Encouraged in an unlikely time!

Caroline has been sick this past week. Her illness required us to do breathing treatments with her for 15 - 20 minutes every four hours. The way that I can help Caroline stay calm is by rocking to her and singing to her.

I am an old hymn kind of girl. I have always liked them and was raised in a home and a church that sang them! Since becoming a mother I have been thankful for a repertoire of memorized hymns.

At night I usually sing one or two hymns and then put her down, but with the long stretches these breathing treatments gave me I got into some hymns I hadn't sung in a while and I also had time to meditate on the words.

While I was singing Great Is Thy Faithfulness the words really hit me. It is so true that the Lord has proven himself to be faithful to David and me in our short 4 years together. Sometimes we don't really know how we are/ how we will make it through Seminary, but we are! Every need we have has been met through the Lord's gracious provision. We have never needed to worry. I wanted to share the words of this hymn and pray that the truth of the Lord's faithfulness will encourage you as it has me! (and encourage me down the road when I read this!)

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!