Thursday, November 19, 2015

Sinking Ships...

I read this recently... "Ships don't sink because of the water AROUND them. Ships sink because of the water that gets IN them. Don't let what's happening around you get inside you and weigh you down."

Right now I think it would be really easy to let all the things happening in the world get inside of me and weight me down. I always want to do whatever I can to help people in need and I love to give... my time, my money, my things, just give... With all the events of the past few weeks and all the chaos that is always happening in our world, there is often a lot of opportunity for me to give. But when I am placed in situations when I am giving to those in need, I am also exposed to incredible heartache. And that heartache often gets me down because I can't do all that I would like to do to help the people in need. So, as I watch things happening in the world, and the people that are being so abused and mistreated and the people just in need of basic human rights and human needs, I have to not let it get in and sink my ship, but I also have to be careful to not ignore what is happening. I have to look for ways to get involved and help where I can.

There is also a lot of negativity going around right now. People are expressing so much hatred towards one another right now. There are many different opinions about the things that are happening in our world and which side is right or wrong, or the best way for countries to intervene or not intervene. And I could express my opinion on that and what I feel like should be done, but to be honest, I am not in a position to make decisions, and I am seeing so much dissension over these issues... It is incredibly sad that we let the actions of a few evil people come in and divide us and then those issues divide us again and again until we have forgotten that we are all humans... we are all the same on the inside... God created us all equally and we let the color of someone's skin, the place they are from, the language they speak, the religion they practice... whatever it is... keep us from seeing them as a creation of the one true God, keeps us from seeing them as a person with the very same needs as ourselves... So regardless of how I believe the situations in the world should be handled at the moment, I have to be careful to keep the negativity out... or it is going to sink my ship...

I also love that quote because while there may be a lot of... just mess... happening all around me all the time... I think it is God who can help me keep my ship afloat... He is what has made my ship waterproof... He keeps the mess out... and when I spring a leak... well He is the one who can patch it. Because the mess will get into my life, there is no doubt about that. The question is when the mess does get in my life how do I handle it and who do I turn too. 1. I think that if I continually pursue God and make Him first in my life then I can avoid letting a lot of the mess in to begin with, but when it does get in because the world we live in is infected with sin... well 2. I can know from the experience I have with God that he will handle the situation. I can't worry about the what if's... I mean honestly... what is the worst that could happen to me.. I could die... and would that really be so bad? I know I will spend eternity in heaven that is not a bad place to be. I know I would leave my family without me, but if I were to die, God would know it... it wouldn't be something He hadn't already planned... so should't I trust Him enough to know that if He felt it was time for me to leave this earth He would make sure to provide for my family?

So, if I know these things... there really should be nothing that discourages me... nothing that sinks my ship... because I can always trust that God is in control... and as the negativity flies all around right now because of all the mess happening in the world... I can stay positive and look for ways that I  can help the hurting and help those who have been forgotten... and show them the love of Jesus through any ways I can help...





This verse about prayer really stood out to me this week... and just reminded me about how in control God is... because He can do more than I could even imagine... His love is too great to understand, but I am sure glad I have experienced and continue to experience His love... And so I will continue to trust the One who is in control of everything and believe that He will accomplish infinitely more than I could even imagine...

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Life... A Daring Adventure

Helen Keller said, "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all." I sometimes think about my life and wish for a little adventure. It seems that I crave adventure and look for ways to stray from the beaten path. But is that all adventure is? Finding those moments when you are exploring something that seems out of the ordinary? Can I find adventure in my day to day life of being a wife, mom, and teacher? Everyday new things are happening, but I often let them just roll right past me and say that life is just the same old thing every day. I let the busyness of daily life to keep me from appreciating the daily adventures I encounter each day.

I began thinking recently how can I find the beauty in my day to day when it really just seems so... not beautiful. Particularly the job of being a mom... I spend a lot of time doing things like cleaning toilets, sweeping floors, folding laundry, making lunches... And I began thinking about this life of and title I have of Mom.... How is "mom" adventurous?? How is "mom" beautiful?

I make a lot of sandwiches...


I fold a lot of clothes...


And while those things are some of the boring things of being "mom" I also get






Midnight kisses when my son thinks it is time to play instead of sleep...


And I get to read books and snuggle...


Recently my oldest asked for me to read her a chapter a night of a book before bed. She is perfectly capable of reading on her own, but she wants to do that together. I love getting to read to her. I can introduce her to some of my favorite childhood adventures that inspire me now to want to lead a life full of adventure. We can read and dream together about the worlds we encounter in the books we explore.

While I may not see much of what I do as mom as very daring or adventurous... each day brings something new with my kids. Moments that if I don't let them just pass me by make my life all that much more beautiful. And each one of those little moments add to what makes my journey beautiful...

Homework as the sun sets at Dad's soccer practice...


Smiles because we can kick a soccer ball together...


These precious moments add up to create a really beautiful journey... that is full of adventure when seen through the eyes of the unique and brilliant children God has placed in my life.

Ecclesiastes 5:18 - 20 says, "After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It’s useless to brood over how long we might live." 

I want to make the most of this job I have as wife, mom, teacher, friend... and each day can be a daring adventure as I encounter the beautiful moments that make up my journey...