Summer’s Last Hurrah

7/27/09
I started to write about this summer swan song but that idiom seemed too morbid for this week’s upcoming end of summer journey. As I am going up that farm road once again, I do expect it to be bittersweet with lots of laughter and more tears. For as the time ends, I'll be saying goodbye to dear friends, from my high school and college days, whom I rarely see. If I'm running from all those emotions that happen every time I have to say good-by to family, I’m probably getting ready to experience similar emotions on this trek.
Obviously God has more to teach me about emotions. Even last night my heart was burdened to pray for all the parents of “missionaries.” As they say good-by to their children (yes, even young adults are still our kids) for long periods of time, they must seek the Lord for strength and comfort as well.
So, for me and for them, I’m packing this verse for meditation on the “All-sufficient One.” May each of us trust in His goodness knowing that He is all we need in the midst of our life’s portion, no matter how difficult it might seem.

• II Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV) But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

"Lord, grant me insight into my weaknesses. May I be content with them. May I relinquish them to you and learn from them. May I seek your strength in this area that my life might glorify Thee."

All this to say, I won’t be on-line for awhile because connections “in the country” are virtually non-existent which is probably beneficial for summer’s last hurrah. I return to work on Monday.