What I Know
Dog lays sick,
Not eating still,
Becoming skin and bones.
We pet her tired head.
With big sad eyes,
8 year old asks,
“Mama, is she going to die?”
And I look down,
Not sure how to
Answer this question,
As I am really
Not sure, but
In my heart I know
It’s not looking good.
But another part of me holds out
For hope and miracles
And for 11 year old dogs
To act young again.
So I pull her up
On to my lap and
Say what I can,
“I don’t know.”
And these words start
Rolling around in my head,
And all
The uncertainties
Of the day
Come rumbling in
Like big thunderclouds.
The “I don’t knows,”
Hanging heavy,
Ready to pour
Rain on my day,
But her eyes
Keep looking
At mine,
Searching
For something to hang
Her hat on,
Something
To help her
Push this worry away,
And so I say,
Talking to her and
To my own soul,
That so desperately needs
A talking to.
“When I am stuck in a
‘Don’t know’
I start thinking,
And counting,
The things
I do know.”
And so we started counting,
And naming,
The things
We do know,
What you have
Told us
In Your word.
You are good,
And faithful.
You will never leave
Us alone and
Will be there when
We are sad.
You will wipe
Our tears away,
And hide us in
Your love until
The storm passes.
You have a plan and
Purpose for us that is good.
You are in control,
And we are held,
And helped,
And taught,
And completely cared for.
We know that
In this world
We will have trouble,
And sorrow
And heartache
And pain.
Things break,
And fall apart,
And die.
But You will make
All things new,
And right.
And so,
The best is
Yet to come.
You are re – storying us.
You never get tired or old,
You are perfect and
Your plans are
Perfect too,
And the list went on,
And on,
Pushing that thunderhead
On its way,
Making space for
Sunshine and light
Warmth and life.
We give the dog one more
Scratch behind
The ears,
And say goodnight,
Knowing we are
Loved
And held tight.
Jeremiah 29:11
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
Revelation 21:3-5
I heard a voice thunder from the Throne: “Look! Look! God has moved into the neighborhood, making his home with men and women! They’re his people, he’s their God. He’ll wipe every tear from their eyes. Death is gone for good—tears gone, crying gone, pain gone—all the first order of things gone.” The Enthroned continued, “Look! I’m making everything new.