We've all heard that cliche', "It's just like riding a bike!" People use this when they're trying to make the point that once you learn how to do something like ride, you never really forget. Even if it has been years since you have been on a bike, once you get back on, it all just comes back to you. There's no need to re-learn. Well, in case you think this is headed in a particular way, let me just say that it's much more simple than that. Over the last two days I've been thinking about that saying. Why? Because I got back on a bike. And, surprise, surprise! I didn't forget how to ride one!
It has been years since I have been on a bike. The last time prior to yesterday that I was on a bike was when my oldest son was just a baby. And that wasn't even my own bike; it was my sister-in-law's and the tire blew out on me. For one reason or another I just haven't been on a bike since then. But lately I have been getting the itch for one. I kept thinking just how much fun it would be for me to join my husband and kids in their spring, summer, and fall bike rides. They frequently go for rides; my husband attaches the bike trailer for my girls and the boys ride their bikes. During these times, I usually enjoy some me-time, but I've been wanting to join in. So yesterday, on a whim, I sent a text message to my husband: Hey! Why don't we go buy me an inexpensive bike and take the kids out for a bike ride later? His response: Sure! Why not? Well, I didn't waste any time (thanks to technology) hunting down the perfect bike, calling the store, and asking them to hold it for me!
I probably wasn't on that bike for thirty seconds before I was grinning and couldn't stop! Oh my goodness! How great it felt to ride a bike again! I had completely forgotten! Now, don't get me wrong, I do plenty of things for myself: I read, write, run, do yoga, and enjoy coffee dates with good friends. But, to do something as completely carefree and enjoyable as going for a bike ride....it had been too long! For me, this was complete bliss! We were blessed with a sunny Saturday (which is out of the ordinary in Northwest Ohio these days) so I sort of talked my family into another bike ride. We bribed the kids with a different location, a picnic, and some nearby water to throw rocks in! Well...we all enjoyed another bike ride. For me, once again...complete bliss!
I'm pretty sure that I'm not the only mom who has put her family's needs in the forefront and has momentarily forgotten what took her away as a child. My family's needs are a priority to me (as they should be) because my family is my first ministry. And, as I said before, I make sure that I get enough time to do things that I enjoy. But, I think in each of us there is something we remember doing so often as a child simply because we loved it. And maybe it was that same something that we could do to get away (even for a few moments) from realities that were tough: struggling in school, not fitting in, or even just the simple childhood disappointment of not getting to do or have something we wanted. We had something that could take us away! Well, I guess at this point in my grown-up life, I still have that child-like desire on the inside of me to just get away and forget about responsibilities or tough realities. I still desire to do something that feels--like it did as a child--completely blissful and carefree. I need that. Maybe it's just me, but I'm guessing that there are other grown-ups that feel this way too. We have no intention of shirking responsibilities, but it sure is nice to feel carefree and child-like again, even if for a few brief moments.
Here is the task: to write a blog in 20 minutes! Why? I don't have more time than that. Honestly! This day has been filled up with reorganizing toys; cleaning; home schooling my son; exercising; printing coupons; and trekking through a wet, puddled basement to complete a few loads of laundry. It has been another busy day at the Hinz house. Even through the clutter and chaos; through the dampness of the day (inside and out), my heart and my soul are at peace. This is the forever "thing" that I am wanting to pass on to my children as well. Life is so much better lived with peace!
We want to rent our home and move. We want to enlarge the area in which we live. We have many other short-term as well as long-term goals. But, each and every day this family's biggest goal is to live in peace. This peace is best achieved by contentment and joy. This joy is best arrived at by laughing at life and enjoying the quirks and goodness in one another. Our children are continually cracking us up! Just last night, while we were doing our bedtime routine, my sometimes emotional and occasionally cantankerous 3 yr. old said, in response to being corrected, "I don't trust anyone!" My husband and I just looked at each other completely astonished! I asked, "Ella, where in the world did you hear such a thing?" To which she replied while smiling, "In the Jungle Book." We were relieved! Then we had another good laugh! The things our kids pick up and pay attention to! Well, that's just it, isn't it? It is amazing what they pay attention to....and they are paying attention!
