April 12
Last week was really tough, this week has been better. But some days, I don’t know just how to proceed.
I had our Bradford Pear tree pruned this week, an overdue pruning. This year, it had been full of blossoms, and the leaves filled it out nicely. Last year, several birds built their nests in the tree…guest parked their cars under it at their own risk. It took several hours, a couple of days to clean the leaves…with no Norm to help.
Pruning a Bradford Pear is essential for the health of the tree, and to avoid splitting. But now it just looks barren and dead.
I feel like the tree looks. Walking this road without my chief support and encouragement is a challenge. No one wants to lose a loved one. I know it will take time. I know that my future is in God’s hands. Like the pruned tree will grow new leaves and blossoms, I too will continue to live a life full of good friends and encouragement.
I am thankful for the friends that God has brought my way and the encouragement they provide.
I pray for a heart of gratitude each day that I arise, not looking at what I’ve lost, but looking forward to what God has planned for me day by day.
I rejoice in the God of my salvation, who has a plan for my life that no longer includes Norm.
Where’s the joy? Every day I have hope in the Lord, that He will guide and give me all that I need.
But I will hope continually and will praise you yet more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteous acts, of your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is past my knowledge. With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come; I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come. Your righteousness, O God, reaches the high heavens. You who have done great things, O God, who is like you? You who have made me see many troubles and calamities will revive me again; from the depths of the earth you will bring me up again. You will increase my greatness and comfort me again. I will also praise you with the harp for your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praises to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. Psalm 71:14-23
TRICIA LATHROP 