simple things

Last week, I got schooled by my husband and, I have to say, it’s the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time. Because my husband is working on his health, he’s often fixing his own meals; including lots of fruits and vegetables and the occasional frozen entrée.  That leaves the rest of us to eat whatever we want. This past weekend, I stopped at the local grocery store because I was craving a steak; a big, old, tender piece of meat. When I got home, I couldn’t wait to fire up the George Foreman. As the scent of the deliciousness filled the air, my salivary glands kicked into high gear. I couldn’t wait to eat.

When the steak was grilled to medium-rare perfection, I took a bite ready to savor every delectable bit. But instead of the lusciousness I was expecting, I got a mouthful of chew. I was so frustrated. I’d paid good money for this steak; how dare it be chewy. The first thing that came out of my mouth was, “Wow. This meat is really tough.” My husband who had just finished his frozen box dinner looked at me in surprise. “When did you become so picky about your food?”

There went my complaining out the window. He was right. When had I become this finicky? Millions of kids all over the world would have gladly traded their hunger pains for my dinner. And, it got me to thinking, what other things do I complain about as being sub-par. In this case, it was my dinner, but I’m pretty sure food isn’t the only thing I grumble about when things aren’t quite up to my standards.

Like the stop light that seems to last for hours.

Or the kid at the drive-thru who gets my order wrong.

Not enough money in our bank account.

Or the fact that my car isn’t the fastest or coolest on the block.

The t-shirt that doesn’t last as long as I think it should.

And, this one really gets to me, my slow computer.

The list could go on and on; I’m barely scratching the surface. What, indeed, has made me so darn picky and so unappreciative?  For me, what it all boils down to is discontent. I have so much, and, yet, I want so much more. So many gifts are given to me every day that, sometimes, I forget my manners – simple thanks to the Giver of all good things. If I sat down and wrote a list of all my daily blessings, there wouldn’t be enough books in the world to contain them.

The air I breathe.

The sun’s majestic rise and fall.

Spring showers.

The abundance of food in my pantry and freezer.

May flowers.

Happy and healthy kids.

A spouse who supports and encourages me to follow my dreams.

I think you get the point. So, this week, a challenge. The moment you begin to gripe or complain about something because it’s not quite what you wanted, remember the simple things. Simple things that we all take for granted. Simple things that come from the bounty of all the Lord blesses us with each and every day.

Sudden, Dramatic, Complete

Do you ever feel like nothing about life will EVER change that it just keeps going on and on – a pattern or routine that will never be disrupted.  I know I felt like this, especially when I was little.  Life moved so slowly.  I wanted to be taller, or older, able to do things I wasn’t allowed to do at my age.  The days seemed to crawl by. 

That was then, and this is now.  Now that I am older and wiser I try to cherish each day knowing all too well that I will never get it back.  I guess I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit because I’ve realized that  all of a sudden my babies have grown into kids, and I’m left wondering how it happened.  Of course I realize they grow every day, but it happens in such small ways.   It’s hard to see the change taking place before my very eyes because it’s so miniscule.  And I realize that all these small changes add up to one big change – a sudden, dramatic, complete one.   I know I’ve shared this quote before, but I think it’s worth resharing:

Thus God works out His own high purposes slowly as it seems oftentimes, but surely and with unerring wisdom until all things being done, the end is sudden, dramatic, complete.  ~ Cynthia Heald

Back when I was a teacher it seemed like that was what I would always be.  Despite the stress and load of work, I loved it.  Then I left to stay at home with my kids, and, just like that, my teaching days were over.  To this day when fall begins and teachers prepare for the new school year, I miss it; the newness of it all, the camaraderie, the staff, the students.  I miss it all.  And I realize that I will never get that season of life back.   Now that I’m trying to make writing my career, I realize in all likelihood I will never again teach in a classroom.  It makes me sad.  But you know what makes me even sadder?   The fact that I took some of it for granted. 

Another example of taking things for granted happened during my single years.  When I was in college, I fully expected to be married by the time I graduated.  When that milestone came and passed I thought, ‘Well, maybe my mid twenties.’ Those came and went too.  As I got closer to that magic age of 30, I wondered if I would ever be married and have kids of my own.   But God was working on my heart, and I began to realize something.  While there was a large part of me that wished I was married, I would never be able to get those years of being single back.  From then on, I worked hard to appreciate that very special time in my life. 

Once I was married, I realized what a gift I’d been given.   As a single person, I had made some very dear friends.  I had traveled, taken backpacking trips.  I stayed up late when I wanted to, slept in, ate cereal for dinner when I didn’t feel like making anything.  Life was simpler then.  It was all about me; my time, my life.  No one else to be accountable to.   That was a precious time. 

Now, being married and having young kids I try to make each day count.  Yes, the house isn’t as clean as I’d like it to be.  Yes, there are days the kids drive me batty.  Yes, it would be so easy to think, “If only they were a little bit older . . . ,”  But when I catch myself thinking these things I stop and remind myself, they will never be small again.  I will never get these days back.  In fact there are moments when I wish my babies would still be - my babies.  Already I’m beginning to wonder, ‘How did they grow up so fast?’   

