Life seems to be all about learning, implementing, revising, relearning…
Some of those lessons are ones I wish I just had to sit through once and, perhaps if I truly learned the message the first time through, that would be the case.
He’s been teaching me these past many months the art of letting go. Letting go of the old in order to embrace the new. Letting go of what is not working so that He can bring to me what will. Letting go of trying to fix it or work it out on my own, instead allowing Him to bring His perfect will and plans into my life.
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I stepped out of the clothing store with my bags and into the bright sunshine of the day. My hand shading my eyes, I scanned the parking lot for the car, because as usual I had forgotten where it was parked. The longer I stood there the more uncomfortable I was becoming. I knew that my husband was sitting out there somewhere among the hundreds of vehicles watching me and probably getting a pretty good chuckle out of it! How many times have I done this? I am directionally challenged and even need to be pointed in the right direction when I step out of a store in a mall!
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When he pulled that pepper shaker out of the bag I almost laughed out loud. 
Fourteen years earlier we stood on separate aisles of Target – me with crossed arms and him wondering if we would ever make it. With scanner gun in hand, I stared at the rows of salt and pepper shakers. Wooden? How could I possibly season my food with wooden salt and pepper shakers?
As Alan and I registered for our upcoming wedding, we hadn’t anticipated the sometimes-uneven start of zipping two lives together. After dating six years, we were more than ready to marry. I’d dreamed of this very event since our high school trigonometry class where we met and fell in love.
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I pray sometimes when I workout.
I know I must look funny, sitting there at the gym on the exercise bike with my eyes closed, but that time—with my body moving and my mind turning to God—is my lifeline some days. It’s my 60-minute-recharge.
As a busy mom, it’s hard to carve out time every day to pray–to talk to God and to listen to His voice. Some days, I get up and hit the floor running… making breakfast, packing lunches, helping everyone get ready, and then rushing (late) out the door to carpool kids to school. On those days especially, taking time to pray is exactly what I need.
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As the fourth of five children growing up, there was always a lot of competition to get a desired role or other things I wanted out of life. I wasn’t always placed on the “A team” as it was not easy contending for my way with three older siblings and a little sister. I often felt pushed aside, overlooked and forgotten.
Do any of you remember the TV show “Land of the Lost“? (I am really dating myself here!) As a child, I loved to pretend play this show with my brothers and sisters. I always wanted to be Judy, who was beautiful, or Penny, because she was smart.
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I spent some time visiting with a dear friend the other day. We each have things that are heavy on our hearts. Issues that we see as being potential problems for God’s people. Situations where individuals are investing themselves in things that could ultimately hurt them spiritually, and also have a ricochet effect on the lives of those closest to them.
How do you handle this kind of conversation?
I have a few tips to share should you ever find yourself in a similar situation.
1. Don’t Gossip
- Be very careful to discuss the problem without names.
- Details are unnecessary, stick to the big picture.
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Honestly, it has been a REALLY rough month for me. My son, Liam, and my husband both suffered from a nasty virus that took them out for a few days. Then, I ended up in the hospital with horrible stomach cramps that would just not go away. And to top it all off, Liam has decided to not sleep through the night. (I blame it on his teeth.) Needless to say, I am physically worn out.
I can’t remember a time where I felt so inadequate as a wife and mother. I cannot seem to measure up to the “Superwoman” that I often feel I need to be.
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Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Isaiah 60:1
I used to awaken our children by entering their rooms waving my hands in the air and singing, “Rise and shine and give God the glory. Glory. Children of the Lord.”
I can still hear their groans as they covered their heads and tried to postpone the start of another day.
Some days are like that. We don’t feel ready to arise, and we definitely aren’t ready to shine! LOL
But isn’t God awesome. With the gift of each new day we are invited to rise and shine.
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