I woke up this morning with searing pain in my shoulder and the reminder that I'm BROKEN. I'm 2.5 weeks out from a surgery where they broke me further in order to heal me from the brokenness I had already been experiencing for 9 months prior. I don't like being broken. I don't like being unable to carryout my responsibilities without the help of others. I don't like being limited. I want to be whole. I'm pretty sure it has a whole lot to do with my pride and things I take for granted - like being able to wash my hair thoroughly or screw the top onto a sippy cup without the help of my 10 year old (For the love, please don't look closely at my hair for 4 more weeks ). I have struggled more than I care to admit and cried more tears of frustration than an adult should over the past 2.5 weeks. But here's the truth - I am broken. My shoulder is broken, yes. But so are my mind and spirit. I am human. I am flawed. I have a sinful nature just like everyone else. Brokenness is just a part of this life.
I look around and see brokenness everywhere. My friends struggle mightily to cope with death or divorce. My children tear each other down repeatedly. Flu, and infections, and cancer - they circle around consuming the people I know. It's all the more evident how much brokenness there is now that we have social media. I could spend the whole of my day just praying for all the hurt that I see in my newsfeed. And the news, oh don't get me started on the news. Brian is smart and likes to have all the information and be well-informed, so he watches the news daily. My feelings about the news are that if you are gonna make me watch it you better hook me up to an IV with some kind of tranquilizing medicine. And the presidential race, oh mercy. BRO-KEN. It is so overwhelming, all the brokenness. You see, I'm an idealist. I always see things for what they could be. I tend to expect the best in every situation and believe in people no matter what they've done. But being this way makes brokenness stab that much more deeply. It falls in on you and disables your entire world view at times. I feel things deeply, whether they are my "things" or the "things" of the people I love, I feel them. I even feel them for people I don't know, which is why the news can be so completely overwhelming. And feeling is fantastic. But you don't get to choose to just feel the happy feels. You have to open your heart to the pain that surrounds you and accept all the ugly things that are a part of this life. Now, before everyone takes a collective jump off a bridge from reading my post, let me just tell you that I'm going somewhere with this! I promise!
Brokenness is a part of this world, and something that I am dealing with in a very concrete sense right now. But on this Good Friday it has me thinking so much about my Savior. You see, on this day, all those years ago - He took on all the brokenness. He took it. He bore it. Not only did He bear the weight of my sin, he bore the weight of every sin in the entire world. This little pain in my shoulder is a tiny drop in the bucket compared to the enormous pain He experienced today as His body was BROKEN. He willingly went to that cross knowing that in 2016 you and I would be dealing with brokenness all around us and He would give us hope by BEARING IT FOR US. And I keep hearing this scripture in my mind - "Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered Him punished by God, stricken by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed. We all like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:4-6 And I dwell on those words and know that all the brokenness we face is nothing compared to the glory of the one who took our place. And He gives us strength to not hide from the brokenness, but rather to run to the brokenness. We can stand in the cracks in the brokenness all around us because He dwells in us!
We have Holy power to not only transform our own brokenness, but to heal the brokenness that surrounds. This world is broken. It always will be. It will groan and moan and ache for the Savior to return. But we are the redeemed. We will be made whole. We won't struggle and hurt forever. On Good Friday, the only perfect man who ever lived took the weight of it all. He took it. And He finished it. And that's how we can stand here BROKEN and have joy and peace and hope. Because this is the greatest love. And I don't know about you, but that's a message I needed today. Jesus paid it all. He paid it ALL, y'all. HE PAID IT ALL. "Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead! Oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead! Jesus paid it all."
Friday, March 25, 2016
Monday, February 22, 2016
What I Learned in Preschool
Whew. I don't know where to start this post, but I think a little backstory is necessary so I'll start there. About 7 years ago I was teaching a few preschool Spanish classes for this great company that contracted with preschools and came in to teach Spanish a couple of days a week. Spanish?, you say. Well, yes. It's a little known fact that my degree is in Spanish. I spent half of college studying child development and the other half studying Español. I have a Hispanic soul. It's true. I am the whitest white person possible. They don't make a makeup color paler than mine. My legs could possibly cause car accidents in the summer from the glare bouncing off of their stark whiteness. One of my many nicknames in high school was Casper. (How do any of us survive high school?) But alas, my soul is Hispanic. I felt so very at home all of the times I went to Mexico on mission trips. So much so that I wanted to make their language my major. So I did. But, anyway, back to the story. About 7 years ago I was facing a huge decision. The wonderful woman I was teaching a few classes a week for was moving, and she was selling her business. And she wanted to sell it to me. It made perfect sense. It combined my two loves of Spanish and children and had the potential to be a fairly lucrative move. The business part scared me a bit, but I'm married to business genius so that wasn't very worrisome. I was very torn, however, because I was afraid it would take too much time away from my then 2 young children, and we were considering adding a third child to the mix. So as I struggled with this decision (and had pretty much decided I was going to tell her yes), I lay awake in bed one night. And I'm telling you the truth. It wasn't an audible voice, but just as clearly as anything I heard God say "No." "Don't do this." It was so clear that I was instantly certain that I had to tell her no and had unexplainable peace about that decision. He had spoken to me, and I knew it. So I told her I couldn't do it. I don't remember the exact timing, but I think it was a week or two later that I got a call from the Harpeth Hills preschool director, Kelly. It was totally out of the blue to me, but she called and asked if I would be interested in applying for a job to teach music at the preschool two days a week. I was floored. Ty was already attending the preschool, and Ansley was going to attend the following year. I love music so much, and I love children so much, and I just knew in that instant that God had arranged this and that my "no" was the way to this "yes". I hung up the phone and cried my eyes out. I can't explain it. It may seem really small, but I remember it as the day when I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that God was writing my story.
I started teaching at the preschool that fall and have been there almost 7 years. Well, I just finished my last week. I can hardly type it without bursting into tears because the kids in between those walls have my heart. The staff in between those walls have my heart too. It has been an incredible gift to serve alongside so many amazing ladies and get to love on hundreds of children as they came through the "music room" door. Teaching alongside one of my best friends made every day feel like fun. But, again, God is writing my story. And He has clearly called me to a new ministry. I am so, so very excited to be the new Children's Minister at the church where I grew up. It's a long, beautiful story that I'm sure will make it's way into a post soon, but after my last week at Harpeth Hills preschool I wanted to reflect a little on what I've learned during my time there. There have been plenty of funny times no doubt. Preschool is nothing if not entertaining. And while I'll take the memories of the little boy dropping his pants and peeing on the slide, the one of the little boy leaning forward and wiping his nose on my bare leg, the many boogers I saw consumed, the hilarious answers I got to questions, and so many more with me; there are so many real true lessons I've learned that I will take with me as well. Here are just a few.
1. Some of the hardest working, most dedicated people in the world are teachers. As with most things in our upside down economy teachers are often taken for granted. The women I have worked with the past several years pour their hearts and lives into loving children. They go home exhausted and start a new shift with their own children. They consistently give of themselves tirelessly. They go the extra mile to help that one child who is struggling with that skill. They pray circles around their kids. And are they ever creative?! If you think working with young children means you don't have to use much brain power you are sorely mistaken. Teaching requires mind, body and soul ALL DAY. EVERYDAY. I have vowed to never take for granted the men or women who teach my children. It is a lifestyle, not a 9 to 5. Thank you God for amazing teachers.
