{"id":23,"date":"2015-05-13T15:32:00","date_gmt":"2015-05-13T15:32:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2016-04-01T18:11:18","modified_gmt":"2016-04-01T18:11:18","slug":"weep-no-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/?p=23","title":{"rendered":"Weep No More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;ve been listening to a song on repeat. \u00a0Sandra Mccracken&#8217;s <i>We Will Feast in the House of Zion <\/i>is\u00a0a beautiful and singable song that comes from her new album based on the Psalms. \u00a0The chorus goes like this:<\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>We will feast in the house of Zion. \u00a0We will sing with our hearts restored. \u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>He has done great things, we will say together<\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>We will feast and weep no more. \u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">When I was ten years old, we moved into a new house. \u00a0At the time it was a brand new subdivision and our house was only the third to be built. \u00a0For the first couple of years we&#8217;d watch as one house after another was built from the ground up.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">That wasn&#8217;t the exciting part. \u00a0The exciting part was waiting to see <i>who <\/i>was going to move into the house once is was completed. \u00a0There were a few retired couples and across the way a family with a baby, but I will never forget when a particular family moved in a few houses up from us. \u00a0They had kids around my age. To be precise, the family had one cute boy around my age.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">I discovered this fact when riding my bike around the neighborhood on one particular day. \u00a0My Romeo was outside shooting baskets and I coolly and maturely began&#8230;riding circles in front of him.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">When I think back on my maneuvers to look &#8220;cool,&#8221; I actually, physically twinge. \u00a0Like, what in the world was I thinking? \u00a0Riding in circles? \u00a0For the love of all things <i>not <\/i>cool.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">But it got worse. \u00a0After riding circles in front of their house, I decided that whatever I was wearing at the time was not good enough. \u00a0Though I don&#8217;t recall what I had initially been wearing, I remember exactly what I changed into: \u00a0hot pink shorts with a pair of jelly sandals that I thought were pretty sweet.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\">I am currently self aware and I can, with total confidence, declare that I&#8230;.was a nerd.<\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-140 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/katiepolski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/kt-early-years.jpg?resize=225%2C300&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"kt early years\" width=\"225\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/katiepolski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/kt-early-years.jpg?resize=225%2C300&amp;ssl=1 225w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/katiepolski.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/kt-early-years.jpg?w=480&amp;ssl=1 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 225px) 100vw, 225px\" \/><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"><img alt=\"\" width=\"240\" height=\"320\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\">It was pretty bad for a few years there.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Once I had on my new and improved outfit, I mounted the bike to do what any girl interested in a boy would do. \u00a0I began riding circles again while he shot baskets. \u00a0And it was clear pretty quickly that Romeo wasn&#8217;t too interested in watching me or my bike circles, which was disturbingly confusing since I had on my jelly sandals.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">So, I devised a plan (and I am currently twinging revisiting this plan). \u00a0I decided that I was going to ride up and down the street in front of him, and every time I rode past him I&#8217;d do a &#8220;trick&#8221; on my bike.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">My tricks included what you would imagine: \u00a0spinning the bike on it&#8217;s back wheel and doing a 360 after flying over a ramp.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Nope.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">My tricks consisted of things like: \u00a0sticking one leg out whilst still peddling with the other foot and lifting one arm to wave while still holding onto the bars with the other hand. \u00a0I know, I know. \u00a0Pretty cool stuff, especially in my hot pink shorts and jellies.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Romeo was still not giving me the attention I was craving, so I rode to the top of the hill and decided to impress him with the ultimate trick. \u00a0I was going to lift both hands in the air when I passed him and ride<i>\u00a0<\/i>using <i>only<\/i> my feet. \u00a0YES.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">I got to the top of the hill and released myself, riding as fast as I possibly could. \u00a0Just before I reached Romeo&#8217;s house, I lifted both hands in the air and I think (unfortunately) I let out some kind of yell. He finally turned, and just in time to see my bike hit a rock. \u00a0I failed to see the massive rock in the middle of the street because my eyes were locked on Romeo, and so I flipped right over the front of my bike.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">I&#8217;m not sure how long I was laying on the pavement before I noticed Romeo laughing. \u00a0I&#8217;m pretty sure that I realized one of my jellies was missing first. \u00a0I finally sat up and the searing pain in my right knee, which was covered in blood, finally began to register. \u00a0\u00a0<i>Jelly missing. \u00a0Romeo laughing. \u00a0Bloody knee&#8230;<\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">I began crying relentlessly. \u00a0My bike stayed where it was and I hobbled back to the house wearing one, lonely jelly and a bruised ego.