I have been resisting the game so many of my friends are playing on Facebook of listing things I am thankful for during Thanksgiving. This is normally something I would do, and, last year I think I was one of the first of my friends to play this game.
Don't get me wrong, I am thankful. But I didn't want to be redundant and list all the typical things. I was thinking of doing it but being thankful for obscure things.
But recently, my little family has been going through a hard time. Luckily, we are solid and strong, but it has been enough to shake things up quite a bit.
Today, one of my best friends sent me a devotional about how we have to be thankful for things in the midst of the worst of situations. The devotional said,
"I find this truth about the power of thanksgiving over and over in Scripture. What was the prayer Daniel prayed right before being thrown in the lion’s den and witnessing God miraculously shutting the lion’s mouths? Thanksgiving.
After three days in the belly of a fish, what was the cry of Jonah’s heart right before he was finally delivered onto dry land? Thanksgiving.
How are we instructed to pray in Philippians 4:6 when we feel anxious? With thanksgiving.
And what is the outcome of each of these situations where thanksgiving is proclaimed? Peace.
Powerful, unexplainable, uncontainable peace.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, NIV).
One of Webster’s official definitions of thanksgiving is: “a public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness.”
So I decided that in the midst of the adversity I am experiencing, I will be thankful. So here are some things I am truly thankful for today:
The most amazing, resilient, funny, smart, handsome, awesome sons that God ever created. They make my world brighter every moment of the day.
A loving, hard working, generous, protective, providing husband who would do anything for me and his boys.
Prayerful and encouraging friends who not only pick me up when I stumble but hold me accountable when I am not living up to my end of the bargain, especially concerning my relationship with God.
Wonderful parents who have gone, will go and are going to great lengths to help me and my family however they can.
The ability to advocate for not only my family, but all the kids I in which I come into contact.
Amazing coworkers who help me every day and who love kids and do what's best for them.
Courage to do what is right even when it is the hardest thing to do.
Kids in my life who show me love and affection and make me feel important in their worlds.
Findlay, the dog I am convinced God sent me last week. She is the exact dog I always hoped I would have someday. I am once again astounded that God answers specific prayers in miraculous ways.
A social service community that helps people. Really helps people, in specific ways.
Most of all, I am thankful for my personal Jesus, who knows me, loves me in spite of myself, and works all things or the good of those who love Him. Even little old me.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
How My Son Redeemed Me
I was having one of those moments. A moment where the filter in my brain was turned off and whatever scrolled across my mind immediately exited my lips.
My boys and I were at Chic Fil A, which is our favorite fast food place. It was 2 p.m. and we were just eating lunch. So, of course, we were all cranky. We got our food and then gather up all the condiments, make it to our table and start to sort out our food. This was all feeling very stressful at the time.
Will, my 6 year old, knocked over his drink, and just a little spilled. I handed him a napkin and told him to hurry up and clean it up. And then he tried to hand the used, wet napkin back to me and I hatefully replied, "I'm not a trash can."
Normally, I wouldn't have thought much more about it and chalked it up to extreme hunger and stress. But today a mom and her 3-year-old son were sitting at a table behind us. Just after I quipped my non-trash can remark, the little boy behind me says, "Mommy, I'm not a trash can either." The mom was sweet and gentle and engaged her son in a long funny conversation about if he was a trash can or a garbage truck and which would be better.
I was horrified at my behavior. I was regretting my words. I started to wonder what that sweet, kind mother was thinking of my terse comment that I had for my sweet 6 year old. The mommy guilt was swallowing me whole. I of course regretted sounding so sharp and cranky.
The rest of lunch was uneventful. We all perked up after we had some food in our bellies and the crankiness went away. The boys got ice cream cones and all was right in the world, except for my mommy guilt.
Suddenly, Will asked me to hold his ice cream cone, and I obliged. He got up from the table and left me wondering what in the world he was doing. I watched as he walked to the condiment area, picked up a straw off the floor and followed a woman and her baby to their table. He tapped her shoulder and said, "Excuse me, but I think you dropped this." The woman was caught by surprise and thanked Will for his kindness.
I was speechless and I felt my eyes warm with tears. Will walked back over and sat down and thought nothing of his random act of kindness. He took his ice cream cone and started in eating it.
My heart was about to burst. I couldn't have been more proud of my son. My goal is to raise him to be a kind man, and this showed that he was well on his way. "I am so proud of you son. That was awesome," I said, trying not to cry in a public place.
Then I heard the voice of the woman with the little boy at the table behind me. "Yes, that was awesome," she said. "You don't see that everyday.
I turned to see her eyes filled with tears, too. She was also amazed at Will's thoughtfulness. We chit chatted a little after that and laughed at how emotional we had gotten at such a little thing.
And then, instead of feeling like a bad mom, I knew that my son's actions had redeemed me. My son's kind actions spoke louder than my cranky words.
It reminded me of another way I have been redeemed by a son. God sent His son to redeem me from my sins. Jesus' sacrifice not only redeemed me from cranky words said in public, but for every sin I have ever committed and will ever commit.