2. There is no such thing as a bad child. This is one premise on which I build my lifework. In 7 years of teaching Preschool and 10 of parenting my own kids I have seen just about every bad behavior you can imagine. I have seen kids act out in all kinds of ways, but I refuse and will always refuse to label a child as "Bad". Children are just that - children. They need the guidance of adults, and we frequently make our own poor choices. Some children exhibit bad behavior because they are going through terrible things at home. Some exhibit bad behavior because they are desperate for attention. Some exhibit bad behavior because they haven't learned a better way to communicate. But no matter what is going on with the child's behavior, you can take it to the bank. That child is made in God's image. A little bit of love goes a LONG way toward molding behavior. A lot of love just might change a child's entire life.
3. A child doesn't care what you want from them until they know how you feel about them. This is so important. When an adult has a place of authority over a child we tend to just expect instant respect and obedience. Well, that would be nice in a perfect world. But the bottom line is that most kids don't think that way. Blame it on culture or parenting or the fact that many adults in the world these days really aren't trustworthy, but kids aren't likely to blindly follow someone who is bigger than them. (Especially if you are only a few inches taller than them as in my case. Ha.) And, you know, while I want my kids to be respectful to adults, I also want them to be able to sniff out the ones who genuinely care for them. Kids will start responding to you differently if you show them that you care. Eye contact and smiling go a long way. A pat on the back or hug, caring about their stories, addressing them with their name, etc. all go a long way towards establishing that relationship. And better behavior will often follow relationship. And is this only true of children? Nuh-uh. I think the phrase goes "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Truth. Relationship is where it's at. (with two turn tables and a microphone)
4. Investing in a child is an investment you will never regret. Show me one teacher or parent who says "Man, I wish I just wouldn't have put so much time and energy into impacting that child's life." Of course no one says that! Investing in children is the investment that multiplies over and over. We many never know what impact we had on them. I won't know how many kids will remember a song I taught them about Jesus. I won't know how much confidence they gained by performing in that program. I won't know how many I gave a hug to on the day that they really needed to know someone loved them. But every investment has payout, whether we see it or not. Even when it seems that our children have learned nothing from us, they have. The Bible tells us to plant the seed and let God water it. Every seed we plant in a child's heart is something else for God to water. Which leads me to my most important lesson.
5. Jesus is crazy about children. He really is. You don't have to look very far in the gospels to find that Jesus adored these little ones. The least in our world are the greatest in His. That we know for sure. Every time you love a child by teaching or parenting or volunteering you are walking with Jesus. He entrusts His prized creations to us, and we get to love them. It is humbling and terrifying and amazing what a precious responsibility that brings. If you are holding a sick baby today, you are loving Jesus. If you are teaching a classroom full of rowdy kids and are on your last leg, you are loving Jesus. If you are babysitting your grandkids, you are loving Jesus. If you are reading books to your kids at bedtime, you are loving Jesus. When we care for His children we can know that we are bringing Him honor, no matter how big or small the task. I hope and pray that I have honored Him these last 7 years and that He will help me to continue to do that in my new role, because what else matters but honoring the One who gives me life and redeems me daily? "Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest." -Luke 9:48
I started teaching at the preschool that fall and have been there almost 7 years. Well, I just finished my last week. I can hardly type it without bursting into tears because the kids in between those walls have my heart. The staff in between those walls have my heart too. It has been an incredible gift to serve alongside so many amazing ladies and get to love on hundreds of children as they came through the "music room" door. Teaching alongside one of my best friends made every day feel like fun. But, again, God is writing my story. And He has clearly called me to a new ministry. I am so, so very excited to be the new Children's Minister at the church where I grew up. It's a long, beautiful story that I'm sure will make it's way into a post soon, but after my last week at Harpeth Hills preschool I wanted to reflect a little on what I've learned during my time there. There have been plenty of funny times no doubt. Preschool is nothing if not entertaining. And while I'll take the memories of the little boy dropping his pants and peeing on the slide, the one of the little boy leaning forward and wiping his nose on my bare leg, the many boogers I saw consumed, the hilarious answers I got to questions, and so many more with me; there are so many real true lessons I've learned that I will take with me as well. Here are just a few.
1. Some of the hardest working, most dedicated people in the world are teachers. As with most things in our upside down economy teachers are often taken for granted. The women I have worked with the past several years pour their hearts and lives into loving children. They go home exhausted and start a new shift with their own children. They consistently give of themselves tirelessly. They go the extra mile to help that one child who is struggling with that skill. They pray circles around their kids. And are they ever creative?! If you think working with young children means you don't have to use much brain power you are sorely mistaken. Teaching requires mind, body and soul ALL DAY. EVERYDAY. I have vowed to never take for granted the men or women who teach my children. It is a lifestyle, not a 9 to 5. Thank you God for amazing teachers.
2. There is no such thing as a bad child. This is one premise on which I build my lifework. In 7 years of teaching Preschool and 10 of parenting my own kids I have seen just about every bad behavior you can imagine. I have seen kids act out in all kinds of ways, but I refuse and will always refuse to label a child as "Bad". Children are just that - children. They need the guidance of adults, and we frequently make our own poor choices. Some children exhibit bad behavior because they are going through terrible things at home. Some exhibit bad behavior because they are desperate for attention. Some exhibit bad behavior because they haven't learned a better way to communicate. But no matter what is going on with the child's behavior, you can take it to the bank. That child is made in God's image. A little bit of love goes a LONG way toward molding behavior. A lot of love just might change a child's entire life.
3. A child doesn't care what you want from them until they know how you feel about them. This is so important. When an adult has a place of authority over a child we tend to just expect instant respect and obedience. Well, that would be nice in a perfect world. But the bottom line is that most kids don't think that way. Blame it on culture or parenting or the fact that many adults in the world these days really aren't trustworthy, but kids aren't likely to blindly follow someone who is bigger than them. (Especially if you are only a few inches taller than them as in my case. Ha.) And, you know, while I want my kids to be respectful to adults, I also want them to be able to sniff out the ones who genuinely care for them. Kids will start responding to you differently if you show them that you care. Eye contact and smiling go a long way. A pat on the back or hug, caring about their stories, addressing them with their name, etc. all go a long way towards establishing that relationship. And better behavior will often follow relationship. And is this only true of children? Nuh-uh. I think the phrase goes "People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Truth. Relationship is where it's at. (with two turn tables and a microphone)
4. Investing in a child is an investment you will never regret. Show me one teacher or parent who says "Man, I wish I just wouldn't have put so much time and energy into impacting that child's life." Of course no one says that! Investing in children is the investment that multiplies over and over. We many never know what impact we had on them. I won't know how many kids will remember a song I taught them about Jesus. I won't know how much confidence they gained by performing in that program. I won't know how many I gave a hug to on the day that they really needed to know someone loved them. But every investment has payout, whether we see it or not. Even when it seems that our children have learned nothing from us, they have. The Bible tells us to plant the seed and let God water it. Every seed we plant in a child's heart is something else for God to water. Which leads me to my most important lesson.
