My kids speak with just a bit of a southern twang. They come by it honestly from their dad. Here in the south it has been said that "Bless your heart" is an extremely polite way of saying "You're an idiot," or "So glad it wasn't me!" (Loose translations here as there are MANY)
So much for empathy or sympathy.
We have had an extremely busy couple of months. Too much stuff to unpack just yet, but it was more than enough. My kids have inherited their sense of sarcasm (again from their
Libbi is three now and sass-tastic! She loves calling out the inconsistencies in life and the every present question of "WHY." Bless. Her knowledge of life at this point is limited to her sight. What she sees. We protect her from having the experiential side of learning in most things until she can understand them.
Cade is flourishing in the fourth grade. He is approaching 10 rapidly. He too loves to keep us on the straight and narrow; pointing out our "strengths." Yes, it is that season of life. He is learning now through experience that life can be hard and we find ourselves protecting him from the full blow. It's in our nature isn't it? To protect.
Living the life of a pastors wife is precarious much like motherhood. On one hand you have everyone trust you with "stuff" that they don't want anyone else to hear. (Hello.) Then clear on the other side you have those who don't trust you at all. You go from being a normal mom, friend, or sister in the Lord to "suspicious." Overnight. It's precarious. However, it is no different from being a mother. Mom. Mama. Ma. The very same pendulum swings back and forth over mother hood with the same steady cadence. Always loving and protecting. Back and forth.
God is good, isn't he? Replacing words of complaint, (or sarcasm) with words of praise. Blessing.
We had a mouse in the house...bless the Lord. (I LOATH mice)
The schedule has been PACKED full...Praise the Lord.
My heart has been overwhelmed with needs and hurts I cannot fix...Bless the Lord...the healer and fixer.
Feelings of failure and inadequacy...bless the Lord.
Sickness and death...Bless the Lord.
To bless someone is to give them praise. Bless your heart! To bless the Lord is to praise Him. We are called to let it be continually on our lips. Praising the Lord in every circumstance can cause many responses, but one translation...Praising the ONE who holds us all together and does not sway like a pendelem.
The mouse is dead. I know you were anxious for an update.
There will always be days filled with trouble and anxiety over things out of our control. We know the one who holds today, and tomorrow and guess what? He is coming back. And the closer He gets to making His glorious appearing, we will continue to see the things we have known be cast now in the SHADOW of His glory and grace. When things look dark, focus on the Light.
Come my friend, let's bless the Lord together.
Weary mama? Bless the Lord. You've got this.
Troubled soul? Praise the Lord. A heavy spirit will not survive in the presence of praise.
Burden carrier? Bless the Lord. He carries the burden for you.
I pray you are held today, resting in the knowledge that He inhabits in our praises. He is near. Bless the Lord.
