Broken Things -- All Around

I'm not even certain when it began. Perhaps the problem was visible all those years ago and we didn't notice. Or maybe we DID notice it... but, failed to give it the attention needed. That's the most likely scenario. How often in our lives do we miss the obvious? How often do we neglect something until it's beyond repair?

If I were to read the above words at the beginning of a post, my mind would immediately form these questions:

• Is this post about a failing relationship?
• I wonder what happened?
• I wonder how serious this is??
• What did they do?
• Regardless of the above... I'm sure this is NOT a mistake I've made or would ever make!

The Best Way Out

"Two Worlds II" (oil on canvas) by Jessica Bentley, Artist

Life is full of seasons. And, some of those seasons are grueling... shame, fear, grief, illness, insecurity, loss, persecution... and the list goes on. At times we feel paralyzed by what's happening in our world -- with those around us or what's happening to us -- inside our bodies or our minds. 

My first thought when facing a tough season has often been a question which is probably asked often by many people, "What's the fastest way to get through these seasons?" 

Do You Like Your Life Ruthann?

It's a little past seven in the evening and, I'm sitting here on the patio beside our cement pond eating leftovers for dinner. The rest of the family won't be home for several hours. The day has finally cooled down enough to be able to enjoy being outside. Beside me is a pool that has an eerie yellow-green tint to it thanks to the mustard algae we've been battling all summer. Earlier today I brushed down the sides of the pool to try to get the cleaning process started again. I'm surrounded by a wooden fence that's rotten and falling down in many places. A big portion of it is now replaced with staked up chicken wire. There's mismatched patio furniture all around me - many of the pieces held together, no doubt, by rust. Assorted hand-me-downs: play sets, swings and slides, that I vowed would never clutter up my yard, abound.

My Perfectly Formed Arms - #JoyDare No. 2363

One of the hardest things to do is to put a baby in a crib once you've rocked them to sleep! And, isn't it awesome how they always fit perfectly in your arms -- from the day they were born to the days they begin toddling all over your house and beyond :) It's almost like God made our arms specifically for holding & hugging!

It's 12:09pm and, I'm unable to move. I'm rocking a sleeping baby. I haven't dressed yet. My hair hasn't been brushed and make-up isn't on. The bed's unmade & the kitchen still needs to be cleaned up. A load of wet laundry waits to be put in the dryer. Confetti litters the great room floor from the surprise gifts which were received & unwrapped gleefully yesterday by this little sleeping angel & her mommy. There are numerous items on the To Do List which can only be accomplished in the time she sleeps. But, I am unable to move... just now. I'm breathing in this moment & thanking God with a full heart. 

I'm holding this sleeping child & recording the many thoughts that are pouring out of me in these moments. I'm "typing" as fast as I can on an open page of this blog application on my smart phone. Note: Typing here means using my right thumb only!! Playing softly today in the background is Chris Botti's CD "Italia". The song right now -- "Ave Maria" -- no words, just the music. The books we read minutes ago are laid beside us on the floor. The drapes have been drawn to darken the room so that she can sleep more easily. And, in this moment, all is well. 

I hear her soft breathing and match mine with hers - long, deep, peaceful breaths. The hand-me-down gliding rocker (which matches not ONE thing in my house) has begun to creak loudly indicating that it's time to shift my weight or jiggle around so the squeaking doesn't get any louder. With one fist, she's clutching a blanket given to her by one of my dear, dear friends. Today, as she was nearing sleep, she tucked her other little chubby hand inside the neck of my fleece robe. I take joy in the feel of her soft fingers now warm against my skin. What a blessing to have her reach up & stroke my face with her velvet palm as she draws near sleep or to have her tuck a hand inside my collar to touch my skin. 

This baby sleeps in peace now - without a care in the world. She's loved. She's cared for. She's protected. All is well!

But, what can I do to shield her from pain, suffering, injustice & evil which is a part of our life here? She'll likely grow to be a normal young woman - struggling with peer pressure & self-image. Despite our many efforts to teach her that her value & worth are based completely upon the fact that she's a creation of God... she'll question. She'll likely be uncertain in times but still determined to show her independence and right to make her own choices. She'll likely experience loss and heartache in her life. What can I do to keep her from these things? I can do no more than I did with her Mommy and her uncle - whom I rocked to sleep all those years ago. And, I pray over her as I did over them when they were babes. 

So, for this moment today... I'll just stay here and rock this child... I'll put off the To Do List a little longer... I'll whisper prayers over her as she sleeps... I'll gently stroke her face as she rustles... I'll ask God that she will see Him & His perfect love in me! 

And I'll thank God for how perfectly He formed my arms... all of our arms... to love!

David said it best in the 139th Psalm:

You go before me and follow me.

You place your hand of blessing on my head. (vs. 5)

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,

too great for me to understand! (vs. 6)

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

and knit me together in my mother’s womb. (vs 13) 

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!

Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. (vs. 14)

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.

They cannot be numbered! (vs. 17)

I can’t even count them;

they outnumber the grains of sand!

And when I wake up,

you are still with me! (vs. 18)

NOTE: Due to a small book club group for women started in 2012 by a friend at my church, I actually picked up & read Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts, in early 2012. I began listing gifts then & am planning to continue for years to come. It's a WONDERFUL way to remind myself of God's tender loving care for & faithfulness to me -- and to all his children! I've always been one to get super excited about the little things from God - seeing a mother deer & her fawns while out walking early in the morning, the way the clouds look on a cold -- but sunny -- winter day, the lighting or angle I was able to catch in a photo, the quiet snoring/breathing of the LOML as he sleeps beside me, new fuzzy socks or slippers, an apple right off my tree, etc. Often times my descriptions make no sense to anyone by me & God. So, I decided to expand upon those thoughts in a few posts. So... for today... 

