Thank You Lord

Crusty layers of spaghetti sauce cover Avidan's body, 

with a sigh and a wet washcloth in hand, 

I gently scrub my little boy hoping that eventually, he won't be tinted red.  

I AM TIRED

The dishes in the sink are overflowing, remnants of the morning's breakfast offering a discouraging reminder that I had forgotten to run the dishwasher, 

and now have double the work to do after the children are in bed.  

I HAVE A HEADACHE

Clothing sits piled high upon my couch, 

waiting to be sorted, folded, and packed for camp.  

I haven't even completed half of the packing list yet.   

I WISH I WERE GOING ON VACATION TOO

On the table is my checkbook.  

The one I haven't balanced in several months. 

I FEEL LIKE WATCHING TV

Weeds have taken over my garden and are beginning to suffocate my plants.  

The beauty of our landscaping is quickly becoming an eyesore. 

I WOULD LOVE A MASSAGE

My Bible, sits undisturbed on the coffee table.  

 My mind fights the desire to pick it up.  

"I have too much to do already, I can't take time to read right now."

I break down, tears flowing from my eyes.

Weeping, I cry out...

"I can't do it all, I am exhausted."

A still small voice responds...

"You are right, Satin.  

You can't do it all.  

You need a Savior.

My grace is sufficient for you, 

for my power is made perfect in weakness."

I pause for a moment in silence, reflecting.

I slowly walk over, pick up my Bible and open it.

Under my breath I whisper...

HELP ME, LORD.

As I read the words on the page in front of me, 

I break down again.

This time with laughter,

rejoicing in God's gentle reminder to me, 

a sinner with a wonderful Savior.

"...I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, 

so that Christ's power may rest on me.

... I delight in weaknesses, 

in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Humbly, I bow my head and close my eyes,

uttering the only words that seem appropriate...

"Thank you, Lord."

 

Attentive Ears

This morning, I had a conversation with my daughter, Amaris.  Well actually, she did all of the talking, I just listened.  Ummm...maybe I wasn't quite listening either.  The truth is, I was feeling mentally exhausted and felt entitled to "check out" for a few moments.  

As Amaris spoke, I recall gently smiling, giving an occasional shake of my head in agreement with whatever she was saying, and every now and then I would utter a few random phrases such as "Really", "Uh, Huh", or "That's great, Amaris",  so I "appeared" engaged and interested in what she was saying. 

After several minutes, it seemed that Amaris became fully aware of my "fake listening" when she stopped, sighed, and with disappointment in her voice stated, "You are not even listening, Mommy".  Initially, I tried to console her..."Oh honey, of course I was listening".   Come on...Are you kidding?...I knew full well that I wasn't listening!  Sadly, Amaris' words had fallen on deaf ears.

Not only was I too selfishness and prideful to admit that I wasn't really listening to a word she was saying; I also showed a complete lack of love and respect for my daughter.  In that moment, my actions spoke volumes to her... 

"Mommy cares more about herself than she does about anyone else, including me." 

And, do you know what?  She's right!

I am so grieved to have treated my precious daughter whom I love so deeply in such a rude manner.  I mean, I personally know how it feels to try and have a conversation with someone who you know is not really paying attention to you as you speak...it feels simply awful!  

You know how it feels too...

I am so thankful that God is not like me! 

"And this is the confidence which we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have obtained the requests made of him." 1 John 5:14-15

"The Lord has heard my supplication, The Lord receives my prayer."  Psalm 6:9 

"The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry."  Psalm 34:15

"The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them." Psalm 145:18-19

It is so humbling to think that there has never been a word spoken which has escaped God's ears.  And in our lifetimes, He will never ignore a single prayer uttered, a single word whispered, a single praise shouted, or a single burden cried-out by us, His children. 

Reading the scriptures above all should stir our hearts...it should stir my heart, to talk to God with more and more fervency and devotion.  After all, we are His children and He delights in hearing the sound of our voices, because He loves us!