Tidings of comfort and joy

Comfort Image by Edvard Munch from the blog Canvas.

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

I know it's too early for Christmas songs for some, but the words of "God rest ye merry gentlemen" speak to the circumstances of this last week and particularly, this last weekend.

Comfort/Joy:
Earlier this week, we adopted a 2-year-old cattle dog/beagle dog from our local humane society. Her name is Aggie. I know it may be hard for some to understand the grief that is a part of loosing a pet, but for the last year my family was in the process of grieving over the loss of our family dog who passed away last August. It was so hard to feel the space that was left when she died. The house felt empty afterward, but day by day we learned how to get along. It took a little over a year for all of us to be ready to try again, but I'm glad that we waited for the time we were all ready. It's better that way. So on Tuesday, there was comfort in our home. There was joy. The space that was left by our loss a year ago, was not replaced, but filled with a new presence by the personality of Aggie. So, it is a new start for us on the pet frontier. It's sure to be a fun challenge.



Family:
On Saturday, we helped to close the pool at my mother-in-laws house. It was chilly and the bugs were out, but in all the work it was comforting to have the family together. This job requires many hands to accomplish. Plumbing has to be disassembled, a giant 'pillow' has to be placed in the center of the pool, the steps have to be removed, the cover has to be placed and then tied and shrink wrapped in place to keep the winter elements out. I had the distinct pleasure of jumping into the very chilly water remaining in the pool and helping to lift the steps out. The water was so cold I had to concentrate to breathe and lift myself out of the pool minus the steps.

It was hard work, but in the end we had a great day outside. Aggie even came along for the day and enjoyed meeting the family and being outdoors most of the day. Later, we ate together and then sat chatting together in the living room. My mother-in-law kept laughing at me because I jumped into the pool minus my jeans. She's say, "Nice green underwear you have there." Funny, but these are the things family memories are made of.

Challenge/Hope
Sunday was a busy work day for me. I was involved in helping with two worship services, Sunday school opening and teaching the Sr. High Sunday school class. The morning was not what I had expected, and there were some very difficult moments, but later as I had the privilege of singing the Liturgy..."In peace let us sing to the Lord, Lord have mercy"...I felt grounded - comforted - as I sang the Kyrie.
There were people too, that hugged and supported me all morning.
Your care helped me make the best of things. Thank you.

Later, I helped with the 5th grader's communion retreat where they learned about the history of communion, why Christian's take communion and even had a tasting so the students would be prepared when they take their first official communion in the next few weeks. There was a student at the retreat who also attends the fellowship I help with at the local middle school. All afternoon, he smiled and talked with me.

"Mrs. E what are we doing next?"
"Mrs. E can I use your phone to call my Dad?"
"Thank you Mrs. E for being here."

Somehow, in his words and conversation I knew it was important to him that I was there that afternoon. And knowing that fact, made the day a little better.

There are days that will be bad, terrible in fact. You will experience things, you never imagined possible. Not even in you nightmares. But would we know the value of comfort and joy if we did not know the darker feelings as well? Tears need to be cried at times, but eventually the crying does stop.

Bread:
You get a new dog.
You receive hugs when you need them the most.
You sing and the sound that you make blesses others.
You offer communion to EVERYONE. You don't hold back.
Your spouse listens to the whole story with an open heart.
A student makes sure you know your made a difference.
You receive an email inviting you to help with something you've always wanted to be a part of.
A friend sends a scripture that nails how you're feeling and tells you to keep on keeping on.
An acquaintance tells you the work your doing makes a difference - and to not give up.

For all the anxiety there is in the world, there is a message of comfort and joy, even on the hard days. Suffering lasts for a time, but it does have an end. Then we can have a new beginning. That beginning can start now.
So rest with the bread of knowing a new start will come, a new way will show itself, maybe not today, but someday soon. The start will come. Till then, comfort.




1 Peter 4:7-10
Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you.