I had a dear friend in high school whose mom gave the best advice I’ve ever been given. ‘ Don’t wish any part of your life away.  You will never get it back.  Make the most of each day.  Make each day count.’  Hope this is encouragement for you.  Treasure each day.  Treasure your loved ones.  Treasure the priceless gift of now.  Make every moment count.

Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom.  Psalm 90:12

Bratty and Whiny

Reading a new book called The Story.  In it excerpts of the NIV are carefully crafted together to tell one of the greatest stories of all time.  Really, really interesting to read.  What's come across to me so far is how bratty and whiny the Israelites were.  No matter what they had, it was never enough, never the right thing, never the right time.

The story unfolds with one of their forefathers, Abraham.  God makes great and wonderful promises to him, promises like "through your offspring all nations will be blessed".  And when, by God's leading, Abraham travels to a strange and distant land, God makes a great and wonderful promise once again.  He tells Abraham that someday his descendants will posess this land - a land flowing with milk and honey.  In turn, God promises the same to Issac, Abraham's son, and to Jacob, Abraham's grandson.  With all these promises the nation of Israel is completely confident that God is able to do what he says he will do, right?  Well, not exactly.

Flash forward a few hundred years.  Abraham's descendants are now in  Egypt where they are being mistreated and abused as slaves.  When they cry out for deliverance, God, being the almighty and loving One, hears their cries of distress.  What does he do ?  He acts.  He intervenes.  After all, that's what he promised Abraham, and Issac, and Jacob he would do.  God delivers the Israelites from slavery to go to the land that he once promised to their ancestors. 

Through Moses, their leader, God does amazing things - things never seen before.  He sends plague upon plague to the Egyptians until they practically beg the Israelites to leave.  The Egyptians even load them down with some of their own posessions giving Israel plunder to carry away.  Then, when Pharoah changes his heart and decides to chase after the Israelites, God intervenes with an act that will never be forgotten.  The Red Sea parts.  The Israelites pass through unharmed. But when the Egyptians pursue them the waters crash back together.  Pharoah and all his army are destroyed. 

Just like that the Israelites have experienced the mighty deliverance of God.  So you would think they would be bursting with thankfulness, full of faith, hope, love.   But, after a few weeks, they do what comes natural to most of us - they complain.    They don't have any water.  They don't have food. Why did Moses bring them into the desert - a place where they could starve to death or die of thirst?  They were better off in Egypt, or so they say.   Just three short days after they'd  come safely through the Red Sea, this is how they act.

For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water.  When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter.  So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"  Exodus 15:22-23

Long story short, God provides the water they were crying out for.  Finally, at last, they believe that God is with them.  He is their protector.  He will guide.  He will provide.  And, if they doubt God's guidance, they need only raise their eyes to the horizon.  God's very presence is with them every step of the way -  pillar of cloud by day, a pillar of fire by night.   Unfortunately, that's not the way it happens:

On the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.  In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.  The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt!  There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into the desert to starve this entire assembly to death.  Exodus 16:1-3

Are you kidding me? Really?  Hadn't God provided for them thus far in miraculous ways.  What did they have to worry about?  What did they have to complain about?  But those Israelites were stubborn, hard headed.  They complained about everything;  their circumstances, their situation.  You name it, they complained about it.  There wasn't enough food.  It wasn't the right kind.  They were without water, or the water didn't taste good.  And, as if that weren't enough, when they weren't complaining they were crafting golden calves to worship and bow down to.  What was their problem? 

Yea, those Israelites really had some trust issues.  But when I really stop and think about it, it reminds me of someone else I know.  Me.  I worry about this, I worry about that.  I don't have enough of this, or I have too much of that.  It's rainy when I want it to be sunny.  It's sunny when I want it to be rainy. 

 I can think back to all the times God's provided for me, delivered me, given me my daily bread.  Yet I find myself getting worked up about so much.  God's never lacking in love, so why do I freak out?  The Israelites had their issues, but, sad to say, I can be as bratty as the best of them. 

Well, I'd like to say that in the end the nation of Israel learns their lesson.  But they don't.  Just before God leads them in to take possession of the land he promised to Abraham this is what he has to say to those bratty, whiny, Israelites

During the forty years that I led your through the wilderness, your clothes did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet . . .  I did this so that you might know that I am the Lord your God.

Just because they didn't learn their lesson doesn't mean I can't or that you can't.   The next time you're tempted to worry or be anxious about something, stop and think long and hard about those Israelites.   God may not be guiding you by a pillar of cloud or a big ring of fire, but he's certainly proven himself to be worthy of our trust.  The moral of the story?  Learn to be thankful, not anxious.  And, the next time you're tempted to complain about something, think about those Israelites.  Determine to rise above all the whinyness and bratiness that they could never seem to get over.