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TUESDAY THOUGHT 12/11/12

December 11, 2012 on 12:24 pm | By John Ingrisano | In Faith & Forgiveness | No Comments

Susan and I tithe, try to “walk across the room” to support fellow faith travelers who have sore souls, read scripture and pray together each morning, and make many mistakes, yet try to accept forgiveness. We sleep with clear consciences each night, knowing that we try to follow God’s way and do His will.

Still, that doesn’t mean God gives us a free pass on tough times. This weekend, I got home after nearly two solid weeks on the road. I limped in the door physically and emotionally drained, battling a flu bug and struggling with some holiday family challenges. One of the dogs has a persistent itch; there is a dead, less-than-redolent mouse somewhere in the laundry room; and … well, you get the picture.

Tired, snarly and annoyed, feeling nipped at at every turn, my prayers for a day were I’ve-had-about-enough lectures to God. (Yes, I even wagged my finger at heaven.) I felt burdened, forgotten, borderline cheated. (Meanwhile, Susan, God bless her, listened, waited patiently and prayed silently for her sore-souled husband.)

And then, and then, and then: I awoke this morning filled with awareness, patience, a keen sense of God’s love, patience, and forgiveness, along with a heaping dollop of sheepishness for my trying to tell God how to do His business.

My point: I have come to believe that God ALWAYS gives us what we need, but not always what we want. Tough times are gifts given to us to steel, temper and strengthen us (and maybe remind us how weak we really are). And, yes, He is ALWAYS there, beside us, watching over us. Always. Thank God. — jri

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for

this is God’s will for you who belong to

Christ Jesus.”

— St. Paul (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Before Susan and I re-met face-to-face this year, we had begun to speak on the phone a thousand miles distant. Gradually, something neither of us had done with others before, we began to pray together, awkwardly at first, then with more confidence and trust. These prayers, I believe, formed the foundation of our new-found relationship. (For those who do not know, she and I had been engaged in the late 60s, right out of high school, and then lost touch for 42 years, before re-meeting and then marrying this July.) Spiritually, we travel shoulder to shoulder, being each other’s strength and joy. What a joy-filled, blessed relationship. Thank you, Lord.

John Ingrisano

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December 11, 2012

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