waiting in the mudhole

My backyard is a mudhole.  It's been rained through, snowed down, and iced over.  It's a mudhole now.  The grass is trampled under dog's feet and children's toes.  The game of fetch.  The hide and seek race.  The bicycles down the hill.  It's a mudhole.  I keep asking my husband if it's ruined.  If we managed to take our beautiful new yard that was kept so immaculately by it's previous owners, and we just trampled on it and killed it all.  He continues to reassure me it isn't dead.  It hasn't been destroyed.  Afterall, all of the rain and water is actually great for this winter lawn.  It's soaked deep down and the slosh remaining up along the surface is no reflection of the growth underneath...waiting to sprout.

Such is our lives these days.  We have been in a season of great weather.  It has rained hard and snowed us in and iced us over.  Somewhere between the tears and the trials, I am left somewhat of a soggy mudhole myself.

But I am reminded of Spring.  I am reminded of the underneath waiting to sprout.  I am reminded that what is presently seen is no reflection of what is to come.  What is waiting to come.  And that the weather has not been a tool of destruction, but a source of nourishment.  To nourish that which is to come.

I'm okay with this.  I'll wait some more.  Because I know as sure as the sun continues to shine, the seasons continue to change.  I know that because it's winter, Spring is on it's way.  I know this.  It's coming.  The ice is thawing and souls are being watered.... hope is in the waiting....faith is in the knowing.  

Thank you, Jesus... that in this moment, you have given me both.

Sacred Years

At the time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  and He called a child to Himself and set him before them, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me..  (Matthew 18:1-5)

Today was a long day.  Nothing really different.  Just maybe too many of the "same" kind of days, one right after the other.  I am weary.  I must keep strong.  There's the schoolwork, the housework, the "dinner" work....  Our children do a lot of chores which helps, but there is still and always more to do... more and more.  I keep reminding myself that one day I will miss this craziness.  I know I will and I am so thankful I am aware of it now.  This is a gift of the Spirit.  It stops me in mid task and compels me to reach for a hug from that little cowboy running past me with a sword.  It stops me from answering with a quick, "no" when as soon as I crack an egg.. the footsteps skip through the kitchen, "ooo.. can I help you cook, Mama?"  It helps me be okay with, "I want to stoke the fire" while embers and ash are scattering all over my floor.

My oldest turns ten this month.  I have been a mother for almost a decade, now.  These are and have been sacred years.  Jesus knows just how sacred they are...but not in that we, as parents, must make best use of our time to pour into THEM (which is still very important, don't get me wrong).....but that we, as parents, must make the best use of the time we have with our children and their influence as they pour into US.  ..whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me...

yes, sacred years.

Six Years Old -jp

six years old

brown eyes, wavy hair

dancing around

with the dandelions...not a care

lying in the grass staring up at the bright blue sky

she's too young to learn what "pretty is"

old enough to know just who she is

and that she is..right. where. she. belongs.

every day a treasure

every day adventure

oh, to see life through these eyes

oh, to see life through these eyes

oh, the beauty to behold

when I grow up.....

          I want to be six years old.

six years old

ball cap on his head

hanging real close

because that's what his mother said

while he's running through the back woods

with nothing but his trusty dog

he's too young to have a fear of failure

old enough to crave a little danger

because that's what keeps him brave

and what makes him strong

every day a treasure

every day adventure

oh, to see life through these eyes

oh, to see life through these eyes

oh, the stories to be told

when I grow up....

          I want to be six years old.