Seven Nights and Six Days

Greetings dear and precious sisters-in-Christ, Our oldest son was transitioning from military life to civilian life and came home for a year. It was the summer of that year that we (my husband, son, daughter and me) decided that it would be fun to take a canoe trip down the Missouri River. My thinking was this, how hard is it going to be, we are in canoes floating downstream with the current. My first big mistake!! Departure day arrived and canoes loaded we were ready. My parents drove us to the landing and arrangements were made to pick us up 6 days later. My son and daughter in one and my husband and me in the other. As we waved goodbye and started the first sound was the muskrats then the beavers and then the sound of the paddles hitting the river. We had our map and each morning before taking off we would plan on setting up camp at a designated spot. My second thinking was, how wonderful to just float along and at night sleep in the tent. My second big mistake!! In order to set up camp we had to actually do something. There were no Motel 6's along the way. Each night camp needed to be set up. This routine was easy enough to get into with each one of us knowing what needed to be done. It was during day that the challenges came along. We had wind and rain strong enough to blow us across the wide expanse. We had heat and we had bugs. The seven nights and six days spent were the most challenging and also the most rewarding. The lessons I learned: my son has the most amazing sense of humor, my daughter has no fear when it comes to bugs and dirt and night sounds or anything else we encountered, my husband is not directionally challenged and does know how to survive in the wild, and me well I did a lot of rethinking. Abba Father, most Holy Lord, thank You that You order our days. Praise thee Lord. Thank You for our days and nights Lord. Thank You that with each day You fill it with Tender Mercies. Thank You that each night You fill it with Sweetness. Oh Lord, I pray for each sister-in-Christ that she embrace each new day with the knowledge that You have filled it and with the wisdom to know what to do in each circumstance and each challenge that she may encounter. May she start and end each day in communion with You. In Jesus Name, Amen. Enjoy Your Day,