And God Sent Rainbows….

Image by Albrecht Fietz @Pixabay

I mentioned in several earlier posts how rainbows have offered encouragement and hope whenever I have a health crisis. They popped up again this last week when I wrenched my hip. Unable to walk without horrendous pain, I called my doctor.

After an exam she concluded it was most likely bursitis. She gave me a steroid injection and sent me for x-rays to be sure there wasn’t anything amiss.

The x-ray showed an anomaly on my hip and she referred me to an orthopedic surgeon. Knowing bone cancer is often secondary to breast cancer, fear took up residence and refused to leave no matter how much I prayed and reminded myself my cancer had not metastasized. I had not needed chemo or radiation treatment, nor any follow up medications. I was in the clear, but the idea took root and wouldn’t go away.

Rainbows appeared on social media and Psalm 27, verses 1-2, 13-14 was listed in my devotions. “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the protector of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord.”

I latched onto the words, in the land of the living, and tried not to worry.

A friend recommended the book, Noah Primeval (Chronicles of the Nephilim Book 1), a fictionalized account of the story of Noah and the flood. References to rainbows once again.

The day of my appointment, Genesis 9:12-13 was listed among my readings. “And God said, this is the sign of the covenant which I give between me and you, and to every living soul that is with you, for perpetual generations. I will set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between me and between the earth.”

Covenant. Promise.

God was reminding me of His promises.

I went to my appointment believing I’d hear good news.

After studying my x-ray and giving me a thorough exam, my surgeon felt my primary doctor was right. It was a strained or pulled muscles which would heal given time.

Still, in the back of my mind, I wondered about the abnormality on the x-ray was. My surgeon didn’t know what is was, but reiterated he wasn’t concerned. I am sure he has enough experience and knowledge to make that decision.

As if all that wasn’t enough, Psalm 23 was in my readings this morning.

I don’t deserve these beautiful signs of encouragement, but I am so very thankful God sends them anyway. But then, His love isn’t conditional.

Thank you, Lord, for your unconditional love and patience. Amen.

Gypsy Blood

My husband must have it somewhere in his lineage. About every two years, like clockwork, he gets restless and begins a search for new places to live. He’s looking again now. We are just settling in. After numerous configurations, we finally found the right one for the living room furniture, and after much trial and error, discovered the perfect organization for the kitchen. We’ve found the best routes to the grocery store and other important places and found good doctors and dentists. 

In the last fifteen years, we’ve moved seven times. We lived in two different homes in my hometown in Oregon before moving to Arizona. We changed cities twice while in that state. Since coming to Idaho, we’ve relocated to three cities, and now he’s looking again. At least this time he doesn’t want to move out of state, just to another city. 

When we bought our current home, he promised we’d live here until the kids carried us out. So much for that promise. The moment I retired, things changed. No longer needing to worry about jobs, he wants to be in a smaller city closer to his favorite hunting spots. But will it be enough to deter his wanderlust? We aren’t getting any younger and the last move almost killed us. 

His answer to my concern, pods. In theory, it sounds easier than a self-driven U-Haul, but there is still the packing, the loading, and the unloading. We know the guys from Two Men and a Truck by their first names. Wonder what comments we’ll get when we call them for the fourth time. 

I have put down parameters. I refuse to move unless the next house is a huge improvement over our current home, and that will be quite the feat. Our home is custom built with many beautiful additions, with a perfect location (except for not being closer to hunting areas). We have great neighbors, a gorgeous walking trail, and we are not far from all the amenities we could ever want. It will be very, very hard to top all that. 

Rather than fretting and worrying about the move, I’ve left it in God’s hands. If He wills it, then so be it. Everything will fall into place. If not, then it won’t happen.

So far, every house my husband has been interested in hasn’t worked out. Either it already had a firm offer when we called the realtor, or something wasn’t right about the location, the property, or the structure. 

On our wedding day, I promised my husband I’d follow him anywhere. Perhaps I should have paid more attention when the lions roared the moment those words left my mouth. Maybe they were warning me to be careful with what I promised…

Love or Duty? (Another Lesson in Relativity)

In my devotions today, Jesus tells his opponents to judge him by his works if they will not believe his words. This follows right on the heels of my lesson on relativity. He asks us to do works with love. This goes further. Don’t criticize. So many wives are under the mistaken idea nagging their spouse will make them change. Psychologists state people thrive in a positive environment not a critical one. 

To my husband’s credit, he rarely criticizes me. If something is important, he will ask me to sit down and talk. Then, in a quiet, respectful tone, he will explain how my inappropriate behavior made him feel. I must add, he puts up with a lot without saying a word. I too often wear my emotions and forget the Do-This-Out-of-Love Commandment.

 It’s that relativity thing again, but this time with the added emphasis of acting out of love rather than a misguided sense of duty. 

While wrestling with the bedding yesterday (washing the mattress cover and comforter), I wasn’t thinking about love. At least I suffered in silence without displaying my feelings. That was a step forward. 

Today, while I do more chores, I plan to do them because I love my husband. He deserves that. He is a remarkable man, intelligent, kind, thoughtful, caring. I do not doubt he loves me. The King of Lies wants me to feel put upon, neglected, and unappreciated. I’m not. 

Last night, my husband helped with the supper dishes without my asking or even hinting.

After we finished, he gave me a hug and whispered, “Thank you, Sweetheart, for all the things you do.”

I remembered what a wise soul stated about marriage. It is each partner taking turns giving a hundred percent. My husband gives his. I need to give mine without complaint. 

I will with your help, Lord.