cracks & crevices

Our lemon tree has mealy bugs. This means carefully find each one, with a q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol, remove the offender and then move on to the next bug. A few weeks ago I did this careful process, breathing a sigh of relief when every leaf, stem, branch and trunk had been inspected and cleansed. Today I come back and find the crowd has doubled. A little research informs me that I must do this process every week until the buggers are gone. So, once again, I got out the q-tips, removed my glasses - I can't see with them on - and carefully removed the nasty critters. I found I must turn the tree to every possible exposure of light, for these little beast hide in every possible, miniature crevice. An hour or more later my pile of used q-tips tips over and I have to extricate my hair from the sticky droppings the pests have left on each leaf. Two hours later and the tree is now showered and clean. Sticky, with a sore back, I'm not looking forward to doing this again next week! But it did give me time to go over the events of the last week, in my head and heart, as I was working. The realities were all too parallel. Working with women who are rescued from the dregs of life one would like to think that once a step forward is taken, the next step will be in the same direction. But into the cracks and crevices of life creep the whispers of the enemy of our hearts, repeating mantra's to the subconscious like, "You will fail.", "You are not worth it.", "Don't bother.", "Those people are talking about you behind your back.""Today's ok, but just wait, tomorrow something terrible will happen.", "She just said that because she hates you." or "I give up." So often what would go unnoticed to someone else pushes one our women over the edge.

How loving our Good Shepherd, who knows how to speak the Truth in Love, deep into our heart's crevices, and bring healing. How wonderful that there is a Balm, that He alone can minister. How thankful I am that I am just His hands and feet, but He does the real work in each of our lives!