Sunday Nap

Jeremy and I have been going non-stop for the past week.  With Jeremy's last classes before an 8 week break, studying, cooking, cleaning, seeing friends, selling my first custom order, working, we've been busy.  This weekend has also been packed full of fun stuff to do.  Friday was spent apart with me helping my sister-in-law decorate for Stacy's shower and Jeremy going to church with his dad (getting ready for the service project the following morning).  We each arrived home Friday night tired and cranky.  Saturday morning arrived all too early and we again went our separate ways.  I attended the shower honoring my sister-in-law, Stacy.  It was beautiful.  I had done all the flowers in a blue/purple and ivory theme.  They turned out perfect. The food was wonderful and the decor was planned down to the last detail by my other sister-in-law, Holly.  It was so much fun, and Stacy really racked up in the present department. Jeremy joined the rest of our church in a service project that helped hand out groceries to families in need.  He loved spending time with his dad and some of our close friends, but more than that, he left feeling like his hard work had glorified God and His will for how we should live.  After all that, we packed into my parent's car and headed to Greensboro for an engagement party honoring a close family friend and his fiance.  That was a blast.  Carolina BBQ (as if there's any other kind), all the fixin's, good company, and a bedtime of about 2:30am.  We arrived back home around 1:30pm this afternoon and I demanded that Jeremy take a nap, since we are headed to his parent's house in a couple of hours for his birthday dinner.  I mean, could we have planned more things for this little weekend?  Needless to say, he conked right out.  I got some laundry done, checked email, folded laundry, then decided to join my beloved in our bed. Foster followed suit as he nimbly jumped up on the bed with his sleepy parents.  With Jeremy at one end, his head on his pillow, me at the other end, my head on my dog's warm belly, we napped.  My husband held my feet like a teddy bear and I snuggled my dog like, well a teddy bear.  That was the sweetest time I've had in a couple of weeks.  I'm so grateful for everything and everyone we got to see this weekend.  But I'm also thankful for those quiet moments as a family that we can unwind.  God is good and He provides us with rest time, we just have to take advantage.  

Thank you Lord for my family, for my friends and the wonderful time had this weekend.  As Jeremy still sleeps let him dream of the birthday supper that awaits us in a few hours and the love that he'll soak up.  I thank you for my better half and the chance for him to drool on his pillow in a deep sleep.  I love you Lord, your blessings are abundant.  

Jerry

His name was Jerry. He didn't have much with him, just a backpack, a small red water jug, and a mangled cardboard sign that read, "Hungry, please help." As Erin and I drove past him, I began to imagine myself in his position. He had nothing. He looked exhausted...utterly exhausted and completely humbled. Who knows how long he had been standing there waiting for generosity to flow from North Raleigh's plentiful wealth. Who knows how many cars he watched pass without even acknowledging his existence, if you could even call it that. Who knows the depth of the hopelessness this man must feel with every fleeting glance. My heart broke for him.

We drove back to Jerry's post with a turkey sandwich, fries, and a drink. Expecting him to be overjoyed with receiving an entire meal, I excitedly rolled down my window and hung out of the passenger side of the car. As we pulled up, Jerry's eyes grew bigger; filling with what little life he could muster. We stopped and as Jerry shuffled closer, his eyes seemed to retreat, and his demeanor became apprehensive. He reluctantly took the meal with an unsteady hand and mumbled what I consider valuable advice for the future: "A gift card would have been better." God must have opened my heart even more because rather than being put off by his seemingly cold response, I was intrigued. Erin prodded him to explain. Now that I am retelling the story, I am again sickened and infuriated by what we learned.

Jerry went on to tell us that gift cards are better because recently, people have been messing with him; he spoke of how he has found glass and spit in food that people have "generously" offered him. I could see the honesty in him, especially since he explicitly mentioned gift cards rather than money. To say that I was speechless would be an understatement.

Glass? How or why would anyone think of that? His face remained weary of our gift. We assured him that we had just bought it and that it was still warm. We also apologized for the actions of others, to which he responded, "God bless you." I know Jerry enjoyed that meal and I pray that hope was somewhat restored in him.

As soon as I begin to think that I understand the evils of this world, I am quickly reminded of how horrible people actually are. There is nothing in us that is inherently good; we have no power to make constructive or positive decisions. I have taken for granted what it means to be fallen, and I am reminded of the evil that comes out of Godlessness. I will be vigilant of the dark forces that drive human nature. I will watch for vile and diabolical powers that come out of our black hearts. Praise God for His mercy and grace that allows us to be free from our wretchedness; that allows us to overcome our bondage to evil.

I also began to ponder why, when our hearts broke for Jerry, others would endeavor to humiliate the humble. This man had nothing and all he wanted was to eat. His sign didn't request money or alcohol or anything substantial. He wanted to sustain himself. To be completely honest, part of me envies him. He has nothing, but he may have more than most. He has been completely humbled, and only then are you able to see the power of Christ.

Appropriately, today's devotion through journeydevotionals.com speaks of Jesus' humility and the symbolism of His arrival to Jerusalem on a donkey. Jesus' victory came by way of humility, although the journey was not easy. Jerry's journey, like Christ's, has not been easy, and he too has been mistreated, even in his lowly state. Let us make every effort to humble ourselves. Let us struggle for those who struggle and let us give to those who lack.