Knowing that my kids are paying attention, I want to grasp hold of each and every opportunity that presents itself to impart something good--something of lasting value--into their lives. When they show interest in something, I really want to take the time to talk further with them. When they have questions, I need to answer them! When they are showing me that they desperately need my attention, I need to give them...myself! They are watching; they are listening; they are paying close attention! They remember things that I sometimes don't. Just days ago, my 7 year old was retelling me of the time when my husband gave his coat to a man who was likely homeless, who was spending time around the dumpsters where my husband worked. It was winter and the man needed a coat. It seemed a simple, easy enough thing to do. My son was probably 2 or 3 years old when this took place and I really don't think we've talked about it since then. But, my son remembered because we did talk with him about it at the time; we told him how important it is to do something even when you are not sure there is much you can do. Apparently, this had a lasting impact on him!
So, my forever lesson and my forever prayer is that I am living in peace with my family, with my neighbors, and with myself! My children are paying attention to what I am doing and what I am saying. They see my reactions to life. They see the peace exemplified! And, they see when peace is not what I have chosen. We are continually living this life in front of our children, even when we are not sure what to do--or we don't feel we have enough time to do what needs to be done. They are watching! Young, impressionable lives are watching mine lived in front of them! Lord, help me to remember to love as You do! Help me remember to have peace in every circumstance. Allow me to live with joy and contentment all the days of my life. And, help me to take every opportunity to teach my children about what matters in this life. Help my children to see you in the every day circumstances!
My 20 minutes is up! My daughter is also up...from her nap, begging for a snack. Laundry needs folded; toys need picked up; Lego pieces need found; a phone call needs to be made; and dinner needs prepared. Life is busy and sometimes difficult to slow down. But, in the midst of my busy life....little lives are watching!
As I sit at my computer to write, our house is buzzing with loud, crazy, happy sounds. We have a smaller home and wood floors so sounds are not absorbed so well. All 6 of us are here in the living room. The boys are building Lego's with Daddy and the girls are happily racing from the living room through the dining room to the kitchen and back, half-naked, squealing the entire time. It is loud! You may wonder why I am attempting to compose my thoughts right now. Well, I guess I don't see why not. This is my life, most of the time! And, although the house is loud and somewhat crowded right now, there is peace. There is peace here because my husband and I have peace, therefore our children are able to experience peace.
I am in no way bragging about having peace; I don't always have it. Now, in saying this I am also not trying to suggest that peace is some ethereal state of being that sometimes shows up in our midst...and sometimes doesn't. Peace is a decision. I would say that it's a daily decision, but honestly, I think it is more of a moment by moment conscious effort. I can make a conscious decision to live my life from a position of peace or from an angle of anxiety.
I am convinced that we can have peace in the midst of struggle. I believe we can have peace in times of transition just as much as we can have peace when everything seems settled and smells like a bed of roses. We can have peace during life's ups and downs because we can choose to have peace! Personally, our family is in the midst of some decisions that will lead to transition--and we don't know what the outcome will be. Now, I could allow anxiety to take a firm grasp on my soul and I could experience, emotionally and physically, the side effects of stress. However, I am resting in peace.
I have noticed that when I feel anxious, it is a direct result of my lack of trust in God's best for my life. At times, I allow myself to question whether or not God has good intentions for my life. Admittedly, at other times, I have even come to my own conclusion that God truly does not have good plans for my life. Needless to say, this is not a good place to be. It is no wonder that in low times like these, I am anxious about darn near everything...and it shows. I feel the anxiety; my husband sees the effects of my stress; and certainly my children live in an atmosphere that is not conducive to joy or peace. It really doesn't take long for me to realize that I need to get my act together! There is no magic solution; I have to make the decision to go back to the basics. At the most basic of all my beliefs is God's love for me! He has good plans for my life! I need to turn back to the love and peace of my Father. When I do this, I once again feel peace take its place in the center of my life. If I choose not to, I experience anxiety.
Right now I am choosing peace. This is a really good place to be! Now, every single thing isn't perfect. Every unknown has not been made known. Every question has certainly not been answered. In fact, some circumstances could easily be seen as contrary, but we are choosing to trust in God's goodness. Even when life isn't good...even when life is frustrating...God is always good! He always loves us and He has good intentions for our lives! From a position of peace, everything that I approach as a woman, a wife, and a mother is much more hopeful. Peace lends itself to this hope. Hope reminds me that there are better days ahead and that there are many more great experiences to come. My children, just like me, thrive when peace is in our home--when peace is in their midst. I have found that I can also accomplish even more in my daily life when I am in a position of peace. When I am looking at life from an angle of anxiety, it is difficult to complete even the most menial tasks. But, from a position of peace, I am able! Obstacles, challenges, and transitions are surmountable from a position of peace.
