Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Will You Hold My Traveling Cases?

January is speeding by. Somebody should give this month a ticket! It's going by way too fast. :) It has been full though . . . several memories thus far. :)

So far, I've been able to take at least one picture each day! Not all of them are very impressive but hey. :) I'll share some of them at the end of this. I should apologize. The picture part is a little more diary-like, and normally, I kinda stay away from the detailed activities of my life on this blog. It may not interest you too much. That's okay. Feel free to just keep scrolling.

Recently, I finished Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place. One of the best books I've ever read. I'm hoping to share more on that later, but for now, can I leave you a quote I read from the book?

Here goes:

He [Corrie's father] turned to look at me [little Corrie], as he always did when answering a question, but to my surprise he said nothing. At last he stood up, lifted his traveling case from the rack over our heads, and set it on the floor.

"Will you carry it off the train, Corrie?"

I stood up and tugged at it. It was crammed with the watches and spare parts he had purchased that morning.

"It's too heavy," I said.

"Yes," he said. "And it would be a pretty poor father who would ask his little girl to carry such a load. It's the same way, Corrie, with knowledge. Some knowledge is too heavy for children. When you are older and stronger you can bear it. For now you must trust me to carry it for you."

And I was satisfied. More than satisfied-- wonderfully at peace. There were answers to this and all my hard questions --- for now I was content to leave them in my father's keeping.


Later, as Corrie went through the living-death of the concentration camps, she remembered this moment of her father carrying the suitcase and realized that she had to give over the heavy burdens of the not-knowing, the not-understanding to her heavenly Father. She could not carry it on her own. I desire the faithfulness that God put in Corrie. I have my own traveling cases, my own questions and places of not understanding. Some of the things I don't understand really aren't even about me. I don't understand why God's people have to be so harshly persecuted in North Korea. I don't understand why God's precious kids are dying in Africa while I have more than enough. These burdens are heavy, and my first reaction is to turn to God and tell Him, "I don't understand!" But I think that's only half of the solution.

Even my not-understanding needs to be surrendered to Jesus. He can carry it. I love that Corrie said that there ARE answers to the questions, but we may not be strong enough to carry them now, so Jesus must for us.

And He will.

May You be blessed with that today. You are alive for a very special reason, friend! May you trust Him today and let Jesus carry you and your "traveling cases." He is strong enough.





Week of January 8th in Pictures

Item crossed off of bucket list . . . put coins on a train track with cousins. So fun! It's the littlest thrills that make me happy.





Our good family friend, Jim, took family out to eat after church on Sunday. So kind.


I got a little bit of paperwork type things done this week . . . got my schedule written in my planner, started a book, finished a volunteer app.


I really had to think about what it means to be a light for Jesus. I'm still not sure I completely understand, but I want this. I want to be His light. I want to be real and let those around me see this Savior who we really do need.


One of my coworkers at the radiator shop! :) Made open-mouth faces at each other each day. I couldn't keep my face open that long though for the picture. Snap-Crack-It! haha Had a fun time.


More of my coworkers. I worked mainly with the woman on the left. Her son is the little guy. He tried to scare me often (and often succeeded). He's a fun little guy!


God's sunsets were GLORIOUS this week! YHWH is incredible! His work stunning.


Dad took us out to eat at A&W one night! Very fun . . . definitely a family tradition, eating out in our town's old-fashioned A&W.


This sweet little girl still calls me "Mary" even though it's been two years since I was in the pageant. Love her a ton. She and her family and a few others came over to our house last week.


Mom and I did it! Three whole miles on the workout video. Woo hoo! :) My belly still may not be flat, but hey . . . working on it! ;)


See those papers on the floor? Yep . . . syllabi and class notes. Getting ready for a new semester ahead and spending time laughing with my sister.

3 comments:

bitnee said...

Oh, friend! How you encourage me in the littlest ways :) Thank you for giving that analogy. It was remarkable. and oh, so true. I need to remember that He is strong enough and I am not.

I so appreciate your honesty. and your heart to know Him. You are truly a blessing, and I honestly don't know what I would do without you in my life!

As for the pictures, what a great idea! Capturing memories one day at a time. :) I need to do something like that so I can actually remember what I did a week ago. lol. Can't wait to see you! Love ya!

Danae Cowan said...

Thank you so much for your comment, Bethany! I appreciate your comments and encouragement so much. I love you! Can't wait to see you!

Briana said...

love it! What a great analogy sis!

Can I have the A&W Picture