There are just some things I will NEVER understand

When I was driving past a nearby, very prominent hospital I saw a sign that was very disturbing. It said something along the lines of: "9 months... that's how much time you have in Canada to get an abortion... with no medical reason necessary." If I hadn't been driving I would have burst into tears on the spot. I remember having my ultrasound done at 10 weeks when I was pregnant with each of my children and marveling at the sound the the heart pumping the blood through the tiny human being that was developing. I could not imagine how someone could think that at that point, it was not really a life. But to then think of a person aborting a child at 22 or 23 weeks (or later) when so many have been born at this age and survived was heartbreaking for me. In the moment when I realized what the sign said, I glanced at my children in their car seats and I wondered if I feel such heart ache, what does God feel when each life is snuffed out?

things keep on changing...

Well, last time I wrote, my husband was working far away for three weeks at a time and then home for a week... It didn't last too long. He was voted in as the union steward and when he raised the issue of working outside in weather that was colder than what their safety manual allowed, he was fired. The Union (CLAC) did nothing for him! So he's home now and has found a job locally. He will have to commute a bit but at least he's home at the end of each day. I don't know about anyone else, but I know that economically these last few months have been tough for us. I keep hearing that the economy is turning around but I would have to disagree with that assessment. Has the unemployment rate changed? Maybe the number of people receiving unemployment has gone down, but is it because they are employed or is it because their benefits ran out? That was the case for us, in October of last year, EI benefits ended and it took a few weeks for my husband to find work. I was a scary time! We experienced that all over again in the last few weeks, not knowing if he would find another job, if I would get more hours at work or if he would get worker's comp. (there was a workplace injury at the last job as well) WSIB agreed that he had an injury and were paying his physio bills but they are declining to pay lost wages. I understand in a way, the company terminated his employment while he was still on probation because they didn't like the fact that he was bringing up safety issues that would slow down work on the job site. I guess when you are nominated as Union Steward, you should just take the pay raise and keep your mouth shut. Don't try to protect your co-workers from mistreatment by the company, just take the extra buck an hour and do your job. Seems to be the status quo lately.
The sermons at church in recent weeks have been about doing what is right in God's sight and you will be rewarded but the world doesn't work that way. Good things happen to bad people and good people who try to do what is right, get a smack down. God doesn't tell us that the rewards that we receive will be received here in this life, because really, we are not of this world. We shouldn't love this world (but it's hard because we like our material things etc) but aim to receive our eternal rewards. Jesus told us "do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:19-21. It's so difficult to forgo the pleasures of this world but we are also told that "no one can serve two masters. Either you will hate one and love the other, or you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can not serve both God and money." Matthew 6:24
I struggle with this one! How do I rid myself of the desire to have things? I don't know that I would be able to live a life of poverty, I don't want to struggle in that way. Life has been enough of a challenge without also having to struggle to survive! I am hoping that my kids will grow up with a respect and understanding of money but not the same desire for material possessions that I struggle with.