Taking flight

Standing in my kitchen I watched out the window. The fledgling robin sat on the back of the patio chair and flapped its wings a few times. The parent perched nearby offering encouragement. “You can do it!” The parent flew to the back of the swing-set. The fledgling watched, tilted back it’s head, cried out. “It’s too hard, but I will try!” Turned to the parent. Flapped it’s wings. Took off, wobbly, and low to the ground, awkward. A short flight. Landed just under the swing-set. I was distracted by the kitchen responsibilities for a bit, but came back to the window a while later to see the fledgling atop the swing-set. I couldn’t help but smile and think, “Good for you, little one!” It started to rain, and the robin was hunched over on top of the swing-set, seemingly paralyzed by fear. Comfort and safety of the dry nest was in the tree only a few feet away. The adult flew nearby, offering encouragement again, “Trust me! You were made for this! Stretch out your wings and fly!”

Our heavenly Father is the same way with us. Nearby offering encouragement when we think life is too hard. We can look to him for that encouragement every time. Trust in what he says. He won’t lie to us. He knows our capabilities. We can trust in our abilities that He has gifted us with. Let’s not let fear paralyze us from taking off in flight. Our comfort and safety are in His will for us. He made us for a specific purpose. He gives us hopes, dreams, goals, missions, but we have to stretch out our wings, and trust that we were made to fly!

Getting older...

Turning 40 and being "de-conditioned" (Physical therapist's kind way of saying "totally out-of-shape") has brought to light some challenges and insights. Our trip to Disney World and the beach in June was wonderful. A lot of walking, but wonderful. On the plane ride home I had a hard time getting comfortable. My leg and hip were cramping and sore. I told myself it was just all the walking and the time fighting the sand. After a few weeks, the hip and low back were much more painful. I consulted a doctor and was asked about recent injuries. I could not think of anything. I came home and asked my husband if he could think of anything I did. He reminded me that I had picked up our 60-something pound seven-year-old and rested her on my hip during the fireworks at WDW. OH YEAH! I remember a little "pop" in the back area. I was sent to physical therapy. I threw my whole pelvis and sacrum out of alignment, yay! So now I am being "educated" tortured twice a week and being asked to repeat it at home twice a day. It is a time commitment, but I do feel better after/when I do therapy. This is also a wake-up call to take better care of my physical body.

But we are not made of our physical bodies alone. Our soul and spirit round us out. That is how I see it in my mind's eye. As a circle with three pieces (kind of like a pie - don't get distracted by pie now). Nurturing just one of the three (body, soul, spirit) alone makes us lopsided. I personally suffer from being a very lopsided circle. More like an amoeba. And depending on the day, even an ugly little amoeba. I tend to forget to balance my focus. I will direct more attention to my spirit, absorbing God's Word and spending time before Him (which is not bad), but when I neglect my physical self, it is not ideal. God created our bodies and has given them to us as a stewardship. How we take care of them is a testament of our respect for Him and His creation (us). I am convicted. I am praying as always for guidance from the Holy Spirit and I am trying to be receptive.

More Perspective

Oceanside Revelation

I learned something about myself recently. You may wonder, considering I am creeping up on the big 4-0 very soon, "what else can you learn about yourself after 40 years?" I have always been a worrier. I told myself it was just my nature. Maybe to some degree that is true. I know I am not alone. If the Bible has so many verses on worry and anxiety, it must be a problem for at least a few other people. I have found myself lying in bed awake well into the early morning hours, mulling over possible situational outcomes and considering aspects of different situations in the past and possibly in the future.

Lots of things have culminated in helping me see the truth. Until now, I feel like I have been in a fog. Fearful, overwhelmed, surrounded. I have been focusing in on one small piece of a 1000 piece puzzle, losing sight of the whole. One thing that made it all "click" - I went to the ocean. (For a midwestern landlocked girl, this is a big deal!) When I was standing on that beach, staring into the vast, beautiful, powerful ocean, I thought of MY God. I thought of the Creator who created this powerful and vast ocean. I thought of the powerful God that can work all things together for good (Romans 8:28). I contemplated how trivial some of my "worries" are when faced with the eternal. I was awestruck by how much I had lost sight of how BIG God is, how nothing is beyond his reach. I could hear in my mind,

 "When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
 Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
 It is well, it is well, with my soul.
It is well, with my soul,
 It is well, it is well, with my soul."

Do you know the story of "It is Well?" The Hymnist, Horatio Spafford had sent his wife and four daughters on a sea voyage, hoping to join them later. The ship his family was on collided with another vessel and his four daughters did not survive. On his voyage to join his wife, he penned this hymn while sailing the area of the ocean where his offspring had perished.

I was sent into introspection standing on that beach with the cool water lapping my ankles. When "trouble" comes, how do I react? (My definition of trouble is a whole different subject for another time.) Do I run to my Father, confident in His care, provision and concern? Do I bemoan my troubles to others, on Facebook or in real life to garner sympathy? Can I say, "It is well with my soul"?

The other song that reverberated in my heart while wiggling my toes in the sand?
"When the oceans rise and thunders roar
 I will soar with You above the storm
 Father you are King over the flood
 I will be still, know You are God."

Sometimes we need to be still, rest in his peace and KNOW, He is God.

Do you need a dose of perspective like I did? Be encouraged! "Pile your troubles on God’s shoulders— he’ll carry your load, he’ll help you out. He’ll never let good people topple into ruin." PS 55:22 MSG
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." John 14:27 NLT
"So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:6-8 NLT

Don't let Satan or circumstances snatch your peace. I returned from my trip, this wonderful time with my husband and my God on flights that were less than perfect (by far), to raw sewage in my basement and ill children. It would have been easy to fall back into my old patterns of worry, fear and despair. But I fought for joy and peace. You can too. Rely on God. Stand firm and hold on.

Kechene Photo Update

This post is a long time coming. Sorry I haven't gotten it up sooner. Lots of thanks to all the wonderful people that helped make dresses, donated tees for boys, donated money for materials and of course, my friend, Chaos, that delivered them all the way to Kechene, Ethiopia. Look at these wonderful happy faces!!!

Thanks for an opportunity to live outside my own little world.

One week

Yikes! Just a week. Pictures to take, slide shows to finish, hot dogs/cookies to make for a crowd, a child to graduate 6th grade, a house to clean, laundry to do, clothes to wash, food to cook, friends to see/check in with, graduation parties, vacation plans to finalize..... All good, all competing for space in my head. Prayers for peace, a sound mind, a heart calm and comforted by my God.

Dresses for Kechene Thank YOU!

For those of you that helped provide for the Dresses for Kechene project - A personal "Thank you" from the children to you! I don't know about you, but I shed a tear or two! Love these precious faces!