Good Things Come to Those Who Wait?

Good things come to those who wait. It’s a phrase I have heard quite a bit lately. Every time I hear those 7 words I think to myself is this the good things? Have I finally arrived at jubilee?

I want to offer another thought…. Maybe just maybe good things come to those who are waiting.

There was a point in my life I didn’t want to answer another phone call or open the mailbox in fear it would simply be another portal of bad news. I was certain for a while that God forgot about me or that my life was simply proof God couldn’t exist at all. I have waded through all the possible journey points in my life.  I don’t say this as a plea for pity; I mean after all don’t we all have some junk?

During some very dark times of my life I would hear “time will heal” and I think we all know there is some truth to this. Yet, in the moment all that I felt sure of is my tunnel was pitch black with no sight of any light at the end. Some days I felt as if I may not be able to take another breath, the burden was so heavy.  If you have been there you know just what I am talking about.

There were no lights at the end BUT I began to find there were tiny little lights just barely bright enough to see the next step ahead. Not enough to actually plan a journey but enough to avoid the pit under foot. They showed up in forms of phone calls, meals, words, hugs, tears, letters, packages, diapers :) and on and on. God used people to show me I could survive I could make it, I could breathe, I could walk. One day I came across this verse ^“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and I recognized I could not control my situation (for the most part) but I could control my response. I found that I could rejoice in the small stuff, pray over all stuff and develop a heart of gratefulness.

Sounds nice right? It is nice but it was also incredible difficult. Day by day, moment by moment God was shaping and molding me through my tears and encounters. If it’s up to me I don’t want to live it again, it was so painful and hard but I would never want to give up what I have seen God do and accomplish in my life.

Recently I was accepted into nursing school for the fall, (which has been a lifelong dream) my husband was offered his dream job (and I mean his DREAM job) my son was accepted into a school that 4 months ago he was 124^th on the list and the blessings go on and on. I guess this is why people assume good things come to those who wait. The trouble is sometimes good things don’t come to those who wait. Sometimes good faithful people wait, hurt and still things don’t ever seem to turn around. The other problem is there is always tomorrow. Let’s face it… people whom I love are going to get sick, friends and family are going to pass away in fact my very own body is going to die someday, maybe tomorrow. My kids are going to make choices I don’t agree with, friends are going to hurt me, I am going to fail myself. If we always wait for what is to come we will miss the joy of the moment.

Recently I have had a lot of joyous occasions, reasons to stop and say “THANK YOU GOD! I love you, thank you for how you have touched my life” But long ago I was given these gifts….

•     The ability to see people through God’s eyes, we all have a story, right?
•   A dependence on God that will not be swayed by lack of money or circumstance for I have seen Him do the impossible.
•   I have experienced the presence of God that to this day when I recall the moment I can still feel it. I know that I never have been and never will be alone.
•   God always answers prayer
•   God loves me even when I fail and am messy (which is pretty much all the time)

Jobs, school, money, successes, amazing husbands (like mine) these things are good, oh so good. I rejoice and praise God for them. They are good however they will never as good as the amazing truths God taught me in the pit.

Good things come to those who wait (sometimes) this is true, for me though….

Good things came to me while I was waiting.

I don't know much but I know this one thing

One of my favorite stories in the Bible is found in John 9. It is about a random guy on the street. He had been born blind and Jesus healed him. When the officials of the time questioned him about it (trying to disprove Jesus) the man finally just told them ““Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”  I believe that man probably was able to tell better of God’s love just by sharing what God had done for him.

This man’s story was his testimony to what God can do. I love that Jesus didn’t go to theological places of the time, didn’t check the man’s ID or find out what clubs he belonged to. He didn’t go looking for the best public speaker or the one with the most Bible knowledge. Just a man, a normal guy on the street.

This gives me hope. J

I don’t know much but I know this one thing. My heart was broken. No not just broken but smashed into a million pieces, even the best puzzle solver couldn’t have put it back together. Until God the healer came in and mended it. He replaced the broken pieces and made me whole again. I don’t have fancy words or deep theological thoughts. I just have a story. I was broken and now I am healed. Where there was once devastation, there now lies hope. Where there was once sorrow there is joy. 

Is Hunger Games Really a Game?

My daughter recently became obsessed with the book series Hunger Games. Considering she was so excited about it, I thought I should read it. So I did; all three, in a matter of a few days. I thought they brought some interesting points and made me think. A lot.

Later I took her to the movie and we watched it together.

I have noticed recently a lot of negative comments regarding the Hunger Games. Parents questioning how anyone could bring a child/teen to see a movie about a bunch of kids killing other kids?  That question has really made me think. Is it too violent? Shouldn’t I be more careful about what she watches/reads? Am I a bad mother? Have I ruined my daughter?

