illness, whose faith was strong.  He was in pre-med.  A young man who was 19 years old.  It looked for a while like he and the Lord would beat the disease, but it wasn’t to be.  He lost his earthly battle this past Friday night and went home to be with his Lord and Savior.  Again, as in the case of my brother………..a sunset here on earth but a glorious burst of beauty rising in heaven.  I’ve grieved with them and prayed for them.  As with sunrises, I know the Lord is surrounding them with comfort, peace, and strength.  And as with sunsets, I feel loss because I am not able to go to Greenfield, Tennessee, to share in the visitation or the funeral.  But I can still pray, and I will………….and the God of all comfort and sunrises will hear.

Just some reflections tonight from my heart to yours.

TODAY’S SMILES:

1. Another beautiful sunny, blue-sky kind of day.
2. It wasn’t cold in the church building today like it was last Sunday!
3. A wink from Ferris.
4. Heart-felt conversation with Cheryl.
5. Two cleaning jobs the first part of the week.
6. The leaves are starting to turn and, in a week or so, it’s gonna be beautiful around here.
7. A clear sky tonight with a lovely half-moon.

See you tomorrow evening. And may God bless and keep you.