--Faith Is Confidence ~~

--"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
---[Hebrews 11:1/ NIV]

---MY sister-in-law recently noted the nearly identical traits I share with my oldest daughter. "Faith talks like you," Laura said. "She doesn't have your sarcastic drawl, but the words are the same."

The "sarcastic drawl" description would be wrong it if weren't complete accurate. And yes, my daughter Faith and are very much alike This has led to a deep and abiding love, a good deal of confusion, and some remarkable spats. Our relationship thank God, is made better now, because Faith has become a better person. (Me? Well, ah....still some work to be done there..) But I will remember how we would argue into the night, both using the same strategy and tactics. Invariably, our matches would end in frustrating draws, like playing chess against a mirror.

The, too, is my struggle with faith --the concept, not the daughter. There is a deep and abiding love, some spectacular fallouts, and still accompanied by confusion. This time it's more like shadowboxing: I am truly fighting myself, wondering why I'm not winning and wondering why it feels so fruitless. Luckily, faith--both the concept and the daughter are far more forgiving and merciful than me, and choose to use arms to embrace rather than to fight.

--In the mean time, we press on to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Living one day at a time. ~~
--Guideposts/MC