Faith creates hope. Hope begets charity. And charity somehow convinces us that faith is worth having. That is a precious cycle. Lately hope has been a real struggle for me. I have prayed and asked for so many things. Things that, to me, have seemed like no-brainer-will-of-God sort of things. For my husband to pick up more clients so we could move back to Virginia. . . for me to get a teaching job so we could move back to Virginia. . . for my husband's headaches to stop. . . for my husband to get a job here so we could be together . . . for strength, patience, charity. . . and hope.
And nothing.
Well, the last one I feel like comes through once in awhile. But if I don't feel it, that is my fault, not His. So, my question is, why do we keep praying when we fully recognize that only the best thing is going to happen anyway and apparently we have zip idea of knowing what that best thing is? I think the reason we keep praying is because when we pray--we hope. We are saying to God "I'm telling you what I'd like not because I'm demanding it or even because I claim to know it is exactly what we need, but this is my little way of saying that I still believe." Sure I'm crying while I'm saying it, but I do, I do still believe. I'm not sure why, but I do. So, I don't know what to pray for or ask for, but I am realizing that I can hope even if I don't have a plan. Hope can give me a steady optimism to keep asking and keep trusting and keep trying to become someone who believes when life seems utterly unbelievable.
I've never been so strained. Being a new teacher, teaching a subject I've never taught and feel like I barely grasp, handling a sprained back, kids throwing up and coming up with plans for a substitute teacher when I barely know how to make them for myself has left me completely worn out and at times. . . hopeless.
Then I Step Back.
Then I count my teeth and move my body and realize that I am lucky to be alive. I look at my children and remember that even if someone else is reading them books, at the end of the day I am still their mother. And I think of a husband that is hopeful, supportive, and trying so hard to get us back together as a family again.
I don't know who all reads this blog, but might I ask for your prayers? Daman has a job interview next Wednesday. We feel great about his chances, but the many slammed doors of the last year has left me skittish and bruised, and I feel awfully nervous. This could mean being back together as a family. This could mean having our own place to live and a bed that isn't half empty anymore. This could mean alot. I am completely comfortable with the phrase "If it be thy will" and I do not pray to change God's will. But I don't see the harm in asking Him for something that perhaps He is completely okay with giving us. So, if you could keep us in your prayers, I'd be grateful. It could be a very good day. Come what may. I have hope, and I believe that is a gift that God will always give us.
Have a hopeful day.
<3.
ReplyDeleteEres maravilloso y admiro su coraje. No me puedo imaginar lo difícil que debe ser separado de su querido esposo durante tanto tiempo. Estoy orando para que su familia se reunirá de nuevo muy pronto (en Virginia con suerte).
ReplyDeletePor cierto, este español es cortesía del traductor Google. :)
I apologize profusely if anything translated strangely or offensively. Miss you guys!
ReplyDeleteReading this post leaves me with happy and sad tears. Happy tears for the hope. And for feeling like someone else knows that feeling of wanting a good thing so desperately and not really knowing why that good thing is being withheld, but praying and hoping in spite of it all. And sad tears, because I hate to see you and your family struggle. BUT, I will keep you in my prayers. And at least we always have that assurance, that eventually, things work out. Hopefully it is sooner rather than later!
ReplyDeleteI will be praying for you.
ReplyDeleteI had a thought, when you don't know what to ask for, ask for courage.
(Hugs)
Thanks for writing. Once again you tend to articulate things that are in my heart as well in terms of the struggle and the hope and the wanting to be with those you love.