God Knows Best

There are things that happen in one's life that often change you forever.   These can be things you take for granted, such as learning how to read or learning how to walk.  These can be happy and exciting things like falling in love, getting married, or having a new baby.  These can also involve sad and unexpected things like getting sick, being involved in an accident,  or losing a loved one.  

We lost Father a year ago today.  It was a Friday the 13th back in 2017.  As a result, Fridays have never been the same for me.   Nothing is the same.  

I have to accept that there is a new normal now.  

---o0o---

The other day I was looking at old videos and came across one that I'd seen many times before.  It was one with the three kids playing in the study room at Cebu Avenue.  The  kids had placed the cushions from our living room chairs on the floor and were running around playing "Following the Leader."   In this clip, RD was often frustrated because he kept running so fast that he'd end up at the tail, instead of being the leader.  GI and MyGirl just kept running happily at their own pace with MyGirl singing, "da leader, da leader..."  She was about 2 years old in this video and there were times she seemed at risk of being knocked down by one or both of her brothers.  You could hear the voice of Father in the background so you could tell he was nearby. 

In the past, watching the video, I wasn't looking for Father as I was focused on the kids.  When I viewed the video the other night, I was wishing so hard that I'd turned the camera just a bit to catch Father.  The video ran for over five minutes capturing the three kids in action and nobody else. Thankfully towards the end, I re-positioned myself to another spot and caught Father on camera.  There he was, sitting on a chair, watching the children.   

The very last shot was MyGirl tripping and Father reaching down to pick her up.  

It was good to see Father again, if only for those few seconds in the video. 

---o0o---

I came across this poem today.  It is true... God knows best.   We miss you everyday, Father.

God Knows Best

by Helen Steiner Rice

Our Father knows what's best for us

So why should we complain

We always want the sunshine

But He knows there must be rain

We love the sound of laughter

And the merriment of cheer

But our hearts would lose their tenderness

If we never shed a tear

Our Father tests us often

With suffering and with sorrow

He tests us, not to punish us

But to help us meet "tomorrow"

For growing trees are strengthened

When they withstand the storm

And the sharp cut of the chisel

Give the marble grace and form

God never hurts us needlessly

And he never wastes our pain

For every loss He sends to us

Is followed by rich gain

And when we count the blessings

That God has so freely sent

We will find no cause for murmuring 

And no time to lament

For our Father loves His children

And to Him all things are plain

So He never send us pleasure

When the soul's deep need is pain

So whenever we are troubled

And when everything goes wrong

It is just God working in us

To make our spirit's strong