Then I said, “Now for the most important thing”. I looked in the (now empty) bag and said, “Oh no, I forgot the hamburger!! I was so busy getting all the other things ready, I forgot the most important thing and now I am going to be hungry. I then explained to the children that often we get so busy doing all the things come up in our life that we forget the most important thing; and that is our time spent with God.
Over the last couple of years, and especially the last many months, my life has seemed like a forest, thick with trees. The trees have taken on several shapes and names. Some trees have been small and some giant oaks. Diagnosed with late stage cancer, chemo, radiation, surgeries, the sudden unexpected death of my sweet young niece, my youngest son wounded in Afghanistan, surgery for herniated disc. It has sometimes seemed like a walk from one tree to the other, buried deep in a dark forest with no real light to lead me out. I have been so caught up in the busyness of tackling the trees (the day to day tasks to just get through) that I would lose sight of the forest. Oftentimes, I failed to stop, sit, and rest on a fallen tree log and just BE in the presence of God.
This morning as I sit alone with God and write, I have an overwhelming feeling that someone reading this is going through a forest. Walking from tree to tree, trying to make it on their own, unable to see any light. Are you walking through the forest today? Has life seemed filled with one trial after another. Are the trees so thick that you can’t see any light for the forest? Perhaps, you have been so busy just trying to make it through that you have lost sight of the most important thing?
If so, my prayer for you is that you will take a moment before this day is over, to sit and just BE in His presence. Look up. There you will see the light! His Light. And we will once again be able to see the forest!
“Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put your trust in the light while you have it.” (John 12:35-36)
one of the most moving writings I have had the privilege of reading! Our circumstances are different... yet we are ALL the same... yet we ALL NEED God... we need to BE...
ReplyDeleteThank you for your vulnerability and willingness to share YOUR journey.
Love and prayers,
Hope Worley
Hello dear Roxanne !!
ReplyDeleteI accidentally came here today and was so moved by your courage,your thoughts on HIM,your passionate wish and desire for the whole humanity and the crux of this mortal life narrated in the simplest way,..that I was forced to communicate with you.
I, myself being a pathologist,had to walk through a thick dense forest of darkness all around me for the last 3 yrs or so.It's so true that we are often too busy in our lives that we even forget the most vital part of a life-tree i.e.THE ROOTS (HIM)upon which we all are standing upright and being nourished throughout our lives.
Thanks for sharing with us such soulful thoughts.
Regards,
dr.s.s.yadav.
Dear Roxanne: I recently lost my Mother to cancer and you are right about the forest. I was driving on the highway today, kind of talking to myself and asking, "Oh Ma, where are you?" I was missing her terribly and was remembering the dying process and how horrible it was for our whole family. I did form a wish while driving that when my day comes that I leave this earth, the very first face I want to see is my Mother's. I was actually trying to imagine the great place (hopefully) that she might be right now, and trying to put things into perspective about what is real and what is not. I was truly feeling very lost. Just as all these thoughts were rushing through my head all at once, a truck was pulling onto the highway where I was, so I slowed down to let it in front of me. I could not believe what was on the back of the truck facing me in BIG BOLD letters. The name CHRISTenSON! There was my answer! She was with Christ and I am her Son. I truly believe that happened as an answer from the Almighty and my Mom. I didn't feel so lost suddenly because I felt I was just told..."Your Mom is with me"...So now I know I will see her again and I believe she will be the one who greets me when I return home.
ReplyDeleteI admire your courage Roxanne, and I wish you wonderful things. Here I was just working on my own blog, clicked "next blog" and your story is here. Hmmmm...these messages today are very inspirational. Regards, Don Madden.