Tag: grief

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

Finding Grace #490

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 has been pretty calm, compared to some weeks! 

Work was steady but good. No big changes this week, lol. Visiting the chiropractor was greatly needed and appreciated; I am glad to have access to quality healthcare benefits. I feel way better than I did a year ago!

I talked with one of my best friends late one night. We always end up laughing a lot. We’ve been playing phone tag for a while, but finally managed to catch up just as I was ready to turn out the light and go to bed. It was worth staying up another forty-five minutes to chat with her! Good friends are good for the heart!

On Thursday, Lydia got her final orthodontic retainers (meaning she doesn’t have her Invisalign trays anymore). The change was rather subtle since she didn’t have actual braces this time. She did when she was seven, but we opted for the trays a year and a half ago instead. She’s happy with the transformation and will soon only have to wear the trays overnight.

Yesterday, I dropped off Lydia and a friend at the Redhawks baseball game, where they met the youth group for a fun outing! After that, I visited the NDSU horticulture research plot nearby. I took several pretty pictures of flowers (phlox above) and reminisced about the times I would call my mom from there to tell her about the flowers and get her insights on life. She’s been gone five months, and it seems like forever.

After we arrived home from the Redhawks, Lydia was in the mood to chat. It’s always at bedtime, lol! But, as my dad reminded me this morning on a phone call, these times go by so fast, and it’s good to be available for her. Lydia did say she’s glad she can tell me anything, so I’m grateful to take advantage of the opportunity!

Today, we are mostly relaxing after a late night and sleeping in. Tonight, we worked out together for a little bit and then played three mean games of Sorry!

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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 Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom, Worship

A “With Us” God

This week, I am praying and reflecting on the great losses of life and property in recent Texas floods. Natural disasters, like fires, earthquakes, and hurricanes, have also happened, though the Texas floods hit home because Lydia is at camp this week.

In the midst of tragedy, including wars, people tend to ask “Why didn’t God prevent this?” and Where is God in all of this?” I don’t have all the answers, but I have asked those same questions. I am absolutely sure He is right in it with us. He is Emmanuel, God with us, or as someone once said, He is a “with us” God.

God is outside of Time, but He’s right here, too. He can be everywhere all at once. There’s no place He’d rather be than with those He loves.

God is a loving Father who fights for His children. He, too, faced heartbreaking loss when Jesus died on the cross. Jesus could have shunned the cross, but He knew it was the only way. In fact, this was His redemptive plan from before the beginning of Time. So, I don’t know His purposes in Texas, but I know He understands and grieves with us.

Free Poland Castle photo and picture

God is our refuge and shield. He is a safe place, a hiding place. We can run to Him for protection. As we draw near to Him, He draws near to us. I imagine God holding and carrying the girls from Mystic Camp, along with so many others who were swept into the water. I am praying everyone is found.

God’s delay is not absence or apathy. His timing is just different, and His ways are higher than ours. He is sovereign over the good and bad. (He does not send bad things upon us, but uses them for our eventual good.) We can trust Him even when we can’t see how it all turns out.

Our Heavenly Father helps us deal with fear, and He comforts us in our grief. We, too, are called to mourn with those who mourn; we can pour out all our emotions to Jesus because He cares for us.

As sad as tragedies are, I cannot imagine facing them without Jesus because He is our only Hope. Every day, we are getting closer to when Jesus will come back. One could say things will continue to get worse before they get better…

Nonetheless, our main focus is to stay close to Jesus and keep our eyes on Him. Whatever you are facing today, lean into God’s love, mercy, and grace. He is faithful and good.

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Father God, thanks for being with us in the good and bad. Please be with those in Texas who are dealing with the aftermath of the flooding. Give them Your comfort and peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you reconcile life’s tragedies? Do you turn to Jesus or your own insights?

Task: Read Psalm 91. When the unfathomable occurs, bring everything to the Only One who can hold it all together and work it out for your good and His glory. It will take time, and you may never fully understand it, but He can handle all that concerns you.

 

Posted on in Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Wisdom

Microwave Christians

I was reviewing some notes on my phone yesterday and found a few comments I saved for later. These were some things I discussed with my dad in February, when Lydia and I visited my parents one week before my mom died.

We were eating dinner one night at Cracker Barrel. We weren’t too hungry, but I wanted to make sure Dad had something good to eat. He was tired from weeks of being stretched, and we were trying to make sense of the situation. Over biscuits and cornbread, we talked about how we need to lean on God and trust Him during trials.

