Dear Reader:

The other day I came across a line of scripture that made me stop and re-think the close connection between letting go and grasping the unknown…a close connection but a long leap of faith

I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Philippians. 3:12

I kept reading this line of scripture over and over….because it dawned on me that the changes we most fear in life….losing  our home or job or even loved one requires us to “let go, then take hold or grasp the hand of Christ Who can already see our tomorrow and the ‘promised life’ that lies ahead… if we can act on our faith.

Yesterday the Ya’s talked a lot about letting go….Jackson went through many sleepless nights, after losing her home to the October flood, trying to figure out what was the best way to proceed….try to save the home, rebuild, or start over elsewhere.

She later said after weeks of agonizing indecision she got all the numbers crunched and realized, in her case, it was time to let go of the family home and at her particular stage in life… look for a rental apartment in the same area of Columbia that she was familiar with….She no longer wanted to worry about constant home and property upkeep, equity loans, unexpected tax hikes, etc.

After she made the decision to sell her property (and it sold quickly) her new apartment home opened up magically with everything she wanted and more. She took it. Two weeks ago she moved in.

For the first time in months…Jackson said she slept peacefully through the night. It was the right decision….she had to let go of her former dreams concerning the family home, reach out for God’s guidance, and then remember that He was nudging her closer and closer to the person she has always been destined to be.

The Ya’s now call  Jackson “True Grit”….We have seen sides of Jackson that we have never seen before….perseverance and presence. She asked questions, demanded answers and explanations and emerged from the whole ‘turning her world upside down’ experience stronger for having gone through it.

I will give you every place where you set your foot” (Josh. 1:3).

Didn’t God promise Joshua and his tribe of Israelites the promised land… only if they set their feet upon it?  In other words….we just can’t dream of God’s promise, think about it, or wish for it…we have to do something about it. We have to meet God halfway….be present to the changes and persevere until our goal is obtained. (In other words…get up off our ‘arse,’ move our feet,  and steadily continue walking to the destiny that God already sees and knows fits each person uniquely.)

Jackson has set her feet into her new “promised land” (her new apartment) by taking action…not just hoping and wishing. She met God in His promise of tomorrow, grasped His hand and followed His directions until landing exactly where God intended.

I am sure you have already guessed that my first “potting shed” potting planter project is now sitting on Jackson’s new deck. A small token and reminder of how far Jackson has come…. from seeds of hope to blooms of beauty in her new life. Our “True Grit” girl. (Though Libby, your sweet mother will always be the best “Granny Grits” for all the ages….she was the Grits Festival in St. George.)

Some people eat to live…the Ya’s just plain live to eat..so once again here is another eating episode…we have decided, like Julia Child, it is what we do best…or at least enjoy the most!

So until tomorrow….”Don’t worry about tomorrow…Jesus is already there.” Congratulations Jackson…we are so proud of you!

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh