Today is going to be a tough day. As a matter of fact, the next 24 hours promise to put me through the wringer, emotionally. Let me explain: the "wringer" portion of this part of the journey began last week, when on Saturday, June 8, Gene and I met with some of the members of Belmont Heights Baptist Church for a pot-luck "meet and greet" in anticipation of him preaching at that church "in view of a call" (that's how we say it in the south) to become their next pastor. We cleaned up (no small feat), drove the 11 miles from our house to the church, put our best feet forward and plunged in, determined to meet and remember as many people as possible. It was a successful evening; Gene preached the next morning and was voted in. Gene was ecstatic, but my joy had to be kept in check, knowing that I had unfinished business to conclude later that night at FBC, Andersonville. My love for women's ministry is no secret but it has just been in recent years that I have discovered my love for imparting, in a small group setting, the truths of God's Word and teaching others how to apply those in everyday life. So it was on Sunday night, I would go share my last "words" to my small group and tell them goodbye. It broke my heart; there really is so much more I wanted to teach them! I should have seen it coming, really. I had experienced the heights of joy, knowing that Gene was once again going to shepherd a flock (after all, it's what God has called him to do!) and then plunged into the depths of woe (facing the reality of leaving "my girls"), and my migraine tendencies could not handle the emotional swing. Monday morning's pain prevented me from going through this loss and gain with a "business as usual" attitude. Let's just say, it was a long, long day and I am grateful to the makers of migraine specific medication and a dark bedroom! By Tuesday, life was beginning to return to normal and I limped through the rest of the week somewhat successfully, which is what brings us to today. This evening at 6, our FBC, Andersonville pals and co-laborers in Christ, will host a pot-luck in our honor and then tomorrow morning Gene will preach there; I will sing (and don't tell him, but I will probably share a word!). Do you see the tendency for last week's pattern to repeat? Well, with one exception: there will be no heights of joy, only sorrow. My last post to this blog was July 4, 2008 and I mentioned therein that our "contract" with the Tennessee Baptist Convention and FBC, Andersonville would end August 31. That date came and went and Gene had not been called to a church and quite frankly, wouldn't have been ready to go had he been called. Gene had gastric bypass surgery on June 10, 2008 and was still working through his recovery and adjustment to a new life. Blessed indeed, he has now lost (and kept off) 160 pounds. All to the glory of God. But, here's the thing: FBC, Andersonville took us in when we had NOTHING to offer. I am telling you people, we had NOTHING to offer. Did I mention that we had NOTHING to offer?! As my small group will attest, 99.9% of verses I reference come from The Psalms and/or Proverbs. Quite frankly, they are my "bread and butter" and it is where I have lived devotionally and prayerfully, for the last 35+ years. So, it came as no shock to me when God underlined in my heart Psalm 113:7-8 to claim for Gene. It says: "He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap, that He may seat him with princes-with the princes of His people. He grants the barren woman a home, like a joyful mother of children." I recognized then and affirm today that the people of FBC, Andersonville, are indeed the "princes (and princesses) of God's people." They have quite literally, loved us back to wholeness. It pains me even now, to remember how "broken" we were; that word doesn't begin to communicate. It was utter soul devastation. Yes, Gene had health issues that could no longer be overlooked and those of course, caused pain. But the pain he endured in his body could not begin to compare to the pain that his soul, invested in others, experienced when those were ripped from his life and he had to come face to face with living a life he was not called to live. The man who signed on with the Barnabas Ministry of the Tennessee Baptist Convention had no physical health, no emotional energy and no spiritual vigor. That was March, 2008. Tonight, June 15, 2013, when we fellowship and tomorrow when he preaches, Gene's physical health has been re-discovered, his emotional energy restored and his spiritual vigor renewed. God has used His precious Holy Spirit, His unchanging Word and the faithfulness of His people to accomplish this, once believed, insurmountable task. So, maybe this week the migraine and my out of control emotions can be avoided. I am calling it now: I am heart broken. Tonight I will clean up and wear make-up and promptly cry it off. I will sing in the morning with my eyes closed so as not to look in the faces of those who have spared nothing for Gene and me and wonder if we will ever be assembled in a like manner again. And then, between now and June 30, I will prepare my heart for another journey: that of being the wife of Pastor Gene at Belmont Heights Baptist Church. I just know I am going to love that role like I did with the beloved at Stock Creek Baptist Church from 1993-2007. Thank you, FBC, Andersonville, for allowing us to rebuild, refresh and renew in your presence. Only eternity will reveal the blessings that were ours these last 5 1/2 years. Well, heck. I am already crying. Like I said, it's going to be a tough day!