Devastated by nature

It’s been eleven years since we rebuilt after a flood devastated our home. A lot of things are different: we only have three pieces of furniture left from before that time, color schemes are different, we changed our living room into a dining / living space, and now we are empty nesters.

Also, a lot of things are the same.  We still have a lot of our décor because the flood waters only rose knee-high through out the house. More importantly, we still have the same atmosphere of home: love, peace, and acceptance of each other’s goofiness. Home is where we are free to be just exactly as we are. Home is our haven and our favorite place to be.

Devastated by health

Twenty-three years have passed since I received the devastating news from my husband’s doctor: “Your husband will never work again.”

I’ve said many times I could not have been more shocked had he walked up to me and slapped me in the face.

Since then, a lot has changed; and a lot is the same. I became the breadwinner. My part time gig has become full time. I’ve had to learn to manage my time. (No more getting lost in novels only to realize, hey! It’s dinner time and I haven’t started cooking yet!)

What has stayed the same is our commitment to our God and to each other. Yes, things have been financially tight many times; but we do what we have always done, pay our tithes, trust God, and it always works out.

Lessons learned

However, this series is about clearing out the clutter both physically and mentally that keeps us from having a rich and satisfying life. I can say the lessons learned from devastation has helped us see the abundant life we already have and motivates us to reclaim it and make it even better.

The flood taught us we had too much stuff. It also taught us not to grieve when possessions are lost. God always provides. We do not lack.

We discovered during Jim’s illness God is in control and He is with us even when it doesn’t feel like it. We have learned to walk by faith and not by sight.

Lest we might forget those lessons, last year we walked through open heart surgery and this year we’ll be walking through knee  replacement. I fully expect God to provide and to be with us like He always has been and always will be.

A rich and satisfying life is knowing God is with you always.

What if you believed, really believed, that goodness and mercy was going to chase you down this year?

Whispered to me by GOD, based on Psalm 23:6

For more info on a rich and satisfying life:

This is day eight of my series, “A Rich and Satisfying Life,” examining a life free from the clutter of both wrong thoughts, attitudes, expectations, and too-full calendars, as well as physical clutter. You can click here to see all the links to the series.

I’m joining a host of writers participating in a Write28Days challenge sponsored by Anita Ojeda. My life being what it is, I’m starting 3 days behind, but writing 28 days does not have to be defined by the month of February. I’m simply promising to write for 28 days. If life interrupts, as it often does, I may have to skip a day here and there. The goal is to write 28 times on my subject, “A Rich and Satisfying Life,” consecutively … or not!

All photos created in PicMonkey by Jerralea using personal, family and stock photos. Please do not copy.

I’m sharing this post at Let’s Have Coffee and Recharge Wednesday, Tune In Thursday

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