K is Killing Me

The letter K has been elusive for me. On Friday, I sat in the hospital with my mom and sister-in-law, chatting, silently praying, and attempting to read—but not a conducive setting for writing or focusing on the letter K. However, I did text my Kansas kids.

Saturday, grateful to *Jehovah-rapha for the great results of my brother’s surgery, I returned my focus to purging and packing. My brother-in-law, Kevin, and two of his sons came to help. They moved things too heavy for me, loaded a whole kit and caboodle of items for the Salvation Army, dismantled electronics, and used their Boy Scout lash and knot skills to bind together shovels, rakes, and fire irons. But no significant k-words inspired me to write.

So, this morning when I should have been thinking about going to church to kneel in worship before the Lord, I awoke beleaguered by K-words. What can I write about for this letter?

My kitty? No; she’s a 10-year-old "cat."

The kitchen seems obvious, but I plan to keep it until last as it has become a mishmash of pack-later-stuff.

I have packed plenty of knick-knacks and keepsakes, a kite, our cast-iron kettle, and the “Always Kiss Me Goodnight” plaque. I’ve disposed of kerosene from an antique oil lamp and moved kindling to the wood pile.

I’ve kicked boxes that I forgot were there, banged into knobs, and knocked over unsteady piles of trash.

I have misplaced my keys, the box knife, tape, and markers several times.

My back and knees hurt from lifting; and the arthritis in my knuckles flares up periodically.

But until I hear the final knell on our Nebraska life, I’ll keep purging, packing, and preparing for the exciting adventures ahead in Montana.

K (okay), I guess I found a few K-words to use for this piece. Now for some scripture…

*Jehovah-rapha, the Lord who heals you ~ Exodus 15:25-26 and 1 Peter 2:24 ~

“So Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When Moses threw the tree into the water, the water became good to drink. There the Lord gave the people a rule and a law to live by, and there he tested their loyalty to him. He said, “You must obey the Lord your God and do what he says is right. If you obey all his commands and keep his rules, I will not bring on you any of the sicknesses I brought on the Egyptians. I am the Lord who heals you.” (ncv)

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed.” (nasb)

May we all know the healing power of Jehovah-rapha…for by the wounds of Jesus Christ we are healed from our sins and made righteous.