Sometimes life seems to go along smoothly and at other times, there are big changes. We are going through a time of change. One child is about to go away for a year as a part of their university course and another is about to go to the sixth form after being home educated. These are events that we have anticipated but we are also going through a time when we are needing to provide more care for our older family member.
This week, there has been a hospital admission and discharge as well as a meeting to plan increased levels of care. Of course, that means more people have to come to our home to make more assessments; new kit will be delivered and we will have more care givers in our home. We are grateful that we can have support but sometimes the whole process with all the meetings and phone calls involved gets overwhelming, as well as the sadness of knowing that this is needed.
This morning, I was sitting, in a nearly two and a half hour meeting, and thinking about the neglected housework; the children who were waiting for a picnic in the park; the floor that had just had milk spilled on it and the extras that were going to need arranging. It all felt too much. There are far busier people but for me, at that moment, the burden felt heavy. Then I remembered, these verses by Annie Cousins.
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
He sendeth more strength when the labours increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
God's grace is sufficient for me and for everyone who trusts in Him.
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12v9
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Oh, thank you for this hymn and good reminder! This was an encouragement I needed today.
ReplyDeleteMy family is also on the verge of more change as we're sending two daughters off to college this week. (One for the first time, the other for her second year.) Three years ago I had six children still at home, and this year there will be only two. We've also have had elderly parents and have both lost our mothers during this time. May the Lord bless you as your care for your loved ones and give you strength as each day requires. I've prayed for your family that there will also be sweet times in the midst of the hard days.
Thank you, Anne. I'm glad this encouraged you, too.
DeleteThank you for this reminder and encouragement. I pray that the Lord will help the changes to go more smoothly for you and yours. There have been a lot of changes and challenges for us this year. Sometimes it feels like it's been three years since January instead of less than one!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I think Annie Johnson Flint is the writer of that poem. :-)