Sunshine

You are my sunshine, 
My only sunshine.
You make me happy,
When skies are gray.
You'll never know, dear,
How much I love you.
Please don't take my sunshine away.  
The "Sunshining" song is a common song sung in our house.

This past week has been a really good week -- I am so thankful for the sunshine!  I have been in a little bit of a funk and spring has brought a breath of new life in many ways.  It's pretty symbolic, actually.  I have been distant from God and in a spiritual winter, of sorts, but through the highs and lows of the past couple weeks, I have entered a spiritual spring filled with encouragement, excitement, and a reminder of God's grace.  

Fear and anxiety have plagued me this winter and were the main causes of why I have been so distant from God.  It hit it's peak when I fell down the stairs holding my baby.  I have learned that even when you value physical health and strength, the body can still fail you and ultimately, life is not in our control.   Miraculously, Gracelyn and I are ok, but in an instant, something horrible can happen despite all that we do to try to live right.  Living healthfully is important but it is not everything.  It is a lifestyle, but it shouldn't be an obsession. 

 I have been relying on my self and my own strength to get me through life, and I needed to be reminded that it is "when I am weak, then I am strong."  Doesn't make sense?  Read this:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (1 Cor. 12:9-10)

While the true source of Sunshine for me has been God, who has shown grace to me in my weakness, here are some other little rays of sunshine from this week:
Friends, exercise, Vitamin D, God's Word, and sleep have helped make this week great.  "The Sunshine Vitamin" is said to help maintain strong muscles and a strong heart.  I am so thankful for this weeks sunshine!