Category: Miscellaneous

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Worship

Finding Grace #202

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a good week, and God met several of my needs, especially in terms of the weather. The roads were super slippery, even with all-wheel drive. I definitely needed my defensive driving skills this week, and I am praising God that He protected me each day on my way to work. Thanks, Lord!

The weather was below-zero for much of the week, and I needed a little help outside. On Monday, it didn’t snow, but the plows loaded our driveways with snow from the street. I’m not sure why, but I couldn’t get my snowblower to start. However, on Tuesday morning, one of my neighbors cleared it for me. It was a huge help!

I’ll have to call for someone to fix my snowblower, but on Friday, we had another blizzard that went through today. Another neighbor graciously cleared the end of my driveway, and my snow service will be able to get the rest. I’ll still do my entryway, but I’m going to wait until the wind dies down!

With all the weather issues, school and some of my plans were canceled. Lydia and I now have a four-day weekend! I have been working on a project, and I am very glad to have the extra time. Periodically, I am stopping to take breaks so I can spend time with Lydia. We’ve made a couple of recipes and played “grocery store” so she can practice her math skills. I love her creativity!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom, Worship

His Story, Plan, and Year

Recently, a friend posted a recap of the last year on her social media page. After discussing her ups and downs, she said how thankful she was for God’s faithfulness. Then, she posted a picture of this cute mug that said: “This is My His Year.” Yes, ‘My’ is crossed out.

It was a perfect reminder that life is not about you or me. It’s about Jesus.

Then, this week, I came across some timely articles with a similar message.

The first article mentioned that we often see life from our personal storyline. For example, if someone is career-driven, then their daily decisions will likely serve that bottom line. Their thoughts and choices will work to advance that path. Yes, they may go to church, help people, pay their bills on time, and so on, but the subconscious focus is on their own success.

In some ways, our brains are wired to hyperfocus on what’s right in front of us. But if we’re not careful, we may be missing the picture of Jesus’ larger story! His is the only story that matters.

As I reflect on my own life, maybe I focus too much through the lens of being a daughter or sister or dietitian or blogger or a widow or single mom, or whatever. (Maybe you identify with being a grandparent, a bus driver, a nurse, a cook, a banker, or a teacher.) Those roles are not necessarily wrong; in fact, they can be very good.

But what I do can’t be my everything.

Ultimately, my identity is found in Christ. He is the author, and I am merely a beloved character in His story. I can’t let my small perspective limit what God wants to do in me and through me. Every hour, I need to refocus on Jesus and what He wants for me to be and do. And that makes me thankful for several reasons!

First of all, when I remember God’s got this, I am off the hook. Not being in charge of the story means I don’t have to stress about what other people are doing or not doing. I am not responsible for getting each character to the end. I can just focus on Jesus and the tasks He gives me. No more, no less.

Second, those same God-given tasks tend to become my focus if I’m not careful. The daily grind can consume us! But instead of being distracted, I can focus on being obedient and doing my best for Jesus. For example, at work, I can see each interaction with a patient as a way to serve them and show them God’s love. It’s His glory after all, not mine.

Third, the second article mentions, “Setbacks and steps forward must be reinterpreted around a journey of becoming more like Christ.” Positive and negative experiences should ultimately point us back to Jesus. Similarly, our successes are not our own, and our failures are not our burdens. Instead, they can redirect our focus back to our gracious God. When we see daily challenges have a bigger purpose, it takes the pressure off our performance.

While it feels fantastic when everything seems to go my way, the circumstances that brought that happiness will never last. This world is fading away, but whatever God starts, He will sustain. That’s His job, and He is always faithful!

Our goals, plans, and dreams are certainly valuable! But they are nothing compared to Jesus Himself! Let’s have the right perspective. This is His Story, His Plan, and His Year. Trust Him!

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God, thanks for taking such good care of me! Thank You for Your sovereignty. I’m grateful You’ve got this, Lord. Help me do what You’ve asked me to do. Help me continue to rest and trust in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Would anything in your life be different if you dared to give God control? How would your daily routine change? Would you feel less stressed over the course of time?

