I’ve been noticing bits of color appearing in the trees. Slight but beautiful touches of color as if the Creator gently stroked his paintbrush here and there. Change is on its way. Summer to Fall. I love being in a geographical place that experiences the change of season. Anticipating the changes and rhythms of seasons is enjoying …soothing …natural. Each season brings things to enjoy and look forward to.
Entering the season of Fall we are brought to change visually through the beauty of color. Fall stimulates our sense of touch as we harvest or experience cooler temperatures. We hear the sound of geese as they fly past migrating for the winter and the chatter of squirrels as they gather for what is to come. There’s a certain smell Fall brings with leaves (in the Midwest there was always the smell of burning leaves) and fires beginning to burn as smoke rises in chimneys. What about the tastes of fall – squash, pumpkin pies and breads and….
There is a focus on harvest, gathering, reaping what was sown. With that come taking stock and a sense of abundance.
Yep season brings change. A daughter goes off to college reaping the harvest of all her diligent work. She’ll be gathering new friends. There’s a migration of young adults that settle in. Two young men (kid2 and kid3) stay but head out into the school fields to begin gathering learning also.
With this “season” of time in my life a friend queried of me about my heart’s experience. I’m changing ‘seasons’ going from mommy to mom; going from nurturer to guide; going from the provider/boss to mentor/friend. I am looking at the beginning of the harvest that comes from planting seeds of faith, respect, honor, compassion, empathy, hard work, consideration, love. We are reaping young adults who are firm in faith, responsible, gifted in their own way… We are taking stock and finding an abundance beyond measure. For our work was guided, nurtured and truly blessed by the Father.
Change may bring bittersweet and bring apprehension – but I do see and feel the joy of this season which multiplies as I see that joy felt by my children during their season of life.
What is your ‘season’ yielding?
There are sighs coming from this ‘farmer’ but the season is natural…soothing in a way…and full of enjoyment.
God is good. He knows we need seasons…He knows I need this season.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven."
Ecclesiastes 3:1
September 3, 2010
September 2, 2010
ROOTS TO GROW WINGS TO FLY
It is said that we give our children “Roots to grow and wings to fly”. I have been pondering this saying quite a bit at this point in life.
When the kids were younger many people would observe the chaos, smile and say “enjoy this time…they grow up so fast”. I heard those people while thinking “I just want sleep”. Now at the point of having my first prepare to go off to college, my middle child taller than I and the youngest of the three is moving on to Jr. High, I can’t believe the lightning speed at which it did pass. I’ve come to several personal conclusions:
(1) parenting doesn’t get easier – challenges become different (and a little more complicated). A comfort here lies in the fact that we accomplish this task as a team, my husband and I. My greatest comfort lies in the fact that we aren’t doing it by ourselves – we have guidance from our Heavenly Father and it is through His timeless Word and our direct line through prayer that we navigate parenthood.
(2) I still want that elusive perfect night’s sleep
And….
(3) “Roots to grow wings to fly” is a parenting mantra I possess and use as I parent.
“Roots to grow”: Roots anchor, store and absorb. We’ve done our best to give each of the three kids strong roots. Roots of family values, love, good morals and ethics that will allow them to be anchored well as they experience life with all it throws their ways. The most valuable and strongest root they can, do and will have throughout their lives is faith and knowing they are each a beloved child of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19 "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Can I begin to imagine the width, depth and length? Can I comprehend being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God? - WOW moment)
“Wings to fly”: The ultimate goal in parenting is to have children that will grow, well rooted, and will leave the nest soaring on to their own successes. But it is not easy to watch them learn to fly. Sometimes they struggle, need navigation, fly into a few walls…
As the parent I can offer pointers, give coordinates or shout “look out!” offering warning and caution. But ultimately I have to hold my breath, sometimes close my eyes, always say a prayer – and just let go and let God. In my broken human condition this is (more often than) harder than it should be.
Time for me to ponder my own roots and rely on God, my anchor. He whispers the words of Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
I sigh. In this ‘flight’ of parenting, I have my own soaring to do and when I feel weary or faint I know where to turn for renewal.
I also can rest assured that thanks to the One my children are rooted in – they will soar and be renewed as well.
