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November 21 My Melody, My ComforterWhen life’s trials drags me under, To the depths of all despair, A sweet Melody soothes my soul, Like a warm summer breeze. When the world is full of turmoil, When all seems to go wrong, A Melody falls on my ear, To quiet my aching heart. When I feel like a failure, Alone and trapped in dread, My spirit swells with joy, As the Melody passes by. When I’ve been hurt by a loved one, Betrayed and left to cry, I feel the hug of peaceful arms, The Melody dries my eyes. When all I see is fighting, When hate rings loud in the streets, A Melody shelters my heart, And fright is unknown to me. When my friends go before me, And I’m left with only memories, I am tenderly comforted, As a Melody calms my mind. When the trumpet of the Lord sounds, The earth trembling in fear, I will hear that gentle Melody, My essence wrapped in hope. When I see the earth fall away, And the world is dead and dark, A Melody will bring light to me, To bring forever bliss. When everyone around me questions, This peace that I have found, I share with them my Melody, And speak His wonderful name. November 01 From Chalk to SmilesI stared out of the window to see my daughter scribbling with her chalk on the sidewalk. Lydia had created sunshines, flowers, and some shapes that I thought were smiley faces. I was glad that her drawings reflected happiness - at least she had settled in well. But me? I sighed and continued to dry the dishes, putting them away one by one in the cupboards. No, if I were the one drawing outside, my pictures might reflect something less than happy. I’d come to the country in search of a new life. I had wanted to forget the past - the things that still stalked me in my dreams. I had just wanted to start fresh. But things had been harder than expected. So much for the romantic ideas of a secluded cottage in the countryside, accented by a white picket fence and smelling of fresh flowers. It had been more like a brick prison in the middle of nowhere, overgrown with weeds and smelling of rotten radishes - or something like that. A month later, my hands were blistered, my face was sunburned, my back felt as if it would never straighten out again, and the place hadn’t seemed to change a bit. “Lord,” I thought, “Why did You put me here anyway? Why haven’t things turned around like they were supposed to?” Before I could reflect more, a low rumble of thunder broke into my thoughts. I quickly glanced back outside as a large raindrop splattered into the window. The sun was gone, replaced by menacing clouds. “Lydia!” I called to my daughter as I rushed outside. “Come on, Sweety. It’s starting to storm.” “But Mommy, my -” I grabbed Lydia’s hand to pull her into the house. “I don’t want you getting soaked,” I chided. Lydia managed to drag her bucket of chalk along, and as soon as I’d closed the door behind us, the clouds broke loose. Rain pelted the ground in sheets, filling the sidewalk cracks and shooting out of the drain spout. Lydia and I watched out of the kitchen window, as her beautiful drawings were transformed into rivers of color that ran into the grass. Forgotten chalk sticks became mounds of mush, dissolving before our eyes. Lydia’s bottom lip trembled a little as she watched her hours of work being washed away. “I’m sorry, Honey.” I gave her a gentle squeeze. “You can always draw more pictures when it’s dry.” Lydia only nodded and exited the room to find something else to occupy her mind. Not five minutes later, the rain abruptly stopped. As if it had never started at all, the sun came out again, making the moist air warm and fresh. Lydia’s pictures had been destroyed and my housework interrupted just for that? I was finishing up the dishes and returning to my dismal thoughts of life when I heard Lydia shriek from the living room. “Mommy! Look!” I rushed into the adjoining room, confused at my daughter’s excited tone. “What? What is it?” “Look!” Lydia pointed out the window. “I found my chalk. God just wanted to play with it too!” Not knowing what to expect, I followed her pointing finger to see the most vibrant rainbow I’d ever seen. Backdropped by the dark clouds that had already passed by, the colors shone bright and clear from one end of the arc to the other. I was so captivated by the scene that it took me a moment to realize the depth of my daughter’s perception. Instead of dwelling on the fact that her artwork was gone forever, she had taken the time to look around her, see the beauty, and find the good within the situation. If my six-year-old could do that, why on earth couldn’t I? Lydia scrambled to head back outdoors, but I stayed at the window. I noticed the rolling hills, the gentle breeze, and the peace of the countryside. All at once, I knew that not only had the rainbow been meant for Lydia, but for me as well. “I’m sorry, Lord,” I silently prayed. “I know You’re here through it all and that You’ve got a plan for me. Thank You for sending this rainbow to remind me that things aren’t all bad.” Lydia had received a rainbow to let her know that things were okay despite the loss of her chalk. I had received a rainbow to let me know that things were going to be okay despite a rough start. There was good to be found here. I could depend on the Lord to see me through. |
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