This week my family and I moved ... back into our own house.

Long story. Maybe another time...

As I carefully packed  quickly chucked  things into boxes.... eager to get the job over-with, and closed the box with satisfying layers of squeaky duct tape - I found myself writing FRAGILE on almost every box.

Though my selection and care over what I was packing was minimal, though I felt little concern for the way things were done... I wasn't concerned. That's why, I think, it caught me off guard that as soon as I labeled them for any help who might move these boxes... I was quite sure that they must be labeled "fragile."

"Why the sudden concern?" I wondered. Honestly... I'm not a person who cares much for "things." I don't much enjoy shopping, the wear and tear we place on things is not worth being delicate, and I tend to grow more attached to those things which are the LEAST fragile.

When I stopped to think, I realized, that things became fragile to me when they were out of my hands.

If it was within my power to decide whether or not I'd throw them away, I had no problem.
When I stopped to think whether or not we actually had anything that I couldn't replace or would be really disappointed if it was broken, the answer was no.

And yet, I labeled them... FRAGILE.

I think in some ways I am the same way with God. And I'm glad to realize it... and try to change my perspective a bit. There are some things that I hold very dear, mainly my family and my friends. 
I would surely label them "FRAGILE" if I felt the would be taken from my hands.
But what a beautiful thought and relief it is to realize, that they have never been in my hands at all... never in the first place could I hold, control, or save them.
Perhaps the most fragile of all would be me.   
And I know... because I've been held.... that I can trust Him. I know... because I know HIM... that YES we're fragile.

 And that's exactly why He holds us.

That's exactly why He must take things out of our hands.

 Because we're fragile and He loves us far to much to trust anyone else with holding us.
He knows the ultimate outcome of all things.
He knows exactly how much weight our fragile frames can bear.
We can entrust our dearest, those that we love most. And really... He's holding them whether we like it or not.
We can't know or understand our circumstances. But we can ALWAYS trust the One who carries us through them.

So let's praise the One who holds us all this week as we face our circumstances head on. Why waste time complaining or whining about what we must walk through when we are being held so tightly... and carried to a destination on the other side of our circumstances.

 
Yes, I am more fragile than I like to admit.

But I am tightly held, I am greatly loved, and I am safe. What a wonderful Savior!

Love, Mary