THINK DOWNSIZING

 When husband died I wondered how I could manage to stay in my home by myself. Yet, with Paddy dog, I didn’t think I could move to an apartment. This past summer while traveling in Oregon people often asked if I’d thought about moving to Oregon where my siblings are. My usual reply, “I have a thirteen-year-old Border Collie. He needs his yard.”

Four days after I returned home, cancer took Paddy dogs life. Does this mean it’s time to sell and move, I wondered?

Last week I met with a realtor—after two hours of reality check—possible need of a new roof, the market isn’t the best in our neighborhood and, “Kathy” the realtor said, “think downsize. You want to empty your house. Make it look as big as possible.”

Many people may not find this a problem, but by Friday morning the old ‘fear and anxiety’ overwhelmed me. “How can I….”

When I called a Von, my Georgia friend, she listened to me wail for awhile and then said, “What is your Bible verse for the year.”

“Romans 15:13 is one of them,” I said and then read her the verse:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him,

so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Think about it. In December 2012 God knew the exact words to keep me centered in Him. Did peace come immediately? No, I composed an email filled with my grief about downsizing. I sent it to several friends and asked them to pray. I’m truly selfish. When I’m wading through grief once more I invite my friends to walk with me.

Still Lionhearted, Kat