5. Jesus is crazy about children. He really is. You don't have to look very far in the gospels to find that Jesus adored these little ones. The least in our world are the greatest in His. That we know for sure. Every time you love a child by teaching or parenting or volunteering you are walking with Jesus. He entrusts His prized creations to us, and we get to love them. It is humbling and terrifying and amazing what a precious responsibility that brings. If you are holding a sick baby today, you are loving Jesus. If you are teaching a classroom full of rowdy kids and are on your last leg, you are loving Jesus. If you are babysitting your grandkids, you are loving Jesus. If you are reading books to your kids at bedtime, you are loving Jesus. When we care for His children we can know that we are bringing Him honor, no matter how big or small the task. I hope and pray that I have honored Him these last 7 years and that He will help me to continue to do that in my new role, because what else matters but honoring the One who gives me life and redeems me daily? "Then he said to them, "Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest." -Luke 9:48
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
That 4 Letter Word
So, I have this little girl. She is brilliant and beautiful and artistic and wonderful. But this child, she has tested me more than anything else in my life. She came into the world screaming, was a colicky baby, threw wild tantrums as a toddler, and still after 8 years can occasionally throw some of the biggest fits you can imagine. She typically doesn't show this side of herself to anyone else. She is a model student at school, does great at church, behaves for any and every babysitter. But when it comes to me - anything is fair game. When I found out I was having a little girl I thought that meant I would have a child just like me. This daughter came out with blonde hair, blue eyes, left-handedness, introversion and a strong will! She was nothing I thought she would be and everything God intended her to be. And she is amazing. But if you know me well you know that I have struggled mightily with parenting her. There have been so many times that I have told God with my hands over my eyes and tears streaming down my face that He didn't know what He was doing when He thought I was capable of raising her. I am a peace-loving, soft-speaking, conflict avoider. I don't exactly have what would be considered a "strong will". And her strong will has puzzled and downright leveled me so many times. Often I have had to walk away and let her dad deal with her because I was just at a loss. My love for her has never waivered, and I decided after years of trying to figure her out that what she needed more than anything was to know that she was loved deeply by me. Her love language is quality one on one time, and that is sparse when you have 4 children. But I have tried really hard to let her know that she is loved regardless of her actions or behavior, while still enforcing rules and boundaries. And let me just tell you there have been so many days that I have failed miserably at parenting her. I mean huge mistakes where I let her get the best of me and I screamed or punished or threatened and then didn't follow through. I have been so far from the perfect parent to her (and all of my children). I have said before that raising this particular child has refined me more than any other process and taught me to appreciate the differences in people because though we are very different I just absolutely love how God made her.
Well, where am I going with all of this? Here it is. Every now and then (and more often if you're looking) God drops us the sweetest gifts from heaven. He gives us just what we need to keep going and feel it isn't all for naught. I got one of those this morning. I was cleaning up and found a piece of paper under the desk. I was getting ready to throw it away when I realized it was one of her writings. She has been writing a lot lately. Making up stories and whatnot. Her imagination is amazing. But what I found on this paper wasn't a story. It was a tribute. To ME. It was titled "Mommy Brightens My Life" and this is what it said(with my spelling corrections for your sake!):
"Ever since I was born my mommy has lightened up my life. I love my mom. She cooks, reads books before bed, does dishes, washes our clothes, buys us things, helps us get ready for school, takes us to school, and a lot more! I'm the luckiest kid in the world to have a mom that is so great. She's kind, thoughtful, loving, generous, beautiful, smart, and amazing. Not every kid in the world has a mom. That is one of the many reasons that I am so happy mommy's my mom. I think I have the best mom in the world. It just makes me so happy when I see her. One of the many reasons I love mom is that she loved me before I could see. Nana was definitely excited when they found out I was a girl, as I was going to be her first granddaughter! But not as excited as Mommy, I was going to be her first daughter! I can remember lots of important times in my life with Mommy right now. At Disney World, Atlanta, Lego Land, Florida, home, the bottom(where we keep the cows), and too many other times to count. I wish I never had to leave and get my own house."
And the tears came. This child who has given me more grief than anyone in my life put down on paper how she actually feels about me, and she adores me. She knows that I love her. She knows that I am her safe place. And everything I've done for the past 8 years with her, every tear I've cried, every prayer I've prayed, are producing a harvest by the grace of God. And God knew that we needed each other. Not only did she need me, but I needed her as well to become more the picture of who God created me to be. And I got to thinking about all the things we do as parents. We worry, and we ask advice, and we read books, and we try different techniques, and we make reward charts, and we go to counseling (Did it!), and we strive so hard after this goal of being perfect parents. And a lot of these things are great things, and we should do them. But when it comes right down to it, there is one word that sums up everything we need to do as a parent. LOVE. Just love them. Our kids are starving for love and affection. They want to know that on their ugliest day, we love them. And when we show them that kind of love they meet God. It's not human to love like this. It's not easy to love like this. Only the grace of God can allow one to love like this. And when they see God's love imparted on them they are better able to show that love to everyone else. At some point after having four kids my parenting philosophy became really simple (I no longer had the mental capacity to remember the rest!). Here it is: "Make sure they know that they are deeply loved and pray for God to cover the rest." That's it folks. Now don't get me wrong. This isn't some laisse-faire form of parenting where anything goes. That wouldn't be loving. But when your kids know deep down that they are loved it changes everything about their lives. EVERYTHING. And this certainly isn't only true for children. There is a reason that Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."(Matt. 22:37-40) If we truly love the people around us it is life changing. The boss who mistreats you, the friend who betrayed your trust, that family member that drives you crazy, the teacher who was unfair to your child......If we love these people as God's children despite their lack of earning it we are living out the gospel and they see Jesus. The very first place we should practice this is at home. Parenting is sooooo hard. It is not for the faint of heart. Some days it brings you to your knees. And that's exactly where God wanted us. On our knees, begging Him to be God, and realizing that we aren't. And all that hard work we are doing - It is worth it. The planting and growing are so hard, but the harvest of love is amazing. Don't lose heart today. If parenthood isn't what you thought it would be - join the club. There is no way to prepare for this journey. It is one of daily dependence on God, and that is just the beauty of it. But there is so much beauty and joy to be found in the journey. And don't forget - We all have a Father who promises that He won't leave us alone for one second of this journey. Why? Because He LOVES us. And that, well that changes everything.
Well, where am I going with all of this? Here it is. Every now and then (and more often if you're looking) God drops us the sweetest gifts from heaven. He gives us just what we need to keep going and feel it isn't all for naught. I got one of those this morning. I was cleaning up and found a piece of paper under the desk. I was getting ready to throw it away when I realized it was one of her writings. She has been writing a lot lately. Making up stories and whatnot. Her imagination is amazing. But what I found on this paper wasn't a story. It was a tribute. To ME. It was titled "Mommy Brightens My Life" and this is what it said(with my spelling corrections for your sake!):
"Ever since I was born my mommy has lightened up my life. I love my mom. She cooks, reads books before bed, does dishes, washes our clothes, buys us things, helps us get ready for school, takes us to school, and a lot more! I'm the luckiest kid in the world to have a mom that is so great. She's kind, thoughtful, loving, generous, beautiful, smart, and amazing. Not every kid in the world has a mom. That is one of the many reasons that I am so happy mommy's my mom. I think I have the best mom in the world. It just makes me so happy when I see her. One of the many reasons I love mom is that she loved me before I could see. Nana was definitely excited when they found out I was a girl, as I was going to be her first granddaughter! But not as excited as Mommy, I was going to be her first daughter! I can remember lots of important times in my life with Mommy right now. At Disney World, Atlanta, Lego Land, Florida, home, the bottom(where we keep the cows), and too many other times to count. I wish I never had to leave and get my own house."
