Be careful when you try to plan out how something will go. It will probably not happen that way.
Sorry for my absence the past many days – I have literally been sick with a “bronchial infection” for the majority of the time Cliff has been gone. There went my plans to work out almost every day, to get a ton done and be Ms. UltraProductive.
Isn’t that the way it is when the husband leaves? Something breaks down or you break down? 
But this AT has been different than the others. I’m not sure if it’s because Cliff was gone for 10 months last year so two weeks really feels like two days, or if it’s because I’ve been sick, but I have not been as stressed about him not being here. I get to talk to him daily by phone and we’ve been able to continue our nightly prayer time together which has been really great.
I think the biggest change between this AT and others has been that I’ve been consistently reading my Bible and praying on a daily basis and I know that is what’s given me more strength and peace. Even being sick, I’ve kept going, kept Caleb going and I’ve kept the house relatively going. I even mowed the yard without stressing or freaking out about it, just “got ‘er done!” to quote a redneck comedian.
The biggest change has been sleeping. This is the first time that I haven’t stayed up till all hours. I go to sleep at 10 and wake up at 5 and that has been a great feeling. I do think sleep plays a big part with our emotional well being and I’ve talked with a lot of women who struggle with sleep. But thanks to some good advice on either this blog or Wives of Faith’s blog from other wives, I made sure to keep the tv off and read a little before turning out the lights and it has really helped.
I am still making my way through my first full read-thru of the Bible (started in Genesis in November of last year) and I just finished Lamentations up this morning. I wasn’t sure there was much to glean from the book, honestly, until I got to the third chapter. Let me share a few verses from the Message version:
“I remember it all – oh, how well I remember – the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there’s on e other thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope.
God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over) He’s all I’ve got left.
God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits, to the woman who diligently seeks. It’s a good thing to quietly hope, quietly hope for help from God…
When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst.
“Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return…. “
- Lamentations 3:2o-31
We always have hope in God no matter what we’re facing today. Just something to remember.
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I really love Jeremiah and Lamentations. Jeremiah is just so raw and honest. I often wonder if he wrote Lamentations while he was in the pit. How often we feel like we are in pits and to know that God is always there with us.
I like the line “When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself.” So often when just try to charge through the hard things but what great advise to stop, be silent, pray and wait. God does make things so much easier when we give things up to him.