Anchors

Anchors-Taking the meaning of anchor as "source of stability or security", I
am going to mention some anchors in my life. First, though, I would like
mention some of the things that my life is not anchored  in.

My life is certainly not anchored in wealth and possessions. The truth is that it would be pointless to use wealth and possessions as my security
when I really don't have any. I have enough money for my needs but I
am far from rich. As for possessions, I have almost nothing of any value.
Besides, I know very well that wealth and possessions come and go. You have
them one day and they are gone the next. I would be foolish to get my
security out of something so unstable. Even if, at present, I had them!

My life is also not anchored in people. Of course, I appreciate the
encouragement and the prayers of friends but they are just people. People,
no matter how good friends, can, and sometimes will, let you down. I want to
have my security in something or somebody who I know for sure is always
going to be there for me.

My life is not anchored in feelings either. As I mentioned in a previous
blog, my emotions go up and down like a yo-yo. So, if I  set my anchor on
feelings, my life would go up and down like a yo-yo as well. I need to know
that I my source of security is not going to change everytime my
emotions do.

I tried to remember the anchors in my life before the stroke but that was so
long ago. I know that we (my husband and I) focused a lot on possessions. Back
then, we were young and didn't have a lot but our aim was to have more.
Another anchor for me back then was my career. Being a teacher was who I
was. Plus it provided money to buy things. But, now that my career is gone, I
realize that it really didn't matter. I know that I was anchored to my
family. To my husband and, as a mother with young children, to my children.
But my husband is gone and my children grownup and on their own so that
anchor is long gone.

My life is anchored in God and God alone. The God who never changes.  The
God who said that He will never leave me or forsake me. The God who I can
always talk to even though I have no audible words. The God who is my best
friend. You get the point. God is the solid rock at the end of my anchor.

My second anchor is the love of God. I admit that I don't really understand
how deep the love of God is. But I do know that the Bible says that God
loves like a human father loves his children. And I do know that a good
human father will do whatever is best for his children, whether they like it
or not. So I understand that whatever happens to me, good or bad, is a
reflection of His love for me.

My third anchor is the Bible. I know that whatever God says, He will do. So,
I cling to the Bible and the promises. It helps me get me through the dark
days. And, on not so dark days, it just makes me happy to read the Bible. I
know that people, no matter how well-meaning, won't always say things that can be trusted, but God will.

One other anchor for me is my church. Even though I can't be too involved
and even though I can praise by myself and I could listen to sermons online instead
if I chose to, physically going to church almost every Sunday is an anchor to
my life in a couple of ways. First, it gives me a brief respite from the
dreariness of Long-term care and, secondly, it keeps a proper perspective
for me. That there are lots of problems beside mine.

In conclusion, I want to share something that the Lord shared with me years
ago. That anything on an anchor still moves around a little but it doesn't
drift away. That is what I think when my emotions are giving me grief. I may
be moving around a little but I am not going to drift away!