Journey Together

Life Groups. Community Groups. Grow Groups.  Lots of names but the same premise.  Here’s what I’ve figured out.  Keep looking until you find the fit.  Also, know that a fit today may not be a fit in 18 months.  Hold it loosely.  Give it a life expectancy.  (That in itself will keep a lot of feelings from being hurt.)

Live life together, pray for each other, eat together (break bread/Acts 2:46), study the Word.  We found a fit.  It’s our safe haven.

You should come away challenged, not feeling it’s a competition.

Serve more.  Love more.  Then, you will grow.

James 4:14

“You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.”  Boy, have I been feeling that the last couple of months!

I am  not discouraged.  My days are full of the stuff of life.

This year we will formally conclude the home education of our son.  (Isn’t there MORE he should know?)  I don’t think we’ll ever finish imparting wisdom and learning to our children.

I create menus, shop, and feed my family and others in need.  I work my home-based business and share the healing gift of nutrition.  I garden, growing food for my family through my Tower Garden and potted herbs, vegetables, and fruits.

I call my elderly mother.  My job, as I see it, is to lift her spirits.  I only do this once or twice a week now.  I used to call her daily.  Her short term memory is non-existent and the long term stuff is getting to be a problem.  Witty repartee is a thing of the past.  I sing old hymns and songs with her, recount crazy happenings around here, and think of things she might remember.  She feels bad that she can’t contribute to our conversations much but it’s wonderful to still hear her voice and make her laugh.

I manage our family finances, with my husband’s blessing.  Most months balancing all accounts to the penny.  (I’m to the age that if I’ve recalculated three times with any disparity, I take the bank’s word for it.  I sleep better.)

I care for our myriad of pets.  They live too long.  A testament to their excellent care! Finally, I love on everyone around me, that will let me.

There is probably more, but that’s a reasonable account.

It’s squeezing every moment from life while it is here.  It’s what I was created to do.

Priorities

Every morning, while my son works on his schoolwork, I read my devotions.  I consider this time WELL spent.  My thoughts turn away from my own little bubble and focus on others.  So, I had this thought…I need to prioritize my devotions reflecting who takes precedence.  I realized that my relationship with the Lord should come in the first position.  No matter who else is in my life, at any stage of my life, it’s my relationship with the Lord that centers me; listening for and hearing that still small voice. 20170131_092930_burst01

Next, my husband.  God mysteriously brought this man into my life, to walk my days with, to raise a family with.  Finally, my ‘littles’.  These children are indeed a blessing from the Lord.  Just because they are such a blessing, does not mean that they can usurp the place of their father or THE Father.  We’ve all experienced times of illness or discontent where you can feel the scales tipping out of balance.  Make one little change. Keep your priorities in their proper order.  It’s amazing how much peace you will feel when you do.

“It’s a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood…”

Are you a neighbor?  Or do you just live next door?  We’ve experienced both and ‘neighbor’ WINS.

I’m not sure how it happens.  Chatting across the fence.  Waving as you pass their house. The need to borrow a tool usually clinches the deal.  I believe we all crave community.  Relationships.

This doesn’t mean you invite those living next door over, as soon as they regain consciousness in the middle of their yard (true story).  Some situations are best left to prayer.

Yes, there is the vulnerability factor.  What if they think my house is a mess?  Children have amazing timing to break something, fight, or require discipline, usually in front of a crowd. Generally my feeling has been, it’s your house, those are your kids.  I’ve got my own backyard to keep picked up.

We’ve shared ‘fence mail’ with two sets of neighbors.  A quick phone call with the cryptic message, ‘there’s a bag on the fence’.  It’s like Christmas, I’m not kidding.  It might be a recipe, hand-me-downs (for the kids or even me!), Chinese pancakes on New Year’s Day. Ya never know.

A couple of years ago I organized a surprise party for my husband.  It was such a blast inviting old neighbors.  Old neighbors meeting other old neighbors meeting current neighbors.  Lots of laughs and dozens of stories.

These people have mowed our yard while we left to bury my father, babysat so I could take our foster babies for their visitations, borrowed eggs, shared leftovers, cried over moves.  I love them one and all.

Step out of your comfort zone.  Take a plate of cookies over.  Make eye contact.  Makes the ride more enjoyable.