And the tears came. This child who has given me more grief than anyone in my life put down on paper how she actually feels about me, and she adores me. She knows that I love her. She knows that I am her safe place. And everything I've done for the past 8 years with her, every tear I've cried, every prayer I've prayed, are producing a harvest by the grace of God. And God knew that we needed each other. Not only did she need me, but I needed her as well to become more the picture of who God created me to be. And I got to thinking about all the things we do as parents. We worry, and we ask advice, and we read books, and we try different techniques, and we make reward charts, and we go to counseling (Did it!), and we strive so hard after this goal of being perfect parents. And a lot of these things are great things, and we should do them. But when it comes right down to it, there is one word that sums up everything we need to do as a parent. LOVE. Just love them. Our kids are starving for love and affection. They want to know that on their ugliest day, we love them. And when we show them that kind of love they meet God. It's not human to love like this. It's not easy to love like this. Only the grace of God can allow one to love like this. And when they see God's love imparted on them they are better able to show that love to everyone else. At some point after having four kids my parenting philosophy became really simple (I no longer had the mental capacity to remember the rest!). Here it is: "Make sure they know that they are deeply loved and pray for God to cover the rest." That's it folks. Now don't get me wrong. This isn't some laisse-faire form of parenting where anything goes. That wouldn't be loving. But when your kids know deep down that they are loved it changes everything about their lives. EVERYTHING. And this certainly isn't only true for children. There is a reason that Jesus said "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'. All the Law and Prophets hang on these two commandments."(Matt. 22:37-40) If we truly love the people around us it is life changing. The boss who mistreats you, the friend who betrayed your trust, that family member that drives you crazy, the teacher who was unfair to your child......If we love these people as God's children despite their lack of earning it we are living out the gospel and they see Jesus. The very first place we should practice this is at home. Parenting is sooooo hard. It is not for the faint of heart. Some days it brings you to your knees. And that's exactly where God wanted us. On our knees, begging Him to be God, and realizing that we aren't. And all that hard work we are doing - It is worth it. The planting and growing are so hard, but the harvest of love is amazing. Don't lose heart today. If parenthood isn't what you thought it would be - join the club. There is no way to prepare for this journey. It is one of daily dependence on God, and that is just the beauty of it. But there is so much beauty and joy to be found in the journey. And don't forget - We all have a Father who promises that He won't leave us alone for one second of this journey. Why? Because He LOVES us. And that, well that changes everything.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
One Word
There is a fad the past few years to choose one word to focus on in the new year. I've seen lots of people declare their chosen word. I like this idea because it simplifies the whole resolution thing a bit. I mean let's be honest, how many people make a list of 20 resolutions and keep them all? I wish I could say I have the energy or strength of character to do so, but the truth is I get tired just thinking about it. So, one word. One word sounds doable. One word sounds good. But I couldn't come up with my one word. There are a whole host of amazing words that would be perfect to focus on for the year. And, well, I am just a bit indecisive at times. (Stop laughing, friends) I had almost given up on finding that one perfect, euphoric word that would change my life forever. But yesterday as I was putting away Christmas decorations and thinking about a lot of things (I am pretty much always thinking about a lot of things) my word came! It was like the Holy Spirit whispered it in my ear. EMBRACE. And instantly I knew that was it. The word kind of caught me off guard. It's not what I would have expected. But I felt utter certainty that it was THE word. So I started thinking about what that could mean for me. And here are the things I think God is asking me to EMBRACE this year.
1. Change. Well let's just start out with a doozy. I have said many times in my life that I hate change. I realize that is a ridiculous stance to take because it is the very nature of life, but alas the fact remains. When I really examine that statement, however, it isn't so much that I dislike change as it is that I like comfort. Especially in relationships. I like knowing what tomorrow and the next day will hold and knowing who will walk through them with me. I like family traditions and lifelong friendships. These things are just awesome.
This past year has brought a lot of change for our family. In May we moved back to our hometown of Kingston Springs. We bought Brian's grandparents' farm and it is just amazing. But it is change. The kids started a new school. I am head over heels for the new school, and they like it too, but it was a big change. Then came the biggest change. For 12.5 years Brian and I have been a part of a church that we adore. We joined Harpeth Hills pretty much right after we married and never looked back. We brought 4 children into that church to be "Chris-ened"(That's when our preacher Chris prays over them after they are born). We have loved and served and given and received and been blessed beyond measure by our family there. We have forged deep friendships, and that church has been woven into everything our family does for a very long time. It has had my heart. After moving we knew we would be a good 25 minute drive from our church, but we figured making the drive wouldn't be a problem. I mean, it's Nashville. Lots of people have commutes like that to church or work or both. But God started working on Brian and I in ways that we weren't expecting. For starters, I couldn't believe how instantly I fell back in love with this community that I grew up in. It is amazing, y'all. If you don't live in this community, well, you should consider moving. It is calm and quiet and the people here, well, they are what you would call "salt of the earth". This community is truly a "community" of people who "do" life together. The church where I grew up is a part of this community life. Now, some people talk about their upbringing in church in a negative way. A lot of people have baggage from legalism or any other myriad of unhealthy teachings. I am grateful to say that was not my experience. I grew up in a loving church that embraced grace and served God. It wasn't perfect (nothing is on this side of Heaven), but it was good, really good. Well, we didn't really intend to start attending said church after we moved, not because there is anything wrong with the church, but because we were so invested in "our church". We set out when we got married to have church that was neither "mine" nor "his", but rather "ours" and had succeeded at that goal. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, you know? But over the course of a few months Brian and I wrestled with feeling like God was tugging on our hearts to worship and serve in the community where we now live. We felt like He was asking us to let go of what we planned to be a part of forever and minister to the people right here. I won't bore you with all the details, but just suffice it to say there was an extreme inner struggle for a while. But we both felt strangely the same about it all. Now, we are a case study in opposites attract. Usually, if he sees it black, I see it white and vice versa. It keeps life interesting, and we balance each other out! But on this we couldn't have been more in agreement. When we finally agreed that this was what we were supposed to do and decided to do it there was such great peace. There is so much peace to be found in doing what you know God is asking you to do even when it is hard. Now, please don't misunderstand. Pegram church is an amazing place, and we already love it so much. The people there have been unbelievably welcoming and kind to our crazy family, and we are so excited about all of the things to come with our new church family. But, excitement over what one gains doesn't always extinguish grief for what one loses. And if you are a part of our Harpeth Hills family and are reading this and thinking "What?! I didn't know they left." well that's on me. Besides the fact that I didn't want to make it a big "thing", everytime I had the conversation with someone I started crying so I just stopped having it. That is a very healthy way to deal with things, right??? So yeah, change. This year, I am going to stop begrudging it and just embrace it. I will embrace God's path for me and live it fully. Because, its my word, y'all.
2. The Crazy. Do I even have to explain this one? Just read one of my other posts if you don't know what I'm talking about here. There are days when this house is so crazy that I just want to leave and go somewhere calm like Chuck E. Cheese or a prison riot. Life with 4 kids is, well, life with 4 kids. And we don't have one of those "precious" families where the kids all speak softly and obey immediately and play chess with each other on the weekends. Every.Single.One of our kids has a sufficient amount of let's call it "spunk". At times I just want them to grow up so I can be free of the crazy, but I know when they do I will miss it like, well, CRAZY. So I'm going to embrace it. Enjoy it even! Gasp!
3. My Children. It may seem like this is a repeat of point 2, but it's not. I am talking about literally embracing my children with my arms. I can't tell you how often they ask me to cuddle at night, and I say "I can't right now I have to __________." Insert any of the 100 things I have to do before I go to bed. The one who asks most often is my 10 year old boy who soon will stop asking me to cuddle with him forever. So this year, I'm gonna put off whatever else I have to do and embrace the crud out of my little spunkies. They may even have to ask me not to squeeze so hard.
4. My Husband. When you have lots of young children it is really hard to find time spend with your spouse. I know we are the only ones who struggle with this, and it is unique to our family. Haha. When you have so many people depending on you for everything they need it is hard to remember that there is another person who is depending on you too for companionship, and love, and support. I am very guilty of putting my husband last on my list because there are just too many other things that don't seem expendable. Well, this year I want to change that. Because he really should be first on my list. And I also want to embrace all the things about him that make him uniquely Brian. God made him in an amazing way, and I want to appreciate that. I think a date night once a month is step one on this goal. Who wants to babysit?!
5. My Savior. Reading over my aforementioned goals it is clear to see that I will fail at these many times over the next year. In my own strength I cannot be the caliber of person it takes to juggle my life and embrace it all. I just can't. I will get tired. I will get frustrated. I will be human. But if I EMBRACE my Savior I can embrace the rest. He will give me the strength to be the best version of myself. He will heal pain and supply confidence and give me rest. He will do all of these things and allow me to live life to the full. I know because He told me. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -John 10:10 Now that's something I can EMBRACE.
1. Change. Well let's just start out with a doozy. I have said many times in my life that I hate change. I realize that is a ridiculous stance to take because it is the very nature of life, but alas the fact remains. When I really examine that statement, however, it isn't so much that I dislike change as it is that I like comfort. Especially in relationships. I like knowing what tomorrow and the next day will hold and knowing who will walk through them with me. I like family traditions and lifelong friendships. These things are just awesome.
This past year has brought a lot of change for our family. In May we moved back to our hometown of Kingston Springs. We bought Brian's grandparents' farm and it is just amazing. But it is change. The kids started a new school. I am head over heels for the new school, and they like it too, but it was a big change. Then came the biggest change. For 12.5 years Brian and I have been a part of a church that we adore. We joined Harpeth Hills pretty much right after we married and never looked back. We brought 4 children into that church to be "Chris-ened"(That's when our preacher Chris prays over them after they are born). We have loved and served and given and received and been blessed beyond measure by our family there. We have forged deep friendships, and that church has been woven into everything our family does for a very long time. It has had my heart. After moving we knew we would be a good 25 minute drive from our church, but we figured making the drive wouldn't be a problem. I mean, it's Nashville. Lots of people have commutes like that to church or work or both. But God started working on Brian and I in ways that we weren't expecting. For starters, I couldn't believe how instantly I fell back in love with this community that I grew up in. It is amazing, y'all. If you don't live in this community, well, you should consider moving. It is calm and quiet and the people here, well, they are what you would call "salt of the earth". This community is truly a "community" of people who "do" life together. The church where I grew up is a part of this community life. Now, some people talk about their upbringing in church in a negative way. A lot of people have baggage from legalism or any other myriad of unhealthy teachings. I am grateful to say that was not my experience. I grew up in a loving church that embraced grace and served God. It wasn't perfect (nothing is on this side of Heaven), but it was good, really good. Well, we didn't really intend to start attending said church after we moved, not because there is anything wrong with the church, but because we were so invested in "our church". We set out when we got married to have church that was neither "mine" nor "his", but rather "ours" and had succeeded at that goal. If it ain't broke, don't fix it, you know? But over the course of a few months Brian and I wrestled with feeling like God was tugging on our hearts to worship and serve in the community where we now live. We felt like He was asking us to let go of what we planned to be a part of forever and minister to the people right here. I won't bore you with all the details, but just suffice it to say there was an extreme inner struggle for a while. But we both felt strangely the same about it all. Now, we are a case study in opposites attract. Usually, if he sees it black, I see it white and vice versa. It keeps life interesting, and we balance each other out! But on this we couldn't have been more in agreement. When we finally agreed that this was what we were supposed to do and decided to do it there was such great peace. There is so much peace to be found in doing what you know God is asking you to do even when it is hard. Now, please don't misunderstand. Pegram church is an amazing place, and we already love it so much. The people there have been unbelievably welcoming and kind to our crazy family, and we are so excited about all of the things to come with our new church family. But, excitement over what one gains doesn't always extinguish grief for what one loses. And if you are a part of our Harpeth Hills family and are reading this and thinking "What?! I didn't know they left." well that's on me. Besides the fact that I didn't want to make it a big "thing", everytime I had the conversation with someone I started crying so I just stopped having it. That is a very healthy way to deal with things, right??? So yeah, change. This year, I am going to stop begrudging it and just embrace it. I will embrace God's path for me and live it fully. Because, its my word, y'all.
2. The Crazy. Do I even have to explain this one? Just read one of my other posts if you don't know what I'm talking about here. There are days when this house is so crazy that I just want to leave and go somewhere calm like Chuck E. Cheese or a prison riot. Life with 4 kids is, well, life with 4 kids. And we don't have one of those "precious" families where the kids all speak softly and obey immediately and play chess with each other on the weekends. Every.Single.One of our kids has a sufficient amount of let's call it "spunk". At times I just want them to grow up so I can be free of the crazy, but I know when they do I will miss it like, well, CRAZY. So I'm going to embrace it. Enjoy it even! Gasp!
3. My Children. It may seem like this is a repeat of point 2, but it's not. I am talking about literally embracing my children with my arms. I can't tell you how often they ask me to cuddle at night, and I say "I can't right now I have to __________." Insert any of the 100 things I have to do before I go to bed. The one who asks most often is my 10 year old boy who soon will stop asking me to cuddle with him forever. So this year, I'm gonna put off whatever else I have to do and embrace the crud out of my little spunkies. They may even have to ask me not to squeeze so hard.
4. My Husband. When you have lots of young children it is really hard to find time spend with your spouse. I know we are the only ones who struggle with this, and it is unique to our family. Haha. When you have so many people depending on you for everything they need it is hard to remember that there is another person who is depending on you too for companionship, and love, and support. I am very guilty of putting my husband last on my list because there are just too many other things that don't seem expendable. Well, this year I want to change that. Because he really should be first on my list. And I also want to embrace all the things about him that make him uniquely Brian. God made him in an amazing way, and I want to appreciate that. I think a date night once a month is step one on this goal. Who wants to babysit?!
5. My Savior. Reading over my aforementioned goals it is clear to see that I will fail at these many times over the next year. In my own strength I cannot be the caliber of person it takes to juggle my life and embrace it all. I just can't. I will get tired. I will get frustrated. I will be human. But if I EMBRACE my Savior I can embrace the rest. He will give me the strength to be the best version of myself. He will heal pain and supply confidence and give me rest. He will do all of these things and allow me to live life to the full. I know because He told me. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy, but I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -John 10:10 Now that's something I can EMBRACE.
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Tis' the "Season"
The other night I was absolutely exhausted. I decided I would go to bed "early" once I finished the absolutely essential cleaning that had to happen. So I "finished" up my chores (This will never actually happen) and headed to bed at 10:45, which is early for me (especially in the month of December). I was so proud of myself. I even remembered to move the elf. Thank you. I set my alarm for 6:20 AM and settled in for a long night's sleep. Well..... At 11:42 PM a certain 2 year old entered my room crying for Mommy. I still don't know how she got out of her room. She can't open the door, and the other kids deny assisting her. So, I picked her up and cuddled her trying to calm her down. About 10 seconds after I got her into my bed I heard a 10 year old voice in the dark "Mom. I don't ....." Then a sound that I assume could only be matched if you knocked down Hoover Dam. An explosion of water hit the wood floor in our bedroom. It was totally dark and I had refused to open my eyes at this point and just hoped that maybe the roof was leaking or someone accidentally peed in the floor. I knew this was unlikely as there were audible heaves occurring. Well, sure enough, Ty had thrown up all over the floor. Brian jumped up to help him. I got up to try to get Brinley back in her bed, and with her on my hip slipped in the vomit, nearly falling into it. I had it splattered from my knees down. So Brinley is screaming, Ty is in our shower (still throwing up), and I step into the bath tub in my gown (Brinley still on my hip) and start washing my legs. Meanwhile Brian is cleaning up the floor. We manage to get Ty cleaned up and Brinley back into bed after 30 or 45 minutes. It was lovely. Then I had a hard time getting back to sleep and woke up the next day more exhausted than I had been the day before. And this is pretty much a narrative of my every day life these days.