It’s in His very capable loving hands. THEY are in His very capable loving hands. WHEW!
- Thank you R who reminded me to “Enjoy watching her soar -- remember, she always knows her nest is there to come home to.”
When the kids were younger many people would observe the chaos, smile and say “enjoy this time…they grow up so fast”. I heard those people while thinking “I just want sleep”. Now at the point of having my first prepare to go off to college, my middle child taller than I and the youngest of the three is moving on to Jr. High, I can’t believe the lightning speed at which it did pass. I’ve come to several personal conclusions:
(1) parenting doesn’t get easier – challenges become different (and a little more complicated). A comfort here lies in the fact that we accomplish this task as a team, my husband and I. My greatest comfort lies in the fact that we aren’t doing it by ourselves – we have guidance from our Heavenly Father and it is through His timeless Word and our direct line through prayer that we navigate parenthood.
(2) I still want that elusive perfect night’s sleep
And….
(3) “Roots to grow wings to fly” is a parenting mantra I possess and use as I parent.
“Roots to grow”: Roots anchor, store and absorb. We’ve done our best to give each of the three kids strong roots. Roots of family values, love, good morals and ethics that will allow them to be anchored well as they experience life with all it throws their ways. The most valuable and strongest root they can, do and will have throughout their lives is faith and knowing they are each a beloved child of God.
Ephesians 3:17-19 "so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Can I begin to imagine the width, depth and length? Can I comprehend being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God? - WOW moment)
“Wings to fly”: The ultimate goal in parenting is to have children that will grow, well rooted, and will leave the nest soaring on to their own successes. But it is not easy to watch them learn to fly. Sometimes they struggle, need navigation, fly into a few walls…
As the parent I can offer pointers, give coordinates or shout “look out!” offering warning and caution. But ultimately I have to hold my breath, sometimes close my eyes, always say a prayer – and just let go and let God. In my broken human condition this is (more often than) harder than it should be.
Time for me to ponder my own roots and rely on God, my anchor. He whispers the words of Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
I sigh. In this ‘flight’ of parenting, I have my own soaring to do and when I feel weary or faint I know where to turn for renewal.
I also can rest assured that thanks to the One my children are rooted in – they will soar and be renewed as well.
It’s in His very capable loving hands. THEY are in His very capable loving hands. WHEW!
- Thank you R who reminded me to “Enjoy watching her soar -- remember, she always knows her nest is there to come home to.”
September 1, 2010
Tie a knot
A little while ago, I logged on fb and looked at posts. I noticed the comment of a friend who wrote, “My fingers are raw and I’m slipping…”. This was a friend that I had been keeping in prayer for I knew that she has had one ‘life event’ after another over the past several months. Her post triggered a round of prayer.
I’ve been there at the end of the rope. You look down and feel as if you don’t hold on to the end as tight as you can, you are going straight into that dark abyss. When things are really bad you can already feel the emptiness as a dark shadow is over taking you. You aren’t just going to fall downward – the abyss is sucking you in. That’s when you are truly at the end of the rope.
I remember being on the edge of despair at rope’s end once and reading something that changed my perspective. Leo Buscaglia wrote, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot, hang on, and swing!” I thought – well tying a knot would make it easier to hold on. Swing?....hmm…
So I did. I went out to the back yard on my kids’ play structure and swung. Remember that feeling you got when you were a kid on the swing? First, there’s comfort in the motion – like being rocked. Also there is kind of a feeling of being above it all. Almost like flying and leaving it all behind. Carefree. Remember trying to go higher and make your toes touch the sky?
I got off of the swing and realized I felt a little better.
When I get to the end of the rope, I tie a knot. Swing a bit. I will leave those troubles in God’s capable hands. When I’m done with my carefree swinging I can let go and land on the solid foundation of God’s love and grace. As another friend commented to the original post “there just isn’t anything else as stable and sure as God’s grace”.
To anyone at the end of your rope – my advice is TIE A KNOT..and SWING
I’ve been there at the end of the rope. You look down and feel as if you don’t hold on to the end as tight as you can, you are going straight into that dark abyss. When things are really bad you can already feel the emptiness as a dark shadow is over taking you. You aren’t just going to fall downward – the abyss is sucking you in. That’s when you are truly at the end of the rope.