Tasks: Write down your goals, plans, and dreams. Then, pray about them and let God have control. He can lead you and bring them to fruition, or He can give you something better!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting

Finding Grace #201

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was such a sweet week, full of God’s gentle grace. I celebrated my twelfth wedding anniversary and received some wonderful encouragement. Thank you!

Lydia and I had some funny conversations this week. For example, we had an hour-long conversation about French Impressionists, like Claude Monet. Lydia also decided to make some healthy, kid-friendly recipes but needed supervision. Later, she shared about how she helped her classmates and handled a couple of sticky situations at school. It is fun to see her be creative and take on more responsibility. She’s such a cool kid!

On Friday, I had coffee with a friend. We don’t know each other super well, but I was grateful we could meet and spend time together. I appreciate how God uses each of us to encourage each other. It is helpful to listen, make decisions, and process life’s challenges. Thank You, Jesus!

I had several other great conversations with people this week. I was able to catch up with various people and challenge a good friend with God’s truth. Sometimes, we misunderstand people’s intentions, so it’s good to pray first and then communicate clearly. Life is so short. A good friendship goes both ways and iron sharpens iron! 

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance

Pillows and Pizza

Can you believe we are already one full week into the new year/decade?! Yes, Christmas was already two weeks ago! Just like clockwork, here we are! 🙂

Yesterday, I celebrated my 12th wedding anniversary, and of all the awesome Christmas gifts we received, one stands out to me. My sister and sister-in-law made me two beautiful pillows (pictured below)!

Receiving the pillows was such a wonderful surprise! Their kindness made me feel so special because I love birds (peacocks are especially pretty). Blue and green are my favorite colors, and the blue satiny material is from my sister’s bridesmaid dress.

Every time I look at the pillows, I not only have fun memories of Dave, but I also imagine all the effort that was put into them. They spent a lot of time traveling to each other’s homes (2+ hours away) and thinking ahead about how to piece the materials together. In fact, that these dear ladies wanted to bless me is a gift in itself!

Yesterday was a good day all around. I saw it on my calendar, of course, but it didn’t faze me like Dave’s recent birthday. For some reason, our anniversary doesn’t hurt as much.

It was about ten degrees outside (felt much colder, below zero), but the lovely blue-skied day made everything feel bright! I felt cheerful and grateful.

My mom left an encouraging voice mail while I was at work, and when I got off, I called her back. We laughed as we reminisced and told ‘Dave stories.’

After that, I ran a few errands before picking up Lydia. As we got in the car, I asked her if she wanted to get pizza from Papa Murphy’s. Then, we invited a friend to join us. We had a fun evening together and shared more memories of Dave.

Pillows and pizza. These are just some of the ways I see God show me His love and grace. I appreciate it when people take the time to encourage me and pray for me… So thank you!

I can feel everyone cheering me on, and it makes all the difference!

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God, thanks for showing me your love and grace through the kindness of other people. Help me be a blessing to others and bring them comfort, too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What are you celebrating this week? Something special or something routine?

Tasks: When you have the chance to bless someone, go for it! No gift is too small.

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance

Finding Grace #200

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week we eased back into normal life after the holidays! Lydia and I had a really good break, which was just what we needed. I’m so grateful for the chance to relax! We enjoyed playing so many fun games and doing art projects together. I also was able to get caught up on a few of my own tasks. Thank You, Lord!

Lydia went back to school on Thursday, and I went back to work. It was good to have two days to readjust and then another weekend. We made it! LOL

We had a blizzard over the weekend and a late start for daycare and work on Monday. We received over a foot of snow! Last night, I turned onto a busy street and reached the intersection right before the light turned red. I had difficulty stopping, however, and slid into oncoming traffic! I ended up turning and going with the traffic (instead of being T-boned). I’m grateful for God’s protection!

My snow removal service (and a couple of my neighbors) have been good to help with my snow. I still have my own portion to do though, and this week, I also cleared the bike path where the bus stop is located. It took me over an hour to do just that one portion. For fun, I calculated the volume of snow I cleared. Conservatively, I shoveled and blew away 377 cubic feet of snow! It felt like a big accomplishment! 😉

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Worship

Looking Back and Moving Forward

Welcome to 2020!! Wow, that has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?!