I LOVE Christmas. I mean I LOVE it y'all. On November 1st each year the Christmas season officially commences in my mind. No offense to Thanksgiving. I love it too. I just see them as a joint package, like peanut butter and jelly. Christmas music begins for me on November 1st. In fact, after going into labor with Ty on Halloween of 2005 and laboring WAY too long I realized it was November 1st and completed my labor to the tune of Jim Brickman's Christmas CD. He came into the world on just the right day. :) Also, on November 1st I start wearing Christmas socks every day. Now, other people usually can't see them underneath my boots, but I know that they are there. The joy this brings me is unexplainable. I feel like Will Ferrell in Elf when I am wearing Christmas socks. I admit that I even love Christmas sweaters. Every time I get invited to an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" party I am so happy because it means that I get to wear what I secretly want to wear everyday. I almost started wearing sequin-adorned Christmas sweaters in college, but my sister derailed my plan by giving me a look that said "Go ahead and wear that, but don't be surprised when you end up an old maid with 30 cats." Christmas sweaters weren't fun and trendy yet then. She was right. I would certainly have been the weirdo on campus. But make no mistake, when I turn 50 I will be wearing Christmas sweaters daily from November 1st-December 25th. It just has to happen. And I will own it. Like a boss. Christmas means all things awesome for me. Jesus is my favorite. He's the absolute best. Throw in family, friends, singing, baking, gifting, lights, cookies, parties - it really just can't be beat. But here's the problem. As a child it was all fun and games. Other people did the work, and I enjoyed the benefit of their work. Now, as an adult I am finding that Christmas feels a whole lot like work some days. The endless list of parties, programs, teacher gifts, Santa shopping, special theme days, etc., etc. are absolutely exhausting. I am trying so hard not to let the busyness of Christmas suck the joy out of "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year". Some days I do better at this than others, but this season is certainly one of joy and stress. They coincide these days, but I wouldn't give up the joy in order to lose the stress. Christmas is my favorite season no matter how tiring it may be.
As a mom life is often referred to as a season. When you are enduring sleepless nights with a newborn a sweet older mother will tell you "It's just a season, Honey." When you feel too tied down with littles to even get out of the house you will hear it again "It's just a season." And on and on. There are seasons upon seasons, and sometimes when you have multiple children you are living through several of these big "seasons" at a time. Some are long. Some are short. All are precious. This season that I am in right now is busy. It is hard. It really demands my all and then some. I frequently have to ask God to stand in and be enough to handle my life because I am not enough on my own. People frequently ask me "How do you do it with 4 kids?" Here is the answer: I frequently have days where I feel hopeless that I will ever get a grip on my life. I frequently have days where I hang my head and cry from frustration or exhaustion. I frequently fail at being the mom my kids need me to be or the wife my husband needs me to be. BUT, I also frequently laugh so hard with my family that I cannot breathe. I frequently get hugs and kisses from my kids that make me sure there is no better job on earth than the one that I have. I frequently watch my children as they do something I taught them and realize that there are some things I am actually doing right. And most importantly, I frequently go to my Father and seek His help with this crazy thing called motherhood. I am nothing without Him.
A couple of weeks ago I was feeling particularly stressed out and overwhelmed with my "season", and I went to visit my grandmother in her assisted living home. My grandmother has Alzheimer's pretty badly. She doesn't remember who I am anymore. This is particularly hard because I was so close to her growing up. I have so many memories with her, and she no longer shares those memories with me. She can't remember me, and then she is embarrassed that she doesn't know who I am. Watching someone you love suffer through Alzheimer's is so incredibly heartbreaking. So, I was visiting with her and had a couple of my kids with me. We enjoyed a good visit. We answered all of her questions about 10 times each, and then we got up to leave because it was dinnertime for the residents. As I walked out into the hallway I saw the procession of elderly men and women heading to the dining room. Most all were using walkers, barely limping along. They moved slowly and their bodies were weak. They had gray hair or no hair. They had wrinkled skin that told the stories of their lives. They filed in one by one to get whatever dinner had been prepared for them. And I stopped in my tracks. "This is their season." For my grandmother her season is one where she can't even remember the ones she loved. Many of these men and women are rarely visited by their own children and grandchildren. And it hit me. Some day I will only get to see my kids if they choose to come see me. Someday I will live alone in a room with a television or a good book as my only companions, and the stress and the worry of taking care of a family will be far behind me. Someday my husband will likely be gone (We all know women live longer, and he borderline robbed the cradle.) I won't have him around to take care of me, nor will I be taking care of him. My kids will have their own busy lives, and I will be a dependent. Someday I might not remember all the days that got me to the day that I am living. Someday my season will be my last season.
Oh Dear God, forgive me for not seeing the beauty of this season right where I am right now. It is not easy. But it is joy, Lord. It is such joy. Let me at Christmas and all year long remember that You have blessed every "season" of my life by being present in every moment. Let me not allow a schedule to bring me such stress that I can't even see the wonder of the ones I am walking out the schedule alongside. Lord, you have given so richly to me in my husband and four children. Let me never take for granted that this enormous responsibility is also an enormous gift of grace. Oh, this season, it demands my all. But following You always will demand my all. And you are worth it. And they are worth it. And life is short and fragile. And You are forever. Help me count the victories, not the defeats. Help me relish the hugs, not grimace at the messes. Help me to bless, not to curse. Help me to abide, not to worry. Help me to love like you love. This season that is bleeding me dry is almost certainly the one that will fill my life with the most joy. You came that I might have life and have it to the full. I claim this blessing now, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Jesus, Bologna, and a Bunch of Dogs
I loathe bologna. It looks so gross. It signifies to me everything that is wrong with the world. I am very finicky (to say the least) about meat. I live in constant fear of myself or my family contracting listeria, E. coli, or salmonella. I have a strict 2 day rule on any meat-laden leftovers. I slightly overcook meat almost always to ensure that there is no bacteria(Sorry, Dear). In the way of meat, I only eat chicken and turkey. Even as a child my mom had a horrible time getting me to eat beef or pork. I'm sorry I was so picky, Mom! I am paying for my raising on that one. The only thing worse to me than regular meat is mystery meat. Who even knows what is in bologna? And why is the spelling so non-phonetically correct?! The mere sight of bologna makes my stomach turn over a bit and start screaming for fresh vegetables. I just don't get how it could possibly be a thing.
I'm not a big fan of dogs. I know. Gasp. Alert the press. But before you write me off as cold and incapable of love or unfriend me on facebook please allow me to explain. You see, I have psychological issues with pets. My childhood pet history reads a lot like "Les Mis" - a lot of drama and everyone dies. The soundtrack to my story isn't nearly as awesome though because it is mostly made up of New Kids on the Block, Milli Vanilli, Mariah Carey, and Boys II Men (okay, it is actually awesome). The first pet I remember having was our beloved black cat named "Midnight". She gave us several kittens (whom I found it the yard and thought were rats). My favorite one was a little gray one named "Smoky". These kittens were eaten by the german shepherd dogs next store. Should I just stop there? No, let's go on. Midnight herself later got run over by a car on the highway close to our house. We buried her in the backyard. Introduce next pet - a dog named "Rocky". I may or may not have suggested this name because of a boy I had a crush on at school. The rest of the family probably thought the name was cool because of the movies, but I knew the truth. Anyway, I loved him so much. He was our sidekick. He walked to school everyday with my sister and I in a very "Mary had a Little Lamb"-esque way. Rocky disappeared one Halloween, and we never saw him again. We assume he was stolen. Someone was tricking rather than treating. Then my 10th birthday came along, and apparently I hated myself because I asked for another dog. My request was granted, and we got an adorable black and white puppy named "Oreo". We had just enough time to fall head over heels in love with him before he too got flattened on the highway. True story - my mom followed up dinner that night by offering us all some of the frozen oreo dessert she had made the day before, and we erupted into sobs. My sweet parents wanted to give us the joyful experience of owning pets, but instead they gave us sadness and lessons on the frailty of life. So, you see, pets have only ever caused me pain. Even my beta fish, "Merle", had an untimely death. There is a sore spot in my soul where pets are concerned. I hardened my heart to the furry creatures long ago. I am trying to love them again for the sake of my children, but it's a long process. Where am I going with this? It isn't just a post about things I don't like. I promise. So read on. :)
Last week we buried one of the most amazing women I have ever known, Brian's Grandmother Petty. She was the tiniest bundle of true grit anyone ever saw. She loved everyone and everything. Her faith in Jesus was second to none, and she showed her love for Him in everything she did. There's a story told of her that once a man broke into her house and waved a knife in her face demanding her stuff. According to the story she told him he looked silly waving that knife around and that he was in the Lord's house. Then she offered to make him breakfast. Now I'm not sure this story is 100% accurate. My husband told it to me. Petty men are men of honor, but they aren't above a little embellishment for story-telling sake. Regardless, this was the kind of woman she was. She would give anything she owned and the very last ounce of herself to anyone who needed her. She raised 8 children and had 26 grandchildren and 48 great grandchildren (with more to come). She welcomed anyone who would come into her home. She had true joy because her fulfillment didn't come from any earthly source. It came from Jesus. She was full of wisdom and truth - an absolute jewel of a woman.
