Monday 11th May - Rowena
I’ve always enjoyed reading: ever since I was a little girl, I was often found with my nose in a book or comic and my thumb in my mouth! It was, and still is, a lovely escape into another world. Enid Blyton’s 'Famous Five', ‘St Clares’ and ‘Malory Towers’, historical books, Agatha Christie, even ‘The Guns of Navarone’, a war book, when I was trying to impress a boyfriend of the time!
When the children were young reading to them was important to me as a mother. Then in more recent years, for myself, autobiographies, Victoria Hislop's books which are a mix of fiction and fact, Barbara Taylor Bradford series, Christian authors recommended to me and then what is know as “chick-lit”!!, easy to read, predictable stories, usually set in lovely places such as Cornwall, Scotland, Norfolk and even Milton Keynes! Often set in run down coffee shops, libraries, canal boats or old inherited houses and the heroine sets to, turns everything around with a little help from friends and often finds love as a bonus!
At the beginning of the year I decided to stretch myself again and read a more involved book set in Rome (which I enjoyed and learned a bit about that city and which I look forward to visiting sometime) and then one set on a Greek Island. However, the lock-down then commenced, with all the changes that brought to everyday life, and the book turned out to be a bit dark and depressing! I made myself finish it, but have now returned to my “chick-lit” books with twists and turns, but happy endings.
One I’ve just finished reading was set in a fictional place called “Rainbow Bay” and at the beginning of the book is a quote by Oscar Wilde: “When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.”
How apt just now when all around us rainbows are being displayed in gratitude for our N.H.S. and encouraging us to stay home and stay safe. I made some rainbow coloured bunting a few weeks ago to hang in our window to show support for the N.H.S. and front-line workers and I also invited our Toddler Group children to send me pictures of rainbows they’ve created and I’ve now created a ‘rainbow quilt’ on the outside notice board at the hall – hopefully for those who see it, it will brighten their day, share a bit of hope and positivity, show support for our N.H.S. and also show that although our building may not be as open as it usually is and our activities are on hold, our church family is still connected. See picture.
But, of course, as Christians, the sign of the rainbow is also a sign of God’s love to the world. We read in Genesis that after the flood God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant, His promise, that nothing would separate us from His love and care. In these days we can rest on that promise. He is with us each day, sharing our pain, our frustrations and fears, our loneliness.
The other Sunday (3rd May) the Songster song was “Everywhere” and the 2nd verse words are:
Everything is changing in the world today,
There’s one thing reliable in every way,
Other things may alter but it’s clear and plain
That the love of God is just the same.
So going back to the quote in my book:
“When you see rain, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.”
In our confused world and everyday lives, when we see the rainbows displayed, as well as giving thanks for our N.H.S. and the other key workers, we can also be filled with the assurance that God is with us – He is in the care and dedication given by our front line workers, He is in nature, He is in a phone call, He is in a friendly ‘safe distance’ smile or wave, He is in a neighbourly good deed, He is in a beautiful song or piece of music, He is in that feeling of peace when we take time to be in His presence. He is our heavenly Father, who loves us so much more than we can imagine and is holding us in His hands.
Prayer:
Eternal God, help me to remember that you are God on whom I can depend in every situation. When I feel lost and alone, teach me that you are there. When I feel overwhelmed by life’s troubles, help me to remember that you are close by. At times when the future troubles me, help me to understand that you are watching over me, and I can live each day confident that you are with me.
Amen
When the children were young reading to them was important to me as a mother. Then in more recent years, for myself, autobiographies, Victoria Hislop's books which are a mix of fiction and fact, Barbara Taylor Bradford series, Christian authors recommended to me and then what is know as “chick-lit”!!, easy to read, predictable stories, usually set in lovely places such as Cornwall, Scotland, Norfolk and even Milton Keynes! Often set in run down coffee shops, libraries, canal boats or old inherited houses and the heroine sets to, turns everything around with a little help from friends and often finds love as a bonus!
At the beginning of the year I decided to stretch myself again and read a more involved book set in Rome (which I enjoyed and learned a bit about that city and which I look forward to visiting sometime) and then one set on a Greek Island. However, the lock-down then commenced, with all the changes that brought to everyday life, and the book turned out to be a bit dark and depressing! I made myself finish it, but have now returned to my “chick-lit” books with twists and turns, but happy endings.
One I’ve just finished reading was set in a fictional place called “Rainbow Bay” and at the beginning of the book is a quote by Oscar Wilde: “When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.”
How apt just now when all around us rainbows are being displayed in gratitude for our N.H.S. and encouraging us to stay home and stay safe. I made some rainbow coloured bunting a few weeks ago to hang in our window to show support for the N.H.S. and front-line workers and I also invited our Toddler Group children to send me pictures of rainbows they’ve created and I’ve now created a ‘rainbow quilt’ on the outside notice board at the hall – hopefully for those who see it, it will brighten their day, share a bit of hope and positivity, show support for our N.H.S. and also show that although our building may not be as open as it usually is and our activities are on hold, our church family is still connected. See picture.
But, of course, as Christians, the sign of the rainbow is also a sign of God’s love to the world. We read in Genesis that after the flood God placed the rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant, His promise, that nothing would separate us from His love and care. In these days we can rest on that promise. He is with us each day, sharing our pain, our frustrations and fears, our loneliness.
The other Sunday (3rd May) the Songster song was “Everywhere” and the 2nd verse words are:
Everything is changing in the world today,
There’s one thing reliable in every way,
Other things may alter but it’s clear and plain
That the love of God is just the same.
So going back to the quote in my book:
“When you see rain, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.”
In our confused world and everyday lives, when we see the rainbows displayed, as well as giving thanks for our N.H.S. and the other key workers, we can also be filled with the assurance that God is with us – He is in the care and dedication given by our front line workers, He is in nature, He is in a phone call, He is in a friendly ‘safe distance’ smile or wave, He is in a neighbourly good deed, He is in a beautiful song or piece of music, He is in that feeling of peace when we take time to be in His presence. He is our heavenly Father, who loves us so much more than we can imagine and is holding us in His hands.
Prayer:
Eternal God, help me to remember that you are God on whom I can depend in every situation. When I feel lost and alone, teach me that you are there. When I feel overwhelmed by life’s troubles, help me to remember that you are close by. At times when the future troubles me, help me to understand that you are watching over me, and I can live each day confident that you are with me.
Amen