Bullets from another day...

• Luke 7:41-50 Simon fails to give Jesus water and a towel to wash his feet. The woman who loves much washes them with her own tears and hair. What do we know because of her great love? We know that she was forgiven much. Like this woman, we too need to know how deep our sin was and how thoroughly He has forgiven and loved us. Our actions would then be borne of love, deep love. We can imitate, follow rules, do the right thing, but if our deeds are not borne of true love, we should repent and ask God to help us, fill us, give us true love.

  "Open our eyes, Lord, to see our great indebtedness. Let us love You and therefore others, according to the great love and mercy shown to us. Amen."

• I love the sun-filled days of mid-January in northern NY. I did not always, but I do now. Someone who moved from the north to more southern climes to escape what was considered to be unpleasant weather recently expressed displeasure with the brown grass currently surrounding her. My assessment? Weather does not have to be a barometer for how good life is. You can allow it to be so, and be miserable for X amount of days each year, or you can delight in the day at hand. Since days are limited, I suggest making the most of each one, irregardless of temps and precipitation.

• That said, I just finished reading Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys. It follows a young Lithuanian girl who was deported to Siberia in 1941. She returned to her home in 1954. She survived 13 years of Siberian winters. Unimaginable. Unbearably unimaginable. Please consider reading this book. If you teach school, use it in a unit study of WWII European history. It is excellent and intriguing. Finding the will to press on in that world of dark whiteness is... unimaginable. Unbearably unimaginable. My imagination often times readily transports me to various situations. When it doesn't, I find myself wishing to experience that thing first hand. This experience I'll skip altogether if possible.
  

• The previously mentioned tree (see last post) will not come down yet again. It is finally starting to dry out. I think I missed my opportunity to remove it sans mess. Oh, well.

• Little Buddy's surgery went well. Thank you all for praying. The doctor chuckled as he relayed to us Merrick's first words after waking: "What time is it? Will I be able to be home in time for youth group tonight?" Indeed, he was home in plenty of time. And the doc said if he's up for it, let him go. So, go, he did. What a boy! Seems like the perfect excuse to stay home and indulge in Wii. Well, he missed that one. ;)
  

• Watched the entirety of last night's debate this morning on youtube with two students looking over my shoulders. I love how closely they follow and comprehend so many of the issues. They make comments and debate and question different positions. Great stuff, I must say. Have I ever mentioned that homeschool ROCKS?

• God's goodness is often on trial. I am grateful for His goodness that is daily on display in the creation all around me, in the life of my son who sits at my table and studies, in the music of my daughter in the front room playing, in the sound of laughter, in the shared tears with my husband. These are all part of His design. We may think His plan is flawed. I say, His world is full of goodness and beauty that I behold each day. I yield to Him. I could not have created this great goodness. So I will trust Him to deal with all my unanswered questions in due time. And by the way, since I am not God, but He is, I think He's at least one up on me anyway. At least one.