freedom
The aftermath of a painful day is like the calm after a storm. An evening of sleep was a respite to the aching battle of the day before. The intensity of the discomfort was not recognized in its midst, but rather plowed under as the day’s agenda unfolded. Pain relievers delivered a slight reprieve from the aching intensity while allowing for clouded focus on tasks at hand. Today there is relief and a desire to bask in the ache free afterglow by perching quietly in the embrace of the trusted recliner. Thankful for the release from the jail of discomfort, this detainee chooses not to discard those things that provide the greatest resource against recapture. This freedom fighter chooses to engage his routine of exercise and attention to physical activity that challenges, maintains and builds stamina. With a grateful heart this graced soul rises to the challenge in another gifted day and anticipates the new blessings that unfold. Today is yet to be discovered.
The stillness of the pre-dawn hour is interrupted as the old furnace fires up to take away the morning chill. As the warmth permeates all within the house, we are oblivious to the cold and near frost that blankets the yard and fields surrounding us. Soon the old country road will become a conduit for commuters making their way to the city and jobs that sustain their country households. For now, the silence and calm embrace us as we revel in these moments of thankfulness for blessings that abound: thankfulness for home, for family, for pets and projects, and for the freedom of movement that is absent pain in these early hours of the day. There is great freedom in the wonder of God’s eternal grace that promises moments that are forever with Him. These thoughts, God’s promise, and the “peace that passes all understanding” fuel the engine of motivation that will take us on the journey that is today.