Dad mentioned how many Jesus followers are “microwave Christians” in that they have no patience and want life to go their way, right away. Ding! But we can’t get by just pressing buttons and hoping for the best. God calls us to go deeper with Him.

Free Marguerite Close Up photo and picture

Then, we compared other kitchen gadgets and how they take a long time to work, but accomplish much more satisfying results. A “pressure cooker Christian” develops an intensity during trials. It’s extreme but yields a tender heart, pliable for doing God’s work. A “rotisserie Christian” may face the same situation repeatedly, always coming back around. But, those trials also serve their purpose: a softened heart understands God’s grace and can nourish others in the Truth.

We could make other parallels, such as a “crockpot Christian” or an “oven-baked Christian.” Haha, maybe not! If anything, these are best seen as we marinate or stew in God’s goodness. In doing so, we let Him have His way in our lives, slowly and steadily waiting for Him.

Also, don’t get me started on a “deep-fat-fryer Christian!” As a Registered Dietitian, I’d recommend an air-fryer and using minimal oil, if any at all! 😉

Looking at this another way, we see that very few things in Nature happen quickly. Mammals tend to have a long gestation period before the baby is born. Flowers take days and weeks to grow leaves and stems before blooming. Trees grow only one ring each year. Good things take time!

Overall, we can see that in trials, we need to settle in for the long haul, becoming all God has for us. As Dad said, “How will you learn to wait upon the Lord, if you don’t ever have to wait upon the Lord? Or, how will you learn to persevere in faith, if your faith is never tested?”

We can’t run away or bypass trials. We can’t just push the “easy button.” With God’s help, we can bear up under the weight of our trials and choose to be cheerful in affliction…

Trials are a guaranteed part of life. Romans 5:3-5 (NIV) says, “…we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.“

I also love James 1:4-5 (NIV), which says, “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.“

Today, resist acting like a microwave Christian and settle into God’s mercy, grace, and provision. He is faithful and more than able to bring you through… until Christ is formed in you (Galatians 4:19).

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God, thanks for being with us in trials. May we grow in perseverance, character, and hope so we can be mature in Christ, lacking nothing. May we yield to the Holy Spirit as He refines us! In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Which kitchen tool do you identify with the most, based on the explanation above? How can you trust God more as you face trials?

Tasks: Consider how your current circumstances are growing you and making you more like Jesus. Pray for wisdom and strength, and be prepared to dig deep!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #480

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 overall. Mother’s Day was tough, but we made the best of it. We toasted my mom over Zoom and shared some funny stories about her.

Lydia had her last seventh-grade orchestra concert this week. I enjoyed the Vivaldi compilation of different seasons. I enjoyed seeing how much she has learned and grown!

We had a lot of heat at the beginning of the week, and mostly rainy and chilly later on. I didn’t mind either! 🙂

Work was pretty busy with patient care. We also learned of a third coworker’s pregnancy (surprise!), so we will have staggered maternity leaves likely starting next month through early spring next year. That should be interesting, though I am sure we will handle it just fine. In fact, we have a decent amount of experience with maternity coverage, since this makes baby #13 since I’ve been at the VA (<6 years)! 😀

On Thursday, we celebrated Dave’s life and memory. I took off work and did various things around the house. I read, took a nap, did a little organizing, and just relaxed. In the evening, we ate taco pizza with a friend. We reminisced about Dave and how we used to all hang out together. It made me laugh a bit!

I was blessed to receive cards, gifts, and flowers this week. My sister sent flowers for Mother’s Day, and my friend brought flowers on Thursday. Lydia, well, she used her own gift card to buy me flowers online for Mother’s Day. However, she forgot to add our house number, and so there was a delay. After the snafu was resolved, I got a new order delivered on Thursday. It turned out to be a good day!

Today, I was on call for work. I did get called in, but it wasn’t too difficult. Later, Lydia stopped by a high school graduation party. An old coworker and I shared an office for the first five or six years of my grief. We both helped each other with various challenges, so it was good to go and celebrate her daughter! I hope to get together for coffee soon!