Last Friday night after we buried her close to her home we all gathered in her house one last time to eat together and visit. Grandmother would have so enjoyed looking around her home that night to see all of the faces she loved so much. How I wish I would have spent more time in her home while she was still in it. So many people had been so kind to bring us food of all kinds over the 2 days of visitation and funeral services. So we pulled out all the leftovers and had a vast array of food before us. As I made my way through the line, there I saw it - bologna sliced into quarters. Now, I'm not sure if someone brought this to the grieving family or if we pulled it out of Grandmother's fridge because it needed to be eaten(I assume the latter). But I watched as Brian's family walked by and ate it as if this was a totally normal thing to do, because let's be honest - it is probably a totally normal thing to do. And I stood there in this room full of deer-hunting bologna eaters (because it was standing room only in that precious house) and thought about how these people I was surrounded by had to be some of the finest people on the planet earth.
Then there are the dogs. It was a running joke at Grandmother's house that dogs abound there. I mean, who could blame them? They could probably sense her good character and would flock to her door. There were even jokes at the funeral as her granddaughters beautifully eulogized her about all the dogs around her home. Now, like I said, lots of dogs + me = uncomfortable. And yet this place where the dogs loved to go was a place of peace - a place of rightness in a world gone wrong.
What is my point? Well, I'm not sure exactly, but it's something like this. What blessings in life am I missing out on because I won't go near the unappealing things? What relationships have I missed out on because the other person didn't look like me? What ministries have I avoided because it's just too uncomfortable to go into "that kind of place". How many times have I judged others because of our differences instead of embracing them because of our likeness? If I avoid all the bologna and the dogs of the world am I only avoiding the "bad" or am I sorely missing out on the very, very good things God has to offer me? In the most unlikely of places, and in the most unlikely ways we find the most precious blessings of all. The greatest gift we will ever receive was laid in a manger in a stable filled with animal stench. What if we didn't go in because we didn't like the smell? What if we just kept walking past His stable and waited for something more appealing? What if we gave up the greatest moments of our lives because we didn't want to be "uncomfortable" for even a second? What if behind the small things that turn you off there is a woman who can teach you more about Jesus' love than anyone you know? What are you avoiding today? Go into the stable. Get dirty. Step in the manure. Embrace the Savior. He just might be where you least expect Him.
I'm not a big fan of dogs. I know. Gasp. Alert the press. But before you write me off as cold and incapable of love or unfriend me on facebook please allow me to explain. You see, I have psychological issues with pets. My childhood pet history reads a lot like "Les Mis" - a lot of drama and everyone dies. The soundtrack to my story isn't nearly as awesome though because it is mostly made up of New Kids on the Block, Milli Vanilli, Mariah Carey, and Boys II Men (okay, it is actually awesome). The first pet I remember having was our beloved black cat named "Midnight". She gave us several kittens (whom I found it the yard and thought were rats). My favorite one was a little gray one named "Smoky". These kittens were eaten by the german shepherd dogs next store. Should I just stop there? No, let's go on. Midnight herself later got run over by a car on the highway close to our house. We buried her in the backyard. Introduce next pet - a dog named "Rocky". I may or may not have suggested this name because of a boy I had a crush on at school. The rest of the family probably thought the name was cool because of the movies, but I knew the truth. Anyway, I loved him so much. He was our sidekick. He walked to school everyday with my sister and I in a very "Mary had a Little Lamb"-esque way. Rocky disappeared one Halloween, and we never saw him again. We assume he was stolen. Someone was tricking rather than treating. Then my 10th birthday came along, and apparently I hated myself because I asked for another dog. My request was granted, and we got an adorable black and white puppy named "Oreo". We had just enough time to fall head over heels in love with him before he too got flattened on the highway. True story - my mom followed up dinner that night by offering us all some of the frozen oreo dessert she had made the day before, and we erupted into sobs. My sweet parents wanted to give us the joyful experience of owning pets, but instead they gave us sadness and lessons on the frailty of life. So, you see, pets have only ever caused me pain. Even my beta fish, "Merle", had an untimely death. There is a sore spot in my soul where pets are concerned. I hardened my heart to the furry creatures long ago. I am trying to love them again for the sake of my children, but it's a long process. Where am I going with this? It isn't just a post about things I don't like. I promise. So read on. :)
Last week we buried one of the most amazing women I have ever known, Brian's Grandmother Petty. She was the tiniest bundle of true grit anyone ever saw. She loved everyone and everything. Her faith in Jesus was second to none, and she showed her love for Him in everything she did. There's a story told of her that once a man broke into her house and waved a knife in her face demanding her stuff. According to the story she told him he looked silly waving that knife around and that he was in the Lord's house. Then she offered to make him breakfast. Now I'm not sure this story is 100% accurate. My husband told it to me. Petty men are men of honor, but they aren't above a little embellishment for story-telling sake. Regardless, this was the kind of woman she was. She would give anything she owned and the very last ounce of herself to anyone who needed her. She raised 8 children and had 26 grandchildren and 48 great grandchildren (with more to come). She welcomed anyone who would come into her home. She had true joy because her fulfillment didn't come from any earthly source. It came from Jesus. She was full of wisdom and truth - an absolute jewel of a woman.
Last Friday night after we buried her close to her home we all gathered in her house one last time to eat together and visit. Grandmother would have so enjoyed looking around her home that night to see all of the faces she loved so much. How I wish I would have spent more time in her home while she was still in it. So many people had been so kind to bring us food of all kinds over the 2 days of visitation and funeral services. So we pulled out all the leftovers and had a vast array of food before us. As I made my way through the line, there I saw it - bologna sliced into quarters. Now, I'm not sure if someone brought this to the grieving family or if we pulled it out of Grandmother's fridge because it needed to be eaten(I assume the latter). But I watched as Brian's family walked by and ate it as if this was a totally normal thing to do, because let's be honest - it is probably a totally normal thing to do. And I stood there in this room full of deer-hunting bologna eaters (because it was standing room only in that precious house) and thought about how these people I was surrounded by had to be some of the finest people on the planet earth.
Then there are the dogs. It was a running joke at Grandmother's house that dogs abound there. I mean, who could blame them? They could probably sense her good character and would flock to her door. There were even jokes at the funeral as her granddaughters beautifully eulogized her about all the dogs around her home. Now, like I said, lots of dogs + me = uncomfortable. And yet this place where the dogs loved to go was a place of peace - a place of rightness in a world gone wrong.
