I’ve been hearing that a lot lately, haven’t you? I’m sort of getting tired of hearing it too, aren’t you? I can’t help but wonder why that is, and why we are accepting it too. People no longer know what is happening in this world anymore. They can’t explain it. They don’t know how to plan out their future anymore. Another thing I don’t really want to hear is, “They don’t make things like they used to,” or, “That’s just the way things are.”
What I want to know is what this all means. Do we have to accept it? What can we do to change it? I don’t know about you, but I’m a widow who has widow brain. I lost most of my certainties when my spouse passed, and I am still on the journey to rebuild them. When I moved to New Braunfels, it seemed so right at the time. I found what I was looking for in a home, found a neat part-time job at a little wine and cheese shop, and later bought a nice clothing boutique. I formed beautiful friendships through the church and, of course, found a purpose with Beauty from Ashes. Even the traffic was easy to maneuver, and HEB was right up the road. The best part was that there was a Starbucks nearby. Sounds pretty good, right?
One day, and I’m not sure when, it all started to take a downward turn. I must admit, COVID made a big impact on so much of our lives, and we never seemed to recover from that. The traffic picked up, business slowed down, and rent went up. HOAs went from $450.00 to $600.00. Repairs need to be done on what they — whoever “they” are — call the Diamond in the Rough. Now you can’t even go downtown to “just” look around the shops or visit the coffee shop without having to pay for parking. Give me a break. What is this world coming to???
So, where am I going with all this? Other than just complaining! Thank God this place is not our HOME. We are just passing through to a wonderful place where everything is CERTAIN. We are loved, and the best is yet to come. For that I am certain! My first reaction wasn’t a pretty one. I wanted to cry. I wanted to lash out. I even thought, “Italy is looking pretty good right about now.” It doesn’t sound too rational, but my HOPE was going up in smoke. Then it hit me: HE is in control of all. I need to put this in HIS hands. My hope should be in HIM and HIM alone. I need to pray that HIS will be done, not the will of the world. I have to be certain in my faith and hope in Christ because…
Philippians 3:20 — “But our citizenship is in Heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Your Friend,
Paula
