Trusting My Anchor

So much has happened. When the home you raised your children in burns totally and is bulldozed, the ruins carted away in dump trucks, that is when you realize the things of life are important but not nearly so important as the memories of life. In the early morning hours of January 22, our family dog woke me up frantically crawling all over me. I got out of bed to discover the living room on fire. I had time to yell upstairs to my oldest son, who sleeps with his door closed. We both got out safely as the fire was spreading to the kitchen and ceilings. By the time the fire trucks arrived, our home was fully engulfed. After about 4.5 hours of fighting, there was enough control of the inferno to start tossing out a few things. We were able to salvage some pictures, two pieces of heirloom furniture, a few momentos and our Christmas china. Sixteen years in that house. Raising two children, hundreds of fish, several hamsters, 4 dogs. One divorce and a glorious remarriage. Celebrations, Mourning, Graduations, Fearful Diagnosis',Chemo, Radiation, Remission, Praise. Love, Fear, Worship and Faith. All of them experienced within those walls.

I mourn the family heirlooms that are lost forever. The awesome china and crystal, the rocks my Bampa touched. I have cried hours over the loss of my children's school boxes with their best papers and artwork from every year - their precious collections. I get angry that for the second time in his life, my husband has lost everything to fire. Christmas ornaments, wedding photos, high school and military yearbooks. Baptismal gown and trip souvenirs.

And yet, through it all, my anchor holds. The Lord is still my God. He is still my Savior. The Prince of Peace. Don't I know that He will always provide for me? He will always help me get through the pain, physical and emotional. My anchor may have been cast far and deep in this storm. My sails may be getting battered, but that anchor will find firm ground and a sure hold. He always does. He is the Lord.