I have been blessed with steadfastness. My family calls it stubbornness, willfulness, self-absorption. I get that, I am humbled by my manifold human failings. I also know that when I meet trials of various kinds, my faith saves me.

James 1:2-4 - 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4 Bible Gateway link

When we want things that seem impossible, we are filled with resentment and self-pity. We close the door and just get angrier and angrier that others have something denied to us. We get to choose; anger or love, impossible or possible, resentment or acceptance. God will do what he does, you can be on his side or not. Personally I choose God, I am home, I am barren AND a joyous mother.

The Lord is high above all nations, 

  and his glory above the heavens! 

Who is like the Lord our God, 

  who is seated on high, 

who looks far down

  on the heavens and the earth? 

He raises the poor from the dust 

  and lifts the needy from the ash heap, 

to make them sit with princes, 

  with the princes of his people. 

He gives the barren woman a home, 

  making her the joyous mother of children. 

Praise the Lord!

Psalm 113:4-9 -Bible Gateway link: Psalm 113:4-9

I grew up in an old growth forest on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State. I love trees. I wrote poems about trees. This verse from Ezekiel is a foreshadowing of Christ and it is a reminder that God is in charge. I love the idea of being a tiny flitting bird nesting with my family in Christ’s shade.

Ezekiel 17:22-24 -

Thus says the Lord God: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the Lord ; I have spoken, and I will do it.”

Bible Gateway link: Ezekiel 17:22-24

In the past when I heard Bible readings in church, the words would alight and then fly away. Now in my continuing study of the Holy Bible, I try to digest God’s word, really metabolize it into my being. I am more humble now. I am wiser. Nothing has ever nourished me more or kept me healthier.

 Ezekiel 3:2-3

So I opened my mouth, and he (God) gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

Bible Gateway link: Ezekiel 3:2-3 (ESV)