I remember being on the edge of despair at rope’s end once and reading something that changed my perspective. Leo Buscaglia wrote, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot, hang on, and swing!” I thought – well tying a knot would make it easier to hold on. Swing?....hmm…
So I did. I went out to the back yard on my kids’ play structure and swung. Remember that feeling you got when you were a kid on the swing? First, there’s comfort in the motion – like being rocked. Also there is kind of a feeling of being above it all. Almost like flying and leaving it all behind. Carefree. Remember trying to go higher and make your toes touch the sky?
I got off of the swing and realized I felt a little better.
When I get to the end of the rope, I tie a knot. Swing a bit. I will leave those troubles in God’s capable hands. When I’m done with my carefree swinging I can let go and land on the solid foundation of God’s love and grace. As another friend commented to the original post “there just isn’t anything else as stable and sure as God’s grace”.
To anyone at the end of your rope – my advice is TIE A KNOT..and SWING
August 31, 2010
Finding North
One of my favorite spots for “standing still” is a yard swing that sits under a wisteria arbor on my back patio. I sit listening to robins and scrub jays. There are flower beds that edge the patio and I watch hummingbirds coming and going to and from the feeder. One morning there were comings and goings of a different nature. ‘Warriors’ ducking behind the wisteria, combat crawling behind the arborvitaes. ‘Soldiers’ ran from the side of the house up into the play structure platform. I had found myself the observer of a nerf battle. I listened as the ‘soldiers’ yelled to defend the fort. “Prepare! Prepare! They’re going to be incoming! Cover the north!” “I got it! I got it! Uhh…-Hey, which way is north?” “Cardinal north is that direction – and that’s south, east and west.”
A few minutes later someone yelled to retreat and the battle moved to a neighboring location.
I smiled as I replayed the scene that had been in front of me then found myself audibly chuckling as I remembered “I got it! I got it! Uhh-Hey, which way is north?”
I can relate to that ‘soldier’ somewhat. In life, we find ourselves in the midst of skirmishes quite a bit. It’s easy for me to think I’ve got it covered – I’m in control even after taking a hit or two and still ready for the incoming. I think I’m in the right place doing okay; and my communications with the Commander (in heaven) seem clear. Then I find myself shouting “I got it! I got it! …….Uhh-Hey, which way is north?”
In this battle of life we all need to have that direction of North set. When you know where North is you can discern all other points of direction and find your destination so much more clearly.
Now the important question is – What do you use to set North? Unfortunately there is no convenient life GPS or compass every one is automatically handed as they enter life’s battlefield. Some people go with their own reason or intellect, maybe their gut or a feeling---not a true North due to the constant shifting of the human perspective, limited viewpoint, innate defensive reactions and limited ability. Some set North by others –not a true North because they are as human and fallible as you. Some set North to possessions or attainment of status or dollars—not a true North because it taints your perspective not to mention your spirit, it is all fleeting and can be gone in a second, and people around you don’t actually value or respect You the individual- it’s more about what is in it for them in the end.
True North can only come from one place…. Above. One who knows all; Who is, was and always will be; Who wants us to reach our final destination and experience true joy; Whose very nature and essence of being is Love.
“….UHHH – Hey, which way is north?”…..focus beyond, focus above, then set your compass.
Prov. 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
A few minutes later someone yelled to retreat and the battle moved to a neighboring location.
I smiled as I replayed the scene that had been in front of me then found myself audibly chuckling as I remembered “I got it! I got it! Uhh-Hey, which way is north?”
I can relate to that ‘soldier’ somewhat. In life, we find ourselves in the midst of skirmishes quite a bit. It’s easy for me to think I’ve got it covered – I’m in control even after taking a hit or two and still ready for the incoming. I think I’m in the right place doing okay; and my communications with the Commander (in heaven) seem clear. Then I find myself shouting “I got it! I got it! …….Uhh-Hey, which way is north?”
In this battle of life we all need to have that direction of North set. When you know where North is you can discern all other points of direction and find your destination so much more clearly.
