One Year

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.

Last year, I had healed from lung surgery, a serious reaction to medication - six days in the hospital, and healed from an infection that had spread to my blood stream. It was a physically draining time. The decision was made for me to move to San Jose, CA and live with my brother and sister-in-law.  After retiring from teaching and renting out my town home, my belongings were given away or packed up again.  In May, I visited San Jose to see my niece graduate from SJSU and check out the bedroom.  June was my last appointment with my oncologist, family in Washington, church family, and friends.

Those verses from Psalm 40 were how I felt when the decision was made to say good-bye to my life of 30+ years.  After two years of battling cancer, God lifted me up, my feet were steadied.  The solid ground was with Kevin and Luann. 

The change was stressful with a lot of grief. To get to the peace and joy, the grief was necessary.  Now, I can say that where I am and have been is a gift from the Lord. 

He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what He has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.

He gave me a new song and now I need to take action:  sing.  Sing praises to God for all that He has done.  Trust, TRUST, TRUST!  Our loving Lord is faithful. He listened, heard, and acted. It is fantastic to look back over the past year and see His faithfulness...step after step.

Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,   
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them. 

 Amen!

You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.

Now that You have made me listen, I finally understand —
    You don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:

for Your instructions are written on my heart.Psalm 40:1 - 8  NLT

I do have a new song because He is so loving and faithful. 
He knows what is best.
When we know Who is in charge,
we have peace no matter what the circumstances.