I read this poem for the first time 30 years ago in my obstetricians office. He had a poster on the wall next to the exam table . I guess that’s a good place to put inspirational literature. You can’t do much else but read it as you are sitting on THAT table, naked except for that so lovely paper gown. You’ve been there, too. I somehow managed to end up in the same exam room many more times over the next 10 years. The poster, of a very pregnant woman, standing in a field of flowers with a little girl kissing her tummy, became faded and torn. Eventually, they took it down. By then, I had memorized the poem and learned to appreciate the words and their validity. But, as time passes, and other things crowd our brains, little things like poems fall by the wayside. I could always remember bits of it…but never the complete verse.
Then, last year, on a trip to Atlanta…I happened to stop in at a World Market. Don’t you just love to read some of the crazy cards they have available now? I can pass quite some time reading the clever sayings and looking at the silly pictures. As I was walking away…this card, on the next aisle jumped out at me. It was just a plain white card with the verse on the front. Not flashy or bold…just a quiet testimony to the peace and grace of God. Of all places for me to find MY poem. But there it was, and as I took it down and read it, all the words came right back to me. I bought all they had…as I am the world’s worst scatterbrain. I can put things away in a safe place, and they stay safe allright…cause I forget where they are. And, as I am continuing on my life path, I forget even more things now. But that’s o.k. I think of it as planning little surprises for myself. I’ll be looking for something totally unrelated, and there will pop up the most amazing things. But, back to the card… I know where one of them is because I have it posted on my bathroom mirror, so I see it every morning and night. I know for sure that God placed me in that exam room with that poster for a purpose. Those were words I would need to remember as a young mother raising my 3 boys. And, I’m just as sure God led me to find it again in Atlanta. Isn’t it wonderful how he directs our paths when we let him..I wonder how many blessings I’ve missed…just by not looking or by being too busy. So, here it is. I hope you can find the truth in these lines, as I have.

God has not promised
skies always blue,
flower-strewn pathways
all our lives through;
God has not promised
sun without rain,
joy without sorrow,
peace without pain.

But, God has promised
strength for the day,
rest for the labor,
light for the way,
Grace for the trials,
help from above,
unfailing sympathy’
undying love.

Kristone

According to The International Journal of Environmental Health, these are the top 5 bacteria magnets:
5. Chair armrests in public places
4. Shopping cart handles
3. Public restroom surfaces
2. Bus armrests and rails
1. Playground equipment

Scary , isn’t it? Keep those anti-bacteria wipes and hand sanitizers handy.
FYI: another tip from this article…never put food items in the child seat area of a shopping cart.
This is where the diapers have been! [I’ve done that so many times…but no more.]

Pop had his doctor visit yesterday and he didn’t get the news he wanted. However, it is not at all bad. The doctor was very pleased with his progress. He is healing well, and regaining his strength very nicely. They want to do a colonoscopy in a few weeks to see if everything has healed well, and if so…they will schedule him for surgery to reverse the colostomy. So, a few more weeks of waiting. In the grand scheme of things…this is minor. Pop was a little disappointed, but he knows there is wisdom in waiting. As I told Pop when he told me the news, the night you were in the emergency room and the doctor came in to explain everything to us…we had prayer with the doctor and asked God to give him wisdom to do what was needed and to guide his hands during the surgery. We must trust that God is still answering that prayer, and still guiding the doctor. God IS in control.

Tomorrow, Pop, my dad, goes back to the Doctor. For the past month, he could tell you how many days, hours and seconds it was until the big day. Now, he usually is not so excited to see the doctor…but he has a special reason this time. 6 months ago , Pop had a ruptured colon and came close to leaving this world. The doctors fixed him up, but he was left with a colostomy to deal with. Now,we were all so thankful to God for sparing him…but he was not at all happy with this new addition to his body. We are a very close family, all living in the same town. We have faced some severe health issues both in the past and now, so we were able to accept this and do what was necessary to get him better. As he began to get better, we had to learn to deal with the colostomy and all that goes with it. Not a problem. Mom, myself, and my oldest son, Adam, all went through the training so we would know what to do. However, Adam decided that Pop’s colostomy care was to be HIS responsibility. And so it has been. He has arrived at Pop’s house as needed to help him shower, change all the paraphanelia, and get settled. I must say, this has filled my heart with joy. I’m so proud of him. As are Pop and Mom. Pop was able to begin to do some of the care himself, and now he doesn’t need Adam as much…but Adam is always available on a minutes notice. What sweet memories for a grandfather and grandson. You know, God has a way of sending us little blessings in the midst of suffering and hardships. Well, Pop is 80, and a very active man. He has been a motorcycle rider all his life and still rode up until this surgery. He is raring to go now and get back to his life. So when he goes to the doctor tomorrow, he will find out if he has healed enough for them to reverse the colostomy. This is the true desire of his heart and the rest of the family, as well. He will be so disappointed if the doctor is not ready yet. My prayer is that God will continue the healing process and guide the doctor to make the wisest decision. If that is to do the revearsal…great. But, if it is to wait a little longer…so be it. We’ll deal with that and whatever is to come. I know, and Pop knows, too, that God’s timing is perfect . It has always proven to be so in the lives of this family and will continue to be so. So, let the countdown begin….we’re ready.

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Originally uploaded by Tonja Owens.

“All together now, applause for God! Sing songs to the tune of His glory.
Take a good look at God’s wonders—–they’ll take your breath away”
Psalms 66:1,5