Purpose in Pain: On to a Better Land!

“And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD. For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land…” Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 7a
 
On the other side of your wilderness is a good land! But do not forget the lessons learned. For this reason, pile up stones of remembrance for yourself and others. After the Lord “dried up the waters of the Jordan” for the people of Israel to cross over, Joshua told the priests to gather up stones and he piled them up so that for generations people would see these stones and ask what they meant, and then they would be able to tell of all their great God had done. Joshua said it best in Joshua 4:24.

^“That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty and that you may reverence and fear the Lord your God forever.”

So after the loss of out baby in early 2011 I added a small, gold heart to my charm necklace that holds Mikaela’s (and now Holden's) birthstone and to which I had planned to add the September sapphire. This small heart is there to remind me that in reality I am a mother of three, though one is being kept by a much more capable parent than I. It is also there to remind me of the power of God in this difficult time, of the light He shed in my darkest hour. And if anyone questions the significance of that little gold heart, the door will be wide open for me to share about the awesome power of God.

Do not dwell on the past. Do not fall into the pit of what might have been at the risk of forsaking what can be. Allow God to complete the wonderful work He has begun in you. (Philippians 1:6)  

Learn from the past, live in the present, and look expectantly into your future. God has great things in store for you! To God be the glory!
 

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]” Ephesians 3:20

 

Update: On April 15, 2012 we welcomed a healthy and highly anticipated baby boy. Holden is now 2, and he is such an incredible blessing and joy! God is good! 

Two hours on a bridge - A lifetime in their hearts

Wednesday, June 11th, 2014 at 12:30 p.m. I am driving by myself with the two kids (then 2 and 4) across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge. (One of the world's longest over-water structures, the Bay Bridge, an incredible 4.3 miles display of mid-century engineering at it's best, serves to connect Maryland's Eastern shore to the rest of the world!) Two hours later we drove off the bridge! This article is the result. :)

When trying to figure out the "why" in the midst of uncomfortable (annoying) circumstances remember this...if nothing else (as a parent) one answer which always fits is so that you can show your kids how God wants (expects and calls) us to act in these situations. Our kids are watching and this is an extremely moldable time in their lives. If we throw a fit, get impatient, constantly complain about things we cannot change and/or become angry when things don't go the way we think they should, so will our children.

Besides, the only thing worse than a whiny child is a whiny adult! :)

Here are some practical tips for navigating those negative situations:

- Pray for those involved. After an hour of sitting at the apex of the bridge with the engine off and watching other drivers standing outside of their vehicles we learned that the backup was due to a terrible accident. Any number of slight variations to our morning could have landed us right in the middle of it instead of a mile behind it. I explained the situation for the kids and we prayed, thanking God that we were protected from the accident and praying for all those who were involved.

- Play the "What Can We be Thankful For?" game! Challenge your kids and yourself by looking at the situation from a different perspective. Ask, "What can we be thankful for?" Mikaela noticed how pretty the passing clouds were that day. I pointed out how neat it was to see the bridge from this angle instead of it whizzing by the window. We had a great view of the bay and got to see lots of boats. We had snacks and an Elmo DVD! Life was actually pretty good! :)

- Use the time to connect. Talk with your kids. Find out how they are feeling. Talk about how feelings are not bad, but God has given us the choice of what we do with them.

- In every situation stop and seize the moment to teach and mold your children. Take them back to the Gospel!

 "And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] 7 You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 6:6-7 AMP