Control Relinquished

Waiting is tough.  We live in a culture where everything is at our fingertips. Everything is instant. Any need or want can almost immediately be gratified. The feelings of entitlement and discontent run deep in the blood of many humans. 'I deserve that... and I deserve it now.' That is a dangerous realization and a trap that I am determined not to fall into. Have you ever felt like your future depended on something? Maybe a phone call from a doctor? Or a letter from a college? An interview with a company? An e-mail from a builder... Yeah, that last one was directed at me. Four years ago, my husband and I sold our home and moved into an apartment. Our goal was to purchase some land from my in-laws and build a home in approximately 5 years. We are 1 year away from that 5 year goal. It takes approximately 1 year to build a home, if you take into consideration all the 'ground work' that is done before actually 'breaking ground.' We are in the

This exact picture hung in the hallway of my parents' home when I was a child. I often found myself staring at it, thinking. One time, I remember my mom asking which of the sheep we see ourselves as. One of my sisters quickly responded that she was the lamb being held by Jesus.That was okay. I already knew which one I wanted to be. The black one. The different one. The one following Him. Yeah, profound thoughts for a young elementary student. But I was already realizing the cost of following the path less traveled. I already felt the call to be different.  Monday begins a new era in my role of motherhood. It is the first time my daughter will spend more of her waking hours with someone else, somewhere else. Hello, 1st grade. It has been a reflective week for me, wondering if I have done and taught her enough to be prepared for life in a public school. Do I have enough faith to obey what God has asked of our family in choosing public school and making it our m

"I would rather be shot at, multiple times, than stay at home with my kids for an entire day!" These were the words I overheard from another customer at a local produce stand. The man went on to brag how he has a long commute to work and never gets home before 8 pm on the weeknights. His wife is a "saint" because she works full time and then has to "deal with the kids" every night by herself. Seriously?! Would anyone really prefer to be shot at  over spending time with the child you had part in creating? I know how hard and draining parenting is some days, but if that is the mentality he's approaching it with, it won't be getting any better anytime soon. His words kept running through my head the rest of the day. They ticked me off. Then I felt pity for him. The poor soul would have to live with regrets someday. He'll find himself wishing their childhood back; wishing he was PRESENT more. I'm sure his children would've been cru

What comes to mind when you hear the words, burn pile ? Twigs, tree limbs, grass clippings, leaves, unwanted debris, ashes, smoke... There is a nearby neighborhood burn pile that builds up and collects all this unwanted "junk" and typically gets burned twice a year. Usually it is such a large pile that it burns and smolders for days. The last burn date was several months ago, but a few days ago I walked by the pile and noticed this: There is beauty emerging from the ashes. Sunflowers Tomatoes Even in the midst of being uprooted and burned, God brought fruit and beauty from the ashes. Do you ever feel like your life is full of unwanted debris? The sins and junk are crowding your heart and mind? You are carrying various pain and hurts that smolder; the smoke of those issues clouding and burning your vision, taking away any hope for the future? I want to encourage you that there IS hope! God restores from the ashes. What we think is unusable and i