Regina My daughter just jovially head-banged herself to sleep, you did not misread:) The joy is exuberant in the midst of these walls. It can come off fake, but I honestly am not smart enough to put this all together. We aim to be genuine. God is gracious and God is good. He is the explanation for the good in my life. Every good and perfect gift is from above; coming down from the Father of heavenly lights with who there is no variation or shifting shadow. He is the reason I can still smile when I am awaiting test results, faced with persecution, misunderstood, overwhelmed with a sink that’s never empty … He is the reason I still grow strong in faith (like Abraham) when waiting,when laundry overflows, kids scream for hours or days. He is my Rock…He feeds me with honey & the finest of the wheat. When I survey my life…it always brings me back to the beam of wood, because without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins and there is no abundant life. As it is, despite its troubles or because of them, life is laced with grace. Not just my life, yours too.
I once had a friend say, “I would like my life so much better if you were writing it.” It was her sweet way of saying you’re a glass half-full girl even if someone drops that glass on the floor and brokenness and water go everywhere, I still come out smiling. Annoying or not, that is me to a T. If you’ve stopped by for some belly aching or to wallow in misery, you’re not going to want to stay around here, but if you’ve come for some true joy in the Lord & refreshment from His Word, I am going to offer that up as best I can.
I’m just as acquainted with sorrows as the next person though, familiar with suffering too. I live in the same world you do after all. I’ve learned to consider it joy though, trials of various kinds… because they will either consume you or Christ will consume them with His pervasive, always welcomed presence. That’s why I can smile at the time to come. When you come and visit this blog I don’t want the “smiles” part to drive you away feeling as though you can’t relate or perhaps learn to do that again. The hope is that you will learn to smile through the pain…that’s Gospel grace… That is what Jesus does. Anticipate Him, because He causes a weak wife, mom, daughter, friend to survey her lot in all its beautiful mess and smile. She smiles, not because she knows the end from the beginning, but because she walks with One who does. She is so secure in Him that she scarcely takes her gaze away. Jesus causes her to say on good and bad days “indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” She has come to believe that He is her very great reward. When it’s all stripped away…in her lonely moments…she smiles more still. The Author, she knows, has a penchant for penning spectacular endings for those who go by route of faith in Christ.
We each must go our own way, but if you’re looking for a walking buddy, at least for this season maybe we can walk together. As for the saints in the earth, they are my beloved ones in whom is all my delight. Thank you for stopping by & reading. My prayer for each one is that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened so that you may know the hope to which you have been called. That this may be true in your life, the path of the righteous is like the dawn shining brighter & brighter until the full light of day. Hopefully your time at Smiles of Grace will make your day get a little brighter.
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