Monday, September 28, 2009

Life Right Now

Family and friends, virtual and real-life, I would so appreciate your prayers right now.

I am in the middle of a situation that has been gradually unfolding, and it has progressively confused and disoriented me. I should find out more, sometime this week, about what is really going on, but until then, I am experiencing anxiety like I have rarely ever had, especially over such a prolonged period. I am blessed to be one of those people without much of a tendency toward depression, but this situation has definitely been "pressing down" on me.

So it's been hard to blog lately. Normally, I use my blog to record what's going on in my life and how I see God working around me, in our family and in our church. Writing helps me process my own feelings about the difficult things, like letting B14 go to school, or my miscarriage 18 months ago. And it is so encouraging when others lend a sympathetic ear and offer up prayers for me in those situations.

But this is something I can't discuss publicly, and it's the big thing going on right now for me. I wish I could write honestly and openly about it. I have written in my private journal, to explore my feelings and to hear God's words in response to my heart-cries. And I have been so grateful for Papa Rooster's love and support.

God is working in me through these hard circumstances, teaching me things about myself and about His nature. The last two sermons I heard at church, from Papa Rooster and from Phil, both really spoke to me about my exact situation. One word for me was that when our pride is wounded, it means Christ is teaching us to be more like Him in his humility. Another was about how when we strive to get what we think we need, with hands clenched on to those things, we are actually unable to receive, openhandedly, the things God is trying to give to us. So I am trying to humbly surrender this situation and hold my hands open and upward toward God. I won't say it's easy, especially when I feel wronged, but I am clinging to Christ and to these guideposts right now. May the Lord's mercy and grace fill me.

I am also grieving for a friend whose mother died last week of cancer.

And I am really bummed to see summer coming to an end. I am not one of those people who love autumn--I find it a depressing time of year in the best of circumstances.

There. Now that I got all that off my chest, maybe I'll feel more freedom to blog about other things without feeling like a pretender! Thanks in advance for your prayers, you who faithfully pray for me. (Mom, Dad and my aunts come to mind, plus friends from churches old and new...I so appreciate you all!)

***

Hey, when I just looked up Phil and Lisa's blog to link to, I discovered pictures of Phil's ordination at Light of Christ two weeks ago! (Duh, I guess!) Papa Rooster and Randy Y, the other deacon we ordained, are in them too.

17 comments:

Linds said...

Prayers on their way Jeanne. Breath and be my friend.

Anonymous said...

Praying for you!!

Jen in Seattle

MomCO3 said...

Oh, Jeanne. I'll pray. May you feel God's arms around you with this broken heart.
Annie

Activities Coordinator said...

Jeanne, prayers, prayers, prayers!

With regards to the subject of Autumn, I agree with George Eliot. "Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

Autumn sows the seeds of spring. Hang in there, and you'll be blooming again in no time. :)

Jennifer Merck said...

Prayers for peace of body, mind, and spirit, Jeanne.

Activities Coordinator said...

Of course, I'm from Louisiana. Autumn is the time of year that you can leave the air conditioning and head outside again! Maybe you need to fly south to truly appreciate autumn.

In any case, prayers!

At A Hen's Pace said...

AC--

We've had such an unseasonably cool summer...and autumns here tend to drive us all inside, not out. Today it's cold, rainy and the winds are blowing at over 30 mph, too!

But I appreciate the part about sowing the seeds of spring. Yes.

Everyone--Thanks so much for your love and prayers!!

~Jeanne

Moyra said...

Will pray. I've been living with difficult situations, and am coming out of them, but know how hard I found it not to blog as openly as I might like. (I've commented once or twice before, but never linked to my blog! Which I have now.)

Islandsparrow said...

Praying for you right now Jeanne.

xo
kathie

Jessica Snell said...

I'm so sorry you're going through such an anxious time right now. May God grant you peace.

Heather said...

Praying for you during this difficult time.

Lisa said...

Glad you found the pictures from the ordination - we got a few good ones ;-)

We are praying for you especially this week, Jeanne - Christ's peace be with you.

Sherry said...

Praying now. May God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ keep you and yours through his grace and mercy.

Anne said...

Many prayers. I know how hard it is to blog when you really go in to all that's going on. I felt that way much of this year--you end up choosing between fluff or not blogging. God bless.

Anonymous said...

praying...

sarah

Nancy B said...

Hey Jeanne--God's got your number and forwarded it to me the other day when he put you on my heart. Will keep you in prayer.

much love,

Nancy B in MA

Amy said...

Jeanne, Just catching up with you - know I am praying too...