So, as I wrap this up, my children and my husband are obnoxiously singing silly songs while cleaning up a huge pile of Lego's (by throwing them into 2 plastic bins). It has been a noisy hour! We have had wrestling, squealing, bickering, running, crying, and hysterical laughing all the while I've been writing. But guess what? I have peace right now! So, surprisingly enough, I have been able to write an entire blog entry despite contrary circumstances. Writing does my soul good! It's something I love to do; it helps me when I have the opportunity to write. From a position of peace, I am able to conquer just about anything...and you are too!
I've been determined to do some writing over the past few days, but I keep allowing other distractions--or in some cases, other priorities--to deter me. I determined this afternoon, after tending to some responsibilities; doing some reading and studying; and allowing my son a chunk of time to explore Lego.com, that I would absolutely sit down and write a new entry in my blog. As I sat in front of my computer, I was at a loss for words. I know, I know! This seems highly unlikely! There are many, many thoughts, ideas, and dreams turning around and around in my head, but I seem unable to grasp just one good idea to chew on. I feel a bit distracted! Then I realize, this is truly one of the most real essences of any mom.
For me, this is a reality of being a mom of 4 young children. I am busy even when we are not busy. I'm sure most moms (and many dads) can relate! Very seldom do I collapse in bed at the end of a busy day, breathe a sigh of relief, and declare "I'm glad it's all done now!" Nope! That is simply not my reality. Not to say that I go to bed each evening with responsibilities weighing heavily on my mind. But, I am fully aware that just as tomorrow is a new day full of potential and promise, it also holds unfinished laundry, floors that need swept, bathrooms that need cleaned, projects that need tackled, and more plowing through certain behavioral issues with my children. There are priorities...and there are distractions. There are musts and there are maybes.
My job is to exercise wisdom in how and what to tackle first. My challenge is to live at peace with the right-now moment of my life. I need for the striving to cease. I need to learn to inhale...and exhale...the forever peace that comes from knowing that God knows right where I'm at and He knows all about my world. If He expected me to be at the finish line, then I wouldn't be here. I am a work in progress! My husband is a work in progress! My children are works in progress! And, there will always be inconveniences, failures, upsets, and distractions in my world. What I do with them is the real question.
I can strive and push to accomplish more and more and more. Sure! (And I can run like the hamster in the wheel, endlessly striving to get somewhere while only growing more and more tired.) Or, I can choose peace. I can choose to rest in each moment just exactly as it is. I can accept the fact that while attempting to read even just one chapter (in a somewhat secluded part of my house) I will still encounter interruptions from an excited 7 yr. old about the points he racked up in the online Lego game he just learned. I can accept that while I sit down to write or journal for a brief time, I will have a 3 yr. old who wants to sell me things in her pretend store, or crawl behind me in my computer chair to play with my hair. I can accept that while all kids are seemingly otherwise occupied and I sneak off to run a couple miles on my treadmill, that I will have a little one who wants to come watch me (and of course, needs me to stop frequently to put a new article of clothing on her baby). My time is really not my own! And this is okay! At this time in my life, my time is not really my own!
The reality is that when I said "I do" to motherhood, what I really said was "I am giving my time away...for a while." I am fully okay with this; it is not a drudgery. I wanted and I want to be a mom! What I have never wanted was the constant pull of trying to live one life while desiring another one. "All of our deepest desires are our soul's way of calling us back to simply being all of who we are." All of who I am supposed to be is exactly what I want to be. One of my very deepest and most meaningful desires is that I would be a loving, affirming, faithful, wise, gentle, patient, and kind mom to these 4 lives in which I've been entrusted. This is of the utmost importance to me because other lives are directly affected by my life's actions. So...I want to be all of who I am supposed to be. In this, I can have peace. If I am fighting with this life that I am living right now (along with all of the quirky circumstances), I will miss the beauty of it. I'm sure of that. I don't want to live with regret. I don't want to look back on the brief days of raising my young children and realize that all I did was fight to flee that time. What a sad realization that would be!
So, I am going to choose peace in the midst of everything that vies for my attention today. I am going to stop reading to give a hug. I am going to stop typing to listen to a story. I am going to stop scrubbing the floor to pour a glass of juice. I am going to stop running to put a dress on a doll. I am going to remember that for right now, my time is not really my own. I am going to cease living in another moment. I am going to make this my forever goal. I want to live with my children and my family in this moment, in today! I don't know what may try to distract me tomorrow or even in the next hour--as I'm sure that something will--but that is part of this thing called motherhood. I'm okay with it.
