A smile pushed my cheeks upward after chore day this past week.
Perfect stripes marked the carpet in the library.
Even a few days later, I still almost don’t want to cross the rug to go grab a book from the shelves.
Chores can be a chore — especially for teenagers — but, I can’t help but wonder if my son was smiling just a bit as he decided to mark his work with perfection and have some whimsical fun while doing his chores.
Chores can be a chore for me, too. The mundane of the everyday work can get in the way of serving my family.
Priscilla Shirer, in her Gideon study by Lifeway, tells us, “Today’s tasks–even the most mundane of them–are often preparation for tomorrow’s calling.” She goes on to say, “God is teaching you faithfulness, diligence, and integrity through every task.” (page 47)
Perhaps I need to have more fun with my own chores.How about you?
Maya sitting in a chair watching baseball on Saturday
My youngest son had a baseball scrimmage on Saturday evening. I decided to take along our dog, Maya.
She’s a shelter pup.
She’s a shelter pup we adopted just over two years ago.
She’s a shelter pup who, we believe, came from an abusive situation.
Maya doesn’t like riding in the car.
Maya doesn’t like men.
Maya doesn’t like men wearing hats.
Maya doesn’t like little girls.
Maya doesn’t like people she doesn’t know.
Maya doesn’t like other dogs.
Maya doesn’t like paper towel rolls, cords of any kind or objects which look like bats.
Taking Maya to baseball activities can – obviously – be a challenge. So why do I take her? I want to help her to overcome some of her fears in a safe way.
She is a wonderfully perfect dog for us at home; it’s just when she comes into contact with these things that her nervousness, fearful growling and hesitancies occur.
Maya is part German Shepherd and part Chihuahua (… uh-huh … go ahead …you can ponder that one for a bit …). At home, she’s all Shepherd … she smells everything, she’s a fantastic watchdog and alerts us to anything going on in the house, driveway or yard that isn’t in her view of 100% normal, and she’s loving and protective. However, should something outside her view of normal persist, should she encounter one of her fears, or if we take her out of her environment, then the yippy, growling, shaking and fearful Chihuahua comes out in her.
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I can relate to Maya. I like my home environment. My things are where I want them, my thoughts are where I need them, and my routine is mostly mine. I’m like a Momma Shepherd at home, but I’ll let doubts and hesitancy flare up when I’m away from my comfort zones.
I’ve had to deal with new people and new situations a lot over the last few years … many of which I would never have imagined or have chosen. I’m not a hermit by any means, but I can get a little nervous when I’m called to step out of my comfort zone, even if it is in a safe place.
Sometimes I wonder … What will others think? What will they think of me? Am I up to the task? Will I be good enough? I cherish when there are others near me who know me and who can help me walk through hesitancies or challenges.
Through my own challenges, I’ve found comfort and confidence in a few close friends, but mostly, I’ve found my strength in the Lord.
I’ve had to repeatedly tell myself that if He has allowed me to walk through this season of my life, then He will be with me. I’ve found comfort in His Word and in knowing He will be my shield, my strength, my comforter and my defender. He has, and — despite the challenges of life — my joy has overflowed as a result of His presence.
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That’s what I have to do with Maya. When she’s shaking and staring at me with that “I’m so afraid” look, I need to be a good master by helping her to confidently walk through the hesitancies and by helping her to safely (for her and for others) deal with her fears.
She knows she’s safe when I’m near and when she can sit at my feet,
and I know I’m safe when He is here and when I can sit at His feet.
How many of us woke up this morning to proclaim, “HE IS RISEN, INDEED!”?
A lot of us DID do that yesterday, but did we do it today?
Yesterday was a day where, upon waking, I’m sure we thought about the sacrifice He made and the glory of His resurrection. We went to church and thought about it some more. We took the time to celebrate that He is no longer on the cross, and He’s no longer in the tomb.
The story of His redeeming love is absolutely awesome and awe-inspiring.
The thing is … it wasn’t just awe-inspiring yesterday on Resurrection Sunday; it is awe-inspiring EVERY SINGLE DAY.
For over 2000 years, it’s been awe-inspiring, and that won’t end.
What He did then was just as amazing as it is today. Yesterday’s proclamation is today’s proclamation, and it will also be tomorrow’s proclamation.
His redeeming love is worthy of our awe-filled thoughts every day, not just on the “holy day.”
Before your feet hit the floor tomorrow morning, take a moment to revel in His love.
Think about what His resurrection means to your eternity.
Think about what His resurrection means to your life.
When your feet hit the floor, allow the awe of redemption to make a path for your day.
The trees still lay naked, clothed in their winter garb.
We just enjoyed an uncharacteristically warm spring weekend. It was one of those “get outside and do SOMETHING” kind of weekends where the sunshine, temperatures and blue skies beckoned and awakened the senses.
I spent quite a bit of time on the deck taking in the noises from the forest: the birds chirping, the woodpeckers knocking their beaks against the trees, the turkeys calling, a few flies scurrying in the air. The sound that stood out the most, though, was that of the trees as they waved in the wind.
I can see far into the forest, yet all I see are grayed trunks. Our trees still lay naked, clothed in their winter garb. The only leaves they hold are a few of last year’s crinkled remnants of fall that refuse to give up their dangle. The noises that echo from the forest are the sounds of the branches rubbing, the trunks creaking as they rock to and fro in the spring’s winds, and the gentle rustle of the leaf-covered carpet beginning to dry out from its winter blanket.
The forest still looks dormant, yet I know it is waking. It, too, enjoyed the sunshine, temperatures and blue skies of the weekend, and it, too, beckons new life to emerge from within its depths.
We still have the possibility of snow in the forecast for one or two nights this week. Even so, a new season is upon us, and a rogue snowfall can’t stop the life waiting to spring forth.
This is the Holy Week. Yesterday’s Palm Sunday marked an entry into history, an entry into a city and the entry into lives that would be forever changed by the days to come. A new season was upon the people. Nothing could stop the death that would come and the life which would spring forth days later to conquer and to overcome.The time was upon them to clothe their nakedness and emptiness with a new garb … to shed the old and put on the new … a new garment as white as snow … a new life.
It’s not just history.
It’s each day.
It’s this week.
It’s right now.
It’s beckoning you … calling you. A new season can be upon you.
A smile pushed my cheeks upward after chore day this past week.
Hope Surrendered 