“Happy Tuesday!”

I didn’t really mean to take a blogging break.

It started because it was Passover and Easter and I had an couple of essays to complete and submit.

Then my job at the cafe was extended and I found myself making sandwiches at church rather than editing essays at home. I was driving home from work one day and a car went into the back of my (father’s) car. The bath sprung a leak and the water started dripping through the kitchen ceiling.

I blamed the accident for my aches and pains and it was a couple of days before I realised that I’d got flu. Ten (long) days later I was still ill. And now (is it three weeks later?) I’m blogging again.

Anyway … how are you these days?

The day of the accident wasn’t what I’d call the best day of my life. The weather was gorgeous, with blue skies and bright sun, a taste of spring at the end of “a long, cold, lonely winter” that felt as if it was going to go on and on and on forever. I was a bit cross about having to go to work nonetheless.

One moment I was driving homewards. I was slowing to turn, but I had to stop a bit quicker than I expected, then there was a squealing of breaks and a crash as the car behind went into my back bumper, quicker than it takes to remember or write.

The Lord was really merciful. That’s easy to say, but I mean it, He was merciful. What a friend calls His “fingerprints of mercy” were all over the incident.

Everyone was fine. I was fine and so was my car. The other car? Not so much. But the driver was fine. Local business people ran out with steady hands and voices and hot mugs of milky, sugary tea. There was an accident and emergency doctor there and he checked everyone over.

It was that evening that my bath water started dripping through the kitchen ceiling and I didn’t get the nice, relaxing bath I’d planned.

And that would explain why my family was dancing around saying, “Happy Tuesday! Count it all joy! Happy Tuesday!”

I laughed.

What else could I do?

Would you care to share a story from the last three weeks of your life?

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

(James 1:2-3)

the story of Hannah is too good not to tell

A woman stands praying and weeping in the presence of God.

Her name is Hannah. She has a husband, but no children. Her husband’s other wife has children and mocks Hannah for her childlessness, for her barrenness. And Hannah, overwhelmed by longing for her own child and grief over her empty womb, seeks the presence of God.

She bargains and begs for her own child:

“O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life …”  (1 Samuel 1:11 NASB)

And God says, “Yes.” (Read the rest at Kindred Grace …)

some unnumbered blessings from today

Today …

* I almost finished writing an essay. It’s one of my last three essays. I’m so excited to be nearly there … although a little bit nostalgic, already, for the moments of studying and writing with just me and my laptop.

* I got to cuddle a friend’s newborn baby for just a moment. The baby was so tiny and so perfect. He was (is!) a living miracle.

* I drove home with the car windows open. It’s been “a long, cold, lonely winter”, but I think spring is here, finally. Yes, truly, “here comes the sun”. Today it’s easy to hope that there are some dreams come true around the corner.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.”

Psalm 103:1

Would you care to share some of your unnumbered blessings too?