Sometime last week Joshua and I (Bethany) were working through a chapter in Science, we are slowly plugging away at finishing up school. This day there was an experiment/activity, the chapter has been on erosion and we were to gather about a cup of sand and about a cup of potting soil. We gathered those things as well as the other needed items. We set up a long pan fitted with three rows of foil. We were to put a portion of straight sand in one, a mix of sand and soil in the middle one, and straight soil in the last. Then he was to gently pour a certain amount of water into each pile, while the pan was propped at an angle. The purpose was to observe the erosion in each section. What do you supposed happened to each section? Do you remember the children’s song about building your house on the sand vs the rock? We were right away taken back by how easily the sand just slide away with the water, the mix of the two withstood a bit better, but then the straight soil stood up better. The particles within the soil made it hold up to the water better. Imagine that?
A few days later I was running, and this song came on - A firm Foundation by Nashville Life Music - came on. “I will not be moved, for my feet are planted in You,” “Holding me steady, if it floods I’m going to be ready. I’m sealed in You.” “A firm foundation, my God you are.” Those are just some of the lines, please forgive me if I copied them incorrectly, listen to the link! As I listened, my heart just agreed with those words so much. I thought back to the children’s song, based on scripture, and the science experiment, based on fact and evidence. I was struck with how thankful I am that God, in His kindness, gave us frail and feeble humans practical applications to help things sink in better. Visual evidence as backing for the importance of setting our hearts on truth. Truth that if our lives don’t have some kind of grit and stone, some hardship, we are easily washed away. Trouble actually brings strength.
Then came Friday night, when this random (to us) fever popped up in Joshua. Observation told us we needed to act on it. Experience from the docs said, bring him in. Tests….still show no reason for it! Plans are always changing, chaos is all around us, but we are steadily trusting in our Firm Foundation, our Solid Rock. At some point over the weekend a friend said she was praying for us, that I must be so anxious. I could honestly tell her, that because of so much prayer going up around us, my heart was settled. My mind sometimes tries to jump out of line, but then graciously the Lord will send a verse from someone else or from the Holy Spirit directly to bring comfort. We don’t know His plan. We don’t have to. Isn’t that what I tell my boys all the time? I must chose to believe it myself!
Thank you to so many who have continued to faithfully pray for all of us. I love the way the Lord directs his children in different ways. I know of at least one, probably more, who are specifically lifting up Caleb’s heart and mind through this. Thank you! This morning, after a stormy (literally…two hours long) night, I went in as Caleb was waking up. He had been upstairs in the night because of the storm, but thankfully settled back into his bed when it was over. His first words to me were, Mom who’s home? After breakfast we were talking about something altogether different and he asked where something took place. I reminded him that the thing he was thinking about happened when we were in PA in the Fall. He said, was that before my Brother got sick? Yes, dear when life was more “normal.” Then he said, that’s when you were happy Mama. Oh my heart sank, just that he even has those thoughts! But by God’s grace we talked about it being ok to sometimes be sad. After not getting out of the hospital Monday night as thought, Alex picked up Chinese food for he and Joshua for dinner (a comfort food to us all!). Alex’s fortune said something about not rushing through life, but sitting and enjoying it. So.Many.Lessons!!!!
