Humbling Thoughts

Dear Friends,

    I woke up this morning with a sinus headache. I had to get up at 5:45 to get everyone breakfasted and off to work, but since it is a rainy day, and moving my head really makes it thump, I decided to go back to bed and catch up on letterwriting and my blogs. Our dog Tagg got up on the bed to nudge me out as if to say,"Hey Mom, it's light outside what are you doing in  bed ?" When he realized I wasn't going to get up, he flopped down resignedly at the end of the bed, but kept looking wistfully over his shoulder as if to say, " Mom, your worrying me...". He is such a good companion, sweet and funny and annoyingly persistant when things don't run on his schedule... (as he gets up from his spot at the end of the bed and tries to flip the laptop off my lap with his nose, so he can assume its place). I guess before long I will have to get up since I'll have no peace if I don't.
  In the early morning quiet, I have been contemplating a great many things, our lives since we came back from Costa Rica, health challenges and questions about the future. But while I was thinking about all these things I felt more palpably the newest ache in my heart, the sadness I feel for the poor people of Japan. The tragedy that has befallen them makes my troubles seem like inconveniences. First the earthquake, then the tsunami, and to add insult to injury, one nuclear reactor after another in the middle of a meltdown. How hopeless and helpless they must feel. In some ways I can empathize, everything but the front two rooms of our house was destroyed by Hurricane Hugo in 1982. My husband, seven yr. old son, six month old infant and I lived in one of the two remaining rooms while my husband and I began the slow process of rebuilding our lives. It took us 6 years to get back to "normal", but we didn't have to worry about our children being washed away by an ocean surge the height of a 3 story building, or being made sick by radiation from not one but three reactors melting down.
  The task ahead of the Japanese people will be a difficult one: To survive all that has befallen them and then to find the courage to face the future, bury their dead, clean up and start over. It is my job to help how I may, with my finances where we can, with any practical things I can do from here like collect clothing and toiletries to send to refugees and most importantly to keep their plight before God, petitioning for His intervention and mercy.
  Reflecting on hard days ahead of the Japanese people is helping to put my personal life challenges into perspective. I have much to be grateful for: today I woke up with my husband beside me, I know where all my dear family memebers are, I have a roof over my head and shelter from the cold and rain. I am truly humbled.
  If any of you have thoughts on how we might be a comfort to those who are now finding themselves homeless and in danger please leave a comment. I am sure if we all put our heads together we can come up with some ways to really be a help!
  I am off to start my day, I hope that you are all safe , happy and healthy. Until next time, I will see you in the mail!