Although I had an adventurous heart when we started out (I even bought a fishing license), I was not prepared for the refreshing dose of nature that awaited me.

We went for just three nights but every hour I was significantly less high strung. There is something like “connecting with my roots” that happens when I smell the pine trees and feel the wind on my face. Alright, we had more than our fair share of wind when paddling the raft back in!

After my deep dive into grief the previous week, the balm of nature was very soothing. I reflected, journaled and found that long debates (with our youngest son) around the fire were just the ticket.

When our children transition from being coaxed along to actually blazing the trail, then joy has arrived. Too bad David was not around to witness Solomon’s offerings to God (in the passage below). If he was, I’m sure that he would have started dancing before God.

I don’t want to miss this. Watching them take authentic steps of faith, I find such great joy in witnessing God’s faithfulness.

Speaking of…here’s a few links to take a listen to Geoff Krieger, our son-in-law’s new album “Clouds” (came out this week on Spotify or Apple Music). “Rocket”, “Heaven Song”, and “Signal of Love” are my 3 favorites.

It’s not enough to have a desire to do the job right. We also need direction and an outpouring of God’s wisdom.

Lord, please see our devoted hearts to you, based on the desire to understand your rich love towards us. Help me to never miss it but to gain wisdom, even from the house of mourning. – Teresa #griefwork #generationalwealth

2 Chronicles 1-3New Living Translation

Solomon Asks for Wisdom

1 Solomon son of David took firm control of his kingdom, for the Lord his God was with him and made him very powerful.

² Solomon called together all the leaders of Israel—the generals and captains of the army,^[a] the judges, and all the political and clan leaders.³ Then he led the entire assembly to the place of worship in Gibeon, for God’s Tabernacle^[b] was located there. (This was the Tabernacle that Moses, the Lord’s servant, had made in the wilderness.)

⁴ David had already moved the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the tent he had prepared for it in Jerusalem. ⁵ But the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri and grandson of Hur was there^[c] at Gibeon in front of the Tabernacle of the Lord. So Solomon and the people gathered in front of it to consult the Lord.^[d] 6 There in front of the Tabernacle, Solomon went up to the bronze altar in the Lord’s presence and sacrificed 1,000 burnt offerings on it.

⁷ That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

⁸ Solomon replied to God, “You showed great and faithful love to David, my father, and now you have made me king in his place. ⁹ O LordGod, please continue to keep your promise to David my father, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth!¹⁰ Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly,^[e] for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?”

¹¹ God said to Solomon, “Because your greatest desire is to help your people, and you did not ask for wealth, riches, fame, or even the death of your enemies or a long life, but rather you asked for wisdom and knowledge to properly govern my people— ¹² I will certainly give you the wisdom and knowledge you requested. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame such as no other king has had before you or will ever have in the future!”