Even If I Don’t Survive

Friday and Saturday were glorious this past week. The sun was bright, yet the air had a cool bite to it in the early hours. Lew and I celebrated our anniversary by peddling different rail trails in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Not only celebrate the day but to look back over the years of our marriage to see remember how we’d been blessed.
And blessings surrounded our lives.
Meeting on-line and living so far apart—while it seemed a challenge—had been a great blessing. We used the time to get to know each other slowly, with purpose in mind. Many times we’d tell friends, “If we wanted to take someone to dinner and a movie, we’d stay closer to home. Instead, we want to see what God has in store for us.”
Combining two families has been a blessing. Lew and I had grown children when we met, and where very cautious in projecting Norman Rockwell expectations on either camp. I’ve come to love and appreciate Lew’s kids and he has mine.
Lew and I were blessed to pull together through difficult times. My brain tumor surgery and recovery. His patience and selflessness during those first few months after surgery was truly God-inspired. I will never forget his gentleness. And when he experienced losing his job because of his company downsizing, we knew we had to cling to each other with one hand and reach out to God with the other.
We have survived different trials of life. Some huge while others only bumps along the way. But we still stand. It isn’t because of our great love for each other or our selflessness, it’s because of our willingness to accept God’s perfect love and plan for our lives.
While preparing for brain surgery, I rediscovered the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (Daniel 3). The story is powerful in its entirety, but my point comes from verses 16-18. While all translations tell the same story, I like the simplicity from The Message:
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar [when he told them to bow to him], ‘Your threats means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up.’”

“It doesn’t make a difference what challenges come to you or me. Our God is worthy to be praised.” Can you thin of anything more powerful?
Enjoy your day today. Open your heart to the love God has waiting for you.