The latest little Ewen entered the world on February 8th. His name is Elijah Shane and we are calling him Eli. What a tribute! God is so good. When I talked with Christy, she assured me that she and Matt are doing mighty fine and adjusting to life with a newborn babe. Now that Eli has arrived, naturally, Aunt Casey just can’t stay away. I am planning a quick trip to Texas this week to meet my new little nephew and visit the family. What a blessing it will be! Pray for all the Ewen’s during this tender time.
Last weekend, Dave and Vicki came through Colorado on their way to Texas and we had very special time together. They loaded the pick-up with Shane’s gun cabinet, Rendezvous gear, garden tools, and other things they kept for me in storage over the last year. As we gingerly unpacked the boxes and lovingly placed those iconic things all throughout the house, a brood of emotions pushed through the front door and confronted me. Excitement. Sadness. Joy. Anger. Contentment. Sorrow. Bewilderment. While these emotions are unpredictable and I never know when they will show up, they do visit me with great frequency. I am learning to embrace these “visitors” as welcomed guests. Dave and Vicki invited the house guests in with me and together we shared the laughter and the tears, sharing sweet memories stored-up in all of that stuff.
Dave and Vicki brought with them our little Sheltie, Goodness, who has been vacationing in Greybull for over one year now. I am thrilled about having him back with me! It will be comforting to come home to the happy wag of his tail each night. When the weather warms, Goodness and I plan to take on the open trails in Erie and sniff out what’s new in town. I have really missed having Goodness around. That sentence made me reflect for a moment and there is an obvious object lesson embedded in those words that I must share with you.
Many know the significance of our dog’s name and as Shane tells it, the Good Shepherd owns two Shetland Sheep Dogs or Shelties and uses them to keep us wayward sheep in line. It even says so in the Bible, in the 23rd Psalm, “Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all of the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” When I made the statment that I missed having Goodness around I realized that goodness has never left me. God’s goodness and mercy always surround us, really. Whether the Lord is leading us through deep valleys or green pastures, raging or still waters, goodness and mercy are everpresent. For that I am so thankful.
God’s goodness came to us all last week in the life of Elijah Shane. God is so gracious and mercifully good to us. I am so glad I know Him and I can trust Him to make all things good, in his time.
Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.