Quiet House

No longer are there the happy sounds of family members in the house. Lisa was the last to leave when I took her to the bus station late last evening. Today is the first day of a new phase of life for me. I will head back to the office this morning after being absent since Last Monday. There will be plenty of work waiting to occupy my day, but first I will participate in our daily chapel/prayer time. A time of worship and prayer for needs here and around the world. As I have said many times, I have never enjoyed a job more but been paid less. My compensation far exceeds any monetary value. I look forward to returning to some sort of a routine in my life, but continue to experience the tremendous loss of the partner and love of my life for nearly 49 years.

A greeting from dear friends rings in my ears, and is the desire of my heart today:

"Lord, if there were words that could heal a heart,
I would speak them...
If there were songs that could fill the emptiness,
I would sing them...
If there were arms big enough to hold the loss...
I would extend them.
But only You, Lord, can offer these precious mercies.

In your grace, please grant them, Lord."

Love,

Chuck