Kelly Girl Thinks

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7

Have you ever come across something that led you on a crazy journey of internet numbness? This is that time when you wake up from the searching stupor that you begin questioning your sanity while not buying one thing you looked at for the past few hours. That was where I found myself last year before Christmas.

My oldest and his fiancé (now wife) were going to be here for the holiday season. I wanted to make it fun and special for everyone. I figured if I got cute aprons for us girls to bake cookies in, it would be a sweet memory to store away. How quickly we think we can hop online, find what we’re looking for, and with a little click we can be proud we saved time and gas money. Sounds good in my head, but it seldom works out that way for me.

It just so happened that during my “quick” shopping excursion for Christmas aprons, I came across these funny, graphic t-shirts in the process. I clicked on one, and that’s when the entertainment began! There were so many options that had me chuckling, scratching my head, covering my eyes, and diving deeper. Wouldn’t it be fun to find the perfect one for each member of the family? The best part, in my zoned-out state, I really did find a match for each person…they were perfect! The delusion was strong at this point. I told my wonderful idea to my hubby and said, “What do you think the boys will say?” That was either wisdom or a mistake on my part because silence ensued for a bit until he told me that he would wear one. I had my answer.

You know, it’s funny how I was able to pick out the shirts for each person but couldn’t decide if I really should buy them. If I was going to seek guidance, like I did from my hubby, I probably shouldn’t have debated with myself for as long as I did.

Even though I spent all that time and didn’t buy a single shirt, I got the aprons. They were a hit with my daughter-in-law! By the way, no shirts were needed when there were cookies to devour during that memory making Christmas with all of us together.

Indecision. Self-doubt. Do you ever face that? Even if at one time we were excellent at making decisions swiftly and confidently, indecision can slowly creep up on us without notice. Something traumatic, a change in life circumstances, a single decision that we regret, or even menopause can have us hesitating and questioning our choices. I’m not even talking just about the big life decisions. It could be the simple things we never even used to see as a big deal, but we feel frozen with no clarity when it’s time to simply choose. We can find ourselves spiraling into anxiety. We wonder why our compass is broken and we can’t figure out where we’re going.

I found that when indecision and self-doubt make their way into my life, I can no longer solve problems, I feel weak, and my brain is a jumbled mess. How do we handle it? I’m not positive, but after realizing it was something that sneaked into my life, I decided to see what I could do to make it better. What would give me that confidence again? I started learning about what I could find on the topic.

I read that sometimes, we need to just decide without questioning or looking back after we make the decision. It’s then no longer up for negotiation. No guilt or doubt is permitted! Instead of waiting for confidence to make decisions, make the decisions quickly and with purpose, and the confidence will come.

There were some other things I needed to comprehend. First, I needed to recognize that guidance is important, but there are times when it’s good to trust your own thoughts. Second, it was necessary for me to know that I had the ability to create stability and direction by being decisive. Third, I needed to trust that God was leading and that He didn’t make me a timid person. That was something that came in without his approval. In 2 Timothy 1:7, some translations say He has given us a spirit of a sound mind or sound/good judgment. That tells me that I don’t need to be anxious because the capability is already inside me.

What did that look like to me? How could I start without it being too overwhelming? Games. When it was time to play a game, I wouldn’t overanalyze and contemplate too long during my turn. I would make a decision, and if it lost me points, oh well. I’d learn from it. Did it? Sometimes, but the shocking thing was that more often than before, I was winning! Plus, it was more enjoyable. Not everything is worthy of extreme contemplation. Slowly but surely, I would follow this practice in other areas and see growth. The confidence starts to build. When it starts getting out of whack again, I would see my confidence drop.

I challenge you to not be timid. I’m not saying to be a bulldozer and not put thought into consequences but be more willing to choose. Also, teach your children. Don’t make all the decisions for them. If they want a drink, what color cup do they want? Give the little ones two choices of clothing to wear that would be appropriate for the day. It’s better to teach children there are consequences to their choices when those consequences aren’t life-altering than waiting until they are. This will help build their confidence and teach them resilience because they’ll know how to handle it when a choice doesn’t work out.

