Two BIG, IMPORTANT family events … the same weekend.

1. A Family Reunion, my side, in the works for the last 9 months. A first for the Fraser clan.

2. A Family Funeral, the other side. Although expected, in the works for 1 week.

On both sides, hopes, hurts, hards, expectations, motives all knotting up in a confusing web.

Although the airline tickets for the reunion sat on my desk, I knew the right decision, for us the funeral was priority. Disappointed, yes; at peace, yes.

But many related decisions swirled around, bumping into each other with potential for bruises or worse. If I don’t come to the reunion, who will get Mom there? (One of the easiers.) I wanted perfect weekends … neither were perfect. All the knots could not be untied.

And there is a bit of peace-maker in me – which leads to the middle of the muddle.

The situations and the options were many. Should I call, perhaps an email … or nothing?

The answers came slowly … in one case, yes write – after the fact; in another, call. Allow others to live with their right decisions (even when I think their right is wrong). 

Most importantly, step out of the muddled middle. Trust, not trust the others, trust God with all the knots, all the relationships … even the bruises, all my desires and all my concerns.

Interesting, the image at the top often proves true. The muddle is in the middle. God is in the midst of the muddle too. The muddle didn’t start muddled and God is able to smooth the out the muddle in the end when I trust.

As I write, the muddle is still muddly. And my expectations rest with God.

“… The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.” Philippians 4:5b, 6, 7, NIV

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” Ephesians 3:20, NIV

Anticipating grace.

What about you? How do you trust in the midst of your own muddled middles?