Part 7: Chapter 4
abigailjoystevens.substack.com
The Bridge Room 111 July 20, 2020 515 Garden Plaza Court Post Falls, ID 83854 Dear Grammy Phillips, How are you doing in solitary confinement over there? Have they been letting you socialize with the other roomers yet? I suppose not since COVID numbers are on the rise. It’s hard to imagine that you’ve been isolated for four months now. I’ve been trying to do what you suggested in your last letter by talking to God in all situations, and do you know what’s strange? I think he’s speaking back to me. That feels strange to say. I haven’t told anyone about this because it feels weird to say that God speaks to me. Does he speak to you? I learned last week that my kids’ elementary school will be doing distance learning next August. So I’ve begun a list of the pros and cons of homeschooling. Homeschooling seems daunting, but the alternative is worse. In either case, the children will be here with me all day. I no longer have August’s start of school to look forward to. And what is God doing in all this? I think the Lord is trying to tell me that the good things he has in store for me aren’t out there in the future when the children go back to school and COVID ends. The good things are here and now if my hands are open to receive them. It’s awfully hard to have open hands when I know what I want…or rather, I think I know what I want. I know what I really want is God, but sometimes I convince myself that I just want a positive emotional experience. Here’s another question for you. I get angry a lot. Little things infuriate me. Someone doesn’t let me use their pool because of COVID. Theo throws a marble at a window pane and breaks it. Church has been canceled and we are back to online services again. Steve goes to an in-person meeting with his men’s prayer group and I'm jealous. Do you know an anger cure? Love, Angela Phillips