Day Three Lent Reflections

I feel I am being urged to journal some of my Lenten thoughts as I go along each day to share with anyone who may also feel being led to read them .  As I bring to God those around me who are facing heavy burdens such as serious illnesses , grief ,feeling completely helpless to help our loved ones ,worrying how the bills are going to get paid, wondering how much longer the family vehicle is going to continue to go ,facing the prospects of no employment to provide for the family, or how one might live through another day of utter despair and lonliness I am reminded again and again ,over and over how our Lord  promised many times that we would never be left alone to face any trial or tribulation. We are not promised however  that all will be forever well,fair ,easy,painfree by loving and trusting God but we will never have to face anything alone.That is enough for me . That's what allows me to get back  up after I fall in times of hopelessness,helplessness,lonliness,guilt, worry,anger, unforgiveness,sadness.  I'm human and no matter how much or how long I have loved and trusted my Lord I still fall and will always fall because that is what being human is all about. But I know I will get up again. It might take an hour ,a day ,aweek ,a month or years but I will rise from the ashes with more strength than what I had when I fell.  But I must also accept God's help by giving Him my best shot at trying to be strong and brave . God cannot work in or with me if I don't open the window to my heart al least even a crack. Just that crack is all God needs to do a big work as I inch my way back to life . But I have learned how imperative it is that I trust,if nothing else that I trust and believe that I give an inch God will take the mile.  And that inch might just be opening the blinds every morning and saying Thank You God .Three mighty words. I just realized this morning that it has been a morning ritual for me to open the livingroom blinds that I only close at night because Oreo sees his reflection in the windows and barks at himself ,and each morning as the blinds open I scan the sky ,look out to the sea and take in what I see around me in nature ,God's creation and I offer up the simple words ,Thank You God. For  that minute or so I am a little lamb of the Loving and Caring Shepherd so grateful to be able to frolic and feast from the green pasture knowing I am safe under the Shepherd's watch and I know if I become lost ,He will come and find me .Yes He will leave the other sheep and lambs and come and find His little lamb that has strayed away and is bleating to come back to the fold. And He gently picks me up without yelling at me and tells me He is so happy to have found me ,that I am part of the flock just as important as all the rest and loved just the same amount and He lovingly reminds me how important it is  that I stay close and not repeat my choice to wander off .  Such a happy lamb I am !