theme for the day: constance

It's not at all unusual for me to throw out a "theme for the day" at mealtime here, just to stir things up a bit. Yesterday's lunch was "stick foods." We had corndogs, pretzel sticks, and strawberries served up on toothpicks. Of course we had popsicles for dessert.

Apparently our good Lord likes theme days as well.

Today's theme: "constance." I don't think that's a word used too often anymore...but it was stamped on my brain all day long as the Holy Spirit continued to show me examples.

The word first crept in on my drive to work this morning. After a long sleepless night, with a feverish/restless baby Anne, I sat drinking my coffee, numb and praying for the strength/energy to do a good job today. For only an instant, I'd wished away the sleepless night...wishing I was better prepared for the day ahead of me. And then I was overcome with tears at how grateful I felt for just such a night. Shame on me for wanting to wish it away! Oh, with busy days of what sometimes seem mundane household duties ...the infrequent opportunity to snuggle all night with a baby that's growing much too quickly is truly a blessing indeed. The day will come too soon, when she will depend on me no longer. And then my tears increased to imagine a day when there are children in this house no longer. Who will need me? What will I do then? You see in all the chaos now, and the quiet that is to come; as our duties change through the years, leaving us uncertain of what's to come; I am reminded of God's constance. His steadfastness. His faithfulness. His love for me never changes. And whether I acknowledge Him or not, He is there. Waiting for me. Loving me. Always. Without fail. He is the strength and energy that gets me through a beautifully busy day. He is within me as I care for those who need me most...at home, at work. Constance.

There are four nurses pitching in to cover hours for a full-time nurse gone-a-traveling with her husband to Alaska for the month. I'm one of them. Four women, trying to fill the huge shoes of an amazing nurse, who's constance and quality of care for our residents are top-notch! It's not a terribly difficult job, but there is something about the continuity and compassion she brings to the office. She sets the bar high. Anyhow, as I struggled through e-mails and caught up on notes and requests for the last week, I missed her terribly. And was reminded once again: constance.
Yes Lord, I'm listening. I know You are too. Thank you for the gentle reminders.

Okay, so I recognize...just as I struggle to make a fruit work on "stick day" (strawberries and toothpicks), God also gets a little clever. As my mom was heading out the door after watching the kids for me all day, she mentioned that she wouldn't be over for coffee tomorrow morning.
"Whatcha got going on?" I asked.
"Not, much. Going out for the day with Connie."
(of course~my Godmother~her given name: Constance.)



Psalm 136
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever.

raspberries.

She's been giving us the raspberries for months.
Yesterday...we gave them back.

After squeezing the life out of them...

And sucking on them a bit...drooling and dribbling of course....

Ooooooh....sour...

...and sweet....

...SHE LOVES THEM!!!!