DECEMBER 18, 2020

 “One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” 

― Sigmund Freud

JONAH

5Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. 6Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant^a and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. 7But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. 8When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

9But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

10But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. 11And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

REVELATION 9

20The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.

JOURNAL 

Reading through Jonah it is easy to see how I many times have acted like Jonah. When things don't work out like I want them. When heartache strikes and I don't get my way, there is an anger and bitterness that can begin to surface. Jonah moping over the plant is really kind of funny but it's also the state of his heart. He has such hatred for Nineveh that he cannot see beyond it. The hatred turns everything bad in his mind. Everything is exacerbated to a level where he is content to die because of a plant. Obviously it is not the plant but just where his heart has gone as a result of his bitterness and disappointment. . 

The last couple of days we have been watching "It's a Wonderful Life" in my classroom. I have always loved this movie and I get emotional every single time George goes running through the town yelling Merry Christmas. Yet watching it five consecutive times over the course of a couple days revealed a truth that I had never really understood before. Once George gets his life back...that's all that really matters to him now. The stresses, disappointment and botched dreams become irrelevant. Gone are the dreams of building skyscrapers and getting out of Bedford Falls. Gone are the concerns over scandal and prison. The only thing he cares about is being back in his life...with the people he loves...no matter what that may look like. 

Today I celebrate 27 years of marriage. There was a time when the hopes and dreams of the future almost drowned away the preciousness of the life that was right in front of me. I, like George, became lost in a world that was twisted and dark . I was so focused to achieve a certain future that I almost lost everything that really mattered. I also got a second chance. That second chance is a far cry from my original hopes and dreams but...it's actually better than I could have ever hoped. 

Thank you Father for protecting me, loving me and seeing me through the dark valley. Thank you for friends and family that came through in ways that still are unexplainable and thank you for Marcella who was a light and hope in the darkest of those days. 

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

21“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

LUKE 15:20-22