Today, be decisive. Be strong. Trust God is leading. I’ll leave you with lyrics from Andy Grammer’s song:

Don’t live your life tryna blend in, stick out
Trust your gut and don’t you get into those doubts
Remember God is like the sun, he always comes out
Just when you think the dark’s here to stay

 

When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.  “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”  And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.  2 Kings 6:15-17

My hubby has issues.  Horses.  He doesn’t understand why anyone would use an unpredictable animal as transportation.  He really can’t comprehend the purpose of riding in circles in an arena either.  I say to him, “Why would anyone put on shoes with wheels attached to the bottom to go in circles in a roller rink?”  Pretty good question, right?  We do some odd things that don’t seem quite right initially.

I have something that’s been churning in my brain for a bit.  It has to do with the day I was teaching my youngest to roller skate.  He was pretty little when he started the roller skating process.  Who am I kidding?  I think “the process” was one time at the roller rink.  He wasn’t really interested.

My supportive hubby was playing the part of encourager as he stood on firm ground in running shoes watching us with a smirk on his face.  I’m not sure, but I think he saw the lack of effort my little one was putting into moving forward.  He was more of a rag doll who got to have a personal chauffeur escort him continuously around the rink.

When it came time for the limbo, I was quite excited!  It certainly wasn’t because I was going to be joining in on the fun; however, it was because I’d be able to give my arm muscles a short rest.  I’d take it!

As the kids lined up to see how low they could go, I thought about how thankful I was for having that time back on the roller rink.  Instead of me being the carefree one, I got to watch my oldest flying past and my youngest hanging on for dear life!  Maybe roller skating wasn’t so odd after all.

Watching the limbo competition and the techniques being used fascinated me.  I noticed three main ways of how the competitors handled themselves.  There was the shuffle over to the limbo bar, close the eyes, and tuck the chin to the chest.  Some were able to coast right through because they tended to be the younger ones who wanted to be like their older siblings. They were short without having a plan of attack and never made it past the first couple rounds.

Another tactic that was implemented was what I call the turtle pose.  These contestants skated forward, then tucked in like a turtle.  They got as small as they could, tucked their head in, and sailed ahead.  There was a few of them left during the final rounds.

The last skater had a whole other way of doing things.  If I remember correctly, there was usually one of them at every limbo competition I could remember.  This skater gracefully built momentum and slid one leg straight out to the side while leaning in the opposite direction.  She kept her eyes wide open to see where she were going so she could adjust her position.  Ladies and gentlemen, this was our winner!

How had I never noticed this before?  Possibly, I wasn’t as “mature” back then and was thinking about the slushie that was waiting for me.  Who knew that going to a skating rink could bring about such revelation?  The limbo held the answers to adult life!  Well, some of them anyway.

Don’t we see people living today in these three categories?  We have those going into situations without a plan of attack.  They’re just shuffling along blindly, waiting to see their outcome.

There are those in the turtle pose who do have a plan but only get so far because their heads are down and don’t have vision of the road ahead.  They’re so wrapped tight that trying something new and having flexibility are nowhere in sight.  These people don’t tend to have longevity.

Then, there are the winners.  How did they win?  They had to stick a leg out.  They had to lean.  The winners had to have their eyes wide open.

Is it possible that we won’t advance to the next level if we don’t stick a leg out?  Perhaps this means that we need to get uncomfortable and put ourselves into new situations.  What about leaning?  Are we the tree that breaks because it won’t bend?  Will we win without our eyes open?  We could be missing the big picture right in front of us like Elisha’s servant did.

I challenge you to think about the way you’ve always done something. Do you keep falling short?  Me too!  If everyone shied away from doing something that didn’t seem quite right initially, what great things would have been missed?

Let’s stop shuffling through life with our eyes closed and come out of that tight ball we’ve been using to just get by.  Let’s ask for our eyes to be open so that we may see!

Today, see the protection surrounding you, see the love offered to you, and know that I’m cheering you on!  You got this.  You’re already on the winning team, so don’t cower, instead see the vision God has been waiting to show you.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Ephesians 4:2

When the weather is not so pretty outside, we’re forced to come up with things to do inside.  For me, this is not a problem.  It seems like there’s always something waiting to be accomplished.  I had been running around getting everything tidy in the house when I came across two pieces of mail that needed shredded.  I was on a roll so straight to the shredder I went.

