The Gazebo
The crowning jewel of the quaint Pennsylvania town that watched me grow from a shy pig-tailed girl into an independent young woman is a historic gazebo situated in the center of Market Square.
Celebrations meriting significance are often held in that lovely white structure. In a tiny borough such events include Veteran’s Day ceremonies, annual coronations of the “Cherry Blossom Queen,” and visits from Santa Claus. I often thought that the gazebo was fitting of a wedding. I’m not sure if ceremonious vows have ever been exchanged on its platform, but I have seen many radiant brides pose on its century-old steps.
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My youngest child watched as her older sister’s bus pulled away. Her eyes could not be averted. As I watched the interaction it was as if I could see her little brain cogs turning. I imagined my youngest girl longing to grow up, longing to be riding away on the bus like her sister. I’m not sure if she felt that at all, but I know I did. I grew up the youngest of four girls.
Every game I played I seemed to find ways to emulate what life might be like when I got older. I wrote in my mom’s old checkbook.
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What are your talents? This is a question I’ve been pondering about myself lately. For a stay-at-home mom, I am very homemaking-challenged. Cooking? Not really. I can boil water and follow a simple recipe (which is more than I can say for when I first married.) Baking? Um, no. Not unless I have a mix. Sewing? Definitely not! I tried, really I did. Unfortunately, that gene seems to have skipped me entirely and gone to my oldest daughter who’s actually a pretty good seamstress.
So, I’ve been thinking about what my talents could be. So far, I’m still not sure. And sometimes this makes me wonder how well am I doing.
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Written on
December 15, 2009 by
Deb in
Deb
My husband, Blake, recently shared a story with us about a friend’s two year old granddaughter. It seems this precious precocious little one loves nothing better than to wake up a little earlier than her parents each morning. She then tiptoes out of her own room and creeps into their’s. As quietly as a two year old is capable of creeping! LOL Once in with her mom and dad she crawls up on the bed, gets right next to their faces, and shouts, “It’s time to wake up!”
It is a fun game that is mostly enjoyed by them all! That is until a Sunday morning earlier this year.
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I sat there in a room filled with people, my heart pounding.
I was about to share my story of struggling with an eating disorder in college with a few dozen teenagers. I was a mentor to teen moms through Youth for Christ at the time, and I had volunteered to speak that night.
So why was I nervous?
I knew that I was meant to talk about what I’d gone through. Here was a room full of girls, each facing their own challenges, and I wanted them to know they weren’t alone. I wanted them to know that we all go through difficulties, even if our situations are different.
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I’m visiting my parents in Florida. My dad has been battling high blood pressure as well as a slew of other ailments. He owns his own blood pressure monitor. As I watch him check the numbers frequently I’m reminded of a particular verse.
“May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13
Our hearts are weak vessels. Finicky, and in need of strengthening. This verse captures my hope and prayer for my children. I want them to lean into God’s strengthening.
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I was saying prayers with my daughter the other night, when she said…
“Dear Lord,
Please help me to stop cracking my knuckles.”
She paused for a minute, then added,
“I know I can pray all I want, God, but if I don’t do my part, it’s not going to happen. So please help me to do my part too.”
Her prayer reminded me of that saying…
Pray like everything depends on God, then act like everything depends on you.
And I think it’s true. We can cry out to God for help in any area of our lives—and we should—but if we don’t do our part to make changes or act on what we are needing help with, we will likely be frustrated with the results.
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