What is my point? Well, I'm not sure exactly, but it's something like this. What blessings in life am I missing out on because I won't go near the unappealing things? What relationships have I missed out on because the other person didn't look like me? What ministries have I avoided because it's just too uncomfortable to go into "that kind of place". How many times have I judged others because of our differences instead of embracing them because of our likeness? If I avoid all the bologna and the dogs of the world am I only avoiding the "bad" or am I sorely missing out on the very, very good things God has to offer me? In the most unlikely of places, and in the most unlikely ways we find the most precious blessings of all. The greatest gift we will ever receive was laid in a manger in a stable filled with animal stench. What if we didn't go in because we didn't like the smell? What if we just kept walking past His stable and waited for something more appealing? What if we gave up the greatest moments of our lives because we didn't want to be "uncomfortable" for even a second? What if behind the small things that turn you off there is a woman who can teach you more about Jesus' love than anyone you know? What are you avoiding today? Go into the stable. Get dirty. Step in the manure. Embrace the Savior. He just might be where you least expect Him.
Saturday, October 31, 2015
10 Things I Want You to Know on Your 10th Birthday
Son, 10 years ago tomorrow you came into our lives. You were kicking and screaming and so full of life. We had never seen anything so amazing and beautiful. We had never felt love like this before. We were parents. We didn't know what in the world we were doing, but we knew we wanted to do it everyday for the rest of our lives. We knew we had been given a tremendous blessing. Now here you are. Tomorrow you turn 10. It is hardly believable that you've been here that long, and at the same time I can hardly remember life without you. The first 10 years of life are so magical. Childhood is a great gift from God. You are still a child, but lots of things will change in the next 10 years. Here are 10 things I want you to know as you bravely move forward into the next decade.
1. God Loves You More Than You Could Ever Imagine.
This is number one because it is by far the most important. If you can know this, truly know this in your heart, it will change EVERYTHING about your life. He loves you in a way that no one else you know is even capable of loving. It is perfect love. He made you. He created you exactly as you are for His divine purpose. He longs for you to be in relationship with Him. You make Him smile. Hold that truth in your heart, Son. It will never let you down.
2. God Will Never Leave You.
The next 10 years will bring many highs and lows. They will be some of the best years of your life with some of the hardest days of your life. You will be growing and learning so much every day. Your dad and I can't be with you every second of every day, but rest assured in this: God is with you always. Nowhere you go is too far from Him. No situation you find yourself in is too hard for Him. He will be by your side everyday. All you have to do is turn to Him. You can't see Him, but you will feel Him if you look for Him. He is your one constant in this life.
3. Don't Be Afraid To Be You.
The bible says it so beautifully "You are fearfully and wonderfully made." God created you with extreme care. He has purposes for you, and they are all a part of how He designed you. There is nothing wrong with how he created you. He doesn't make mistakes. We make mistakes, but He doesn't. Don't be afraid to be exactly who you are, Son. If someone else tries to convince you that aren't enough, tell them they are wrong. Then tell them that they are enough too, because they probably don't think they are. Be the kind of person who is comfortable in his own skin. You can do this when you understand number 1. He loves you.
4. You Are No Better Than Anyone Else.
Just as you are fearfully and wonderfully made, Son, so is everyone else. You are not better than any of your friends. You are not better than any of your enemies. We are all made in the image of God, and we are all lost without the grace of Jesus. You will have friends at school who don't look like you or talk like you. Their families won't look like yours. Their lives won't look like yours. Their clothes won't look like yours. They may make poor choices. You are no better than them. They are loved by God just the same as you are. They may have circumstances that make it hard for them to know that, Son. Treat them like the God-creation that they are. Treat them with respect and love. Be kind to the kids that the other kids tease or ignore all together. Do that, Son, and you just might change their life. And when you do this, it will most definitely change yours. This, my sweet boy, is being Jesus to the world.
5. Your Dad and I Love You So Much.
Son, your Dad and I can't love you as perfectly as Jesus does. But we love you as much as is humanly possible. To quantify how much we love you is impossible. There are no words or numbers that exist that could explain how we feel about you. You are ours. We will love you no matter what you do or don't do in the next 10 years. We want you to know that we are here for you. You can talk to us about anything. If something is hard in life, don't carry it alone. We are here. We will support and encourage you. We will help you work through the hard stuff. We will love you fiercely even when we don't agree. We will try our hardest to show Jesus' love in every conversation we have with you. We won't be perfect, but we will ask forgiveness when we mess up. We are so grateful to be your parents.
6. Your Siblings Are One Of God's Biggest Blessings To You.
I know sometimes it's hard to be the oldest of four children. I know your siblings drive you absolutely crazy some days, but believe me when I tell you this: You will treasure them someday. They are life-long friends. No matter where you go in life they will be a part of you. They will be there for the biggest laughs and hold you through the biggest tears. You will share so many memories with them. They will know you in a way that other people never will. Treat them well and know that they look up to you. Find chances to be kind to them. When you are grown up you will be so glad that you did.
7. Everything Worthwhile Is Hard.
People will try to tell you to take the easy way out. We can justify so many things with the excuse "It's just too hard." Let me tell you something, Son. If you have to work hard for something you will appreciate it so much more. The biggest blessings in your life will also be the things that require the most of you. When you have a class that is just "too hard"- work harder. When you don't make the starting team - practice more. When you are in situations with friends and family that are "too hard" - don't give up on people. Working hard makes you tired in the best kind of way because when you finally rest you can rest peacefully. When you don't think you can't do it - dig deeper. Jesus is your source of strength. When you ask Him for help He will help you. Don't be lazy. It feels good in the moment, but it drains your soul in the long run. Don't shy away from the hard stuff. Befriend it. You will have a much fuller life.
8. You Are Not Too Young To Make A Difference.
You may feel like you are too young to make a real difference in this world, like that is something that only adults do. Don't believe that. The next 10 years of your life will be absolutely filled with opportunities to change the world. Everyday you will have a choice to either speak life or speak death to the people around you. You can be kind to people in ways that will change the course of their lives. You can help those that are in need in your community. You can start movements among your peers that will make this world a better place. You can share Jesus with people who don't know Him. There is no greater mission than this. You will have lots of friends who need to meet Him and learn who He is. Share Him with them. Bring them to church with you. Pray for them. Pray with them. Don't be afraid to be bold about your God. He was bold for you. He sent His only son to die.
9. You Don't Have To Be The Best At Everything.
You are so talented, Son. You have many gifts and abilities. We are so proud of you, but please know that you don't have to be the best at everything. Some things will come naturally, and some things will be harder. That is okay. More than anything we want you to realize that you are loved regardless of your abilities and not because of them. When someone else is better than you at something don't be jealous. Be happy for them. Feel good enough about yourself to praise other people for their special talents without feeling threatened by them. You are who you are, and they are who they are. Their successes don't take anything away from your successes. If you truly rejoice with others when they succeed, your own successes will be so much sweeter.
10. Joy Is A Daily Choice.
My sweet boy, life will throw things at you that you didn't want or expect. You will have hard days. Sometimes you will feel like you are being treated unfairly. Some days you will deal with disappointment or rejection. Your attitude in these moments will determine the quality of your life. Choosing to be joyful and thank God daily for your blessings even on the hard days will change your life completely. No one wants to be around someone who is negative all of the time. But when someone is truly joyful in their life they are like a magnet that people can't resist. There is something about joy that is so enticing and mysterious. True joy isn't bound to earthly circumstances but is found in knowing that God loves you and is always with you. See number one and number two above. :) Choose joy every day.
I love you so much and look forward to every day of the next 10 years and beyond with you!
Love,
Mom
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