Recently on social media, people were having a ‘decade challenge’ where they posted a picture of themselves in 2009 and 2019. It was cool to see how many people have stayed the same and/or changed.

I didn’t post any pictures, in part because I couldn’t find any pictures of me from 2009 without a lot of effort. Hey, it’s been ten years! 😉

Nonetheless, I have certainly been thinking about all that has happened in the last decade. After all, hindsight is 20/20. 😉 It is important to remember all the things we’ve been through. Not because we should stay there, but so we can learn and grow past them.

Here is a brief recap of my last decade. I’m looking back while still moving forward. Also, I did find a picture of me with Dave right before we moved to North Dakota in early 2010. Close enough! 🙂

2009: Dave and I celebrated one year of marriage. We also went through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. The wise principles we learned through this course put us on the same page in our marriage by giving us common goals and helping us communicate better. Only God could know what was coming next, and I’m extremely grateful for the impact that course had on both our finances and our marriage.

2010: With my support, Dave decided to apply for a job in West Fargo, North Dakota, with Caterpillar. He was hired almost immediately, and that set the stage for the biggest challenges of our lives. We felt God was calling us to a big adventure, though had we known what that entailed, perhaps we would have stayed put. Still, we moved twelve hours away from our family and friends and soon settled into our brand new home and community. Dave had so much fun using his snowblower to clear several feet of snow that year!

2011: The highlights here include meeting many new neighbors and friends at church. However, it was difficult to be far from family, and we had to miss several fun events. Later that year, Dave and I celebrated Lydia Ruth’s arrival. She was named after my grandmother, who died the year before. I will never forget the pure joy on Dave’s face when Lydia was born. He was so very proud to be her Daddy!

2012: One afternoon in early May 2012, Dave came home from work early and stayed in bed for a week. He felt sick and had no energy. I could hear his stomach making sounds from over ten feet away. On Mother’s Day, I took him to the ER and he was admitted. We soon found out he had Stage IV colon cancer. Lydia was not quite six months old. We spent the rest of the year going through chemo and two major surgeries. Through this, God used cancer to expose my deepest fears and challenge my faith. It was grueling, as you can imagine, but Dave’s positive attitude will always stand out in my mind.

2013: A very difficult year. Dave continued to decline and was in the hospital more than he was at home. He had a third major surgery in April. My faith was in crisis mode. At first, he rebounded, thanks to the amazing support of our loving family and friends. But on May 15th, 2013, Dave died at the age of 34 and my life as a widowed single mom began. I was 30 years old. Even in the midst of shock and immense heartache, I knew I needed to give myself time to properly grieve. By this point, all I could do was cling to Jesus. Whereas cancer rocked my faith, grief is where my faith was remade. I’m grateful God caught me and held me through it all.

2014: Dave and I had previously tried to dedicate Lydia at church, but each time, he had been too sick. So, in May 2014 (around the one-year anniversary of his death), I decided to do it on my own. For me, it was a huge step forward because it was scary to stand in front of everyone as a single mom. But, in terms of faith, it felt like I needed to draw a line in the sand and make a stand. For me, it was a Joshua 24:15 moment: “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

2015: I continued to work through various aspects of grief. (That could be said about every year since!) In May 2015, I decided to start blogging to mark our path of moving forward and finding God’s grace along the way. For months, I worked behind the scenes to learn the system and prepare. It took me a little while to find the courage to ‘put myself out there,’ but I finally went live in August. I’m so glad I did!

2016: Lydia began preschool in the fall. I wasn’t sure of where to send her, but God lead me to just the right place. Lydia’s teachers really connected well with her, and it was fun to see how she grew that year. Also, Lydia felt comfortable to start talking more about Dave to her teachers and little friends. I was concerned about this at first, but her teachers wisely and graciously helped us through that. They gave Lydia all the time, space, and resources to explain herself and come to terms with the loss in her own little way. I’m forever grateful and we have continued to roll with it as best we can.

