The Year of Restoration

Five days into a new year that I've been struggling to find the "new" in.

Same old battles with my children over nap time and sharing. Same persistent cold that has clung to each family member in turn for the past month and drained every room's box of Kleenex. And what seizes my heart most, same issues that have continued to haunt my husband's security where employment is concerned.

Tonight, he is out in the coldest weather our state has seen in fifteen years. Not battening down the hatches to protect the pipes in this old house or the potted plants out back. Not tucking in the two outside cats against the bitter cold.

Instead, in the dark of night, he's moving the remainder of his books, files, papers, and even the huge wall clock to the new office he started moving into during the pre-dawn hours this past Monday.

Armed with three layers of clothes, felt black cap, fleece-lined gloves, and a mini van emptied of children's car seats, he trudges up and down stairs. Boxes filled from the old; boxes emptied into the new--just one more move in a list so long I've lost count, humbly doing what it takes to keep himself employed.

Not content to take away from his evening after-work time with the children and not able to take time away from his busy 9-5 workday, he subtracts from the only category left--his sleep. And I sit up waiting for him, wishing I could help instead of keeping watch over the sleeping flock at home.

But even in this newest twist that brings me to tears, I am thankful God continues to give him--even now--a good job.

And I see hope coming.

Even in this impenetrable cold, in the true darkness not found near any city...here, I know restoration is coming.

Ann @ Holy Experience talks about naming each year.

As I look back, I know 2009 was the Year of Survival--just surviving a first year with twins; just surviving each semester's overwhelming teaching load; just surviving my in-depth Bible studies that many times seemed more than I could intellectually handle.

But in my heart, I believe 2010 is the Year of Restoration.

I hear it just as clearly as I hear the warmth creaking through this old house each morning when I rise to turn on the heaters before the children lumber out of bed.

As I struggle to find the new, I hear God whispering Joel 2 in my heart.

"And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed (v. 25-27).

I whisper back, "Yes, Lord."

As I write this, our house plans have been dusted off.

Five years hath the locust eaten. But restoration comes in the morning.

I cannot say it loudly enough. Praise the name of the Lord my God who has dealt wondrously with me and my household.

Photo: My dad this past Christmas Eve, reading the story of our Savior's birth.