Clinging to Gratitude

One last post from this place...

One last Friday I sit in this chair to post my thoughts of the week.
I'll be giving up this particular vantage point of window and willow very soon. It feels like we are giving up a lot lately in the selling of this home.
But it is time. The kids are grown. And we have grown too, older. It's too much to keep up with. Still, it has been such a paradise to me...

I sat out on the back step yesterday to gobble my quick lunch of leftovers. But I stayed a bit longer. The sun was shining in that delectable way it does in the springtime... So I sat a while to count the robins, to savor the moment. I can pack away my other treasures in boxes. This I must leave. So I took a snapshot in words:

A frog 'RIB--B-I-T's in the distance

Twenty robins worm the lawn

Singing

          Scent of fresh mown grass

Dandelion song

Birds delirious with delight that spring has come,

transients come home to cheer my farewell.

A raven circles calling greeting from far above...

How is it that we were given this?

So much

So rich

Tears of loss mingle with welling gratitude

Thank-you Lord

for pastures green

and ways yet untraversed

where you will yet my Shepherd be.

I will fear no evil. You are with me.

Surely goodness and mercy

will yet be mine

         for You are good

                               and merciful

And I am

Yours.

=============

I have found gratitude to be a great solace, and a safety net too. When sadness at all that I must leave here threatens to edge out the hope of what's to come, gratitude saves the day. I can dwell on all that I am giving up or I can remember with gratitude all I have been given for these nearly twelve years. To be honest, I fluctuate lately between the two.

But it is in the being grateful that hope is born. I recall God's lovingkindness in so many particulars. And in this remembering I am reassured that though I may be leaving this custom-fit place, He goes before to fit another and will not cease to meet the needs of my heart. Wherever we may wander...He is my Rock, and in His purposes hope springs eternal!    It give me hope for all the good that is to come. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life…..

One day this week I was packing to the music of GLAD.  The CD happened to be on ‘repeat’.  Over and over came this reminder that I have a High Priest whose name is Love who ever lives and pleads for me.  It was just what I needed.   May it bless you today as well!

Before the throne of God above—Glad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soICOzv3CUc

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

Charitie L. Bancroft, 1863.

--LS

Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the LORD.  To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you.  Phil.3:1

Rejoice in the LORD always, again I will say, Rejoice!  Phil.4:4