As each nail entered Jesus' hand and foot, it represented my sin. As Jesus was whipped and beaten and mocked, he suffered for the things I have done. As Jesus was separated from God, the unimaginable anguish he felt was because of the sins I have committed.
Jesus' actions on the cross redeemed me from a life apart from God and made it possible for me to bury my old life and live a new life in God.
As proud as I am of my son's simple kind act at Chic Fil A, I can't imagine the deep pride God must have felt when Jesus ministered to the lost and eventually sacrificed his life on the cross so I could live. There has never been a more redeeming act ever made.
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
My boys and I were at Chic Fil A, which is our favorite fast food place. It was 2 p.m. and we were just eating lunch. So, of course, we were all cranky. We got our food and then gather up all the condiments, make it to our table and start to sort out our food. This was all feeling very stressful at the time.
Will, my 6 year old, knocked over his drink, and just a little spilled. I handed him a napkin and told him to hurry up and clean it up. And then he tried to hand the used, wet napkin back to me and I hatefully replied, "I'm not a trash can."
Normally, I wouldn't have thought much more about it and chalked it up to extreme hunger and stress. But today a mom and her 3-year-old son were sitting at a table behind us. Just after I quipped my non-trash can remark, the little boy behind me says, "Mommy, I'm not a trash can either." The mom was sweet and gentle and engaged her son in a long funny conversation about if he was a trash can or a garbage truck and which would be better.
I was horrified at my behavior. I was regretting my words. I started to wonder what that sweet, kind mother was thinking of my terse comment that I had for my sweet 6 year old. The mommy guilt was swallowing me whole. I of course regretted sounding so sharp and cranky.
The rest of lunch was uneventful. We all perked up after we had some food in our bellies and the crankiness went away. The boys got ice cream cones and all was right in the world, except for my mommy guilt.
Suddenly, Will asked me to hold his ice cream cone, and I obliged. He got up from the table and left me wondering what in the world he was doing. I watched as he walked to the condiment area, picked up a straw off the floor and followed a woman and her baby to their table. He tapped her shoulder and said, "Excuse me, but I think you dropped this." The woman was caught by surprise and thanked Will for his kindness.
I was speechless and I felt my eyes warm with tears. Will walked back over and sat down and thought nothing of his random act of kindness. He took his ice cream cone and started in eating it.
My heart was about to burst. I couldn't have been more proud of my son. My goal is to raise him to be a kind man, and this showed that he was well on his way. "I am so proud of you son. That was awesome," I said, trying not to cry in a public place.
Then I heard the voice of the woman with the little boy at the table behind me. "Yes, that was awesome," she said. "You don't see that everyday.
I turned to see her eyes filled with tears, too. She was also amazed at Will's thoughtfulness. We chit chatted a little after that and laughed at how emotional we had gotten at such a little thing.
And then, instead of feeling like a bad mom, I knew that my son's actions had redeemed me. My son's kind actions spoke louder than my cranky words.
It reminded me of another way I have been redeemed by a son. God sent His son to redeem me from my sins. Jesus' sacrifice not only redeemed me from cranky words said in public, but for every sin I have ever committed and will ever commit.
As each nail entered Jesus' hand and foot, it represented my sin. As Jesus was whipped and beaten and mocked, he suffered for the things I have done. As Jesus was separated from God, the unimaginable anguish he felt was because of the sins I have committed.
Jesus' actions on the cross redeemed me from a life apart from God and made it possible for me to bury my old life and live a new life in God.
As proud as I am of my son's simple kind act at Chic Fil A, I can't imagine the deep pride God must have felt when Jesus ministered to the lost and eventually sacrificed his life on the cross so I could live. There has never been a more redeeming act ever made.
And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Finding My Voice Again
It's been a while since I have posted. Part of the reason why is that I have been busy with a new career. Working full time has been a huge change, not just for me, but also for my family. Finding time to do the things I enjoy, such as writing, has been difficult.
But the other part of the reason I haven't posted has been because I have lost my voice. Today, I am trying to find it again.
I have done a little writing this year. In fact, the writing I have done has been my favorite style that I have ever composed. It has recently been on display in major ways throughout the U.S. and even abroad.
I admitted today to my mom that the reason I haven't written more has been because I am afraid that I am not good enough. I have doubt. What if I've outreached my potential? What if I run out of things to say? What if I'm being judged, or worse, laughed at, and I don't know it?
Self doubt has crept in. I have let it control me.
But now, I am going to work on overcoming my insecurities and charge ahead.
After all, the biggest risks also carry the biggest rewards.
But the other part of the reason I haven't posted has been because I have lost my voice. Today, I am trying to find it again.
I have done a little writing this year. In fact, the writing I have done has been my favorite style that I have ever composed. It has recently been on display in major ways throughout the U.S. and even abroad.
I admitted today to my mom that the reason I haven't written more has been because I am afraid that I am not good enough. I have doubt. What if I've outreached my potential? What if I run out of things to say? What if I'm being judged, or worse, laughed at, and I don't know it?
Self doubt has crept in. I have let it control me.
But now, I am going to work on overcoming my insecurities and charge ahead.
After all, the biggest risks also carry the biggest rewards.
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