Thus Far

Fighting through some hard physical days lately. Severe asthma events have left me so aware that life is fleeting—just one breath away from ending. This has meant high-dose IV steroids to keep those bronchial spasms under control. With that, Avascular Necrosis wreaks havoc in my joints, causing 8+ pain scores.

Yet, despite the physical limitations, I rang in 2024 with my family gathered around my bed—watching the NYC ball drop and toasting with some tasty apple peach sparkling cider! Later into the night, after Lovie was asleep, I set my timer for 1 minute and completed my daily ‘brain dump’—typing whatever random words came into my head for those 60 seconds. Grateful and exhausted. Loved and lonely. Sad and expectant. Those highlighted words became my notes as 2023 closed and 2024 began.

So, for this brief Wednesday Whisper, I leave you with these thoughtful words by Mrs. L.B. Cowman from Streams in the Desert.

(And I promise I’ll be back soon with the continued musings of this chronically ill, slightly crazy, but fully embraced me!)

“Thus far the Lord has helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:12. The words ‘thus far’ are like a hand pointing in the direction of the past. It had been ‘a long time, twenty years in all’ (v. 2), but even if it had been seventy years, ‘Thus far, the Lord has helped us.’ Whether through poverty, wealth, sickness, or health; whether at home or abroad, on land, sea, or air; and whether in honor, dishonor, difficulties, joy, trials, triumph, prayer, or temptation - ‘Thus far has the LORD helped!’[1]

I set my sights on 2024, confident that He has helped me thus far and will continue to do so, no matter what lies in store!

Happy 2024, my lovely readers!

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[1] Streams in the Desert, December 31st