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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 Fear, Faith, and Moving Forward book, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Pivot

Twelve Years

This week, I am reflecting on God’s work in my life and how far He has brought me. Tomorrow, May 15th, marks twelve years since Dave went to be with Jesus. His death seems like yesterday, but also a lifetime ago. I have grown so much, but at the same time, I am still finding my way.
The picture below popped up in my memories last night. This was taken the day before Dave came home sick from work, starting our chaotic year (May 2012-May 2013). We both looked so calm, like we didn’t have a care in the world. How quickly that would change!
I’ll take the day off work tomorrow to give myself some space to feel and do whatever is needed. I don’t quite know what I will do yet, but I have some ideas. In the evening, Lydia and I will celebrate Dave’s life with a friend who knew him here. He loved tacos and pizza, so we are planning to get… taco pizza in his honor. 😉 I also have a pretty necklace to give Lydia, keeping up my tradition of making the day something to celebrate, not dread.
Naturally, it is a little bittersweet, but God has been so, so good to me. He has been my Rock and always sees to it that I have what I need. God has given me Lydia, and she is such a gift. He helps me parent her, sometimes in very creative ways! God has provided for me financially through work and other means, and He has given me a solid community of support, both near and far. Thank you!
This week is also tough as we celebrated the first Mother’s Day without my mom. Mom loved Dave as much as she loved my brothers. It brings me comfort knowing they are together again! I am inspired by how they never complained about their agonizing pain or struggle. In both cases, they sought Jesus right up until the end. Although their bodies gave out, they finished their races strong.
We can’t have great victories if we never have a battle, and we can’t celebrate a win if we don’t fight through something first. Life has many unexpected twists and turns, but we can always trust God. None of this is ever easy, but God is always with me. And, if you turn to Him, He will be with you, too!
Of course, we love and miss Dave and Mom so much. Grief is a long-term thing, but it’s hard to stay sad for long when I think about them in Heaven. They are safe, secure, and whole. More alive than ever before. And someday soon, all of God’s plans will fully come together. Those who belong to Jesus in Heaven and on Earth will be reunited. What joy that will be!
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Father in Heaven, You have been so, so good to me. Thanks for Your faithfulness and grace. May my life point others to You and bring You glory. Help me keep moving forward. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Questions: How do you celebrate the memory of those you love who have died? Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus? (Don’t delay, do it today!)
Tasks: Listen to this song, “Been So Good,” by Elevation Worship. Take some time to look back on how God has been so good to you. If interested, check out my book!

Posted on in Being Gracious, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perseverance, Prayer, Travel, Wisdom, Worship

Trusting When We Cannot See

This season is full of opportunities to trust God. Often, we have to make a decision when we don’t know the full picture of what He is doing. It seems God asks us to trust Him at a new level every so often (if not daily). Yet, we don’t have to lay aside our questions or logic. Trusting God does not mean ‘blind faith.’ We may not fully see what He is doing, but we can see that He has a good track record!

We can trust everything He does. Even when we can’t quite see the full picture in our own lives, we can trace His faithfulness through Scripture. The main thing is not to get stuck on our questions or logic… in order to trust, we still have to take action!

Free Building Porch photo and picture

“When you can’t see God’s hand, trust His heart.” — Emily P. Freeman

I came across this quote again recently, and it struck me a little differently than before. Previously, I focused on the word hand in terms of a physical body part. This time, however, I thought of a deck of cards, where hands are dealt. Depending on the game played, we may not see all the cards at once! God does not play games with our hearts, and we can trust His. 

God also doesn’t ask us to trust Him for no reason. He loves us and has the best things in store for us. As we see in Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), “…we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We just have to walk them out. 

God continually shows me His faithfulness. Yesterday marked two months since my mom finished her race and entered Heaven. It has been difficult, but I am grateful that people are still encouraging us, especially my dad. Thank you!!

Free Door Building photo and picture

Lydia is going on a school trip to Washington, DC, next week, and although it was my idea to send her, I need to trust God for her safety, health, provision, etc. I know she will have a great time and will make many memories as she spreads her wings. Thankfully, she already has experience traveling and being apart from me, thanks to summer camp the last few years.

I am also trusting God with summer plans and some opportunities in the fall. Remember, I am a planner and like to get my ducks in a row! But, sometimes, I just have to wait and have faith. In time, I will know more details. God always provides them on time, though in my humanity, I like to know early! 🙂

This season, I am reminded of how God cares for all His birds. I have woken up to the robins, sparrows, purple house finches, and others singing their songs of praise. I have seen a Northern Flicker grace my yard for a few minutes, too. If they can trust God to provide for them amid the uncertain rain, wind, and various temperatures, then I can too!

While waiting for God, I can worship and keep praying for wisdom and discernment. I can take the first step without worrying about making a mistake. I can rest knowing He will redirect me as needed. I can even “borrow faith” from someone else’s journey until mine strengthens!

