When I am Quiet

This is a hard season. All the leaves falling, the darkness encroaching, the anniversaries of those lost to me.

I am weary, too. I am surprised at the way my “job” at nights watching my dad has affected my overall health. How do people deal with night shifts? I struggle with getting enough sleep these days, consequently I see decline faster in my heath and ability to think. As a young mom with nights disturbed by nursing babies I was able to recover by napping every day. I could deal with the children, housework, home-schooling, and all of life’s obligations with relative success.

Now that i’m almost 60 I see a major shift in stamina. Despite my efforts to become stronger (and physically I am much stronger with my time at the gym and the pool!) I see mental weariness being the main factor.

I am weary.

Sleep is lovely. Undisturbed sleep is a gift. I wonder if we will have the ability to sleep in heaven. I cannot recall Biblical authority on this.

But I am still praying. If I can do nothing else, I can pray. As I learn more and more about my new job and interests I realize I am only able to pray. Prayer isn’t an “only,” though. It has power.

Ed and I were chatting early the other morning before he left for school. We talked about the effectiveness of prayer and its role in the Kingdom of Heaven.

When we go through dark passages we are better able to understand the difficulty of faith. Faith that hasn’t been challenged is weak. Prayer may be the only thing that lights a path through that forest of spiritual attack.

Prayer. It works.

I don’t understand it, but it is effective.

Come, Jesus!