4/18/2026
"We should all be concerned about the future,
because we will have to spend the rest of our lives there."
Daily Walk
An early day today! Saturdays are usually my favorite days, because they are days of rest, relaxation, worship and singing, rejoicing, and listening to the word. Today was a very difficult and tricky text for Pastor Bill to go over, but I must say he gave us much to consider. The main reading was from the book of Leviticus, and it covered the laws for holiness as they related to personal hygiene and leprosy. Sounds like pretty heavy and intensely personal stuff, but really it can be understood from a somewhat different light if we look at it from a relative point of view which is what Bill does. I appreciate that about his teaching methods. We all need to know how to live in this world, because as Christians we represent a holy God, and we want to be examples of His righteousness to a world that's lost its way.
When I was growing up my Mama and Grammy always had sayings for every occasion. With regards to personal hygiene and wearing clean clothes, they'd say "cleanliness is next to Godliness," or even if our clothes were older they'd say that they would "make clean come." Now I'm not exactly sure what that means, but I got their meaning, and I made sure that even if my clothes weren't store bought or perfect, as long as they were clean, the Lord didn't care. He cared that they were clean and fresh, and that I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and took a bath. Or at least that is what I was led to believe. I was glad about that, because I always liked to look my best, and I can't remember being mistreated by anyone if my clothes were older. In fact Mama and Grammy both sewed, so I was blessed to have homemade dresses. I was always proud of my homemade clothing. As I got older, they taught me to sew, and I made clothes for my children and even made my husband shirts. The first one I made him I put the buttons on the wrong side, but he wore it anyway and never complained. When my older son graduated from high school, I made him a multi-patterned rayon shirt which was the rage at that time. He was the valedictorian, so I hope he felt special, as he loved that shirt. I asked him recently what happened to that masterpiece, and he said it went out of fashion. But fashion styles do circle back around, as history repeats itself. I'm still wearing skirts I made myself thirty-five years ago, and the rayon still looks brand new. I still receive compliments, and that makes me feel good, even though very few people wear ankle-length skirts. Virginians generally do not appreciate the Santa Fe style, but maybe I'll change the fashion mode!
Today marked Rosh Chodesh, the second month of the year on the Jewish calendar called Iyyar which marks a month of new beginnings. Just as the first month of the year, Nisan, began with Passover which marked the of the birth of the nation of Israel through their deliverance from Egypt, the month of Iyyar marks a time of healing and personal growth. When the children of Israel went through the desert they began to complain about not having food, and they grumbled about leaving the comfort of Egypt to starve in the desert. The Lord provided manna, bread from heaven, each day, but over a period of time and testing, the people complained about the same old stuff. The purpose of the daily manna along with the daily meal of quail, was to show them that God was their deliver and provider. It was a way of humbling them and making them see their dependence on God who loved them and was going with them on their journey to the Promised Land. Several times they grumbled and wanted to return to the false security of Egypt, but God always heard their cries, and He always answered. Still, they had to pay the price for their rebellion, eventually through the death of an entire generation for their failure to believe that God would do what He said He would do. Why can't we just trust Him?!
As afternoon wore on my day became somewhat agitated by phone calls, texting, and other distractions at the wrong times. My relaxing and peaceful morning, recuperating from my tense and sleepless nights was becoming frought with confusion and anxiety. Even my cat has been a little more antsy than usual, as if someone is lurking behind him ready to pounce on him. Who knows what he encounters in his feral lifestyle in the wilds of Dinwiddie Gardens!
My windchimes were gently blowing in the breeze, and although they are supposed to be engineered to play Amazing Grace, what I discern is a blend of harmony and melody struggling against the breeze, but still pleasing in it's own way. So I can still hear and feel God's amazing grace, even so! Plus my imagination can harmonize the correct tune in my head, along with the bug sounds of trauma within my head that plays its raucous melody continuously. But I do find rest and peace. I have learned to do so in spite of whatever chaos or discordance drifts into my day attempting to bring disharmony.
Later on in the evening after my son had his internet satellite aligned to receive the proper balance in order to function well, I was able to once again settle in to calm, and when I did finally pick up the phone in my self-defense, my daughter was happy again, and her topsy-turvy world had somehow righted itself, and she wanted to laugh again.
These are the days of my life.
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