#JoyDare No. 2363. my perfectly formed arms

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

HOPE, Rainy Days 10-19-13

It's October here in "Hoosier Land" or, as I call it, StuckInIndiana. And, the weather today is cool & rainy. I've been battling a sore throat, body aches & a bad cough for the past few days. I'm determined to nip that in the bud! There's no time to be sick in my world right now. We have a sweet little 9-month old angel & her mommy living with us now. Life is FULL :) Thankfully, I'm blessed with a great LOML (aka spouse) who's been willing to help out a little more than usual with meals at night. That's allowed me to get some much needed rest at the end of the past few days.

The night brought cooler temp's and a light rain. That didn't discourage some of our household members! Our sweet daughter is totally loving motherhood & had the day planned already for her little girl. They were up early, all excited for the day regardless of the weather. And, as I posted on Facebook this morning...

Q: What does a girl do on a rainy Saturday?

A: She puts on a frilly skirt & glittery boots

and heads to the Children's Museum with a few dear friends!

Sometimes when we encounter life's rainy days, it's the perfect time to dress up in glitter and ruffles to face the day head on. Sometimes when we encounter life's rainy days, it's the perfect time to stay in fleece jammies while reading & writing and leisurely catching up on a few things around the house. Instead of letting a rainy day dictate what you do, choose what you do to suit what you need! I've learned that life lesson through the rainy days of my life! Some days I head right out into the rain. Other days, I nestle into the warmth & comfort of my home, resting up for another day.

As a little child, I memorized the verse, 

“Honor the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Exodus 20:8

The New Living Translation reads, “Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” And, their commentary notes read, 

“The Sabbath was a day set aside for rest and worship. God commanded a Sabbath because human beings need to spend unhurried time in worship and rest each week. To observe a regular time of rest and worship in our fast-paced world demonstrates how important God is to us, and it gives us the extra benefit of refreshing our spirits. Don’t neglect God’s provision.” 

This cool, rainy Saturday, I am enjoying SABBATH!

Linking October 2013 with The Nesting Place

 for the 31-day Challenge

Life is for Sharing

A friend posted the picture below on Facebook. When I asked for her permission to share the picture & her words, she replied, "Feel free to share. Life is for sharing."

...where I learned a lot of life lessons

What she had shared with the picture stirred something within my heart:

These last couple of months, my husband and I have spent time looking ahead, after we married off our youngest daughter. However last week, I was taken back 30 years after the sudden death of my cousin's son. Oddly the only picture I took was on the starting line at Mountain Park Dragway. I stopped here on my drive out of Clay City, Kentucky. This is where I learned a lot of life lessons, so did my cousin's son, Joey. They closed the track this weekend in memory of him. 

What's happening around us in life often changes our focus.  As we enter into a new chapter, our focus is forward.  As we face a loss or radical change, often we look back.  There's no control over what will happen in our lives.  The only control we have is how we handle it.

Do we learn from what happens?  Do we grow from what happens? Do we look for good to come from the hard times?  Do we recognize & are we thankful for the "little" good things in life?

Where do we learn our life lessons?  Are we always open to learn more & become a better version of ourselves??

We need to share our lives with each other... 

• to be honest with where we are & where we are headed - Confess faults (failures, discouragements, etc.) one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. James 5:16a
• to encourage others that there is a light at the end of the dark tunnel that life can be at time - He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:4
• to reassure others that their efforts are not in vain - For you will be successful if you carefully obey the decrees and regulations that the LORD gave to Israel through Moses. Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or lose heart! 1 Chronicles 22:13
• to ease the burden of others - Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2

Life is for sharing!

Linking with Ann Voskamp - A Holy Experience today... 

He Can't Derail the Plan!




Thanks to T. Getz for capturing this photo 
& adding the scripture!

If you know anything or hear anything about "being a Christian", you will most likely have heard 1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

 One translation reads, "In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

For ME, when things explode in my life & the walls start crashing around me, I often find myself sulking in a corner feeling like the last part of that verse is a curse on me. But my God, who sees all things & knows all things, knows what I will encounter along the way is often allowing me to go through tough times to better prepare me for what will happen in the future. God doesn't let the road blocks that Satan throws in front of us derail His great plans! Satan wants to pull our eyes away from God. I believe that he tries to do this through hardship & tough life circumstances. However, if we keep our eyes on God in the tough times:

• we learn valuable lessons, 
• we grow stronger with the struggle, 
• we open our eyes to the suffering of others around us, 
• we soften our hearts to what God wants us to see, 

and so many more things!

And another cool thing... usually down the road God gives us a glimpse of how the tough times served to draw us closer to Him & bring honor and glory to Him.

I've been in a rough patch for some time now. I can't lie & say that it's easy to stay focused on God. But, in all sincerity, I couldn't make it without Him. He has never let any of His children down. He is faithful to save. God doesn't waste a single moment of our lives.

I encourage you (and remind myself) to learn from life's experiences while GIVING THANKS for how God will use them!

Shared with the Ann Voskamp One Thousand Gifts community on 11/12/12: