Consider the Lilies

WARNING:  *some religious blather ahead*

We are more than halfway through 2010.  It has been a really good year for books (ROOM, MATTERHORN, NOBODIES ALBUM, RED HOOK ROAD, MARROWBONE MARBLE COMPANY, LONELY POLYGAMIST. ETERNAL ON THE WATER).  However, it has been a really bad year in other departments.

As many of you know, my husband lost his job in early June and we lost about 60% of our income. Maybe more.  Of course, there are also all the emotional ramifications of something like this. So far, we are hanging on to our rental house but it feels very tenuous.  One of my close friends has been out of work for 18 months and another is about to lose his job.  One of my dear blogging friends is also struggling with unemployment fallout. Four of my close friends will be divorcing this year. One of my dear friends is experiencing a great deal of pain surrounding an adoption that has been very difficult.

The good news is that everyone is healthy. And that is truly good news indeed.

2010 has been a rough year for many people. I toss and turn at night worrying about my situation and that of the people that I love and care about. Surely there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I was reminded of a Bible verse that I had to learn in Sunday school from the book of Matthew:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?



28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
 
It is a hard and difficult thing to "hand it over" and let go of worry. I am a very blessed person and yet I fixate on the negative things.  So my husband has lost his job. So we may have to move. So we are struggling to make ends meet. SO WHAT?!
 
I have a family when many are alone. I have my health (and my family has good health) when many are sick and wasting away.  I have some income when many have none.  We have health insurance when many must decide between medical care and putting food on the table.
 
Blessings abound.
 
And 2010 is almost over.  I'm sure 2011 is going to be a banner year!