Friday, September 25, 2015

Joy in the Burn

         My hair is not as thick as it once was but it is still coarse.  I remember as a small child before I could go to bed it had to be dried.  My mom had this “hair dryer” that was made up of several parts.  It was a large plastic base with a long thick tube attached to a very heavy (and big) shower cap.
Google Image
         The cap had elastic all around the face.  I would then sit on the floor and try to watch television. Between my three brothers jumping from couch to chair pretending to be wrestlers from Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling, and what seemed like extreme heat pumped into my head, I was miserable.
        
(Another Google Image - it isn't me,
but it is so how I felt!)
Aw the cost of beauty!
         As a high schooler, I was introduced to other vanity products for my hair.  Now I was using a blow dryer for my permed hair (remember I have coarse hair and I had a lot of hair.)  So to add the finishing touches to my bouffant, I would use the newly introduced curling iron.  This invention was a long barrel that would heat up and you would wrap your hair around the very hot barrel and the clip would hold it in place until you released it.
         My high school friends and I were constantly sporting new burns.  Due to the intense heat of the curing iron, we novice beauty “wanna-bes”, would accidentally push the iron against our chin, neck or our ears.  Even if my hair was looking TALL and big and dry and curly, often it was often overshadowed by the one or two burn marks silhouetting my face.
         All that to say… I’ve got burns again, this time on my hand.
         My precious high school junior is our only child at home.  She doesn’t have her big brother or sister to help her out.  She asks for my help with her new vanity inventions. 
         This past week our youngest asked that I help her with the latest “curling wand.”  It is a handle with a cone shaped barrel that heats up to give the user a ringlet effect.  Did I mention it doesn’t have a clasp?  Did I mention it heats up?
         So what do you do with the hair after you wrap it around the barrel of this very hot wand? Right!  You hold it!  Are you kidding?  You wrap the hair around the barrel and with your thumb and index finger so close you have to let go because of the heat.
         Poor design for sure. (You know it is bad when some of these curling wands come with a glove to prevent burns!)
         After helping our daughter look like Shirley Temple and she “bounced” off to school, I looked at my hands.  There were several reminders I had been burned that morning.  Burns that will more than likely fade into the growing amount of age spots.
         But if I am so lucky, I won’t mind if I have some scars.  Truthfully, these burns turned to scabs have made me smile this week.  They have been little reminders of the joys of motherhood.  Mothering has many opportunities and joys. I don’t have too many days left with a child in the home. 
           Regardless of the bumps in the road today as you mother, I pray the “leftovers” from the activity will bring a smile. Whether it is toys in the living room or a dirty ring in the tub.  Our days are numbered as a mom with children in the home.  As hard and redundant as the laundry and the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and the fighting and bickering with their siblings… Find the joy!
         Recognize that even if the crayon doesn’t come out of the drapes or the scratch won’t come out of the coffee table these will be your little “burns” to remind you of the joys of being a mom.
         So this day I can smile at the burn knowing it was worth it!

“This is the Day the Lord has made
let us rejoice and be glad in it!”

Psalm 118: 24

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Setting the Pattern

1 Timothy 1:16 “…for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.”

I took this verse seriously and applied it the day it came up in my morning devotion time.  I know that when you ask God for patience, you will be tested.  I know that the testing, though, produces a greater thing than just you getting through the test – it delivers a lasting deposit into the young lives around you.  The pattern is started and if you continue, the pattern will be set.  Those God has placed around us are taking note of how we handle situations.  When you see your kid freak-out because a sibling spilled milk, take a listen.  Does it sound a little like words and a tone-of-voice you’ve used?  I am guilty.

However, if I remember where MY mercy came from and show patience as a set pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life I better change my words and tone-of-voice.  Do you believe God wants your kids to join Him in everlasting life?  Then change your pattern if it is not set in patience.  I have to.  The Holy Spirit has been sent to help us. 

Now that I’ve seen this verse, I am holding myself responsible to do it.  Will you do it with me?  Let’s set the pattern for our kids’ sake ultimately leading them to everlasting life starting right now.

Friday, September 18, 2015

Our Good Shepherd

As a reminder…

Isaiah 40: 11  “He tends His flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in His arms
And carries them close to His heart,
He gently leads those that have young.”

           As you are caring for your little lambs, be assured He is gathering, caring and gently available to lead YOU!  You matter to Him.  He knows what you are dealing with.  He will never leave you or forsake you.  Trust Him.  He’s got this!

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Storms?...Be Still and Know

Due to Tropical Storm Erika we were hit with thunder and lightning storms that ran over us rather quickly.  One morning I woke up at 3 a.m. to one of these storms and wondered if my kids would get scared.  So I went into their room to offer comfort but everyone was peacefully asleep.  So I went back to bed, yet still keeping an ear very attentive just in case I heard the smallest whimper from either of them.  I wanted to be right there for them the instant fear showed on their sweet little brows.  I wouldn’t want them to go through any length of time where I wasn’t aware of their fear…so I laid there listening…. (The kids’ room is all the way across the house – through the maze of the kitchen counters and living room couches…zig zag, zig zag…) … listening…. And then the AC came on and I couldn’t hear a thing!! 


The storm passed.  And as I laid there at 3:45 a.m. I notice that it was still quiet in our home because everyone was still sleeping (except ME).  Of course I was still thinking but this time of our Heavenly Father who is always there to comfort us in the storms of our lives.  He listens to our silent prayers; is there to catch our tears and store them in a jar; holds us up when we stumble and fall.  He is the One who is there the very moment of our fear, the tiniest quivered lip He takes note of and He is there to wrap us up in His arms of love, fill us up with love, joy, peace (the whole fruit basket!).  He can even hear perfectly through all the chaos around us.
No matter when, where, how – how loud, how soft, how many words, how few words… Cry out to God in your time of need, Momma.  He is already there.


(For a little extra: I looked up “storm” on a Bible search program and it gave me Nahum 1:3… “The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And will not at all acquit the wicked. The LORD has His way In the whirlwind and in the storm, And the clouds are the dust of His feet.”  Think about that. He’s got this!)

Friday, September 4, 2015

Shoulders

My help comes from You
You're right here, pulling me through
You carry my weakness, my sickness, my brokenness all on Your shoulders
Your shoulders
My help comes from You
You are my rest, my rescue
I don't have to see to believe that You're lifting me up on Your shoulders
Your shoulders

When confusion's my companion
And despair holds me for ransom
I will feel no fear
I know that You are near

When I'm caught deep in the valley
With chaos for my company
I'll find my comfort here
‘Cause I know that You are near

            God is good!  All the time!  I’m not writing this proverbial cliché as a page filler.  I’m writing it, because I believe it!  I’m writing it because I’m living it.
         The afore written song lyrics by the band, For King and Country is from the song “Shoulders."  It is the song the Lord woke me to this morning.  It is the reminder that HE owns my circumstances and He will guide me through the storm.
         I step out in faith.  I am blessed I have my husband’s, friend’s and co-worker’s support.  I recognize my children are watching this faith walk.  I cannot do this without Him.  I am resolved to walk by faith even when I cannot see.
         “I don’t have to see to believe that You’re lifting me up on your shoulders.”  I will trust Him!