Track Shoes Back On

Yes, we've had daily manna, but in the thick of things here I realized I hadn't written for a week.

Times like these take a toll. Pressures are up. Communication is consumed by the things weighing in on minds that are trying to keep all the important things in view and do all the necessary things on a too-big list. Sleep becomes a bit scarce. The daily expectations and obligations don't lessen, though you feel less equipped to respond to them all.

And yet,

we have been the recipients of some lovely gestures that remind us that there is a bigger picture going on than the one whose voice seems to scream the loudest.

An anonymously-sent envelope was delivered to me at school, holding some cash.
Someone took on an opportunity to do a one time little job and gave the money from it to us.
I received a barely used warm winter coat!
I picked up someone for an event we were going to and they handed me gas/"taxi" money.
I was doing a deed to reciprocate for someone's sacrificial generosity to us recently and they then insisted on paying me for my time. (Is it fair when their mother delivers the money, saying she will be "hit" if I don't take it? No, it is not fair, but I suspect it was a line so they could persuade me to take the money. Thank you again for your kindness.)
I sold three more booklets.
Part of some money for something we were trying to buy at a good price (that didn't materialize) was returned, and the rest promised to come this week.

Those were the tangible things.

There were other provisions of encouragement, help, cheering on, job leads, and on and on it goes, daily streams of care that come our way. Honestly, it has been over a month now and with the gray February days it is easy to shift focus and get discouraged. I am grateful for the gestures of care in big and small ways that remind me to keep chin up and eyes focused. Nothing is different today in the promises of God than they were a month ago when this began to unfold. Yes, we get weary; God doesn't. We lose heart; His is full. Our resources can seem thin; His supply is ample. We tend to worry; He is quite confident in what He is doing and in working in our days to a great good.

I am aware that it is harder to see when the clouds are thick, but remember something Jenna said several years ago at about this time of the year. She was looking out our back windows and through the woods beyond. She commented that at this time of year (in the leafless, stark landscape) you can see farther. She's right. In many situations when things are stripped down to seemingly bare nothingness, you can actually see the truth/reality better.

It's perseverance time. Look to the finish line. Track shoes back on. Keep running the race.