Strength for Today

       Last week I had to do one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I had to say goodbye to the love of my life for the next year. We both did ok, holding back the tears and staying pretty strong till it came time to say goodbye. I had to say goodbye to my husband, my girls had to say goodbye to their father, and my wonderful husband had to say goodbye to me and his girls.  Needless to say, there were tears all the way back to the car. I would be ok for a while, then the smallest things would bring tears to my eyes.

 Pulling into the driveway and seeing his car there. Picking up his pjs of the floor. Opening the fridge and seeing the leftover boneless bbq chicken he loves. All the things I know I’m going to miss this next year. It was a hard day.

        I was so thankful the next night when Dennis got to face time the girls and I through my phone. It was such a comfort to see his face and connect with him.  Praise the Lord we have gotten to talk through text, face time, and phone several times  over the last couple of days.

        Through all of this I have realized first how very much I have been blessed. First of all to have a Lord and Savior that is the Great Comforter, and has brought so much comfort and peace to my heart. Secondly, I have a wonderful husband who is willing to sacrifice so much to protect our freedoms. Thirdly, I have two wonderful girls the Lord has entrusted to us. Fourthly, there are so many other men and women that are making the same sacrifice for our nation.

        While thinking of all these blessings, I also realized I had been looking at this all wrong. I have been wondering how I was going to make it a WHOLE year without my husband. But I realized I just have to make it through today. The Lord will not put more on me than I can handle. The Lord will give me grace for TODAY. I do not need strength to make it through the next year right now, but the Lord WILL give me the strength I need to make it through TODAY.  

        Here are a few of the promises that have been a comfort to me. He promised me in Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. “

        He also said in II Cor. 12:9 – “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  This reminds me that HIS strength is made perfect through my weakness.  His grace is sufficient for me. He WILL give me grace as I need it. This applies to every aspect of my life when my husband is deployed or when my husband is home. This applies to being a wife, to raising our girls, and every other aspect of my life.

        Lam. 3:21-23 says, “This I recall to my mind therefore have I hope It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” His compassions are new EVERY morning. The God that created this world has compassion for ME. What a comfort.

        If I start thinking about a WHOLE year, my time for the Lord will be wasted crying, worrying, fretting, etc…. Don’t get me wrong, there will be some tears over this next year, but what a comfort it is to know that all I have to think about is getting through today. Taking care of my responsibilities today. Being the best wife and mother I can be today. And guess what, He promised He WILL give me STRENGTH FOR TODAY!

 Our family waiting to say goodbye

Daddy and his girls

Me and my Honey

Daddy and Aby

Daddy and Ali Jo