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God, thanks for all Your loving care and provision. You are so good to me. Help me trust You more, even in uncertain times. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Where are you in your faith journey? How can you trust God and keep moving forward?

Task: Listen to the song, “Sparrows,” by Cory Asbury. Think about how much God loves you and takes care of you!

Posted on in Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous

Finding Grace #475

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!

Free Bird Female Northern Cardinal photo and picture

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

This was a pretty good week.

Work was busy as usual. On my lunch break, I was able to take a couple of walks and enjoy the nice weather. I also had a couple of patients who each knew Jesus. I could tell by their clothing and the sweet atmosphere. At the end of our appointment, we talked about faith, family, and God’s provision. It was nice for them to ask me questions and listen to me tell them (briefly) about my mom and Dave.

The weather this week grew nicer day by day. There are lots of birds chirping even before sunrise, and the grass is starting to turn green. I stopped by Trefoil Park one day after work to see the river. Nature can be so peaceful!

I went to the movie theater for the third week in a row. Yesterday, I watched The Chosen, Season 5, Episodes 6, 7, and 8. It was so good. It was humorous at times, but also poignant. I appreciated seeing Scripture play out, and I am still thinking about it all. Go see it if you can!

Lydia attended week two of her rifle class. She’s doing so well, and really could be a natural… like her Mom. 😉 She is tightening up her groupings and is right on target.

This morning, we got out the door early for haircuts and a little shopping. For lunch, we used an old gift card for Olive Garden and took home some leftovers. The rest of the day has been spent catching up on Saturday things. I’m grateful for the slower pace!

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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 Finding Grace Weekly Recap, Gratitude, Miscellaneous, Prayer

Finding Grace #474

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!

Free Birds Branch photo and picture

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

This week flew by!

Work was fairly busy but good. I had a lot of nice patients and was able to help them. I also got to demonstrate a helpful program to help my coworkers chart faster and find information easier. It was fun to show them all the tips and tricks!

We had more snow over a few days this week. It was very thick and wet. I shoveled the sidewalks, but thankfully,  my snow service is still under contract for a couple more weeks!

Yesterday after work, I went to the movie theater to see The Chosen, Season 5, Episodes 3, 4, and 5. I loved the portrayal of how Jesus treated His female followers. It brought tears to my eyes—so good. The rest was full of confusion, emotion, intrigue, and politics. It really helped me understand all the events of Holy Week!

Lydia started a rifle class this week at a local marksmanship facility, where she took the air pistol class a few years ago. She enjoyed it and is looking forward to the rest of the classes this month!

We had a lovely little serenade from some robins and finches this morning. Then, we got some groceries and came home to make some muffins and an egg bake. Lydia did a little cleaning for me while I am doing some paperwork.

Today also happens to be my parents’ fiftieth wedding anniversary. It stings a little since they came so close (6 weeks short), and now my mom is not here to celebrate it. But, we are trusting God’s wisdom, mercy and grace. I am grateful for some church friends who invited my dad to join them for some fun today. It is tough, but I am glad he does not have to be alone. Thanks for your ongoing prayers!

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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 Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Pivot, Wisdom, Worship

Numbering Our Days

As I read through the Bible again this year, I am learning a lot! There are always new things each time you go through a passage. Once again, I am participating in Read Thru the Word. There are about three ladies who post online lessons for us to review.

I’m about a week behind since I took a break when my mom died. I will catch up soon, as I tend to listen to a couple of lessons in a day (and often get ahead!). Either way, I was struck by the connection between Deuteronomy and Psalm 90.

One of the teachers, Lisa, mentioned that an estimated two million Israelites left Egypt in the Exodus. This may or may not have included women and children. Later, Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to scout it out and bring back a report. To recap, ten of the twelve spies let fear shape their views, leading to the whole nation wandering in the desert for forty years. Every person over twenty years old, except the two faithful spies, Joshua and Caleb, died before reaching the Promised Land.

Free Desert Sand photo and picture

Mathwise, 2,000,000 people divided by 40 years is an average of 50,000 people dying a year, or around 960 people a week, or about 137 people a day. Now, I have been to three funerals or celebrations of life in the last year. Regardless of the numbers, thinking this would have been the new normal in the desert is mind-blowing. What sorrow!

Interestingly, years later, when the Israelites finally enter Canaan, they spend seven years trying to conquer it. After that, they fulfilled their promise to Joseph (one of the sons of Jacob/Israel) to bury his bones in the historic family plot. Just so we are on the same page, that means they carried his bones around for ~47 years! Sadly, they were more committed to the bones than to God.

