2/26/2019
Are You There God?ARE YOU THERE GOD?
In the late 1970’s, all the girls my age were reading the same book~ ‘Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret’. I was in junior high. I was boy~crazy, wore knee hi’s and couldn’t wait to grow up. Are you there God? Such silly things to talk to God about~ Boys and womanhood. Are you there God? I’m graduating high school and leaving for college. Scared and excited. Are you there God? The man of my dreams is asking to marry me. Are you there God? I’m moving hundreds of miles away. Away from everything and everyone I know and love. Are you there God? This little one is calling me mom. Do I even have a clue how to do this ‘baby’ thing? This ‘teenage’ thing? This ‘saying goodbye as they leave for good’ thing? Are you there God? Devastation has hit our country. The Twin Towers. Thousands are killed. Are you there God? I don’t think I can recover from the deep hurt this person caused. Are you there God? My sister in law died leaving six children. Her youngest only 6 days old. Are you there God? My mom is gone. The same year. I can’t breathe. Will I ever laugh again? Are you there God? Sickness, Celiac, mammograms, biopsies, abnormal cells. Are you there God? My dad has had a heart attack and stroke. Are you there God? My husband can’t see. He’s losing his sight.... Yes God is here. I could not have made it through without Him. He held me and carried me through each one of these moments in my life. He is here even now as I laugh with my dad. He’s here as I cherish memories of my mom and sister. He’s here as I gaze lovingly at my children, their spouses, their children. He’s here in the twinkle of my grandchildren’s eyes and the giggles of their hearts. He’s here in the whispers of my husband’s I love you’s. Even as He was there when I was boy~crazy and wanted to grow up too fast. It wasn’t silly to Him when I asked. Nothing is too silly, nothing is too hard and nothing is too sad, because He loves me. He knows everything about me. He understands. Just as He understands whatever it is you are facing at this moment. And He loves you. Are you there God? You are not alone. Ask Him today. He will answer your heart~ I am always here my child. Always. I will hold you. I will carry you through. All you need do is ask. Psalm 62:8, 139:17 Zephaniah 3:17 Philippians 1:6 THE STRUGGLE OF OUR IRRITATING HUSBANDS
I’m blessed with great in laws. We’re all able to laugh together about the less than perfect traits that we possess, but there are times that I can let it get away from me. They know all the amazing qualities my husband has, but they also know many of the “not so great” qualities, and if I’m not careful I find myself listing all the things he does that drive me crazy. I know exactly why I do this. He is a carbon copy of his dad, so his mother can relate 100%. Just recently I was with a group of ladies comparing notes on their husbands. Every part of me wanted to join in and list some of the things Mike does that irritate me. But then I stopped myself and in my heart I asked myself “why?” Why did I feel the need to complain? To bring up my husband’s shortcomings? I realized it was only because I knew I would be validated in my complaints. And I knew that was wrong. Why do we as wives, as women, as humans do this? Don’t join that bandwagon ladies. Don’t be pulled into a conversation and deceived into thinking it’s okay to start listing off someone else’s traits that you find irritating, especially not your husbands. Because that’s never okay. Stop and think. For every thing that irritates you, I guarantee there is something your husband does that’s amazing. We just need to open our eyes and see it. Replace the negative by focusing on all his positives. I Peter 4:8 You will surprise yourself when you really, truly start working on that because you will find that you are married to Mr. Wonderful, and maybe even fall a little more in love with him all over again. So, I bit my tongue and I looked over at him and I realized what a really awesome husband he is. I decided that the next time I’m tempted to complain to others, I’ll just talk to God about it. He usually has this way of showing me that I can be pretty irritating at times too. Recently, while at the airport I watched 2 sweet, elderly gentlemen. Both got up and bought their wives a parfait and brought it back for them. The wives took them without a second thought. We as wives take a lot our Mr. Wonderful does for us for granted. Notice the small stuff and be thankful. Stay out of the complaining conversations and love on that man God gave you. And occasionally vent, but only to God or your mother in law. 😉 We all need to vent from time to time. Besides God, she truly is the only one who understands the struggle. And then let her know how much you love and appreciate that son she gave you. *side-note~ I highly recommend NOT complaining to your own parents. And to all you mother in laws reading this~ allow your new daughter to to ask for advice (aka vent 😂). Your son isn’t perfect and she could use the mama wisdom you have, instead of the criticism you might be tempted to give. But that’s all a post for another day 😉 Ephesians 4:32
2/12/2019
Parenting Pet PeevePARENTING PET PEEVE ✔️