*quote by Oriah
You know, as mamas, we are forever busy taking care of others. It's okay, it's more than okay! We were made to handle it. Most of us are at our best when we are nurturing, comforting, providing for, or helping others. This is our most natural sense of self. But, there are those times when it may be emotionally or perhaps physically impossible for us to be the ones doing the caring for and nurturing. These may even be the same times that we need someone to care for us!
Recently I found myself in this very circumstance. About a week ago, I developed flu symptoms. Before I knew it, I was in the grips of a full-fledged flu and it knocked me down....literally! I did little more than leave the couch to visit the bathroom for 4 days. Thankfully, my husband was available for most of the time with the exception of his work-day on Friday. In fact, an ice storm on Sunday evening caused a power outage early Monday; by Monday afternoon, we found ourselves at my husband's parents' house for an overnight stay. Little did I know it at the time, but even this was a blessing in disguise. My husband took great care of me and the kids while I was sick. Once at my mother-in-law's, she and my father-in-law took care of the kids and let me get further rest and recuperation. They even offered to keep our kids an additional night so that I could rest at home on Wednesday! Really, this flu bug had wiped me out and I needed every bit of extra rest available to me!
During this time, my eyes were opened to some simple truths. Mamas need to sit down and be taken care of now and then. I know, it should be an agreeable truth, but our very mama-instinct internally shouts "No!" to this. We still want to be the ones extending the helping hand, offering suggestions, planning meals; it's tough to give up this role...even when we need to! When my husband was here, I was fully aware that the kitchen wasn't being cleaned to my specifications (though I definitely appreciated all he did), but I had no choice but to be still. I physically did not have enough energy to protest. I think my husband actually got a kick out of me being forced to be still--to not get up and fix everything--and it was good for me to see that the whole house would not crumble if I wasn't in charge!
When I heard my kids bickering at Grandma's house, everything in me wanted to run downstairs and attempt to settle the dispute...but I was too exhausted. So I would lie in bed and hope that conflicts would be resolved, and you know what? They were! My presence was not absolutely necessary. Would the meals be prepared exactly as I would have prepared them? No. But they were certainly fed! I know, this seems over-the-top obvious, but when you are accustomed to being the one constantly running the cruise ship, it's tough to turn the stern over to another. But it is a good thing to have to do. Personally, I think I put so much pride in what I do and am able to juggle as a mom, that it has been a healthy experience for me to see that, although things were functioning differently in my so-called absence, they were functioning! Everyone was getting along just fine. Not to suggest that moms are not needed, but I believe that if we are doing what we do best when we are able, then everyone will get along fine when we are unable.
The other truth that I learned (or re-learned) is that mamas need extra love and tlc too! And, it's there for us when we need it. It may come in ways that surprise us or we wouldn't readily choose for ourselves, but it will be there. When our power went out I didn't think, "Oh yay! Now I can get a day off from my responsibilities and visit my in-laws." No, I was frustrated and my gut reaction was "Now this too?! On top of the flu, now we have no power!" I was less than enthusiastic when I reluctantly began packing our bags to spend the night elsewhere. But, it was a blessing (for me) in disguise! My kids had fun too!
Today, I am feeling much better, but God gave me yet another reminder that He looks after and cares for His mommies. We were slammed with an additional 6-8 inches of snow overnight...on top of slush! My husband had to leave for out-of-town meetings very early--too early to shovel--and I need to leave with the kids later this evening. I looked outside as I donned my winter gear and sighed, "I can't believe I have to do this and I'm still not feeling 100%." I attempted to shovel the sidewalk. I struggled! I shoveled off the porch. I could barely catch my breath (still coughing from the effects of this flu bug!). This was going to be so tough and I just may die! I really felt like I might just collapse and someone would have to shovel me up! I took a break inside; fixed my kids lunch; ate a sandwich; and sat down briefly at my computer to glance at a social networking site. I made a comment "Where are those teenage boys who offer to shovel? I have CASH!" Within a short time, a friend from church recommended her teenage son's shoveling services to me; he gave me his number; we talked on the phone; and he knocked on my door an hour later! What a relief! He was a polite young man and I'm sure he was happy to earn a little extra money. I am so happy that I didn't have to go back out there!
