chaos (11/7/2024)

This morning I woke as usual before 5 a.m. I got my coffee and headed to the porch for my quiet wake-up time with the LORD. It was beautiful, cool but beautiful. Then I came inside to write the daily scripture reflection. I found real consolation in the assurance that the LORD wants me “found” when I go stray and that He’ll come for me if that happens. I said a quiet prayer that I’d cooperate with His plan. And then just when I was settling back in my office chair after hitting “Post” for my reflection, chaos begin to break out. It started small, but then it escalated quickly. All is well, but I didn’t get my daily blog written. Oh, well, sometimes you’ll have that.

First, my son who arrived for a two-night, three-day visit realized that the coffee pot was getting low. As I was starting a new pot of coffee, my husband got up earlier than usual with an issue on his mind that he needed help in resolving. So, I called a neighbor and made arrangements for his help. After these issues were resolved, I returned to my keyboard and found that the budding ideas that I’d had earlier wilted away. And I sat clueless for a few moments. I’m used to doing my blog with no one around, no one stirring, total quiet, no interruptions. That was not the case today.

My son and my husband turned on the television to check out what was new after the election. Then my son decided it was time to depart, so we helped him retrieve all his stuff from multiple rooms, did a second check for left things, and bade him farewell. Just as the door slammed shut, my husband said, “Let’s sync your phone with the car now.” So, we went out to the garage to try and get my phone synced with my new car. After 15 minutes, we felt we’d succeeded and tried a call to our middle daughter to check to see if it was working. All went well.

I headed back into the house to work on my blog, and just as I closed the garage door, my oldest daughter called with a lot on her mind and our usual 5-minute call lasted 30. I’m grateful for the conversation. As I hung up, I thanked the LORD for family and asked for blessings for my loved ones.

My son gone, my husband gone to “run errands,” I am back at my desk. And as I stretch out my hands to start typing even though there is nothing in my mind to type, my eyes settled on a plaque from my niece on the shelf above my keyboard: “God is watching over you.” And I thought of the gospel for today and the shepherd going for the lost sheep. I laughed out loud. And instantly, I realized that was what I should write about today.

Life takes turns. Surprises happen. We can stray. Or we can get distracted. We need to remember who we are regardless of where we are or what’s happening around us. I am a daughter of the LORD called to love the LORD with all I have and all I am. And I am to live that love through adoration, praise, thanksgiving, and loving others. To an untrained eye, my morning may look like total chaos, but I spent time with my LORD in loving prayer, I strove to meet the needs of others lovingly. Deadlines were missed, but I wouldn’t change a thing.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.