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Been Gone Long Enough…

By September 22, 2014August 30th, 2022Lost in Translation

As most of you know, Janet and I spend quite a bit of our lives together – we are rarely apart and if we are, it isn’t for very long. In fact, I think for the first 30 years of our marriage, we were only apart for a total of 30 nights or so – and I mean for the entire 30 years – not 30 nights each year… But the past six days, she has been alone with her sisters out in Williamsburg – getting together as only sisters can do and that means that those of us who are married to these three remarkable women are left to fend for ourselves.

Now that doesn’t mean that any of us are incapable of taking care of our respective homes – doing the chores, making the bed, watching the dog and all the other issues that have to do with maintaining order while our spouses are away. Admittedly, there are certain things that I just don’t do. When Janet is gone, I don’t do laundry – I guess I could figure it out if I had to, but it’s just not something that I have ever done in our home. And I rarely eat anything that has to be prepared in some extensive way – I would rather just not eat. If it’s a TV dinner, or something that I can eat without much preparation, such as a sandwich, I’m good to go. But if it involves turning on a stove or pushing more than two buttons on the microwave, then it’s time to order carryout.

I know that some of this may sound foolish to some of you, but this blog is about honesty and transparency – and that’s the way I roll. I am a maniac when it comes to the house looking nice. I do dishes the dishes, water the plants, sweep the deck and clean the fountain, but I tend to arrange my meals around a paper plate and one utensil – usually a spoon or a fork – no need to get them both dirty… and other than a coffee cup, I can’t think of anything that needs to be washed so I haven’t run the dishwasher since Janet has been gone.

Grilling for one is too much work and I think there is ice cream in the downstairs fridge but I don’t care about it enough to go down and find out… I know Janet went shopping before she left, but I still don’t think she realizes how little I eat or prepare for meals when she is out of town. This morning, before the garbage truck came by, I ran down to the curb and added two bananas, a carton of strawberries, two cartons of blackberries, a bag of apple slices and two peaches to the trash. If I would have though about it, I may have eaten some of this stuff throughout Janet’s absence, but I just didn’t. And that’s a shame – especially since it fits my criteria for food – no prep and one utensil at most – and I don’t even need the paper plate…

I guess that writing about all of this is my way of saying that I miss Janet and it’s time for her to come home. I can handle three days, maybe even four, but six is too long. And as hard as I try, the house just doesn’t function as well when she isn’t here. We are a team and when a member isn’t present, it’s just not the way that either Janet or I are used to living.

Theologically, we are never alone if we believe in God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The Scripture is specific when it tells us that God is with us. Our verse for the evening is from Psalm 73:23-24, a psalm that affirms our place next to God. We are told by the writer, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.” That’s a great thought, isn’t it?

My encouragement this evening is that it is God’s desire that He is with is and should be our desire to be with Him! My prayer is that you will be aware of God’s presence in your life each day of your life. Because it’s a terrible thing to be alone and if you have already accepted the gift of eternal life, you have been assured that you will never spend even one day alone. Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…

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