Moreover, I had one additional reminder--in case I'm ever tempted to forget--that God sees His mamas' needs! He knows where I live. He knows what I need. He never forgets about me. As Kari Jobe sings, "I know that [He] will never forsake me in my weaknesses." I am pretty sure that my kids are glad I'm moving around again; making their meals; making sure they have clean socks to put on. But, it was good and healthy for me to be reminded that I'm not the one who makes their world go 'round! It has been just as encouraging for me to be reminded that I have a God who sees my needs, who meets me when I'm at my weakest! He provides just the right help at just the right time, and I'm so grateful!
I've had cause lately to consider the valleys in our lives. This isn't entirely personal, but I have given personal reflection to it. I was reading a wonderful devotional passage yesterday by Marjorie Holmes and the prayer she wrote at the end was, "Father, grant me the patience to see the value of the valleys, as well as the joys of the mountaintops." This really spoke to me. She referenced our heart (the largest organ in our body) and how it contracts and expands just to work properly day in and day out. So it is with our very lives! So it is in my life. So it is in my dealings with my children.
Most of us agree that our character is defined by the valleys in our lives. Anyone can celebrate and exude joyfulness and thankfulness when times are good. But, who are you when times are tough? How are you toward others--those you love and don't like so much--when life is rough? How is your outlook on life when it seems like the valley is where you have been for way too long? We all want the mountaintops, along with the mountaintop views, but we forget that we must climb up there! Before we climb each mountain, we rest (and sometimes camp) in the valley. The valley provides us a really good view also, and time for reflection and necessary preparation.
I'm not an experienced mountain climber, but I have done some hiking. I spent some time in Switzerland during the summer of my senior year in college and did some beautiful hiking there. I couldn't wait to get to the higher place on this one particular mountain. However, it wasn't long before I realized how tough this climb was. At the higher altitudes, it was more difficult to breathe. At times, the climb seemed so steep and treacherous that I just wanted it to be over! Don't get me wrong, the higher we climbed, the more beautiful the view was (when I actually stopped to look). But, in all honesty, I enjoyed my rest in the valley even more than the climb to the top of the mountain. Sure, the mountaintop was breath-taking, but I couldn't stay there forever. It wasn't reality. It was temporary. Such it is with most things in life. Momentous victories are wonderful and breath-taking, but we don't live there. I'm not suggesting that we settle for living in the valleys either, for we need both, but there is value in the valleys!
Billy Graham said, "Mountaintops are for views and inspirations, but fruit is grown in the valleys." This is true too. Who we are is tested when we are down in the dust, on even plains. We can dream here too. Yes, we can dream on the mountains, but let's not forget we must first do the hard work of climbing them. I'll admit that as a mom, I have such dreams and desires for my children; I want them to live on mountaintops! But, I have enough sense to admit that such an existence wouldn't even be healthy. They must go through the times in the valleys just as I must. In my parenting, I need to learn to embrace the valleys also.
Boy, sometimes it is anything but nice. Sometimes, in the valley of my children's defiant behavior, whiny attitudes, or bickering nature, all I want is a nice juicy slice of pineapple. There are the moments, hours....days when it seems that the fruit will never ripen. I wonder when we will head up the mountain. I wonder when I will see the victory of my hard work. I wonder when they will show me that they actually have learned a lesson. Then it happens! I see a victory, or at least a victorious moment or situation. It feels wonderful on the mountaintop and I feel like heaven is near! These times are beautiful! But, I can honestly say that these mountaintop moments really wouldn't be much to celebrate if the valley didn't feel so endless at times. I'm not so sure that I would enjoy the mountaintop views either, if I didn't have the valleys to look at once I am there. When I'm on the mountain, I can easily appreciate my time in the valley. When I'm on the mountain, enjoying a crispy ripe apple, I remember how it was grown while in the valley.
So my personal challenge is to remember that there is purpose--there is value--in the valley. When I am tempted to complain, fret, become frustrated, or even run up the hill instead, I hope I choose to reflect on the purpose of the work done in the valley. The valleys in my life don't always look so beautiful when I'm in them, but they make the mountaintop view that much more splendid. My personal challenge is to accept that there are days when there is much work to be done in the valley. But I know I will not remain here always. Just like the heart that is in perfect balance, expanding and contracting, so it is with my life...and so it is with my work as a mom.
