Keepin' On

I had only one nerve left and he got on it.  There was simply nothing left to give.  Not one ounce of sweet, motherly patience.  Zip.  Nada.

There's no end in sight.  When, if ever, will he say, "Sure, Mom!  No problem.  I'll get right on that."

I've polled numerous moms with really fine grown children.  They have a lot of grey hair, but they kind of chuckle about "those days."  They tell me he might say something like that.  Might.  Someday.  Probably not any time soon.

So I just feel tired.  I try to remember the last time I took my vitamin D.  I wonder when the sun is going to shine again.

I'm pretty sure the only cure is a child-free week on a hot beach.

Except that's not an option.

Some things just require faithfulness.  Full-of-faith-ness. The day-in-and-day-out doing of the right thing.

Faith that in due season we will reap a good harvest, if we don't give up.

Faith that spring will come.

Faith that boundary-testing sons will grow into strong men.

Faith that the unsung routines don't go unnoticed by the One who has entrusted us with the task.  He promises a "crown of life" for those who are faithful to the end.  I have no idea precisely what a crown of life is, but I'm pretty sure I'd like it.

The very good news is that even when we are not faithful, He is.  So He pours His grace into my empty, rock-bottom, end-of-my rope soul, and puts me back on my feet again.  Not exactly kicking up my heels, but chin up and one foot in front of the other.

I'm going to make supper now.  Again.

I'm blessing you today in whatever faith-filled task you're on.

So let's not get tired of doing what is good.

At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing 

if we don't give up.

Galatians 6:9

*Revelation 2:10; 2 Timothy 2:13

Stay Calm, Count On

Ann Voskamp is, without question, my favorite blogger.  Her post today on A Holy Experience had a graphic with the words "Keep calm and count on."  This is in keeping with her theme of thanksgiving...giving thanks appears to be the only thing I can blog about this week.

The only way I'm successfully coping with my to-do list this week is to "Keep calm and count on."  Stay calm.  Count your blessings.  It seems to be keeping me from complete and utter panic.

Counting...

1.  My son has been praying for more friends that are boys.  Someday he'll probably be grateful that so many of our friends are cute girls, but for now he needs more boys to play with.  Today friends from Fort St John are shopping in the city and dropped off their son to play.  A friend that's a boy.  All day.  How cool is that?  As strange as it may sound, this actually helped me accomplish more and I got caught up on some stuff.  Two blessings in one.

2.  Maybe I should count that as three blessings in one because said friends brought pizza for supper which meant I had time to blog!!  (I wish I knew html so I could insert a very happy smiley face.)

3.  Our care group.  Monday nights we have the privilege of hosting a care group in our home.  If you saw me acting slightly insane as I try to whip my house and kids in order at the last minute before everyone shows up, you might question the "privilege" part, but it's true.  These people are the people who divide my sorrows and multiply my joys.  We're committed to caring for each other, encouraging each other, and praying for each other.  My life wouldn't be the same without them.

Each one of these blessings is from the loving heart of my Father.  My heart is filled with worship and thanksgiving as I recognize His kindness in my life!

Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven.

The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light.

There is nothing deceitful in God,

nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.

James 1:17

Please feel free to keep counting with me in the comments.  Every blessing shared is an encouragement!

Sunday Blessings

A post of random blessings...may you discover random blessings in your day too!

I slept in today--almost unheard of!  It was a glorious thing to realize that I'd just slept more than an hour past my regular automatic wake-up time, but I felt so unorganized and rushed getting ready for church that I think I'm glad it's not a regular thing.  Boring creature of habit that I am, I think it's best to stick with my habit of going to bed early.  Sleep is good AND I like lingering over my coffee. Sleeping in=mixed blessing.

Some people like to quote, "Don't forsake the gathering of yourselves together..." as though God is sitting in heaven taking a tally of everyone who doesn't go to church.  I hate that.  They leave off the best part of the quote, "...but encourage one another."*  That's why I go.  To be encouraged.  I was so encouraged today.  Besides hugs and laughter with wonderful people, we dedicated our Christmas shoeboxes and saw a video from Operation Christmas Child in which a story was recounted of a girl in Bosnia receiving a shoebox.  I admit that I bawled like a baby.  God doesn't just know your name, He knows your shoe size.  You can live in the middle of a war zone and He'll let you know that He loves you.

Also at church, my daughter sang with her dad accompanying on the guitar.  He hit a few wrong chords.  Ouch.  Lucky for him he didn't see the glare she gave him...though she kept on singing like an angel.  Wish I had a video!  I thought it was hilarious.

My son was put to bed an hour ago and he just called out, "What does eradicate mean?"  Seriously.  That's not a question you should ask your mother when she's already told you to be quiet three times! The definitions I could give...though I'm secretly amused.

Oldest daughter and hubby are chatting and working on a puzzle while I write.  It's good.

Sunday isn't the end of my weekend, it's the launch of my week.  I'm soaking up all these blessings...gathering strength to face the tasks of the rest of the week.

I will answer them before they even call to me. 

While they are still talking about their needs,

I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Isaiah 65:24

A God who knows the shoe size of a little girl in Bosnia can handle the needs of my week.

May you be blessed with courage and strength as your face yours!

*Hebrews 10:25

His Hand on My Head

When we were kids my Dad would put his hand on our heads and pray for us every night when we went to bed.  We love to tease him now about how he would punctuate his prayers by pushing our heads into the pillow.  It would go something like this, "I thank you, Lord (push), for Michelle (push).  I pray that you will bless her (push) and give her a good night's sleep (push).  In the name (push) of Jesus (push), Amen (push!)! I couldn't go to sleep without it.  Our kids love when we reenact this for them and my dad mutters something about "trying to knock some sense into you".

Now when I'm having a challenging day, I go to my husband and place his hand on my head.  He knows exactly what I'm asking for and, though he doesn't use many words or any pushes, his prayers are very effective.

Could be why I love this verse:  "You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!"

His hand of blessing.

On my head.

Oh, how I need it there!  Just pausing and thinking about it does wonder for the contents of my head!

I need that hand of blessing to fill me with joy in this gloomy day...to fill me with strength for the duties of the day...to fill my mind with thoughts of blessing for those who may be annoying or even offensive...to fill me with awareness of His grace for me when I'm the one being a twit...to make me alert to His thoughts about the people and situations around me...to make me aware of the many blessings He's placed in my life...  And it does!  His hand of blessing contains everything we need.

May you sense His hand of blessing on your head today!

Psalm 139:5-6