Praying for Comfort & Joy

You might have noticed I haven’t been posting as much lately. I’m still here, life has just gotten a bit crazy, as I’m sure you can relate to in this holiday season. There’s a saying, “Too busy not to pray.” That definitely describes me lately!

I have been dealing with an inner ear infection/fluid for more than a month now. I go to the ENT doctor next week to hopefully find out what’s wrong. I’ve tried a couple of different decongestants as well as antibiotics, yarrow, spotted bee balm, and mullein. I did not put the mullein oil IN my ear, though, because I suspect this whole business may have been caused by a tear when I flew to Boston in October, and you are not supposed to put mullein oil in a potentially damaged eardrum. My herbalist friend suggested that I put it behind my ear, and I also had some mullein tea, and it does seem to have helped somewhat. I’ve been dizzy, nauseuous–basically seasick. The good news is with no appetite I’ve made my goal of losing 20 pounds this year! Unfortunately that means I haven’t felt like cooking, either, which is why many of my recent recipes were made by DH. He is a trooper.

DH’s grandmother is in hospice care and we have been praying that she can go quickly as she is in a lot of pain. As you can imagine, it’s a difficult time for family and friends. She has been failing over the past year but took a very sudden turn for the worse. As an in-law, it’s always interesting to see family dynamics play out. I’ve also been thinking of my own Grandma, who we lost a couple of years ago around this time of year, and our best friends lost their grandparents last year around this time. Something about the holidays reminds us of those who have gone before. I have heard that some churches are now offering remembrance services around Christmas. What a great idea!

A friend of mine had to move suddenly as she is going through a foreclosure. She has been on my mind a lot and in my prayers. As have so many others who are in similar situations.  In times like these, I’m reminded of the catechism from so long ago.

Q & A 1

Q. What is your only comfort
in life and in death?

A. That I am not my own,^1
but belong—
body and soul,
in life and in death—^2
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.^3

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood,^4
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.^5
He also watches over me in such a way^6
that not a hair can fall from my head
without the will of my Father in heaven:^7
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.^8

Because I belong to him,
Christ, by his Holy Spirit,
assures me of eternal life^9
and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready
from now on to live for him.^10

^1 1 Cor. 6:19-20
^2 Rom. 14:7-9
^3 1 Cor. 3:23; Titus 2:14
^4 1 Pet. 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7-9; 2:2
^5 John 8:34-36; Heb. 2:14-15; 1 John 3:1-11
^6 John 6:39-40; 10:27-30; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:5
^7 Matt. 10:29-31; Luke 21:16-18
^8 Rom. 8:28
^9 Rom. 8:15-16; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; 5:5; Eph. 1:13-14
^10 Rom. 8:1-17

Wishing you much comfort & joy this holiday season (Christmas, Advent, Epiphany, et al). Looking forward to the New Year.

Remember, coming in January: