~We were never promised a life without struggle. Knowing God and having a relationship with Him does not remove these from your life; BUT knowing Him and having a relationship with Him makes it easier to walk through the inevitable struggles and hardships. It is how the Lord prepares us and deepens our love and faith in Him as we learn to lean into Him more at every corner. Don’t be afraid to make God big in your life! Take His hand, stay close to Him and His word~
Last weekend was quite a rollercoaster, not that I can ride on them anymore due to the increased motion sickness that grows with age… There’s that nervous feeling you get as the cars slowly climb uphill towards a belly-dropping plummet, then you get through the plummet (which isn’t ever as bad as you anticipate) and the rest of the ride is spent between enjoying the thrill of high-speed flying through the air and wondering how much longer it’ll last. Then it’s over – you arrive safely back at the very platform you boarded from. You’re happy for the experience but aren’t going to jump back in line for a second ride.
Camping has always been something I’ve enjoyed. It’s supposed to be a quiet peaceful break away from everyday life to reset and unwind. But over the past five years, camping has turned more into a chore or hassle that just adds to the stress of everyday life instead of relieving it. Not to mention, this short weekend was going to be the first time our little family camped with an additional infant and I was scheduled to be on-call for work. The weekend started pretty much like all the others: husband spends the morning making final preparations to the camper, hooks it up at home and takes it to Sandy Beach Campground to be set up, husband has a few cocktails and falls asleep in the camper, wife (that’s me) picks up Mac and Cam from daycare and heads home to finish packing up everyone’s bags while waiting for husband to come back home and haul us all there.
Since Paul had worked 12 hours the night before, he did not wake up to my phone calls Friday night after he laid down to rest at the camper. My mom had stopped at the house to get Mac and keep him overnight so it was just me and Cam and a few unpacked bags. Had I not been on-call and knew Paul would be awake, I likely would’ve packed up the van myself and drove out to the campsite.. but I took the unplanned opportunity to cuddle on the couch with baby Cambrie and have a short nap. Cam got her last bottle around 10p, Paul was back home shortly after that and we all slept til morning.
We got out to the campsite around 10:30a, started unloading the truck, Paul closes one of the windows and it shatters all over the couch, I clean up as much of the mess as I can, my mom brings Mac out to see us and ends up taking him back with her because he preferred to nap at her house, Cam gets another bottle and me and Paul are sitting outside enjoying a little sunshine. The two of us start into the same conversation we have frequently… except, very shortly after it begins, we reach a mutual conclusion that quite honestly shocks me.
I have been praying for this change and bringing it to the Lord for weeks – He heard me. Nothing makes me feel more seen than an answered prayer!
The rest of the day went on as usual. Paul grilled burgers and brats for our parents that stopped out to enjoy some time by a warm fire then we packed up the kids and dog and I drove us home for the night (the low was mid-40’s and our window was broken so we opted to return home with the important things).
Sunday morning comes around, we get the kiddos up and ready and head to church to celebrate Ascension Sunday mass. Mac scores a couple goals at his soccer practice that afternoon then we end the night with yummy combos from Taco Johns.
I am so thankful to have a God who listens and loves – someone who is always in my corner and helps me accomplish things big and small, who gives me a purpose and place in this world.
I heard a story several years ago that has stuck with me. A job trainer I had was open and kind enough to share with me the struggles she had faced and was currently facing: she married but had a very tough time getting pregnant. Over the span of a dozen years, her and her husband went through the grief of pregnancy losses as well as having to pay for fertility treatments (we’ve all been there – the bleak desert wasteland of arguments that spur from finances) … she was able to conceive and carry to term 2 babies that eventually grew into healthy kiddos.
Her husband comes to her one day and tells her that he is done with their marriage relationship and wants a divorce. This is the part of the story where she holds out her left hand and gently touches a silver ring that has imprinted coordinates wrapping around the band. She says, “These coordinates are to the geographical birthplace of the only man who will never leave me.” In all her struggles, she had learned to lean on the Lord as her main source of guidance and love that is never ending. God pursues all of us – every single human is a son or daughter of God and he loves us all the same.
If you choose to love Him back and accept Him as your Father, you will find peace from a covenant with Him that is life-altering.
A lot of people shy away from and condemn religion these days because they interpret it as a harsh list of “can’ts” when, in reality, there is SO much freedom in faith. The Lord has provided simple guidelines to live by. His commandments are the very foundation of life and love. If you fail to meet one of these guidelines or just fall short one day, bring it to the Lord and talk with Him about it. Ask for His forgiveness and your want to do better next time – He will forgive. That’s love. Life can mean so much more when you have that kind of love backing you every day.
His mercy is new every day, you need only have faith and trust in the Lord.
What a peaceful covenant we have been offered during our time on Earth. <3
