Dirty Dishes

Dirty Dishes seem to find their way into my kitchen sink over and over again.  I don’t know about you, but a clean kitchen sink makes me feel good, organized and accomplished.  Don’t get me wrong, there are more important things that make me feel accomplished at the end of the day or the end of a week, but for some reason…..I feel so much better when the dishes are washed and put away.

This Christmas season is filled with busy schedules, shopping, work and special gatherings with family and friends.  The “To Do” lists continue, relationships are waiting to be nurtured and there are always dirty dishes that need to be tended to.

The Dirty Dishes of Life can feel even more daunting – especially during the holiday season!  Those that lost a loved one or who have experienced a broken relationship, individuals that are far from home and family, as well as people who are dealing with consequences from difficult choices they have made. Feelings of isolation, loneliness and failure abound and we’re constantly filling our dishwasher, scrubbing the pots and pans and trying to figure out what’s missing in life. We ask questions like, “What am I doing wrong?”, “How can I fix something that’s broken?”,  and“Is it possible to find real joy and purpose?”.

I’ve had my share of dirty dishes in the last several months: trying relationships, questioning my parenting technique at times and trying to juggle life as a whole.  Life can be hard, unexpected surprises (not the good kind) can pop up without notice and we can be left feeling all alone and not very clean.

The amazing thing is, when I have moments when I feel like I haven’t lived up to other’s expectations or I have failed at being a strong, supportive wife and mom…..I realize there are plenty more moments when I feel blessed beyond measure and receive strength that only comes from my heavenly Father! Three truths come to mind:

     1.       I need to focus on God and others, it’s only then that I can be content and feel fulfilled.

     2.      God can redeem anything – hurt relationships can be made whole, He can bring good out of evil.

     3.      My purpose and joy is found in relationships. A relationship with Jesus in whom I trust with my life,     relationships with loved ones and helping others by serving!

So in regards to my dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, if I take time away from God or others just to have a clean kitchen, I’ll miss out on so many special moments that God has planned for my life. The Dirty Dishes of Life need my attention more- whether my own, or someone else’s.  The power of God’s love can wash away all our dirt, grime and sin. His love is perfect, never-ending and purifies us from the inside out.

May your Christmas this year be filled with a special joy, time well- spent with loved ones and the knowledge that the birth of a little baby many years ago, was a gift that can’t be wrapped up or even hidden underneath a sink full of dirty dishes – it’s available to us every day of the year.  It's the gift of an everlasting life with a God who loves us!

Wishing you a very blessed Christmas and joy-filled New Year -

“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.   2 Peter3:18

Faith Lessons Learned from a Seventeen Year Old

The heart of a mother never ceases to love, never ceases to feel concern for her children and never ceases the desire to protect them.  This mama's heart has felt the aches and pains of letting go over the last year!  Our oldest graduated from high school last June and departed on the college journey in Fall of 2012. He's home this summer and again, I'm trying to learn the lessons of "letting go".  We're both going through the growing pains of a college student wanting to be an adult and at the same time, learning the art of responsibility and respect of parental guidance.  Not the easiest on either of us, but a necessary part of growing up - both into adulthood and parenthood!

Earlier this week, our third child left for a summer serving opportunity with our church to serve in inner-city Philadelphia.  I could tell she was a little nervous about leaving home for the week, but she was also looking forward to seeing how God used her and her team to serve others.  I know we're both looking forward to seeing each other in two days.

I am so in love with each of  our four children.  God has truly blessed me and my husband with wonderful kids.  We have our moments of course, but we love each other and they have a love for God and others that I admire and I know I never had at their ages!

But yesterday, we said goodbye to our seventeen year old daughter. She was selected to participate in an month long leadership development program designed to immerse them for a month in team-building, personal challenges, serving and God's Word, so that they can go out into the world and make a difference in the churches and communities of our world!  To be a difference-maker in the lives of others and to live out the life that God has called them to.

Wow, was this difficult.  I really don't like goodbyes....especially with loved ones.  But yesterday was a real challenge for me because we were sending our daughter off on a journey that was different from any other. The parents of each student received more information yesterday than each student would know ahead of time about their trip, and it's going to be a very challenging growth experience for each child.  Here comes the mother's desire to protect her children. It was harder than I thought to leave her, seven hours away from home, to begin a journey that sounded challenging for just about anyone.  I don't like to think about the situations she will be in because I know she may be scared or feel lonely.  I want to protect her and make sure she's safe and warm, and sleeping in a comfortable bed at night.  Unfortunately, this is the "letting go" part that each parent comes face to face with at some point along the way.  I need to rely on and trust in the God that made it possible for her to go on this journey in the first place.

