Underscore

Mornings are my favorite; waking up long before the world does, when the sky is still a black canopy and the birds haven’t yet begun their seranades. The woods are dark and quiet and still when I take Maggie out in the mornings, my breath a frosty cloud around my head. Down the familiar road and back, the starshine our only light.

Coffee and devotional time with my beloved husband is one of the highlights of my day. There we lay our souls bare, pouring out our needs before our Heavenly Father; He knows what we have need of, even before we ask. His provision has always sustained us, and continues to do so, as we move into this new phase of our lives.

I don’t yet have a routine established; each day is an adventure, a gift to be opened and explored. Some days I do inside chores, cleaning cabinets, sorting through my desk, scrubbing baseboards. Other times the blue and green days beckon me outside and I find myself raking, weeding and planting.

Yesterday morning found me at the grocery store by 4:30am. By 6:30 I was home again; groceries had been bought and put away, and the inside chores done. Outside, I finished painting the lattice-work under the deck, a project that had been abandoned last year when I got sick and was hospitalized. The half-painted wood stood as a silent reminder of those dark days, when I wasn’t sure if I would live or not. It was such a good feeling to see this finally completed, and one more way to grind my heel into the head of the enemy. Afterward, I raked leaves and hauled 4 wheelbarrow-loads deep into the woods, before finally moving inside to cook supper.

I sleep well at night, content with who and where I am for now. True, sorting laundry does not require the same level of skill and concentration as calculating chemo doses, and loading the dishwasher doesn’t have the same far-reaching effect of writing prescriptions and assessing for side effects. But I have simply come to another season of my life, different but no less important. God is giving me this season of rest, this season of other work, and I am relishing it.

I have been offered my first job since retirement: a couple from church that are friends with Summer and Tay are expecting their first child next month. They have asked me to be baby Lydia’s nanny when her mommy returns to work, a job I have joyfully accepted. How much fun will that be, watching over a precious newborn a couple of days a week? Another new adventure that I look forward to with anticipation; I count it as good practice for being a grandmother, "someday."

Chuck and I work out at the gym three days a week, and I feel myself becoming stronger and more resiliant. He and I spend more time together these days, we laugh more, we dream and plan more. These are precious times.

Tomorrow night I begin Wednesday night classes for the ladies at church; I covet your prayers over this endeavor. It has been a long time since I have ministered to this many ladies at one time, and while I look forward to it with anticipation, I also realize that it has to come from Him, not me. If He doesn’t show up, I might as well go home. I truly want these classes to touch their hearts and change their lives. Please pray that my words will be His Words, and that He will use me as a willing vessel.

The sun has risen; I can smell the honeysuckle blooming,  and the birds are calling to one another from the depths of the green woods.  He has given us another day, another chance to get things right. I am off to untie the ribbons of this day, and see what gifts lie there. We are one day closer.