It’s time for an update on some of the changes swirling around my life, in case you’re wondering where I’ve been.
First:
We’ve moved into Firwood Cottage (photos coming soon!) and I have fallen head over heals in love with my new/old little home! It’s cozy and fresh, full of light with warm wood floors— and the kitchen is a better cook than I am.
There is still plenty of work to be done but now that we’re settled in we can take our time. Stay tuned for my “Garage Give-away”, when I’ll finish sorting through my too-much stuff and spend a Saturday giving it all away. A great way to meet my neighbors and let others enjoy pretty things.
Second:
I’ve started in on writing my book.
It is the story of losing my hearing and all the anger and grief that I handled with so little grace… and God’s amazing grace to me in spite of my wrong reaction. It is a story about learning to listen to God and falling intimately in love with my Redeemer.
Many of you prayed as I gathered up the courage to submit my proposal to my agent who in turn submitted it to several publishers. Now I’m hard at work, learning how to do this— still scared but confident that God will not leave me to do it on my own. I signed a contract with Zondervan publishers and have a wonderful editor working with me.
Third:
Drums roll… Matt is engaged! If you followed my year of writing LETTERS TO MY SON, you’ll know that he asked me what to look for in a wife. Little did he suspect that his question would prompt such a long reply!
Matthew and Simona met at Bridgetown and have been dating for over a year. The whole Comer family is delighted and filled with joy over their love story. I am hoping to post their story in all its wonderful detail one of these days…
Since Matt just proposed this week (in New York City!) I haven’t yet heard a firm date… details to follow!
And fourth:
My daughter, Elizabeth, along with Brook and their two children are moving to L.A.
I am sad… I have loved being so close to my daughter, who is my close friend. I have cherished the hours spent with Duke and baby Scarlet. Now those relationships will look a little different as we connect from a distance. They will, however, be living just 15 minutes from Rebekah— I expect to gain a whole lot of frequent flyer miles in the years to come!
At the same time, I couldn’t be more proud of Brook and Elizabeth. They are following God’s clear leading to be used by Him to influence and impact one of the culture centers of our world. To do this they have chosen to make significant sacrifices, choosing His way over comfort and ease.
Years and years ago, Phil and I were mentored by two missionary couples (Bill and Laurie Keyes and Norm and Muriel Cook) who pressed into our hearts a saying that we, in turn imprinted into the lives of our children.
We were, and are…
willing to go anywhere… at any time… to do anything.
And so, it shouldn’t surprise us that our children are following hard after the God they have seen to be so fully trust-able in our lives.
Times of significant change, I have learned, either leave us insecure and sad, frantically trying to control the inevitable… or thrust us closer into the heart of a God who never changes.
His sameness becomes our comfort. His faithfulness to care for us becomes our story, and His.
I love this wild adventure of following Jesus. After all these years and decades of tentative trust, of risking and worrying and believing and seeing Him write beauty in our story, I have learned that He is trust-worthy.
For those of you just starting those first wobbly steps of walking after Jesus, let me give you a bit of my courage— it gets easier, it really does.
At this point in my life, to not trust Him would be a flagrant insult.
Now…
when I worry and fuss and lose peace, I sense almost instantly that nudging back into God’s comfort and intimate care.
And...
I know with a knowing of many years, that clinging to Him is the only way in to that place of rest I crave.
Give yourself the grace of time to gather up your own stories of God’s trust-able-ness. He’s writing those stories every day. Don’t just skim the headlines, you’ll need those details to help nudge you back to His rest.
One last word: I picked up this enticing nugget of gold from a book by Amy Carmichael…
“And all through, the brave little sister held fast to Him who she believed…
and was held fast by Him.”
May we hold fast all through… and be held fast by Him,
From my heart,
Diane
P.S. Are you learning that God is trust-able? Can you share a verse or a story or some word that is helping you to hold fast?