My daughter knew even before she completed the application for this opportunity, that this may be part of God's divine plan for this point in her life.  I believe that's why she was a bit hesitant to even apply.  She had a fear of the unknown and being accepted. Which meant she was supposed to go.

It's crazy how many of us in life don't go after opportunities that open before us because of fear of the unknown.  The thought of our lives changing, for better or worse, send us into freeze mode. We put off having difficult conversations with people in our lives because we're afraid of how it's going to turn out or the pain it could cause.  We don't try for a job, activity or sport because we fear we'll be laughed at or worse, refused the opportunity to at least try.  We don't trust God to provide or protect us in our day to day lives because we can't fathom the love He has for us and the forgiveness He freely gives us!

The tear-filled goodbyes came and went yesterday, but this teary-eyed mom still needs to blot her eyes here and there as she thinks about her daughter on this very special journey.  The inability to communicate will be difficult.  The wonder each day of how she's doing and what she's learning will not go away until she arrives home. But the pride and admiration for our daughter will last forever.  She chose to apply and she accepted the challenge.  She didn't do it without question or concern. She didn't do it without feeling her summer would fly by and that she'd miss being with her family and friends. She did it because she felt God's calling.  She allowed her faith to overcome any fear she was feeling.  And thus the faith lessons learned by a seventeen year old:

1.  Trust that God has a divine plan for your life.
2.  Believe that God will provide for you and protect you - even in unknown circumstances, far from home.
3.  Don't let the fears of this world and the people around you place you into "freeze-mode", making you unable to follow God and serve others.

Life's short and God is good.  If you're reading this and you're a parent, I pray that you encourage your kids to branch out into the world, try knew things and love on them through it all.  If you're someone who finds it difficult to trust that God actually does have a plan for your life, make time for Him and pray that He shows you which journey is best for you.  And if you're a student - don't allow fear to win over faith!  Take on new challenges, get out of your comfort zone so God can teach and grow you into the leader you're called to be. Be a difference-maker, live to serve others and honor God.  These are things we will never regret!

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."  Jeremiah 29:11

It all Begins with a Dream....

When I was a little girl I would day dream all the time.  I would dream of being a mom and taking my baby to church, making sure I had the proper toys in the diaper bag to keep the baby entertained during the sermon.  I would dream of finding my "prince" of a husband to share life with while raising a family.  As I aged a bit, into my teenage years, I would dream about becoming a manager in the business world and wanted to drive a BMW with leather seats.  Status became a little more important to me and so did wanting to "prove" myself to others. In reality, I needed to prove something to myself.....that I was worthy.  Worthy of respect and admiration from those around me.  Worthy of having a a great life, a great job, a wonderful husband and family.  This was probably the extent of my focus.  Period.

Well, I'm no longer that little girl who used to day dream about life and the "what ifs".  I am a middle-aged (did I just say that) wife, mom and wedding planner. My life no longer revolves around me and what I want, but it's now more about others' wants, needs and dreams.  It sounds a bit like I'm trying to sound perfect or like I have it all together.  However, contrary to how it sounds, I am far from perfect. I mess up and still find myself, at times, trying to feel worthy.  Sometimes, I try to take control of my life, yet always end up realizing the obvious....I am NOT in control.  The God who created me, the universe and everything that it encompasses is in control.  This life journey I am traveling, is the road that leads me to understanding a loving, merciful God and how to pass that on to others. Do I fail at doing so?  Yes.  Should I give up on my dreams?  No.

Fairy Tales, Dirty Dishes and Dreams is a way for me to share my thoughts on life, faith and marriage.  It's a place where I will be able to share regrets, encouragement and what I have learned from my life experiences that will hopefully touch someone just when they need to hear it.  If this happens, it won't be because I wrote it, but because God allowed it and paved the way for it to happen.

Are you currently doing something or trying to control a situation that will increase your worth in the eyes of others? Do you dream of that fairytale ending in a current relationship and/or marriage?  Are you questioning what God's plan is for your life?

The scripture that stuck out to me this morning is this:  "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others.  Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.  Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."  Philippians 2:3-4.

I have been blessed with an amazing husband, four beautiful children and a wonderful family.  But life cannot come without sacrifices, challenges and pain. Thankfully I can turn to my Heavenly Father when the "dirty dishes" of life start piling up in the sink, and know by faith, that one day, all will become clean again!

Be blessed and make this day count!