Peace

John 16:33

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart!

I have overcome the world."

Jesus is telling the disciples this before he is taken and killed.

He knows that their grief will turn to joy.

Have you ever had those weeks that just seem to last forever??

Well this past week was one for me. It all started on Monday when my husband, my brother-in-law and I drove down to San Fransisco to be with my mother-in-law Donna for her surgery. She was scheduled for surgery not knowing if the doctors were going to complete the full surgery we all wanted her to have. For those of you who don't know the whole story I will

briefly try to fill you in.

In August 2006 Donna was diagnosed with colon cancer. She had it removed and had chemotherapy. Everything looked good and she was felling better that she had in years. Then this last January they found that her cancer had metastasized. It spread to her omentum (outside part of the stomach) and to her liver. After undergoing a more rigorous chemotherapy she went to S.F. to a doctor who would perform the surgery. Well on Tuesday of last week

she had her surgery. So down we go to S.F. It was a long day (8 hour surgery)but the news came back good. They removed the spot on her omentum, the little one on her liver and the larger one on her liver plus the left side of her liver and her gull bladder. Happy that they got what they did and she was awake we headed back home Tuesday night. Thursday was the last day of my CBS bible study for the year so Wednesday I spent preparing a dessert and finishing my lesson. Thursday night my son got the flu. YUK! Up all night with my poor sunshine as his little body tried to empty itself. Friday I was on edge just waiting for more to come from my son and nervous about the phone call to tell Dick and Donna that we wouldn't be able to come down for the weekend with the kids. Saturday Dan is off work and Ricky is feeling better so we step right into our weekend ritual of baseball. Mistake. Saturday night Ricky showed us he wasn't done with the flu. Poor baby. At this point I am so tired that I feel bad for myself and ask the Lord to heal my son so that I can rest. Sunday...Mother's Day.. I will admit that I had a bad attitude going into this day. What kind of day was it going to be with a sick child. Well the Lord blessed me even though my attitude didn't deserve it with a wonderful breakfast, cute cards and a surprise visit from my friend (who helped me pick weeds).

I bring this all up because despite the week I had the Lord reminded me that I can have peace. His kind of peace. The best kind of peace. All I have to do is look to Him and what He has done. He has overcome the world and all the sickness, anger, sadness and grief that fills it.

What joy fills my heart when I remember that.

Even in the middle of my crazy week He showed me how much He loves me and the peace that comes from knowing Him when I sat down and watched my daughter in her school concert.