I am exceedingly weary tonight, and my heart is greatly troubled. It’s just how it is. I cannot escape my tiredness, nor can I deny the heaviness I feel in my spirit. As much as I would like to be in this place, to take the time to fill up this space with words, I cannot. There’s simply not enough of me to go around this week. Accordingly I pull back, lay low, and retreat behind these walls that are strong, safe, and guarded.
We need them, you know—our boundaries. We shouldn’t fear them; we should celebrate them, crawl inside of them when the world demands its due. It’s sometimes hard to go in, sometimes difficult to put aside the temporal pull of our humanity. But harder still, is the struggle to stay out … be out … live out in the sea of humanity—a world that is not always kind and generous with its grace.
In is where I’ll find grace and generosity. In is where kindness lives. In is where Jesus is. In is where I must go until it’s safe to go out again.
Until then, sweet, tender peace for the journey, friends. I love you each one.
Bless you sweet friend! I hear you, and please know I am praying for you. You’ve headed straight to The Rock, the only place where safety is guaranteed!
Love you.
I’ve retreated to the INN of His Comforts many times over the years. Sometimes it’s to pace the floors while I transition. Other times it’s to burrow beneath the weight of the heaviest quilt I can find while my period of mini-hiberation runs its course.
Whatever the summons, I pray your “in” is a time of refreshing.
Love & hugs,
Kathleen
I get this! Praying you are refreshed and rested.
You are valued, and you are loved, dear Elaine. Praying the love of the Father to surround you, refill you, refresh you at this time.
I pray that God strengthens you, comforts you, ministers to you, and refreshes you as you take a respite in Him. Sending hugs, Elaine!
Elaine,
Don’t come out… it is not safe. At the appointed time, when you feel the release and hear the tug on the gate…. open it up and let in those things, people and places that have the RIGHT and PRIVILEGE to enter IN to your space.
Once there if they do not belong, they will know it and leave; because it is your “IN” Intentionally Narrow space. If they are not comfortable there in your “IN”, let them go.
As His, we are to stay WITH Him, and extend access as He wills for us and our purpose.
Thank you for letting us peek in through the gate today…. feel the love, smell the fragence of grace and let His wind minister to you as He keeps your IN closed “for such a time”… Blessings.
oooo, i like Jane’s reply! I shouldn’t read other’s comments before I comment. Because I like hers better! I second her emotion! Love you friend, I’m here to listen, chat, pray, whatever you need =)
You all are blessings. Thanks.
How wise you are to know when you need to retreat within. So many people ignore the signals and just keep going. I should have written THIS blog, THIS week. Instead, daily I feel bad that I haven’t written a blog and that it’s getting ever more difficult for me to write about breast cancer. While I’m not ignoring that, I’m not seeking His guidance on it either. I will pray for both of us, sweet friend.
Love,
Brenda
I totally understand my dear sis. Rest in His comforting arms, just rest. I love you.
Dear Sweet Elaine…. I have just let out a sigh of relief! I feel as though I have just been given permission to accept my limitations without so much guilt! Thank you for sharing your heart once again ! I hope you get some rest.
God bless you!
Marilyn
Sweet tender peace to you, dear Elaine! I’ve been on again, off again with the blog, but so glad I’m on again and so glad I stopped by! You inspire me, even with just a few words! God bless you and keep you always! Love! xo
Elaine……bless you for knowing when to pull back. We will be waiting with you behind the gate. Prayers are coming and going your way. Lori
Thank you, God, for Home… for the shadow of Your Wings… for the cleft of the Rock. Thank you that we can find refuge in Your Love.
Thanks for being here, Tracie. Have we “met” yet? ~elaine
Praying your “in” fills you with an incredible peace, comfort and renewal!!
{{HUGS}}
Striving to Live Out Loud~ Pamela
Good words from your friends…and prayers, too…
Your last tag on this post….wholeness…brings that old song to mind…“He Touched Me”….the one place….the only place for respite and wholeness….is In Him”….so linger there, sister…it’s a sweet place….
Catching up on my blog reading… and praying for you, sweet friend. Wishing I could have you over for a cup of coffee and a lot of love.
Praying for you Elaine…In is the best place to be!
Blessings