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><i>What happened? \u00a0<\/i>I&#8217;ll never forget my mom looking at me when I came into the kitchen. I mean, let&#8217;s be honest, I wasn&#8217;t about to divulge my plan to woo Romeo, so I simply told her, with babbling words and through ugly tears, that I fell off my bike. And I lost my jelly.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">She put her arms around me and didn&#8217;t ask anymore. \u00a0I was glad because while I felt as though I could describe my bike tricks with magnificent details, I wasn&#8217;t sure I would be able to relive the laughing Romeo. \u00a0So, she just let me cry. \u00a0And I cried hard for several minutes with my face pressed against her chest. \u00a0In the midst of my little storm, I found respite and peace in my mom&#8217;s arms.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">I&#8217;m caught up with tears every time I hear the chorus of Sandra&#8217;s song. \u00a0After some reflecting, so much of my emotion comes from the reality of what this song reminds us is to come:<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><i>One day we will feast together<\/i> &#8211; The heavenly feasting alone gets me excited (I even get giddy about what I&#8217;m going to eat for breakfast in the morning). But beyond the food&#8230;brothers and sisters in Christ from <i>every<\/i> nation will sit together and feast. \u00a0I will share a cup with those I have loved this side of heaven and as well with those whom I have struggled to love. \u00a0We will feast together and without bitterness or envy toward one another. \u00a0Our relationships will be restored and we will enjoy, with sincere and utter happiness, sitting around a table together. \u00a0I weep over this reality because from an earthly perspective I can only call it miraculous.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><i>We will sing together with our hearts restored<\/i> &#8211; Can you imagine it? \u00a0Worship focused only on Jesus. Worship that is pure with no distractions. \u00a0Singing boldly and unashamedly to the one who has saved me. \u00a0The beauty and anticipation of this day brings tears of joy to my eyes.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><i>He has done great things we will say together<\/i> &#8211; And I cannot WAIT for this. \u00a0 There will be a day when we will be able to share with those who have gone before us, and with those whom we have never met, the great things that God has done &#8211; the ways in which He has comforted us in pain and the ways in which he lifted us up when our spirits were broken. \u00a0There are so many stories about the things God has done that I look forward to hearing.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><i>We will feast and weep no more<\/i> &#8211; I long for this day with tears in my eyes because in a broken world, tears come readily. \u00a0But one day they will be gone forever. \u00a0I can&#8217;t even imagine it. \u00a0Come quickly Lord Jesus.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">A couple of evenings ago, my dear mom spent her first night alone in her room. Now that she is in a care center, my step father sleeps elsewhere and her nurses are no longer in the room with her throughout the night. \u00a0It has been years and years since she has slept alone. \u00a0I knew she may be anxious on this night, so I \u00a0had been praying relentlessly that God would grant her a sense of peace and calm. \u00a0And it seemed things were OK when I finally fell asleep that first night.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">But then my phone rang late. \u00a0It was my mom. \u00a0She can&#8217;t speak clearly anymore, so she just cried. She wept on the other end of the phone in the same kind of way I did when I stood in the kitchen, bruised and bloodied, with my face buried in her chest.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">I began crying as well. \u00a0What else was there to do? \u00a0I wished I could reach through the phone and touch her shoulders and let her know that it was going to be OK, but I couldn&#8217;t. \u00a0So, I just quietly cried and listened while she wept loudly out of fear and confusion until she finally quieted down and gave into sleep. \u00a0The peace didn&#8217;t come in the untangled way I had prayed for, without pain or difficulty, but life is usually messy like that. \u00a0It&#8217;s in the tangled web of sin and sorrow when Grace is found in abundance. \u00a0Sometimes it&#8217;s only in the storm of grief that we can recognize calming peace.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><i>But there will be a day when we will feast&#8230;and weep no more<\/i>. \u00a0I pray daily that these words and the truth behind them will not sit idly in my heart, but that my spirit would know it, believe it, and live by it every single day. \u00a0There <i>will <\/i>be a day when tears are no more. \u00a0And until then I can press my face against my Father&#8217;s chest and find respite and peace in His arms.<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\">Thank you, Sandra McCracken, for this beautiful reminder:<\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=d1ylQhnRx-A\">We Will Feast in the House of Zion<\/a><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I&#8217;ve been listening to a song on repeat. \u00a0Sandra Mccracken&#8217;s We Will Feast in the House of Zion is\u00a0a beautiful &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/?p=23\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Weep No More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["entry","post","publish","author-polskikatie","post-23","format-standard","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7ov7b-n","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":177,"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23\/revisions\/177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/katiepolski.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}