Three little verses

Yet another I never published, nearly a year ago…

A few weeks ago, I sat with my dad while my mom went to an appointment. 2 weeks in a row my mother left us alone. Haha. We both napped, the house quiet, the dogs napping. I would doze and then check. Doze. Check. Perfect opportunity UNTIL my dad (who is not ambulatory) decided to get up to change the channel. Let’s just say any thoughts of rest or napping flew out the window. He was safe, my heart rate? Oy.

For me, to fall asleep. , it usually takes a quiet space. Or listening to the Bible or a book. My brain can take a break and rest. I know I’ve written extensively here on my waking in the night or just not sleeping. It’s a battle when the sleeplessness comes from pain or trials weighing me down or loud noises or certain people trying to stand up.

I’m challenged today by a little Psalm that was introduced to me when my kids were little. I remember holding to these verses in the middle of the night when kids would get up, etc. Here it is:

“Lord, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty; Nor do I involve myself in great matters, Or in things too difficult for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; Like a weaned child [resting] with his mother, My soul is like a weaned child within me [composed and freed from discontent]. O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever.”
‭‭Psalm 131 AMP‬‬

In a day with information overload, there are so many experts. People who tell you they know. They understand. Follow them. This Psalm isn’t a free pass to leave your brain at the door, it is encouragement when we have too much, let your body rest on the Lord.

As Paul says in Philippians 2:

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ ‭NASB1995

We are to adopt this mindset in following Jesus. Regard Christ and his sacrifice, and accept (maybe, probably not always like or enjoy) the road we are on. Walk with trust that we are given all that we need IN Christ Jesus. ‬‬

This past weekend I was with my family: Mom, Dad and brother, Tim. Mom and Tim were busy putzing in the kitchen. I was just watching Dad, and he turned to me and asked me what did I think about what we were watching. It was such my dad kind of thing to say from a long time ago and took my breath away.

That may be the cruelest part of dementia for me, the glimpses of the man he was before all of this. One other thing, I took hold of his hand, thin, cold, but he gripped it back. He wouldn’t let go. I cry just thinking about it now.

God didn’t say that our road would be easy. He asked us to trust him. I’ll leave you with this passage that I found today.

“For this very night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood before me, and said, ‘Stop being afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar; and behold, God has given you [the lives of] all those who are sailing with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I believe God and have complete confidence in Him that it will turn out exactly as I have been told; but we must run [the ship] aground on some island.””
‭‭Acts‬ ‭27‬:‭23‬-‭26‬ ‭AMP‬‬

The angel told him to stop being afraid. God knew each step Paul would take and was with him through it all. The same is true of those who love God and follow him. Paul was told to stop. Paul told the men, I believe. I have complete confidence in Him and it still meant there would be scary stuff ahead.

Believe, my friend.

I don’t know the next step with my dad and I try very hard to not think too far ahead. I do know that God is with us through it all.