2017: A year of transition. The company I worked for was bought out by a larger healthcare organization. My job was merged into the new system. It was scary, but I am glad I stuck it out. During this time, I also had a friend stay with us for six months while she got back on her feet. It was a fun time and our friendship grew stronger. That fall, Lydia started Kindergarten. It felt like a huge milestone!

2018: My parents moved to Florida in the spring. It was a little sad for me, but I am happy they have adjusted so well! We went to visit them during Lydia’s birthday and had a great time. Among other fun adventures, Lydia also started first grade. Our most stable year!

2019: Yet another transitional year. In February, I contacted a dietitian friend and talked with her about something related to Dave. Then, summer came and she contacted me about a new job! I had prayerfully felt something new was coming, and I am so glad I decided to apply. I have been there since August and it has been a huge blessing to me. There have been challenges in terms of daycare and other adjustments, but I am really grateful for the opportunity.

So what’s next? Well, only God knows. 🙂 But as I look back over the years, I see one transition after another. Yes, growth means changing through the ups and downs.

A good attitude always helps as we trust God to turn each problem into something good. I am looking forward to seeing His faithfulness as we continue on this great adventure.

“You’ve been so, so good to me. You’ve been so, so good to me. Oh, to think where I would be, if not for You, if not for You.” —Remembrance by Hillsong Worship

Despite my many challenges over the last ten years, God has never left me on my own. Each step of the way, He has helped me. I didn’t always understand how He was working, but I can see it now. And, I am grateful for His grace and goodness toward me.

I don’t know what your last decade entailed, but I hope you can see how God came through for you. He has not forgotten you. He fights for you and loves you very much!

Our Victory is in Jesus!

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God, be praised! We cannot thank You enough for all You have done for us. As we look back and see Your faithfulness, please build our trust. Give us the courage to keep moving forward, knowing You will lead us and catch us when we fall. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What challenges and victories have you faced over the last year…or ten? Can you see God’s hand in your circumstances, working them out for good?

Tasks: Write down the challenges you faced and the coinciding victories. Then, give God praise. If you haven’t seen anything good just yet, hang on! It’s coming!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Wisdom, Worship

Finding Grace #199

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This week we enjoyed celebrating Jesus’ birthday! He really is the perfect gift! We enjoyed the Christmas Eve service at church and also joined another family for dinner on Tuesday. Then, we spent Christmas day at home. We talked with family and received so many wonderful gifts! Thank you!!

I worked on Monday but have had the rest of the week off. Lydia and I ran some errands this week and have enjoyed spending lots of time together! We have baked treats and played a ton of new games.

Lydia has really ‘grown up’ this week before my eyes. First, Lydia opted to put the Christmas money she received in her savings account. Then, we had some intense discussions about all sorts of topics, including body image, accepting our perceived flaws, and being who God made us to be. I was hoping these topics wouldn’t come up so soon, but I felt God directing our conversations. Lydia calmed herself down and considered what I was saying as I helped reframe her concerns. Thanks, Lord!

This week, Lydia decided she actually does like to eat bell peppers. She also made herself breakfast (toast, etc.) and lunch (which included salad). Then, she read an abridged children’s version of Moby Dick and was happy to discover a new-to-her genre of classic literature. It was fun to watch her engage with the story. Thankfully, I bought her a handful of these books over the summer and she has several more days off school!

On Thursday, Lydia also volunteered to help me shovel snow and did a fabulous job. Then, we had fun sledding in the lot behind our house! We stayed outside for over an hour and then came in and enjoyed some hot chocolate. Later, we upgraded Lydia’s closet to bigger hangers and donated some clothes that were too small for her.

Today Lydia and I enjoyed the snowy weather! She started a new book (Journey to the Center of the Earth, abridged) while I “hiked” in Austria on my treadmill! Then, this afternoon, a friend came to visit and we introduced them to several of our new games. The extra player made everything a lot more fun and competitive! We will be laughing about that for quite a while. Tonight, we are watching another movie or two. It’s been a full week!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Worship

The Perfect Gift

Merry Christmas!! I hope you have a wonderful day celebrating Jesus!

