A Moment with Chocolate?

This week has definitely been a challenge so far. My daughter and I both
have the coxsackie virus, which sounds worse than it is. We both have blisters
in our throats, which are not comfortable, but feel pretty okay overall. The bummer
is that it is highly contagious, so we are stuck in the house for 7 - 10 days. No 
preschool for her, no work for me (work with babies), no playgrounds, no church
for Easter Sunday, no seeing our families this weekend. Not fair!! Today is day 
three of quarantine, and I'm feeling the effects.


Yesterday, I called my husband at work and jokingly, but really more seriously, 
told him I would need chocolate to survive this week. He was sure to pick up 
a bag of Dove dark chocolate bites for me. Yes! Thank you, wonderful man I 
married. It wouldn't be so difficult if both the kids were sick. Then they could
swap germs as much as they wanted, and it'd be okay. Keeping a three year
from touching her mouth every other moment is like keeping a curious child 
from pushing a mysterious button.


Do you find yourself relying on a little something when stressed? Mine is 
definitely chocolate, a moment of peace. I love it, but I wonder if instead of 
having a morsel of  bliss, I should be saying a quick prayer of, "Lord, help me de-stress." Okay, I don't wonder, I know. This morning, amidst a bit of chaos, my toddler walked
over to the radio and turned it on. It is set to our local Christian station, Joy FM.
Within minutes I felt the stress melting away. It was a great reminder, like
God was saying, "Remember I'm here to help you." Yes, even with the day to 
day stuff, He is here for us. 


Earlier in the week I was reading Psalm 23, which is many times read at 
funerals. I think it is intended much more for the living. He is there for us in the 
dark times, the happy times, the menial times, the stressful times, the 
peaceful times. He brings peace to our chaos, external and internal. 
Read Psalm 23 and think of difficulties you are going through. Give them 
to Him and find the peace you've been seeking, your moment with chocolate. 

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

     He leads me in paths of righteousness

 for his name’s sake.

 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. 

Mamma on a Mission

This evening I was all ready to go to work, then I received a call I had been canceled. 
An occasional hazard of being a nurse, not enough patients on the floor, and you don't
get to work. I usually work weekends to avoid this and usually it works. Thursdays are 
also especially busy I have found. I work on a postpartum ward, and it seems the most deliveries tend to be on Thursdays, so naturally I was shocked. That's okay, I thought to myself, There is plenty around the house for me to do. I looked forward to accomplishing 
a couple of things that needed to be done. 


There was a pile of laundry on our bed that needed to be folded and put away, my 
dresser looked like a waterfall of clothing, an area in the basement needed to be 
cleared so my parents can store a few things (don't get me started on the condition of 
my basement), and the van needed to be tidied to help my mom move some things in 
the morning. On top of all these things that needed to be done, my left knee is in serious 
pain, and I have a certain monthly nuisance visiting me at the moment. Need I say more? Basically, "Watch out! Don't get in the way of the crazed, hormonal lady!" 


My husband seemed less than enthusiastic about it all (I was unaware of how truly
exhausted he was from the week). So, stuff needed to get done, and it had not been
possible to get it done during the day amidst meltdowns and toddler adventures. 
I was a bit frustrated with my second half and let him know it by being less than 
warm. I was torn with being frustrated with him and frustrated with myself. I definitely 
wasn't walking in love. I wasn't being patient or kind or slow to anger. I was thinking 
of myself and my goals, and although, yes it all needed to be done, I could have been 
more gracious. Oh, why can't I just be perfect?! Since we'll only be perfect once 
we're in Heaven with Jesus, I guess I'll have to deal with these imperfections in 
myself for a while longer. 


Kids laundry is folded and put away, waterfall has vanished from my dresser, 
basement section is cleared and swept for some guest crates, didn't get to the 
van, but that's okay, and I have some apologizing to do. I thought I prayed for 
some grace in the middle of it all, but since I don't really remember, It must not 
have been heartfelt. Note to self,next time I find myself in a frustrating situation, 
focus on the "plank" in my eye, not the speck in my neighbor's (in this case 
spouse's) eye. Ouch. Do I really want to post this? Lord, thank you for the lesson 
in humility. 


But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6, ESV


“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye. Matthew 7:1 - 5, ESV

Endurance

The older I become, the more I realize that endurance is one of the most
important qualities we can possess. This is true in our walks with God and 
in our roles as parents and spouses and so on. Motherhood a beautiful and
wonderful thing, but there are times the monotony gets to me. Is there any
point to sweep and mop the kitchen floor, really, when it's a disaster literally
2 minutes later? Of course the answer is yes, but sometimes it feels like all 
the work I do is in vain. It's not, I know, but can't the house stay clean for one 
day!? 


Endurance. This journey in life is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it one step 
at a time. How do we do it and do it well, not just surviving every day? How
do we meet each day with a, "Yes! Thank you God for this day and let your
will be accomplished in me today?" How do we be the best mom and wife 
we can be each day, serving our families with love and kindness? 


In my opinion. It's the joy of the Lord. "... for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
Nehemiah 8:10. Endurance requires strength. I want to run this marathon of life
with joy and patience. How do we make sure we have the joy of the Lord every
day? By spending time with Him and being thankful. Try this, next time you are
not feeling like the best version of yourself, step away (if you can) and spend a 
few moments with God, thanking Him for all the things He's done for you and all
the blessings He's given you. A big one - eternal life. Just think about it. Jesus died
horrible and painful death on a cross so you and I can live an abundant life here
on earth and spend eternity with Him. Considering this, it makes whatever difficulty
you may be experiencing transient. God is awesome! He loves us! Thank you, God,
for your love that never changes or fails. Thank you that however inadequate I may 
feel You make me adequate, and even better, excellent. :) I feel better already. 


I hear the distant sobs of my boy who is letting me know his nap is over, and I just 
heard a disturbingly loud banging noise from my daughter's room. She never did 
go to sleep. Short nap time today, but thank you God for your love and joy! 


"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." 1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV