Healing the Sting

This Memorial Day weekend was filled with awesome outdoor fun for our family. We pretty much did everything you could possibly do under the sun...we went camping, had hot dogs and s'mores over the fire, attempted some golfing, enjoyed a couple of lake beaches, and went swimming at the nearby pool.

But as the sun starting going down Monday night, Doug stepped onto the front porch and before he even made it out of the front door and huge bee stung him right on the nose. He slammed the door, let out a few bleeps, and ran for the hornet sprayer mumbling things under his breath like, "Oh... it's like that, huh? You're gonna get it now. I didn't want to do this, but it's over," while I tried not to bust out laughing. :)

I guess you could say he asked for it. But at the same time, it seemed unfair. You see, for months now we've watched these bees tirelessly make a home on our front porch. It started about the size of a pea, and on the day of the attack, was close to the size of a softball. I kept telling him to get rid of it, and people who would stop by would get a little freaked out, but Doug said he had come to really appreciate their work ethic and somehow felt bad now that he saw the motivation and labor behind it all. So all this time we just tiptoed around it and let them be. But regardless of our tolerance of them, even our appreciation, they came after us. That sucker got Doug good - blindsided him without a chance to react. Immediately, Doug retaliated and realized his gentleness just got him hurt in the end.

As I laughed to myself while Doug tried to numb the sting, I immediately related to the feeling. Lately, I've been feeling super discouraged and down. I'm an emotional person to begin with and sometimes I can't even handle my own junk, but recently I've been listening to and counseling other young women whose situations I can relate to. People in the past have told me I have a gift of empathy. But sometimes it feels like such an overwhelming burden, being surrounded by others emotions, situations, attitudes, and flat-out lies. Anyway, I was becoming consumed with this darkness, this feeling that, no matter how much effort is put into it, how gentle I am, how tolerant, how appreciating, how loving... in return, I've been getting stung. Bad. I don't know.. maybe I think in spiritual metaphors too much, but I watched my husband basically set himself up to be attacked and found this Word and thought, "Yes, God. That's where I'm at right now."

"The enemy pursues me,
    he crushes me to the ground;
he makes me dwell in the darkness
    like those long dead. 

 So my spirit grows faint within me;
    my heart within me is dismayed." ~Psalm 143:3-4

Even still, I've been given a solution better than any poisonous sprayer. David goes on to say..

"I remember the days of long ago;
    I meditate on all your works
    and consider what your hands have done." ~5

I may be seeing a lot of bad right now, but what about all the good You've done!

"I spread out my hands to you;
    I thirst for you like a parched land.

 Answer me quickly, Lord;
    my spirit fails.
Do not hide your face from me
    or I will be like those who go down to the pit." ~6-7

Crap. I need You, right now.

 ^"Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
    for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
    for to you I entrust my life.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord,
    for I hide myself in you.

Teach me to do your will,
    for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
    lead me on level ground." ~8-10

Remind me how much You love me, and then lead me. No matter what's going on around me. I have You.

This morning, I felt a breeze of encouragement and realized, when I'm under attack, even if I get hurt, I can go to my Father. He will heal the sting and move me forward. Every time.