Parenting pet peeve #557... Just kidding, I don’t have them numbered... or do I?? 🤔😂 Sometimes it feels like this many... You know those moments when you’ve been praying and talking and praying and talking with your children and for some reason it just doesn’t click? They come to you overwhelmed and discouraged. They’re heart broken and hurting. They cry, which makes you cry. They want answers. They don’t know what to do. You’ve been there. You understand. So, you pray for them. You pray with them. You talk to them. You text them. You share verses and words of encouragement. But it just seems like it doesn’t click. They’re just not getting it. i.e.~In one ear and out the other. And then they have a breakthrough. An epiphany. They tell you they heard a message, they read a devotional. They talked to someone. And here is where the pet peeve hits you smack in the face. Excitedly, they share the words that changed their life, the “great advice” that helped so much. And it’s exactly what you have been saying ALL... A...LONG. EXACTLY. Yep. That’s hard. As a mom you just want to scream~ “Are you kidding me?!! Where have you been the last 25 years I’ve been telling you that exact thing? Were you even listening at all?!!” And then, as you’re standing there completely dumbfounded, they don’t understand why you aren’t more excited for their new change of heart. For their epiphany. And you have no words. I don’t know why I let this bother me so much. Unheeded words. Someone else’s advice. Someone else’s help. It’s hard on a mama. But then I think about my own life. My own walk with God. When I’m overwhelmed and discouraged. When I cry and don’t know what to do. I read God’s word and for some reason, it doesn’t click. In one ear and out the other. But then I read a devotional or hear a message and bam!! I have my own epiphany. My own breakthrough. As if the speaker or writer wrote it just for me. And I say “thank you Lord”. And He whispers back with a smile~ “I’ve been telling you this all along, you just needed an extra nudge.” Isn’t that what we have been praying for? For help for our children and what they are going through? And yet when that extra nudge comes and it’s not from us, our mama hearts sting a little. This mama wants her mama heart to look more like Jesus’ heart. To understand that God can use anyone and anything to turn a situation around. That He heard my prayers for my children and He answered. And to be thankful. Even if that answer didn’t come from me. I’m sure He’s been speaking to me all along about this. Tomorrow I will probably read it in a devotional and get hit over the head. So instead~ I’ll tell Him I hear Him today. And I’m listening to His advice. ✔️Pet peeve #557~ Given to God.
2/5/2019
Getting Old StinksGETTING OLD STINKS
I’m looking in the mirror and an old lady is laughing back at me... I am not one of those women that embraces age. (And if I’m honest, I’m not embracing it in my husband either 😂) Let’s be real here. I don’t put on my bifocals, look at my wrinkles in the mirror and “love” them~ “because they are a result of all the laughter in my life”. I don’t look at my stretchy stomach skin (that resembles a large, deflated balloon) and think it’s “beautiful”~ “because it carried my four precious children”. I cringe at the facial hair and turkey neck I’ve got going on. I don’t embrace my grandma acne, my lack of energy, my increase in forgetfulness or the arthritis throbbing from every joint. I don’t cherish hot flashes, weight gain or painful, sleepless nights. (I know what some of you are thinking right now~ 🤔 she’s a poster child for my products!! Please read my disclaimer below😉) I wish I could embrace it all. I know I should. God bless all you women who do. I read inspirational quotes from you on Pinterest and wish I could be like you~ carefree women who love getting older and think everything about it should be celebrated. (They fall into the same category as women who love being pregnant 😂) But I’m not. It’s been my rough year. I’m not sure why it hit me at 53. Odd year. I’ve been angrily embracing many of the bad things that come with age, instead of all the wonderful things. Please know, I’m not having a pity party, I’m just stating the facts. A lot about getting old stinks. All you young women in the prime of your life, don’t roll your eyes here~ You’ve been warned. It’s coming. The good news is, there are a lot of things I do love about getting old. Who knew that your heart could hold that much love for the babies your own babies gave you? Or that those little girls that play with baby dolls and Barbies will one day be your best friends? Who knew that the little boy who brought you flowers would one day co-pastor right next to his daddy? That you would gain the wisdom in realizing that all the things you thought were so important when you were younger weren’t so important after all, and you were able to let go and give that mess to God. That you would fall even deeper in love with your spouse than you were on your wedding day. That the young couple who stayed awake till all hours, now find sweet comfort falling asleep next to each other at 9pm. That more and more of your loved ones have moved on to their new home~and heaven gets a little sweeter every day. Jesus gets a little sweeter every day. The love Christ has for me has wrapped my life in joy and peace and comfort despite all the things I hate about getting old. I can’t do this old thing without Him. And the older I get, the reality of how much~how very, very much~ He loves me hits home and fills my heart with understanding that I never had 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. It grows deeper every day. With every wrinkle, with every hot flash, with every pound I gain and all the Advil I take. And that makes me realize that I can do this old thing~ because of Him. I’m not telling you I’m going to embrace it. Nope. My arthritic thumbs hurt just typing this. 😂 I’m sure I’ll still get hit with some hormonal, cranky, grandma days~ but I know my Savior is right there with me, perhaps even chuckling at the old lady applying Clearasil and wrinkle cream at the same time, and muttering under her breath. Yes that’s me. And after writing this I’ve realized~ maybe I have embraced it after all. 😉 2 Corinthians 4:16 Isaiah 46:4 Job 12:9,10 & 12 Psalm 71:18 Psalm 73:26 Proverbs 17:6 *Disclaimer~😉 Many of the issues I have are due to years of undiagnosed Celiac disease. I am fully aware of all the amazing products out there that can better the quality of life as we age, some of which I am taking. Thank you ahead of time for your concerns and desire to help. This was not intended to seek pity or treatment. Just sharing woman to woman with others who may be going through the same things. |
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