Now the important question is – What do you use to set North? Unfortunately there is no convenient life GPS or compass every one is automatically handed as they enter life’s battlefield. Some people go with their own reason or intellect, maybe their gut or a feeling---not a true North due to the constant shifting of the human perspective, limited viewpoint, innate defensive reactions and limited ability. Some set North by others –not a true North because they are as human and fallible as you. Some set North to possessions or attainment of status or dollars—not a true North because it taints your perspective not to mention your spirit, it is all fleeting and can be gone in a second, and people around you don’t actually value or respect You the individual- it’s more about what is in it for them in the end.
True North can only come from one place…. Above. One who knows all; Who is, was and always will be; Who wants us to reach our final destination and experience true joy; Whose very nature and essence of being is Love.
“….UHHH – Hey, which way is north?”…..focus beyond, focus above, then set your compass.
Prov. 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
August 30, 2010
Planning the experience or experiencing the planning?
Planning. Sometimes as a mom, I’m exhausted with this task. I plan for the entire family. I’m often at the mercy of the individual family members’ plans and have to coordinate five different plans into one master family plan. Then I make the master family plan fit into the plans of employers, schools, organizations, and more.
Moms aren’t alone. We ALL need this skill to cope successfully in life. Students plan schedules and time to get assignments done. At work people set goals and make plans to achieve them on schedule. Coaches put together practice and game plans to achieve that winning record. There are fitness plans, diet plans, health plans, insurance plans, payment plans, birthday plans, wedding plans…
A good portion of the human experience requires planning. So here’s a question that occurs to me as I am standing still. Am I always planning the experience and do I ever allow myself to experience the planning? (guess there are two questions to ponder)
Sort this out a bit girl.
Planning the experience – The main focus is on the end goal, the experience. The steps and details that must be taken and finished are items on a checklist. Sometimes these checklist items become frustrating stressors. In the back of my mind I hear a chant “got to get it done; got to get it done; got to get it done”. I find myself thinking “when I finally get to the experience…I’ll relax - I can enjoy it – I will….” Then the experience comes………(while its happening you still are focused on the detailing and not enjoying the experience)…………..and goes.
Experience the planning –The goal is in the horizon but the focus is on the present detail that is being finished. The completion of a detail is an accomplishment in itself. When the experience happens you enjoy seeing and reaping the reward of the specific accomplishment of a specific detail.
Planning is part of the experience. If I don’t “experience the planning” I lose something.
Stand still: Do YOU find yourself always planning the experience? Do you ever allow yourself to experience the planning?
Yep, our lives require planning. And we all know that “the best laid plans ….often go awry”. But, I am able to have complete confidence and peace that there are plans I can trust my days, my life and my very soul with. God’s Word says “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Thank you Lord.
Moms aren’t alone. We ALL need this skill to cope successfully in life. Students plan schedules and time to get assignments done. At work people set goals and make plans to achieve them on schedule. Coaches put together practice and game plans to achieve that winning record. There are fitness plans, diet plans, health plans, insurance plans, payment plans, birthday plans, wedding plans…
A good portion of the human experience requires planning. So here’s a question that occurs to me as I am standing still. Am I always planning the experience and do I ever allow myself to experience the planning? (guess there are two questions to ponder)
Sort this out a bit girl.
Planning the experience – The main focus is on the end goal, the experience. The steps and details that must be taken and finished are items on a checklist. Sometimes these checklist items become frustrating stressors. In the back of my mind I hear a chant “got to get it done; got to get it done; got to get it done”. I find myself thinking “when I finally get to the experience…I’ll relax - I can enjoy it – I will….” Then the experience comes………(while its happening you still are focused on the detailing and not enjoying the experience)…………..and goes.
Experience the planning –The goal is in the horizon but the focus is on the present detail that is being finished. The completion of a detail is an accomplishment in itself. When the experience happens you enjoy seeing and reaping the reward of the specific accomplishment of a specific detail.
Planning is part of the experience. If I don’t “experience the planning” I lose something.
Stand still: Do YOU find yourself always planning the experience? Do you ever allow yourself to experience the planning?
Yep, our lives require planning. And we all know that “the best laid plans ….often go awry”. But, I am able to have complete confidence and peace that there are plans I can trust my days, my life and my very soul with. God’s Word says “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Thank you Lord.
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