October

This has been a hard month, as it has been for the past three years: October '08 we found out Mackynlee's diagnosis; October '09 we had her 2nd heart surgery, followed by seizures, a couple of MRI's, almost lost her, and after a long hospital stay coming home on a feeding tube for 6 months; Oct '10 she had her oral surgery(6 teeth removed and several capped) and now ear infections(that started while we were out of town) in both ears, a rash from the meds, a steroid shot, etc. wooooo!! Just exhausting!! I am so glad November is almost here. I am praying November will be better for our baby girl and us too. For some reason October is just not a good month for the Bedwells.

I have been feeling very overwhelmed lately. Mark is out of town(but will be home tonight for a few days.) Keeping up with Shelby's studying, the baby being sick, I've not even unpacked from our get-a-way last weekend, etc. All of you know how life can be sometimes!!! My devotion this morning was on "Perfect Peace". I just wanted to share!

Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Perfect Peace

There once was a King who offered a prize to the artist who would paint the best picture of peace. Many artists tried. The King looked at all the pictures, but there were only two he really liked and he had to choose between them.

One picture was of a calm lake. The lake was a perfect mirror for peaceful towering mountains were all around it. Overhead was a blue sky with fluffy white clouds. All who saw this picture thought that it was a perfect picture of peace.

The other picture had mountains too. But these were rugged and bare. Above was an angry sky from which rain fell, in which lightening played. Down the side of the mountain tumbled a foaming waterfall. This did not look peaceful at all.

But when the King looked, he saw behind the waterfall a tiny bush growing in a crack in the rock. In the bush a mother bird had built her nest. There, in the midst of the rush of angry water, sat the mother bird on her nest ... perfect peace.

Which picture do you think won the prize?

The King chose the second picture.

Do you know why?

"Because," explained the King, "peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble, or hard work. Peace means to be in the midst of all those things and still be calm in your heart. That is the real meaning of peace."

Addendum -- John 16:33 (NLT) "I have told you all this so that you may have 'peace' in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."