Last week I had a new experience of being a stay-at-home mom of 4 youngsters for 4 days while Daddy went on his first business trip. Approaching the week, I think that my husband may have been more concerned than I was. Of course, he was concerned about our overall safety, etc., but there was more to it: he was worried that the stress would be too much for me. In his defense, this is entirely my fault! I have come to depend on him immensely; I depend on the support of an outstanding father to my children all the time. He is immersed in their lives, adoring of them, and a constant help to me. The day-to-day stress of raising 4 children--home schooling also--can be quite a lot to handle at times. When the stress feels overwhelming, I know that I can depend on my husband to help relieve some of it for me. And he is glad to do so. I have many friends who could echo this about their husbands and it really is a blessing! Having said that, I too often release the cares of my day onto my husband, rather than onto the Lord. Not that it's wrong to share my feelings and experiences of the day, but when I dump them on my husband first (rather than in the lap of God), I am placing a burden on my husband. This burden, I believe, is not altogether wrong, but has the propensity to cause undue concern. So, the fact that my husband was probably more worried about how I'd do for 4 days without his help, is due to how I handle my role as a mom and....my expectations of how I handle this job!
I had a conversation with a good friend on the third night sans Daddy. She asked how things had been going. I had recently been asking myself that question. You see, on a day-to-day basis, I sometimes feel as though I may not make it to bedtime with my head screwed on. However, while preparing for my husband's business trip, I kept telling myself, "We will be just fine! I can do this!" So, my answer to her question was, "You know, it's been really fine!" "The kids have been behaving better than normal; they've played together nicely most of the time." "We've really been okay and I feel fine about the whole thing." As we talked, I told her it was as if God had allowed everything to go more smoothly since I'd been without Ron's help. She agreed that this could be, but she posed another thought, "Maybe you adjusted your expectations of yourself and so you've felt better about your time." Light bulb! I responded, "You know, you might be right!" "I kept telling myself we'd get through these days, and we're doing just fine!"
You know, our expectations of ourselves can be very complex. We think certain ways, therefore we talk certain ways...which leads us to think certain ways...and respond in certain ways. You see the pattern? You are what you eat, well maybe, but you really are what you speak! As one pastor said, we frame our world with our words! I am not taking any credit for this idea; it's been the topic of motivational speaking and Bible teaching forever. And there is truth to it! It's really not new to me, but this recent experience put it into new perspective. I have certain daily expectations of myself based on what I am thinking (or saying to myself). I react accordingly. I've had days that were really okay, overall, but I allowed just a few negative incidents to overshadow the entire day. By the time my husband walks through the door, I unload it all! (....as if I hardly survived it!) I know, how ridiculous! Then, I find myself irritated when he worries about me surviving 4 days with the kids without him! Well, this is my fault! You see, we also train other people to react to us based on what we expect of ourselves. Examine your relationships and you'll see that this is true! Sometimes, I feel disappointed that my in-laws don't offer to watch my kids more often (as they do for my husband's sisters). Ron reminds me that they probably assume I really don't need much help; you know, the squeaky wheel gets the oil! And, in this example, I present myself to his family as one who handles being a stay-at-home mom of 4 with little struggle. But, as I explained earlier, my husband has seen all of the emotions-on-edge.
This certainly could be a subject of intense study, and I'm not necessarily trying to dissect it all. But, as my friend and I talked (and the light bulb went off) I realized I could probably adjust my expectations for every day...and every situation. If I approached every day with the expectation of, "I can handle this~of course I can handle this~it's not too much," then how different might my attitude be at the end of the day! So, we got through my husband's time away without a hitch! We really did!
Then Sunday came, and you will not believe what the visiting Pastor at our church talked about. Ready for this? You can handle the pressure because you were made by Almighty God to handle it! I'm not making this up! He reminded us that we should not shy away from pressure (when the going gets tough) because we need it to perfect us! I am not going to re-preach his message, but I am literally shaking with excitement as I recall his words. Engineers test products for pressure-capacity (or something like that) and we are engineered by God in Heaven to handle what pressure comes our way too! When it seems like it's too much, that's good because we lean on the One who knows we'll get through! We've heard the cliche,"What doesn't kill you only makes you stronger." Well, there is truth in those words! There is biblical truth, "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful, he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (1 Corinthians 10:13) I believe that part of that way out is speaking about ourselves what God says about us, despite what we feel, "Let the weak say 'I am strong'."
So, needless to say, I have been so encouraged and strengthened in these past few days. As much as my children and I missed my husband (and as glad as I am that he's safely home), I am so thankful that he left us for a few days! I could do it again! Even more amazing, I can do today! I can accomplish everything that I am supposed to do in this life because I am created in such a way that I am able to handle it! I can handle the pressure! All I have to do is adjust my expectations! All you have to do is adjust your expectations--you are stronger than you think!
