I rise before dawn and cry for help; I wait for Your words.
My eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word.
Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness;
Revive me, O Lord, according your Your ordinances.
Psalm 119: 147-149 (NASB)

My husband and I were told that we were a bit overweight, and I sheepishly smirked. I wasn’t surprised. We had packed a family of four snowmen in our suitcase, along with a bag of sea shells and my favorite grapefruit butter. Our return trip home often generates a dilemma. What do we need to dump out?  This flight it was dried fruit and nuts and a beach towel and suntan lotion we wouldn’t need for a year.

I recalled how my grandson had awakened from a nap the previous week, and when I’d asked him about his sly grin, he’d replied, “Mima, I dreamed you were a cow.” I laughed because I hadn’t worked out in months, and I felt slow and cumbersome. Curious of the spin on his thoughts, I asked him about the color, and he didn’t miss a beat as he said, “Black and white.” From the mouth of a small child to a few airline workers came a reminder to unload the needless baggage and to chew on Truth.

While my grandson and I would imitate the sounds of the animals in the books we read, he didn’t know that I’d just contemplated that the meditation of God’s Word is much like a cow that chews his cud. The cow grinds the hay down and swallows, and then regurgitates and chews it again. The healthiest cows usually lie down and chew on their cud for hours at a time. Rest and relaxation is essential!

So, maybe it was okay to embrace my need to slow down and meditate on God’s timely Word and heal. I’d become discontented and disheartened during the past few months. I was hungry for intimacy with God, but He was silent and appeared distant and unmoved. I’d waited in expectation for I’d learned to trust Him. And through the sleepless nights and early morning prayers and reflections, God proved His faithfulness. He had been with me all the while.

A thankful heart is tethered to the Father.  I stood unshaken against the contrary wind and boarded the plane a little lighter. And that alone was a small miracle since I used to step up with sweat-clenched hands. I’d be hungry for my tossed snack later, but God produces fruit that endures- love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It is His timely work. With humility I bow to whatever God sets before me. He will lead me and fulfill His promises.

Consider what God is calling you to let go of and meditate on His life-preserving Truth. He is sufficient. He is the creator of the heavenly places, and there is beauty and rest and strength in His Holy presence.

Trusting in God and His intentions,

Lily Mae

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Galatians 5:22-23NKJV