
Tiger and Rabbit
Hello all! 🙂 It looks like I’m going to make up for not posting for the past few days by filling up your readers and inboxes today, haha.
If you have been following me long, you’ve probably noticed that I don’t talk about my life much in terms of personal life. And I still don’t plan to share a whole lot, but at the same time, I want to be a little more open. (The “An Update On Life” title was inspired by Maggie’s Life Updates – if you haven’t been to her blog, I encourage you to drop by – her blog is amazing. I linked to it there. 😉)
I’m still battling with fear a bit, but it wasn’t as bad as that one instance a couple of weeks ago. The unknown is scary. Dwelling on what the future may hold can easily make the here and now more miserable than it needs to be. “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 NASB) Why is it so hard sometimes to give things to God? I hold onto things for dear life that I shouldn’t be holding onto. Always thinking of the worst case scenario and then believing that will happen when that’s not necessarily true. I’m not omnipresent, omniscient, or omnipotent. I don’t know the future. It’s not as if worrying will actually help anything anyway, even if I knew the future. It wouldn’t change it. It would probably do the opposite, for “…who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6:27 NASB) Really. Worrying would most likely take hours away from life, not just in the long run, but all the wasted hours worrying that could have been spent elsewhere are lost forever because once the time is gone, there is no way to get it back. But I do know one thing – as I go through life, Jesus will be with me, so I needn’t fear. Now to convince my brain so it will stop worrying… (Haha, wow, this paragraph was massive. 😅 Moving along to the last part of the update…)
And as if that’s not enough… if you read my post titled New Year, New Things, you probably saw the photos of my cats that I shared. Last week, Rabbit died suddenly; you’ll probably recognize at least one of the photos below. It was a huge shock; I didn’t realize she was sick, she seemed fine the evening before, and I found her gone the next morning. She would have been 10 years old this Spring. In her memory, I’m going to post a collage of a few photos of her (and her siblings that happen to be in the photos with her) that I’ve taken over the years.
I’ve been an emotional mess for the past week for these reasons, as you can imagine. Also, because of all of this, I don’t know how often I will be posting on WordPress for a while. (I do, however, plan to catch up on responding to comments today if possible – I’m days behind! )
I wrote a poem last year for Rosie and other pets that I have lost over the years. In Rabbit’s honor, I’m sharing it below.
Broken Heart’s Embrace
Today it hurts too much
To ruminate on images of your face
Or your loving touch
On my broken heart’s embrace…
Pain dulls the delight
Of memories we shared way back when
Like a shade over the light
Until I wonder if it will come back again.
Remembering reflections
Moments of sweet and bitter sorrow
Mingle with recollections
That will be more cheerful tomorrow.
Someday it won’t hurt so;
The pain will be dulled by the bliss,
Tears of sadness won’t flow,
And will be replaced by joy’s kiss.
I’m so, so sorry to hear about Rabbit.
I absolutely adore my pets so know how it feels to lose one. It hurts really bad.
I’m praying for you and your dad also.
Blessings, Hayley 😊💕
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Thank you! ❤ Yeah, it does. But it’s better to love and lose than to never love at all, they say. I know she would want me to be happy so I’m trying to not let it get me too down. My other cats are trying very hard to cheer me up too. 😊
Thank you! ❤
Blessings!
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That is so true. Thinking of you 😊
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🙂
❤ Thank you!
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Hi Grace,
Hearing your dad is sick makes me very sad too. If you would like God will listen to your just anger at the sickness that is attacking your dad. Honest communication of anger and other feelings, with God helped me to process the events I was in,, and headed for. This is one sure way to be angry and sin not. If you need to shout at a human, I am here for you Grace.
I join you in prayer for your dad and well being as he navigates this hellish time he is going through. Long term illness is never easy on anyone in the household. I pray for strength and wisdom for all who help care for your dad in any way. (on this matter the care givers who are closest need the same care)
Pray on the armor of God, God and God alone will sustain you with perfect LOVE POWER in these testing times.
I also pray for your sad experience in the loss of your rabbit. Hang in there Grace, you are still God’s child and tenderly loved in mercy and grace, this is the hope in all trouble that rudely invades our life.
In Christ,
Denny
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Hi, Denny!
❤
Haha, I’m glad of that because God has already gotten an ear full…
Aww, thanks, Denny! I don’t want to shout at you though. I’ve done enough shouting lately. 😅
Thank you for the prayers! ❤ And thank you for the encouraging words; they were so needed. It has been rough, but God is good!
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“It has been rough, but God is good! ” This is spoken by an undaunted soul in all Hope, in the face of the indiscriminate facts of this fallen world begging you not to have hope. Grace you are being of strong and good courage in a tough situation. Keep the hope and faith as you continue to walk ever closer to the Living Creator God we serve. He is worthy and truly Good even in the toughest matters of life.
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Thank you for the encouragement; I really needed that today. 🙂
I shall!
Amen! ❤
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So sorry for the struggles you are going through right now. I’m praying for you, my friend. You are a beloved child of God and He fights for you, always. I was talking to the Lord, yesterday evening about my health issue, and caught myself thinking “maybe if I tried this or that”. Then it hit me, Lord, I gave this to You, and here I have grabbed it back, and ran off with it, again. He is merciful though and always willing to take things back from us, and give us help, strength, and peace. God Bless you :):)
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❤ Thank you!
Oh man, am I ever familiar with that struggle! Why is it so hard to leave it with God? It’s better off with Him.
