I used to think that older people sat quietly and still for long periods because they were too feeble or tired to do anything else, and that may well be the case. But, now I am thinking that it also may be because they have hearts and minds that are too full.
The Scripture says that after the birth of Christ when Mary had been visited by the Magi, she "pondered these things in her heart." I am finding that the older one gets the more there is to ponder! It's not easy to think through all the things that life affords.
This week, in about 36 hours time, with great relief we welcomed home a son from war, sat with a daughter in the emergency room awaiting word from the doctor about a threatened miscarriage, saw - with great relief again - the ultrasound image of a healthy, busy baby, and then learned that the greatly-anticipated, greatly-needed employment fell through. Again.
What to think? How to feel?
This I know: the overwhelming goodness of God continues; through good and through bad it continues, and there I can find rest, for His purposes in our lives will be accomplished. This I feel: the exhilaration, the fear, the joy, the discouragement - is all real. It's a lot to ponder!
3 comments:
God is ever faithful if we can only trust Him more completely. It does sound as if you have a lot of things on your mind.
I have often thought of that word ponder. I think sometimes we ponder on the wrong things and that can lead to a heavy heart. If we ponder on what we think of as a wrong or a slight we are doing ourselves harm. If we ponder on the wonder of the newborn baby, an unfolding flower, the beautiful green of spring and our wonderful world God has given us we are doing ourselves good.
But as one of those older persons you speak of, many times we are just sitting because that is what we can do best at the time. But while sitting the mind is not idle, at least mine is usually pondering on something.
I looked up that word. One of its meanings is to weigh, and is from the same root word as pound. I must stop this writing and go ponder some more.
And by the way, God and John will find a way.
I appreciate the emphasis on the word "rest" in the overwhelming goodness of God--in the good times and the bad ... sometimes when the bad seems overwhelming that rest is good to focus on. Thanks for sharing those thoughts.
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