 "For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just." Genesis 18:19 As parents, are the tracks we are leaving in the snow for our children the tracks we SHOULD be leaving; the ones God COMMANDS us to leave? Our little ones watch and emulate every step we take. Let's make each step deliberately,carefully, and out of love for our children and for the Father who gave them to us. Who they become as adults could very well depend on the tracks we are leaving right now. Walking the road with you, Carolyn
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 Some days it seems like the sun shines endlessly and life just couldn’t be better. Then there are other days and seasons of life when it seems like at every attempt to stand up I am knocked back down. Do you ever have those seasons?
I heard an analogy a few weeks ago that has stuck with me. A member of my life group relayed a characteristic about roses that I had never heard. She told us that her mother used to raise beautiful roses and that she, as one of her chores, was the one that had to deadhead the roses. She disliked doing it, especially on the big ones with thorns. She would get scratched and bloody from it sometimes and would ask her mom why she had to do those particular ones. Her mom would say that it was important that they be cut so they could form new buds. It seems those roses were the biggest and most beautiful in the garden. They smelled the most fragrant and lasted the longest during the season. The thorns protected them and made their stems stronger than the other roses so that they could endure the weather and animals that wanted to eat them. So the thorns helped make them the beautiful creations that they were. Without the thorns those particular roses would have been just another ordinary rose that bloomed and withered quickly and they never would have put out the fragrant aroma that everyone loved. Their cycle of life would have been short-lived and a little lackluster. As she sat in life group she put together an understanding of that childhood memory. She realized that as humans our lives parallel the needs of a rose. Without our trials and difficult times (our thorns) we wouldn’t be the people we are. We would be a little lackluster as well. Trials form us into stronger and hopefully wiser children of God. The strengthened stem we attach to helps us to continuously form that foundation that keeps us for breaking loose the next time the winds blow and the predators come to nibble at us. We deadhead the old hurts and with the healing from thorns we stand more steadfast in the glory of our Father. I love the mental picture of that beautiful rose gently blowing in the garden as it lets off its beautiful aroma. The next time the scent of a rose or the silkiness of its petals catch my attention I pray that this story comes back to me. I pray that I am always able to hold on to the fact that difficult times will strengthen me. When we feel those thorns ripping at our hearts lets just remember Romans 8:28 “God uses all things to work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purposes.” From personal experiences, He always comes through with his promises! Walking the road with you, Carolyn (Thanks “Celebrating Jesus” life group for always lifting me and encouraging me in life.)  Do you remember the Jimmy Buffett song called “Fins”? Some of the lines went something like:
“Can’t you feel them circlin’ honey? Can’t you feel ‘em swimmin’ around? Fins to the left, fins to the right And you’re the only bait in town.” I know they were talking about the guy and girl thing but when I saw the words of that old familiar song written out on a mouse pad I got a different thought. It seems like the more I try to do the right things, the more “fins” start to circle. It also sometimes feels like my life must be the only one these sharks are focusing on because clearly they are working overtime on it! They wouldn’t have time for anyone else would they? I plan my week with good things, fun things, and healthy things and before I realize it outside forces take my plans and start ripping them to shreds. Is it natural to get upset and anxious when I see life start to control me instead of me controlling it? I think it is. Oh, but there are THOSE words again… ME controlling IT. Where is God in that statement? Is that why outside forces seem to control me? Is it because I left God out of the equation? As moms, wives and daughters we are going to have stressful days. Absolutely! What if I stopped at the moment that things started to fall apart and prayed? What if I stopped to read a woman’s devotion, listen to a Christian song or sought wisdom from a deeply rooted Christian friend? What if I did all of the above? Could that totally turn my perspective around? Could it make me readjust my attitude? I had proof of that yesterday. A dear friend took the time to help me stop and think logically instead of emotionally during a difficult situation with my mom. She gave me Godly wisdom that helped tremendously in my crisis moment. Within a couple of hours I was speaking the newly spoken wisdom to someone else when the opportunity presented itself, when the sharks were circling them. WOW, the way God works is so awesome. He threw the bait in my direction to see how I would handle the sharks. On my own, I didn’t do so well. When I began to do it His way, the sharks ran scared and HE could use those same words to help in the crisis moment someone else was having. Thought: Your time, your words, your wisdom can mean a lot to a friend or stranger who is being circled by scary and difficult things. There’s a prayer that asks God to surround our children with friends and adults who point them toward Him. That’s an awesome prayer to pray this week and beyond. Don’t forget, however, to pray that for yourself and the rest of your family and friends as well. Sometimes we all need to be pointed in the right direction out of the view of sharks. Walking the road with you, Carolyn |
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