In Deuteronomy 29:5, Moses reminds the people that God provided for them the entire time they were in the wilderness. They lacked nothing, and their clothes and sandals did not wear out. God provided water, manna, and quail, too.

Free Desert Rock Formations photo and picture

Also, before he died, Moses also may have written Psalm 90 about this experience. If so, it gives a lot of insight into the ‘wilderness wandering’! Check out verses 3-12 below!

“You turn people back to dust, saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.’ A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death—they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered. We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

The last phrase, “teach us to number our days,” is pertinent in light of grief. It is important to remember we are just a vapor but God is eternal. All we have is in Him. For those of us who have received God’s forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice, we are no longer under His wrath. God is with us and for us.

God has a purpose and plan for us, but we don’t need to rush into anything. In our grief, God will walk with us and sit with us when we need it. We don’t know the actual number of our days, but there is grace in not having to know all the details. Numbering our days works best when we go at His pace and trust Him to lead us. Keep moving forward!

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God, thanks for all the ways You take care of us. Whether we have abundance or are going through the wilderness, You are faithful and true. Heal our hearts and help us trust You more. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Question: What are you reading in God’s Word right now?

Task: For different perspectives on how many Israelites may have been rescued out of Egypt, read these two articles from gotquestions.org and The Gospel Coalition.

Posted on in Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Parenting, Perfectionism, Perseverance, Personality, Pivot, Wisdom, Words

The Heart of the Matter

The week before she died, Lydia and I visited Mom and Dad in Florida. I’ll be forever grateful to the Lord for those four days together. One day, in a brief moment of reflection, Mom mentioned how each of her kids is like her in certain ways.

Her words felt somewhat like a blessing, so I committed them to memory: Mom looked at me and said, “Livi, is bold and strong, but kind. Patrick, he’s got my sense of humor. Now, Micah is the most like me. Not much gets in his way. But you, you have my heart.”

It is cool to see how my parents’ traits are spread across each of us. We all love learning and are uniquely creative. We all rise to the occasion and use our strengths to help people. Let me explain… I’m the second oldest, but I’ll write about myself last.

To start, the picture above is one of my favorites. It was taken right before Dave and I (right) moved to Fargo in 2010. We were so young, lol! Up top is Patrick, then Olivia, and Micah, next to me.

Olivia is the firstborn and a great leader. Livi always went before us and prepared the way. Even now, she can pull the ‘big sister’ card, and we all fall in line. She also didn’t balk too much when I tagged along. She has always been gracious and patient with me!

Coming in third, Patrick is so funny. He clearly has my mom’s quick wit and way with words. Pat is full of one-liners and movie quotes. Pat is super smart but humble. He can be serious and deep, but we all appreciate his lighthearted joy. 

My youngest brother, Micah, has the best mix of Mom’s fire and Dad’s drive. As a classic strong-willed child, he most certainly required the most discipline—perhaps more than the three of us older kids combined! Yet, this has served him well, as he is very responsible, playful, and a good friend. I love seeing how God has matured Micah over time.

I am perhaps Mom and Dad’s most compliant one on the surface. Cheerful, quiet, and patient, I’m go-with-the-flow… more cerebral, like Dad. However, internally, I can also be equally stubborn and “particular.” I want to do what is right and will stand on principle! As a child, I was fairly emotional, but I learned to hide my feelings at times. Somehow, I thought showing emotions was a weakness, and I did not fully realize the error until years later when God went to war against all my fears.

Through my grief journey, Mom was impressed by my resilience. Our weaknesses can become great strengths if we let God work in our lives. In my case, I dug deep and clung to Jesus as He remade me! During this time, He graciously showed Mom and me some problems in understanding each other. Our differences were getting the best of us.

God challenged us to get to the heart of the matter. Moving past our annoyances and personality quirks, we soon discovered that we shared the same passion for those in need! Our hearts were one regarding compassion and serving others. We might go about doing things differently, but we often arrived at the same conclusions! Isn’t God good?!

Mom was always quick to tell us how proud she was of us. In the same way, make sure you tell your loved ones how much you appreciate them. Spend time together and challenge each other to grow. Focus on the good, and don’t take your time for granted.

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Father God, thanks for all Your blessings. Thanks for challenging us and infusing our weaknesses with Your strength. Give us wisdom and courage as we share Your heart with the World. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Are you more like your mom or your dad… Or, are you a really good blend of their traits? How do you resolve conflicts with others who are different than you?

Tasks: Listen to this song. Thank God for His blessings and favor!