When things keep going wrong repeatedly it is easy to lose heart and become weary. I am not perfect but have always held on to two verses from the psalm that I consider my life psalm.

“I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the LORD” Psalm 27:13-14/NKJV

The last couple of months have been insane. First, I was having difficulty setting up the blog and, well, that is a story for another time. Secondly, my son was having severe stomach pain. We ran back and forth to the doctors and other specialists to find that the pain could be his GI system, or the unexpected news that J has kidney disease and that his one working kidney is only functioning at 35%. Next? We both came down with COVID. Mine was a light case, except it really zapped my energy…still. J had a more severe case. After so many other things that have happened since we returned to the U.S. in October of 2018, it would have been very easy to hibernate…shut down…give up…and worst of all, believe that God did not care about us.

I read a quote from Joni Eareckson Tada. A mentor had said to her right after her accident that left her a quadriplegic, “God permits what He hates, to accomplish what He loves.” That sounds like a harsh statement, but after I thought about all the tragic things that have happened in my life, I have been blessed to see those painful circumstances make me the person I am today. I have been able to help others through their trauma because of my experiences. In the process, God has been glorified because He has either rescued me or changed my character through the circumstance.

I became determined to find the good things in every day. Some days we have to look a little deeper!

Some blessings come from an unexpected place. Someone that you don’t even know says something or does something. Those are the best, because you know the stranger was sent by God! Example: The other week I took J to Target. It takes a little creative planning to keep his hands on the cart and get across the parking lot. I am always keeping an eye on him, the cart, where the car is, and checking out my surroundings for safety and to make sure moving cars are stopping for us. It’s sad that these days we have to know our surroundings for safety. Because of J’s disability and I am alone, we would be considered an easy prey.

So on this day as I finally got J to the car, helped in the back seat, and got his seat belt on before putting the groceries in the car, a couple walked by us.

The man said, “You are doing a great job maam!”

“Thank you. He is a blessing to me! I replied.

My eyes welled up with tears. God knew I was weary and needed that little nudge.

Other times, a neighbor has helped me with something, or I have been outside in the swing being refreshed and enjoying the beauty that surrounded me.

I encourage you. Buy a little notebook at the dollar store. At the end of the day take a few moments to think about the day. I know you will find something beautiful. You must keep your eyes and ears open though! You also must write it down because when you are having a bad day you can look back on the previous days.