Consider the Lilies . . .

“During the bombing raids of WWII, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them, "Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow." “(Linn, Dennis et al, Sleeping With Bread, p.l)  


It occurred to me as I read this passage that these orphans were able to sleep, only because they were able to hold on to something that would nourish them. This is what brought them enough peace of mind that they were able to let go of the cares and woes of their life for a moment, a moment long enough to be able to fall asleep in . . .

I have been really and truly blessed in my life. I have never had to go to bed hungry, unless it was by choice . I have always had a roof over my head, be it small or large, humble or luxurious. I have always had a coat to keep me warm and dry, and shoes to keep my feet in the same manner. I have always had the luxury of being able to take a bath or a shower with warm running water, with soap and shampoo and other luxuries that I often take for granted. When I go to the “loo” I sit on a porcelain throne and not a hole in the ground.

I go to bed at night, neither cold, nor wet, nor afraid . . .  with the comforting warmth of my husband laying next to me. I have no fear of a bomb dropping on my house during the night and I don’t’ have to listen to the sounds of distant shells going off and fear them getting closer.

Yes, I live in relative comfort compared to 90% of the world at large, and yet . . . there are times when even I cannot sleep. Nights where I lay there and toss and turn, unable to let go of my thoughts or worries of the day that has just passed, my mind mulling over things again and again. Perhaps I have some important event looming in the day to come, a talk to give at church, or a lesson to teach . . . other times it might just be as simple as having had my routine interrupted and being able to settle down.  How many of us are like this?? I would wager more than just a few . . .

Sometimes when I find I cannot fall asleep I lay there and begin to pray extra prayers for others. I start with the letter A and I pray for everyone I know, individually, who's name starts with the letter A. And so it goes, on through the alphabet until eventually I do fall asleep. Somehow being able to focus on the problems and needs of others is quite helpful in helping me to forget my own. In many instances,  my own needs pale in comparison. I rarely ever get more than halfway through the alphabet though, before I am gone off to "lala" land . . . sailing away in a pea green boat with winkin, blinkin and nod . . . so if your name starts with anything much past an "M", you'll have to wait for my wakening prayers . . .

It occurs to me that at times like those, with my mind full of my own cares and woes . . .  I need to just let go and let God. I need to hang onto the nourishment of the knowledge that He is and He cares and what will be will be, and just hand all my thoughts and woes over to him for that moment . . .

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? "Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?' or "What shall we drink?' or "What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these thingS. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” 
~Matthew 6:28  

 

The thought just occurred to me that all of the children in these old photos from London in WW2 are probably either very old now or no longer on the earth.  Todd is 80 and he was born just as the War started. He never saw his father until he was 7 years old, and there are 8 years between him and his brother, who was born after the War.  He was born in the East End of London, within the sound of Bow Bells, so he was a true East Ender.  Once the Blitz started however, his mom moved them out to  the suburbs where they lived with his maternal grandparents for the duration of the War.  He can remember the sounds of the bombs and even one occasion when an incendiary bomb went through the roof into the attic of his Grandfather's house and started a fire, which they had to put out.  They had a hut dugout in the back garden that they would go into when the air raid sirens went off and he can remember feeling afraid.  He had a Mickey Mouse gas mask that he carried with him to school and if he was at school and the air raid sirens would go off, his mom would come to pick him up and take him home. 

His father was one of the soldiers rescued from the beaches in the miracle of Dunkirk between the dates of May 26 and the 4th of June, 1940. If you have seen the film Dunkirk, you will realise just what a miracle it was that anyone survived.  War is a terrible, terrible thing. If I could have three wishes one would be to end War, and another to end Poverty, and another to end Hunger. 

 

 There was a Relief Society Christmas Activity at the chapel last night.  There was cooking demonstrations and crafts to do.  My friend Tina and her husband Tony did Christmas Cakes and these lovely chocolate cones . . .

 

There was also chocolate lollies and a tasty cheese thing.  Plus there was a Balloon Nativity, some Nativity Pebbles to paint and paper lanterns.  I didn't actually go.  I have such a hard time sleeping after being out in the evenings that I gave this a miss.  We are having the Senior Couple Missionaries for dinner today and I wanted to be awake for that!  (Hard cheese when you have to make these kinds of choices!)  I really would have enjoyed the RS Activity I am sure!

A thought to carry you through the day:
° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *"What would you attempt to do 
if you knew you could not fail?"
~Dr. Robert Schuller  •。★★ 。* 。 

 

I know its a week late for Thanksgiving, but some of you might want to bake this for Christmas. You never know.  Sheet Pan Pumpkin Pie.  This was really good! 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!  Don't forget along the way of your day! 

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And I do too!