On The Mend

My youngest son had his tonsils removed yesterday morning. He is recovering but his state of being goes from feeling great to flashback induced cries for help and repeating "I wanna' go home" and The Lord's Prayer. This experience has caused me to push my limits of patience. I am NOT a natural nurse but my heart breaks for Alex and I would gladly take his pain if I could. I am probably going to be accused of babying him too much... but this time I will just have to keep doing what I feel is right. I willingly agreed for this surgery to occur and knew that it would cause Alex pain. I HATE that it had to happen but the incessant bouts of strep were taking a toll on us as well. Thankfully, Alex will get well. He is giving us glimpses of that silly smile that usually means he is up to something. This entire experience causes me to pause in awe... HOW COULD our Heavenly Father knowingly send his son to experience the pain and death for MY sins?? Mind boggling!! Thanks be to God for healing!

Subtle Worry?

Tomorrow my youngest son will have his tonsils out. In my mind, I feel confident about the surgeon, the facilities, and his need for the procedure. BUT the Momma in me can not help but be worried. I wonder about the 2.7 billion "what if" questions and dare not allow myself to consider the possibilities of the answers. These answers make my heart race and the eyes well up a bit. I am not an ACTIVE worrier... ever... except when I mailed off "the box" for my National Board Certification. (I passed that one by the way!). However, the subtle worry and momentary panic that follows... I am certainly guilty of. My son is one of the best and most wonderful gifts I have ever been given and for him and the one that gave him to me... I am forever grateful. For now... I have said enough. Time to have a very important conversation with a friend like no other who will give me comfort and ease my fears.. HE will take care of me and my son...his son. I know it!

“I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears” (Psalm 34:4)

Teeter Totter

This afternoon I saw the film Black Swan. I found the film to be compellingly disturbing. The message I took from it is this... we are all teeter tottering between good and evil. Each day is a struggle for sinners. Most of us do not intentionally sin, we simply give into temptation, fall into the Devil's traps, and fail to THINK before we act.
Another "app" I use suggested that I am uncomfortable with silence.. therefore I fill it and fail to listen to God. GUILTY as charged. With that.. I will leave this passage for us to ponder:
Proverbs 10:8 "The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin."

School Lunch

Tonight we are having my very most favorite school lunch from Wilkesboro Elementary. TACOs, Golden Corn, Apple Sauce, and Cinnamon Buns. I really had a great growing up experience. My teachers were fabulous and our cafeteria ladies could surely beat ANYONE in Gordon Ramsey's Hell's Kitchen. You see... they lovingly prepared the meals... FROM SCRATCH. No ready-made mix was ever found in our school's pantry. They arrived early and stayed late and I pray they were compensated for their time. Yeast rolls, homemade soup, and the occasional hot dog.. with homemade chili. These were the meals I enjoyed... not chicken nuggets, chicken fillet, chicken in a roll... all the same taste... just a different shape. NOW WAIT A MINUTE.. I am not slamming on the cafeteria staff members of current time. I realize they are not allowed to have creativity or fun in the kitchen due to budgetary and FDA constraints. However.. I am sad for our world that we are loosing this valuable time and influence on our children. God did not make us all cookie-cutter people. He knows each hair on our heads and blesses us with gifts and talents. God and the Cafeteria Manager had this in common... they realized talents and encouraged them to be developed. Mrs.Baity was the BEST roll maker. She performed her duty lovingly and I never remember anyone else even trying to fill her shoes. Maybe that's the way it should be.. Find your niche and totally rock it. Make yourself unmistakable and valued and be a blessing to all who encounter you doing your thing as only our Master knows you can.

Romans 12:6-8
6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Sunday's Second Thoughts

Today I fully intended to take down and quickly put away everything Christmas. I planned to do it all in record time and get my life back to "normal". However, I listened to my pastor's words about after Christmas let down and depression. He reminded me that Christmas should not be a one day event. That little Baby Jesus... you know? He grew up. He was sacrificed for sinners everywhere... and Christmas is the beginning. Christmas should be cherished in our hearts and celebrated every day. HIS birth marks the beginning of the promise fulfilled for forgiveness, hope and salvation. SO... you guessed it. The Christmas decorations are still up. Another day I will take the time to put them away... and cherish them and feel grateful and blessed and HE will be with me.

Matthew 1:23
23"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."

New Year....New Attitude?

Today marks the beginning of another calendar year. Many people make resolutions and pledge, promise, and THINK they will change. I don't really know if I buy it. I suppose I think...if it is a bad habit that needs to be dropped or a good habit that needs to be started, why wait? I also can't help but be reminded that each day we are GIVEN and each breath we take are chances to "do over" in our Heavenly Father's eyes. HE does not wait to forgive. HE does not love conditionally. HE asks very little, yet firmly, consistently, and unselfishly gives so much. SO... rather than make a "resolution" that I will likely find emptiness and failure in, I will CHOOSE to gratefully accept the gift of love and pardon from my creator. If I live in the WORD and in a manner that is pleasing to him...I WILL NOT FAIL!

"I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me"
Philippians 4:13

No Place Like Home!!

Today I was humbled and gratefully reprimanded by my youngest son. "MOM...we have to go see Papa and Nana sing... they ALWAYS come to everything of our's. Our church people will understand".
YES ALEX... you are correct. So we hustled and bustled and moved quite quickly to get to Wilkesboro by 11am.. and may I just say? IT WAS SO WORTH IT. To enter the church where I learned "This Little Light of Mine"; how to play Hide and Seek in the dark and avoid concussions; about world religions and how not to be tempted by false teachings; where I was baptized; where I was married; and where my first child was dedicated... It was a HOMECOMING!! Christmas morning could not be better! To hug and feel the energy of excited people READY to worship the Lord through song was EXACTLY what I needed. My heart is ready and prepared to celebrate the living God and the many blessings he has granted. So very honestly and humbly... I thank you First Baptist Church of North Wilkesboro. No matter where I roam....you are (in my heart) HOME!! May God bless each of you and help you realize how very special you are!