Future Police Officer

Must share this report from my brother on vacation. He has twin boys that are almost four. He and his wife and the boys are all visiting my father down in Virginia.

They arrived at their hotel and found that the place provided valet parking. So they relinquished their vehicle and went inside to check in. Apparently, the window in their room looks out on the parking garage, where all the cars are parked. Little Jacob looks out the window and sees his car being driven over in this garage. He says, "someone stole our car!!"

And for anyone who doubts a four year old's memory, an hour or so later, when they reached the lobby on their way out to dinner, Jacob spots the valet and in his loudest voice in the middle of the lobby he says, "Hey, that's the man who stole our car!!"

Fortunately, he was a good sort and just laughed, as did everyone else within shouting distance.

Miss Graceful

So I was walking down the stairs at my church, talking and laughing with some friends, and suddenly, my feet don't work and I'm trying to stay upright...I had missed the last step before the landing, and landed on the side of my foot. I was hoping this was like every other ungraceful decent I've made down the stairs, and tried to walk as usual.

No such luck. My foot hurt with every step. Under friendly advice, I went home and put ice on it. It turned greenish blue, and swollen. So..I went to the doctor, only to have her say.. wrap it and ice it and go get an x-ray. And the x-rays are negative so I've got a sprain on my hands (uh, I mean my foot) though not my ankle apparently, but the inner joints of my foot which are used with each and every step.

And if I didn't feel silly, and clutzy enough for doing this in the first place--you should see the progress I make on crutches! And the colors my foot is turning, ah.. well.. it's like a rainbow...

Grrr. why is getting hurt so dang inconvenient??

Ready or not

This weekend I went to a wedding at my church. The groom is only about seven years younger than me, but when I started attending, he was sixteen. Now he’s out of college and an actual adult and getting married to a beautiful girl and I’m thinking in my head—he can’t possibly get married! He’s just a kid.

And my cynical self turns to me and says, well, you’re just bitter because he’s getting married and you’re not. And I suppose part of that might be true, but there’s more to it than that. It’s not just that he’s getting married and I want to…it’s just that getting married seems like an awful grown-up thing to do. Like, you really should have most of your life and identity together before you go and attempt to link it with someone else’s.

Maybe it’s his maturity level that I envy. Because most days, I can’t possibly convince myself that I am any where near ready to be where I am in life, let alone where I want to be.

But are you ever really ready? Isn’t every step of the journey a leap of faith? I mean, some days it takes faith to take that first step out of bed. It sure would take a whole lot of faith to step into marriage.

Maybe that’s the key. I feel overwhelmed when I think I need to do everything or have everything figured out. Maybe maturity comes from knowing for sure that I don’t know anything for sure, except that I don’t have it together, or “what it takes” and probably never will---but having the faith that God will show me each step when I need to know and give me the grace and courage to follow Him, wherever that may lead.

And ready or not, life is a leap. So may the Lord increase our faith.

Just Because

Here I am again, with lots to say. But before I do, as way of transition, I'd like to post a poem about someone who I still like to think of as a friend, and Someone I should remember is always my Best Friend.

Because of him I drink coffee more than tea,
Because of him Hannah and Jayber are friends to me.
Because of him St. Augustine quotes make me glad,
Because of him questions about God are never bad.
Because of him I cherish my family more,
Because of him I shy away from friends that bore.

But because of him, my heart was sore.

But because of Him, I am on the mend,
Because of Him the road had a bend.
Because of Him I’m not walking by sight
Because of Him my burden is light.
Because of Him I can sing
Because of Him I can do all things.

Because He gave me everything.

Here's to depending on the One who will never let us down.