My energy levels needed a recharge after a busy season.
My husband always arranges a holiday when we both need to take a break from work and the business of home life and recharge our batteries. We already visited Kerry at the beginning of August. It was now September. Ruth and Stuart offered us a stay in their cottage in Scotland. A chance to take in the beauty of West Scotland and rest before we go on mission to Slovakia. More recharging of our energy.
One evening on our return from Scotland, my daughter left a bunch of flowers on the counter when she came in from a busy day’s work. Dinner had to be rustled together for seven hungry people. The flowers lay in the midst of someone cutting bread, or making coffee, dirty dishes and saucepans. Life went on. No attention was given to the flowers. When family were fed, dishes cleared, washed, individuals filtered away to rest. I needed to rest after a hectic day. The bunch of flowers were still on the bench.
Another daughter was packing up to leave for university. My fourteenth child, is starting her final year at Edinburgh Univerity. Last minute arrangements had to be attended to. Boarding pass at the ready, who would leave her to the port, where is my hair dryer, did you see my purse? She came in and out of my room asking me questions. She was getting fraught. In the end she relaxed in a hot bath and washed away all her stress.
There was no time to get sad at her leaving. Angela has been home for the summer and has been a blessing to her mum and dad and other family that stayed. She introduced a summer camp for some of her nieces and nephews. They had a great time. The sun shone, they canoed, swam, shopped, face painted, cycled, had barbecues, and enjoyed their wee cousins. It was the highlight of the holidays for Maggie Sue.
Other events this summer have included our son Isaac’s wedding in Canada, our first grandson’s Confirmation, a grandchild’s baptism, our son Patrick’s wedding in Scotland, a new grandchild, our forty fifth anniversary and my sixty fifth birthday, family visiting from Canada for the wedding, visits to Kerry, Arran and Tarbert, having two American families stay at different times, and hosting a Gathering in Corrymeela.
I’m taking a deep breath just now. But Praise God I am alive and not dead from cancer in the grave. I am alive to see my children married and see my children’s children. God has been gracious to our family. I am being restored in the midst of life. It is not a time for me to put my feet up.
Later that night I went down to the kitchen when the house was quiet. The flowers were still on the bench unopened. Everything else was cleared away. I undid the wrapping, fetched a vase, cut off unnecessary leaves and arranged my flowers into beautiful display. I admired the gift my daughter brought home for me. There was no celebration to mark. Just to show me her appreciation and love. This touched my heart.
“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”
Psalms 127:3 NLT
I often receive rewards from my children and husband, especially gifts and holidays. I have been enjoying the roses after the dust of the summer has settled. They all help to recharge my energy levels.
Healed of Cancer. Angela McCauley 