Hunger Games is violent. But Hunger Games also asks a lot of questions. It questions the classes we place people in. It confronts issues on starvation and gluttony. However to be perfectly honest the bigger issue to me is not whether Hunger Games is right for children, the question is “Is Hunger Games right for my children?”

Each of us know our children, we know what they can handle and what they can’t. Hunger Games for Mikaela and I provided us a story to share and discuss. It has provided us the opportunity to spend time together and debate big, real world issues.

Deciding to see or not see Hunger Games shouldn’t become a debate of good or bad parenting but a decision based on what you know about your child. It could also become a conversation about tolerating and accepting others who make different choices then you do.

Mikaela as an assignment for school was asked to write about a book that changed their view on the world, no surprise Mikaela picked Hunger Games. Here is an excerpt.

“Peeta and Katniss come from District 12, a district where most people are starving and when Peeta and Katniss were so full they couldn’t eat anymore, the people from the Capitol offered them a drink that would make them throw up their food so they could eat more. When I heard about that, I was bothered by the idea of starving while others are throwing up food so they can eat more. Suddenly, it hit me that the United States is kind of like the Capitol. We don’t do the same thing the capitol people do, but we are similar. There are many starving people in the world and we the United States, are sitting back and watching them suffer. 

The Hunger Games also changed my life because it encouraged me to go out and show the world who I am, and the little things we do makes a difference. Sometimes I wish I could tell every single person that they can help change the world into a better place.”

Her essay calmed my fears and reminded me it might take more than a movie to ruin her. 

Good Advice

Several weeks ago I desperately asked for help. Just say no was more difficult than I expected, I guess 35 years of just saying yes won’t disappear overnight.  I received some valuable advice for one, I have greatly cut down my “minutes of media” (Thanks Julie) and I started a fairly regular menu schedule. (Thanks Staci) The kids eat the same thing every other week, no complaints yet. While I don’t think the activity of my home has changed, (if anything the opposite) I do feel some of my sanity returning.

I was also given some advice that keeps coming back to me and echoing in my mind. Some words of great wisdom, by a great friend. In fact I think it is so helpful to us parents I want to share it, word for word; so here it is……

“A number of years back a good friend said that marriage satisfaction was highest in the early years. It slowly went down from there and hit rock bottom when the kids where in high school. Then it would slowly go up. What it did for Con and I was accept the challenge of the craziness of life, but fight against it. There were many seasons when we had to remind ourselves that this was a reality. But at the same time we fought hard to get away for a night or a weekend, to remind ourselves that we were in this together. I remember the story of Susanna Wesley, the mother of John and Charles, great preachers of the 1700's and founders of Methodism. She had 19 children. She could not say No. Yet she would at times throw her apron over her head and pray. The kids knew that this was mom time. Did it last long? Probably not. But she got the drink she needed to stay with it. I know from experience that it is often in those short meetings that the Lord will refresh me. I grab the bible and start reading. The first phrase leaps out to me. God meets and feeds my soul. I hear a phrase in a song, I pray a short prayer. And I sense God is there and shows up. Do not underestimate the small. But keep fighting for the large.” –Dan

Alright dear friends…. Keep Fighting!

Lisa

Help Wanted

Resolution-Shmesolution. My last posting brought many well-earned sarcastic comments from my closest friends. My mom was thinking the posting came from my most recent visit to the Church Basement Ladies play. That is a strong possibility. However my idea to “Just Say No” sounds lovely, putting it in practice I have found much more difficult.

The other day Grace and I were together and I was typing into my phone, a quick message I needed to relay and Gracie remarked “Why don’t you just call them?” It was a simple question and I had a simple answer, I hate the telephone. This is probably just another symptom of my busyism syndrome, calling takes so long, texting is just easier and quicker. Then Gracie cut me to the quick, “Mom” she says, “Sometimes you just need to hear a voice.” I contemplate for a while on her words, here I am 5 days into my New Year’s Resolution and can I name one thing, one place that I just said no ? One time I refused culture to rush me through? Nope. So I deleted the text and dialed the number. I know wow right? Some people quit their job and join the peace corp. Me? I dial a number.

This is where I would like to request YOUR help. If you have mastered this slower pace of life or taken the path less traveled I want, no I NEED your tips.

• ·        How do you provide a healthy dinner around the table that everyone likes with homicide as a side course?

• ·         How do you prioritize life without driving yourself crazy?

Maybe this is something you have been working on yourself, being intentional about slowing down the pace of life. If so would you share with me your story? Imagine how God could use us if we slowed long enough to hear His voice, I bet we could fill this internet space with astounding stories of how God is using His people! So let me have it, your tips, your encouragement, your struggles, your failures (after all an intelligent person learns from their mistakes, a wise person learns from other’s mistakes) your challenges, your triumphs! I can’t wait to hear!