Amen, and am I ever glad of that! 🙂
God bless you too! ❤
Speaking of your health… How are you? Still improving, I hope? 🙂
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I have good days, bad days, and days in between :):) I am content that God is in control:):) Thank you for asking :):)
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I hope that you get many more good days! ❤
🙂
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Thank you my friend :):)
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I’ll read and comment tomorrow. Good night!
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Hope you had a great night! 🙂 (I’m very behind in responding to comments, haha. 😊)
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Same here. I’m getting busy starting from this week – all the classes, choir start this week,
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Oh! That must be nice even though you’ll be busy! 🙂
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Yes, since most of them are flexible in the sense of no commitment (except my business and my counseling), I can skip them when I’m too tired.
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That is good! 🙂
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Yes! 🙂
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I am sorry to hear about Rabbit. I’ll keep your family in my prayers. May God provide you with strength and comfort during this difficult time.
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“It has been rough, but God is good! ” This is spoken by an undaunted soul in all Hope, in the face of the indiscriminate facts of this fallen world begging you not to have hope. Grace you are being of strong and good courage in a tough situation. Keep the hope and faith as you continue to walk ever closer to the Living Creator God we serve. He is worthy and truly Good even in the toughest matters of life.
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❤ Thanks for the encouraging words; I really needed that today. 🙂
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Thank you! ❤
And thank you for the prayers! 💕
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Always. 💖
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Thank you so much for updating us, Grace ❤ It's a blessing to know about what's going on in the lives of our blogging friends! (And that's so cool that I could inspire you, haha, I mean it!)
I am so very sorry that Rabbit passed away! *hugs* Losing a pet is hard. A guinea pig I had when I was eight got sick and passed away, as did a cat I'd grown up with my whole life when I was eleven. It is truly sad when they're gone, and the sweeter they were, the harder it is. The reassurance I have is that they will live on in our hearts 🙂 ❤ ❤ and that they are now with the Lord instead of us.
Your dad will be in my prayers, Grace! Asthma can be extremely frightening – both of my brothers have had breathing issues related to asthma different times in their childhood when they'd get sick. While they'd have sickness-induced asthma attacks, I end up getting sinus infections in its place. So while I don't know what it's like to struggle breathing, I do know what it's like when a close family member does.
The long paragraph you wrote on how you've been doing emotionally … I couldn't have related any deeper to what you said! "Dwelling on what the future may hold can easily make the here and now more miserable than it needs to be." Being anxious about my future seems like I'm getting something done at times, but like you shared that verse from Matthew 6, it really doesn't accomplish anything. It takes away precious time when I could be praising and trusting in the Lord. Thank you for giving me this much-needed reminder! ❤
I hope that you're having a good evening, and that you and your dad will be restored to good health so very soon!!!
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🙂 ❤
Aww, you are very inspirational! 😊
Thank you! ❤ Haha, yeah, and Rabbit was one of the sweetest cats ever. Even when I had to take her to the vet last fall, they commented on how sweet she was and if you've ever taken a cat to the vet, you know how normally they get scared and act out. She didn't. Aww, I'm sorry that you lost a guinea pig and a cat. Yes, amen! All the pets we have lost are with the Lord now, and He is taking great care of them. 🙂
Thank you for the prayers! ❤ Aww, I'm sorry that your brothers had to go through that.
Haha, I think I'm like you; I'm fairly certain I had a sinus infection, but I didn't go to the doctor for it. I probably should have though. I think it went away on its own. (Finally!!!)
Aww, I'm so glad that He could use that long paragraph to encourage you! ❤
Thank you! 🙂 I think my evening that night was good. (I'm 3 days behind in responding to comments… 😅) Thank you, I'm almost well, but my dad is still not good.
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You’re welcome! ❤ ahh yes, cats don't like doctors, haha. That's so sweet that Rabbit did! Definitely ❤
I'll have sinus infections for the longest time, and even after taking antibiotics, they still linger afterward XD I'm glad what you had has gone away!
❤
You're welcome! Haha no worries 🙂
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🙂
I think she liked everyone. (Except Lolli, another cat; none of the other cats like her much. XD)
Oh wow! :O Haha, must be an especially bad one to linger after antibiotics!
❤
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My dear sister in Christ, this is all a lot to take in. Major hugs and continued prayers. I relate to you on the worrying piece, majorly. I was having some worries today and was thinking the same, “What I am fearing hasn’t happened, I’m wasting time thinking this way.” Assurance and comfort be upon you. ❤ ❤
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🙂 Thank you for the hugs! ❤ Aww, I'm sorry that you've been struggling with fear and worry too. Thank you, and may assurance and comfort be upon you as well! ❤
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❤ ❤ ❤
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Will keep you and your Dad in our prayers.
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Thank you! ❤
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So sorry for your loss. I’ll be praying for you.
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Thank you! ❤
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I somehow missed this post last week – forgive me! I had no idea that there was so many weighty things swirling around you at this time, my friend. I will continue to pray. 💛✝️
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Aww, haha, I’m glad you found it now. 🙂
Thank you for the prayers! ❤ My dad is feeling much better; he felt like talking yesterday and we visited for over two hours. I've missed that so much.
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Praise God!!! 💛 Thank you for sharing this!
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😀 ❤
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So sorry to hear about Rabbit 💔 praying for you and your dad!! Stay strong; you’re amazing!
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Thank you! ❤
My dad is feeling much better. 🙂
Aww, thanks for saying that. ❤
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So glad to hear that!! Anytime!! ❤
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💕
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