My Bald Head

When my hair fell out in fist fulls, there came the eventual time to shave it all off.  Marci, my daughter lovingly shaved my head, while I silently cried.  A woman and her hair are dearly connected!  There is something about losing one's hair, standing before the mirror feeling naked, exposed, showing every bump and blemish on your head, making your face feel unflattering and unfamilar.  My husband came into the bathroom.  Shame.  I quickly covered my head with a towel.  He just stood there and looked into my eyes.  "Honey, let me see", as he gently urged me to take off the towel.  Trust.  I slowly exposed my bald head.  He took my face in his hands, and kissed my head all over and said, "My beautiful wife". 
It reminds me of another Husband who knows our blemished nakedness and sees His beautiful bride. 

The Last Assignment

John the Baptist, wild man, honey licking, locust eating, truth telling, wilderness dwelling man who had a big job in paving the way for Jesus.  He had a big job and did it well.  People turned to God, repented and God the Father used him to point out Jesus was the one coming to take away the sins of the world. 
His honest, blunt truth telling landed him in jail.  Locked in.  Caught in circumstances, no control, away from all he loved.  Nature, freedom, sunlight, exciting work, even food was a challenge.  Looking back, he questioned, "Did I make a wrong turn somewhere?". 
Jesus, reassures him.  "I am who I am, the Son of God.  My life changing works, testify of Me."  God has one more big assignment for John.  Believe and trust who I am.  This may have been the biggest, most difficult work John had to do to this point.  John did not recant what he believed and went on to loose his head.  Jesus dearly loved this wild man and grieved his death.  He said of him, no one born on earth was greater than he.  His last assignment, perhaps the hardest, he fulfilled.  May I have faith and be faithful in the midst of confining circumstances.  May I trust He is who He says He is.

Looking for the Bottom

     At present we do not know if Mark will have a job by October's end.  We do not know where we will live.  We don't know if we will have to leave Michigan and the family and friends we love. We do not know if we will live in this house or it will be sold.  We don't know if my health will be strong or if I will take several more months to recover.  The future is out of control.  In times like these we want to grasp onto anything to bring closure to something, anything so that we would feel a sense of managing life.  It is good to know that the bottom is a foundation that is secure love.  God is good and He has not forgotten us.  Years of proving His trustworthiness helps us now.  He is good no matter what the circumstances seem to say.  And in the midst we experience the love and compassion from others, another example of His goodness.  It makes the impossible, possible to thank and trust Him.