Recently, I read an awesome statement that the Christmas story really started back in Genesis. After Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, God cursed the serpent (Satan) and first mentioned His plan of salvation.

Genesis 3:15 says, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel.”

There are many prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of Jesus. Then, in the New Testament, our Savior comes and we learn His Name! In Luke Chapter 2, the Christmas story is simple yet profound.

There was a census; people traveled to their hometowns; it was crowded; a baby was born. Those are somewhat ordinary details. Yet, in Galatians 4:4, the Bible uses a phrase, “in the fullness of time,” that shows us Jesus came on purpose and at just the right point in history. God’s perfect gift!

I love how the basic setting and seemingly mundane details in the Bible make Jesus accessible to each of us regardless of our own circumstances. For example, like Jesus, most of us were not born into wealth. We can relate (at least a little bit–Jesus was born dirt poor).

Of course, the other details are vastly different: Angels, shepherds, barn animals and a manger, and later, a bright star and wise men from afar.

Back then, Mary and Joseph would have traveled in difficult circumstances. They did not have modern conveniences we take for granted, such as a car, heat, air conditioning, electricity, and running water. Indeed, if Jesus was born in our modern times, it would be a completely different story!

What if we read about Mary and Joseph driving to Bethlehem in a Prius or Suburban instead of walking and/or riding for days on a donkey? They could have booked reservations months ahead of time. OR, they could’ve skipped the chaotic trip altogether by filling out the Census data online, over the phone, through the mail, or by answering their front door and talking to someone in person.

If Jesus were born in this day and age, Mary and Joseph could have paid for a midwife or doula to assist them and ensure sweet little Jesus was born under sanitary conditions.

Today, Mary would have a well-stocked nursery and a sound machine to help Baby Jesus acclimate to this world. Yet God perfectly ordained His Son’s birth from the beginning of time.

Perhaps, if the Christmas story were more modern or glamorous, we wouldn’t appreciate the story in the same way. We might lose respect for the unique and humble birth of our Lord and Savior.

God could’ve picked a different time period, place, family, and race. But He didn’t. Instead, God chose the complex intricacies of the Christmas story on purpose.

God chose, in His wisdom, for Jesus to be born when political tensions were running high and when darkness ruled. Yet, the Christmas story is timeless and still relevant. There are certainly parallels that we can understand today.

Yes, Jesus is the PERFECT gift!! He was born a King, yet He did not ‘lord’ that fact over anyone. He taught us how to lead through humility and serving others. He understood human nature and showed us how to ‘live our best lives’… long before the hashtag ever existed. 😉

Mary and Joseph could have easily given in to doubts and fears like we often do. Surely they questioned the meaning behind their various struggles from time to time. But ultimately, they trusted God Most High to follow through on what He said He would do.

Maybe Christmas looks different for you this year.  As families grow and live far away, it is difficult to celebrate together. Or, maybe you are dealing with grief or loss. Bring it all to Jesus. Let that be your gift to Him this year.

Similarly, perhaps you’re also considering the challenges in your own life. At times, it can be difficult to stay on top of everything. It’s tiring to keep the momentum going!

Remember, Jesus came to Earth not just to rescue us, but to live with us. He faced all the same issues and temptations and heartaches we do. He understands.

He sees behind the scenes and from the top, from the beginning, and from the end.

We can trust Jesus’ perspective and His heart. He always comes through for us!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for sending us a Rescuer, Your Son, Jesus! We praise You for ordaining all the details in Your perfect timing. You are SO good! Help us love others how You love us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: What is your favorite part of the Christmas story? What are your favorite Christmas traditions?

Tasks: In all the hubbub of today, make sure to spend time worshipping Jesus!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #198

You may have seen the acronym GRACE as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Grace is also God’s unmerited favor, or God doing for us what we cannot.

I find grace overflowing with God’s love, joy, peace, blessings, mercy, power, provision, protection, and wisdom. Thank You, Jesus!

Where did I find God’s love and favor—His abundant grace—this week?

This was a really fun week, though there were a few tough moments! God came through for me with an extra dose of grace! I also really appreciated everyone’s support for Dave’s birthday.  Thank you!

