A Pendulum Effect

Isn't life interesting!  When I look back on the nearly 13 years of marriage, I can see how the pendulum swings.  When Pete worked away from home a lot, I got 'the majority of the parenting' swing.  When I had just had a baby and was down for a while, he got 'the take care of everything' swing.  When he was sick with Malaria, I got the 'take care of everything swing'.  When I was studying Hairdressing he got 'the twice a week in the evenings it's your job to hold down the fort' swing.

Sometimes the swings are high and extreme, sometimes they are small and easily handled.  Sometimes there is something expected, sometimes there is a big shock followed by a massive swing.  And then sometimes there seems to be no swinging at all, things are just running smoothly, things seem right in the world.

I love those calm, still, peaceful, drift through times.  But you know, I do love to swing.  I used to get my dad to push me so high on the swings the chains were bending.  I remember (probably much to my mother's horror) that I used to jump off the swing when it was at it's apex and land safely in my father's arms.  For just one brief moment I was flying!  The feeling of your stomach lurching, then falling, then swinging back up the other way, sigh, those were the days.  I used to swing for hours.

So life throws these pendulum swings at us.  It always will, whether it is by our own doing or not.  I am becoming more capable of accepting the swings, the extremes in life that make you grateful for the air you breath, the variety of healthy food you eat, the comfort of warm cosy beds, the laughter of healthy children, the loving embrace of my husband, the ease with which my body (normally) works.

And when the ride gets too rough and we are afraid, don't know if we can handle it any longer, we have the chance to let go, fly if only for a moment and then land safely in our Father in Heaven's arms, where we can find rest for a time.

He leaves his peace with us:  "... my peace I give unto you:  not as the world giveth, give I unto you.  Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)

Sometimes this is much easier said than done, but I am learning.  Bit by bit we come closer to our Father in Heaven, if we will only turn to Him, trust Him and allow Him to guide us through this *pendulummy life.

*If this turns out to be a really cool word, then I want to make it known that I came up with it first :)