About Me

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Hello, I am a mother of three living with my husband in Africa. I have been blogging for seven years but still find myself very technologically challenged. I make lots of mistakes, but life is a journey. Come join me on the journey!

Monday, December 31, 2012

Today is not that day!

There will come a day when...
I won't worry that guests saw that chunk of waffle on the floor that I missed when cleaning,
I won't feel bad about sending my snotty-nosed children over to my mom's for New Year's,
My mom will not be recovering from 3 weeks worth of illness,
I do not have to pick between the really early movie that is not when I really want to go
Or the really late show during which I probably would fall asleep.
I will remember to ask the obvious questions when picking up a prescription.
It won't matter how bad a job I did sweeping.
It won't matter what kind of mop I used.
But that day is not today.

There will be a day when...
Christmas cards all get mailed before Christmas rather than after New Year's.
Blogs will not be two months behind schedule.
Photo books will not be months overdue in getting printed.
Papers will not be weeks past when they should be graded.
My husband will not need to come behind me to resweep.
My daughter will not ask me 50,000,000 questions.
My daughter will not be sick and need that medicine.
But that day is not today.

There will be a day when...
I will get to sit to write all those blogs that are in my head.
I will get to write all those Christmas and thank you cards that I want to write.
I will get to sit and read a book uninterrupted.
I will get all those photo books done.
I will actually make a decision based on what I really want to do, not everyone else's desires.
But that day is not today.

Some of these things will be resolved for good reason, like the child will not need medicine because she will be well. Some of them will be resolved for bittersweet reasons, like the waffle piece will not be there because the children will be grown and gone. Some will be for sad reasons, like the fact that we are on the other side of the world from my mom or my mother will be with The Lord one day far from now.   Sometimes life can be frustrating waiting for that some day, if we let it. However life can be so much sweeter if we can accept it for what today is. It is not some day. However it is the "present". "This is the day The Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it."  Some day all those little things will get done, maybe. But as for today, I must choose to live today for what it is, a gift, as I find it, not how I wish it was.

So thank You Father...
For getting to be here to help care for my mom while she has been sick.
For the children that drop waffle on the floor and ask questions all day long.
For the husband who helps me do dishes and sweep and is even willing to help mop.
For the friends we had over as guests, that hopefully did not notice that piece of waffle.
For getting in and out of the doctor's office quickly and getting the medicines she needs.
For insurance that covered the doctor and medicines, so that I had no copay.
For even being in a place where we have to make decisions about movies.
For being near grandparents,
For mother  feeling well enough to see the grandchildren again.
For having time to sit and blog and reflect on Your goodness even in the stress of today.
Today is the day, the day The Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.



Sunday, December 30, 2012

"So how many people have been saved?"

Ok, so I knew this question was coming, and I knew what the person was wanting to hear, but I still was not really ready for it. The first week we got back to the states, I got that question from a very sweet lady. I expected and had planned to be ready to answer, but then I just froze when she asked.

I wanted to say, "slow but the Word is going out.". I wanted to tell her how many we're baptized or at least expressed the desire to follow in The Way in the last month. Unfortunately, I was frozen. It was hard to not give her the answer I perceived she wanted to hear, of people beating down our doors to hear and be baptized.

All my feelings and stresses about those who have said they were following the way but then never going beyond that or those who never spoke a word about following but were always listening came flooding my heart. It can be so hard to give a real number sometimes. It takes me back to the parable of the sower and the soils.

Some with whom we work are not so interested but their hospitable nature refuses to let them dismiss us. Instead they may even act agreeable just to get us to move on to something else but never really follow the Truth.  Some are quick to proclaim their new faith and may even talk about how they can go share with other villages, but then never again make time to study the Word again after that. Some do indeed believe the Truth but then find themselves worn out by their family members who mock or even steal from them because of their faith. However, others who study the Word little by little will eventually follow the Way and live fervent lives of faith irregardless of the struggles that come. They will be baptized, which is the ultimate sign of cutting ties with their former way and identifying themselves with the True Way.

The question should have been an easy one, but it just was not as easy as I thought it would be.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6 states it well, "I planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the growth."
I may not be able to tell of all the fruit of the work, but I can tell of the work being done.