This week, we had several fun holiday activities at work. We worked hard, but also wore ugly Christmas sweaters, exchanged Secret Santa gifts, took pictures, laughed and told stories, and ate some yummy meals and treats together. I’m grateful for a good job and wonderful coworkers who are becoming friends!

Lydia and I also hosted a white elephant exchange for my Thursday night small group friends. I unwrapped a 2012 giant phone book from Knoxville, Tennessee! I happened to give away an expired container of prunes, so I got even, lol! It was a fun time all around!

Today Lydia and I had fun relaxing around the house! We enjoyed playing new games, watching movies, baking treats, and finding Christmas gifts on the porch from loved ones. Lydia has had fun rearranging the boxes under the tree for Wednesday!

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These are only a few examples, but God’s grace never runs out!

There’s grace in every situation—we just need to look for it. God promises if we seek Him, we will find Him (see Jeremiah 29:13)!

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

A Tale of Two Birthdays

Well, here we are in the swing of the holiday season!

Yesterday was Dave’s birthday. Of course, it comes every year, but yesterday felt different. I intentionally put off thinking about it all until later in the day because I was trying to keep it together and get things done. Still, I’ve been thinking of him quite a bit lately.

It’s interesting to think about how things would be different if Dave was here…

This particular week is very busy trying to squeeze in a trillion activities before Christmas. Some of the stress is normal and would be the same even if Dave was here. Work and school, making meals, washing dishes, Christmas parties, shopping lines, etc.

But yesterday, I caught myself being frustrated by all the stressors that result from Dave being gone. Several things are more difficult now. Many things take longer to complete or just don’t get done. As a single mom and homeowner, all the responsibility falls on me.

Most of the time, I just deal with it. But yesterday, it took more effort. Missing Dave was one component, yes. But after work, school and Lydia’s orthodontist appointment, several random chaotic things happened all at once. It didn’t help that we were also sad, cold, overwhelmed, frustrated, tired, and hangry. It was the perfect storm.

Yesterday was a little rough at times. But, I noticed my mindset wasn’t particularly helpful and I didn’t want to linger there for long, though that would have been easier.

Thankfully, God showed up in the many people around us. Several people sent texts or called to chat. Last night, our neighbors dropped off a delicious box of goodies with perfect timing. And for dinner, a dear friend came over with pizza and cupcakes.

Last night, I reminded myself of all I have to be thankful for… Dave was a wonderful man and now I have Lydia! Then, a few Caterpillar guys checked in and sent thoughtful messages. We also received a number of beautiful Christmas cards reminding me of all the people cheering us on from near and far. I’m grateful for your prayers and support.

And, I reminded myself of how far God has brought me. That’s the beauty in all of this. Despite my (sometimes) heartache and frustration, Jesus is here with me.

Yesterday, Dave’s birthday was a little sad because it reminds me of all we have lost, but we look forward to celebrating Jesus’ birthday, too. We rejoice that Jesus’ birth brought us hope and redemption. A solution to the world’s collective heartbreak.

Emmanuel means ‘God with us’ and when Jesus steps into a situation, He will help us get through it. He brings peace and joy, grace and power, as well as hope and healing. But we have to invite Him in. Come, Lord Jesus, Come!

When all is well or when (I feel) nothing is going right… Emmanuel.

When problems arise and nothing gets solved… Emmanuel.

When I don’t measure up despite giving my best effort… Emmanuel.

There is power in the Name of Jesus and peace in His Presence. He is our Emmanuel. So instead of feeling sorry for myself, I’m seeing my pain as a reminder to draw closer to Jesus. I’m trusting in God’s grace and focusing on His goodness. Thank You, Jesus!

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Heavenly Father, thanks for sending Your son, Jesus, to be our Emmanuel. Thanks for never leaving us nor forsaking us. You deserve all our praise. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Is there someone who needs a little encouragement or support during this season? How can you bring them comfort and point them to Jesus?

Tasks: Ask a grieving friend to come over for the holidays. Or, see if you can help them finish their shopping or baking or other preparations. Sometimes just being present is all they need to remember Jesus is with them, too.