Yesterday was a good day.

This summer has been filled with tragedy followed by a seemingly never ending line of frustration, disappointment, and failure. It seems like everyday something breaks, dies, or doesn't work as planned. A week or so ago Tim told me that we just have to go with the flow. My response was, "I don't like this flow. It is too fast and rough for me." (Where is my calm lazy river and inner tube?)

It is hard not to feel buried by it all. But what choice do we have but to go with the flow? We can only take each day as it comes. We can only work so many hours in the day, and only get accomplished what those hours allow. We can only relish in the moments when things go right, and remember that a van (or two or three) breaking down, though utterly frustrating in the moment, really doesn't make a lot of difference in the long run or in the big picture. We can only let go of the wants and needs of this world, and feel the peace that is ours in Christ. Easier said than done, but really, do we have a choice? Be buried under the weight of this world, or embrace the life of Christ? Hmmmm let me think about that.....

Besides, not everything has gone wrong. Yesterday, was a good day. The weather was perfect. We ran errands at a leisurely pace, enjoyed lunch in the park, and had a movie night. The kids were helpful and co-operative for the most part, and I thoroughly enjoyed our day together. We didn't do anything special, but it was a good day.

Even when things do go wrong, there are things that are right. Saturday the work truck broke down on my way to get feed. This left me stranded, forty minutes from home, in a very bad spot on a heavily traveled two lane road with the truck and a trailer. Semis and cars were whizzing by me on one side while the vehicles on my side of the road were very impatient to get around me. After about ten minutes of this, a young father with a pickup truck stopped hooked on to my truck and pulled me to a spot where I could get off the road better.  I can't tell you how grateful I am to him for that act of kindness.

There I waited for Tim to come and try to get the truck going again. He tried several things, and finally we had to call a tow truck. Tim and I spent the hour waiting in the shade and chatting. I can't remember the last time we've been able to sit and relax together like that in the middle of the day. I thoroughly enjoyed it in the midst of our messed up day and broken down vehicle.

Life is full of ups and downs. Lately, the downs have been intense. I can't hide from them. I can't run away from them. All I can do is roll with them, enjoy the ups when they come, and allow the truth and life of Christ to reign in me. Yesterday was a good day. Today, so far, has not. I am going with the flow.