Life can change in the blink of an eye. People leave, hearts break, but time goes on. And we learn.  We learn from life altering circumstances that change who we are. Circumstances that not only rearrange our lives, but also our hearts and the way we view life as a whole.

We see things from a different perspective. I now live where my Grandparents lived, and my parents after them. A place I played and washed my toy dishes and picked dandelions and daisies. It’s where I picked apples and strawberries and ran from bumble bees. It’s where I learned to tie a string on a June bug’s leg and let it fly as I guided him. It’s where I learned to ride a horse and fill my bucket with water from the well box, and wash clothes with a scrub board. We went barefoot, and ate salted watermelon on the front porch. This old farm was heaven to me, or what heaven would be like one day.

I first learned about Jesus right here one lazy summer afternoon as I sat eating strawberries and cream on the steps of the old wash-house. Grandma sang “The Old Rugged Cross”,  while her hands kept near perfect rhythm as she washed clothes on a wooden scrub board.  I asked her about the old rugged cross and who the man was she spoke of.  She shared with me her Jesus and that day He became mine too as she taught me how to ask Him into my heart.  She taught me to pray and we would sing old hymns at the end of the day under the shade of an old oak tree. The old wash-house is weathered and worn, but it holds precious memories for me.

Back in those days,  I saw this old farm through the eyes of an innocent child, beautiful with never ending days, forever carefree. Now, I see it through the eyes of my Grandparent’s. It’s still beautiful, there’s never enough time in the never-ending days. Did I say forever carefree, well these days I cast my cares on Jesus.

This has been a hard year for my family. But I have learned a lot.

I’ve learned what the “peace that passes all understanding” means in the Bible. One of my favorite scriptures.

I’ve learned by watching the sinking sun, that it casts light completely opposite of itself, on the darkest part of the sky, coloring the clouds with it’s hue. Jesus does this for us too.  In our darkest hour, His light is guiding us, encouraging us. Giving us hope for the days to come.

I’ve learned that prayer is the most important part of my day, and to rise while it is yet night as Proverbs teaches me to. I’m far from the Proverbs 31 woman, but she has some amazing qualities.

I’ve learned to love deeply and accept loss, because it’s all a part of living.

We don’t have to go through any of it alone, because Jesus is always with us. Is He always on the throne? Yes. But He don’t just sit there.  He was the one who walked through the raging waters with us, how do you think we made it to the other side? It was Jesus after all, the whole time, It was Jesus.

Isaiah 43:2 (NIV) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. 

P.S. I’m still learning a lot here on this old farm.