So I'm still practicing the 1000 gifts from God~~
journaling about what I find in my day~~ my very ordinary day, in my ordinary life~~ with 2 daughters and a husband~~ all active in extracurricular activities, ministries, end-of-school-year-busyness, to-do lists, invite list, food list...the lists line my desk and I realize that I'm not as stressed as I normally am.....as I would have been a year ago....or more....hm.....why this peace amidst chaos? why this joy bubbling over?
He whispers to me~~ whispers through His Words~through shared thoughts of friends....my mom-friends who are also raising active preteens/teens~and embracing change~~ and finding joy in the midst of this chaos actually gladdens my heart~ my heart leaps at the knowledge that I have changed~~ I am more confident of His grace....
His mercy,
His Love,
His gifts.
Perhaps I've picked up some ideas from the One Thousand Gifts book~ yet~finding God in my day has been a part of my daily life long before I discovered this gem of a book~
pushing through the shadows of tangled heartstrings~~ finding Healing in the touch of friends....of a pastor....of my Redeemer.....
I find my self rinsing dishes on this hot and humid late spring evening staring out the kitchen window and smiling at the 4 teen boys tossing Frisbees in the evening sun~~ I pause and say "thank you" to the Father of these teens....this group of high school boys that my husband enjoys mentoring....and leading....and playing sports with.....I thank the Father for my girls yet wonder what life would have been like if one of them had been a boy......and I begin to write my list of things for the day.....the blessings I see around me....from a Father who loves, gives, carries, embraces....
- laughing, jostling teen boys
- the teen daughter creating her final project, fingers working rapidly over the laptop keys...oblivious to 4 boys in the yard...intent on finishing work...her creativity flowing from her hands..
- the long-legged ballerina daughter practicing pointe on worn, wood flooring, flexing and pointing, and spinning and plie-ing....
- crispy grilled chicken soaked in BBQ sauce....
- smiles of teenagers biting into the first taste of chocolate peanut butter cup pie...
- virgin white peonies popping open on this late spring evening...
- golden, roasted marshmallows....
- dancing flames of fire glowing on family members faces....
- central AC for hot and humid NY nites....
- frosty glasses of raspberry lemonade soothing scratchy throats....
- clean, cotton tees with crisp denim shorts....
- soft pillows for tired heads.....
- the comfort of husband's arms....
- the tug on my heart of remembered friends estranged....
- the pull of my Savior longing for me to fill my ordinary days with Him.....to dig in more...to say Thank YOU more......
to allow Him to lead....
to lead me through my ordinary days.......
3 comments:
Nice post Faith! Love how you are not stressed with all that is going on. I love how you can enjoy such simple things. The lemonade sounds wonderful and I love the thought of gooey roasted marshmallows. :) Sounds like your girls are busy and you are enjoying them. Thanks for all the special prayers.
This was really touching, loved it Faith.
Sandy: it's an honor to pray for you and your family...my friends are touched by your story(i've directed some of them to your blog...:) )
Erin, thanks! it's the influence of reading that book!!!! it was so good...and inspiring....I'm keeping it..not passing this one on :)
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