Since I want to be very clear about the paper monster’s capabilities, I’m looking over the little pictures and words on it right now.  It says I can fit twelve sheets of paper at a time.  Not only that, I have the option of inserting credit cards, CDs, and DVDs into that persnickety, temperamental piece of office equipment.

Junk mail should not be an issue.  I checked.  Hazards are hands, tools, ties, aerosol products, hair, and babies.  Yes, babies.  I had mail.  Mail should be a completely legitimate item to disappear into the cavern of shredded paper.

The way I was looking at things, if I would just drop one envelope after another to be gobbled up, I’d save time and be able to move on to the next item of business.  What better way to accomplish my task quickly and efficiently?  I wasn’t trying to feed it a tool, tie, or spraying it with an aerosol product.  I wasn’t trying to shred my hand, hair, or a child in it.  It was surely under twelve pieces of paper in my hand.  Let’s go!

It started out just fine until it decided my product was not appetizing.  It closed its mouth faster than my son with peas heading in his direction.  It was stuck.  Now, I was in a bind because I couldn’t seem to get it to go down or come back up.  Since I wasn’t allowed to shred my hand, I was also trying to be safe about this little bind I got myself into.

My hubby heard what was going on.  Have you ever seen the Whack-A-Mole game at an arcade?  That was him.  Shoot!  He heard.  That made me more determined to get it fixed before he made his way to where I was.  So, what did I do with all my patience?  Stuck another piece of paper in there.  Guess what… it worked…for about a second.  Now I had more stuck.

This was supposed to be a ten second job, max.  Now, I have my hubby leaning over me saying, “I think it’s stuck.”  You would not believe how much I appreciated his insightful comment.  He informed me that it would need torn apart.  How did this happen?  Ok, maybe that was a teensy bit my fault.  I felt it was good time management not to open the envelope.  Both the shredder and my hubby didn’t agree.  I see their point.

Most of the time, my hubby is pretty patient with me on my less-than-patient situations I find myself in.  A word keeps popping into my mind.  Long-suffering.  In some Bible translations this replaces patience.  As my hubby gave a long-suffering sigh, I childishly responded, “I didn’t ask for your help.  I can do it myself.”  I wasn’t really serious, yet it came out of my mouth.

My shredder debacle was a pretty lighthearted situation where we were able to find humor pretty quickly.  However, that isn’t always the case.  What about with you?

I like to take things that happen in my life and ask myself what lessons I could learn from it.  Also, is there anything that I can find humorous with it.  First lesson:  I’m not three years old, so I shouldn’t act like it.  I don’t need to do everything myself.  Second lesson:  Open the mail before shredding.  A little bit of patience from the beginning could save a whole lot of time in the long run.  Third lesson:  Don’t shred babies.  Come to think of it, maybe that meant not to allow children near the shredder.  Maybe my picture should be there beside the little one!

You know, the dictionary says that long-suffering means having or showing patience in spite of troubles, especially those caused by other people.  Is this a strong area of mine?  Do I appreciate it in others?  What about you?

Having called that shredder persnickety, I looked that word up in the dictionary too.  It was an adjective placing too much emphasis on trivial or minor details; fussy.  Hmmm

I hope you can learn a lesson or two from my experience.  I’m going to suggest that we read Ephesians 4:2 a couple (or a couple hundred) times today.  Then, maybe again tomorrow.  How about the next day?  You get what I’m saying.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.  Psalm 62:5

When the body stops cooperating with the wants of the owner, it’s time for a break.  My mind was telling me to get up the hill to the car as my legs were saying, “Oh no you don’t.  We’re going on strike!  You haven’t done so much as a squat for a couple of months when you decided to ‘squat’ while playing in a creek for a few hours?  Ridiculous!  What were you thinking?  I’ll tell you what you were thinking.  Nothing, nada, zero, zilch.  Now, after that abuse, you expect us to get you up that hill, no, that mountain?”

Yes, these are the conversations that might take place in my head.  Please don’t send this to be analyzed.  Those legs of mine were being quite dramatic.  It was a slight incline and a very short distance to our vehicle.  They sure were complaining though.  I told the guys to go ahead of me and grab the food out of the back.  I was right behind them.

This gave me a couple seconds to continue that conversation that had been happening with my legs.  It was necessary for me to give them a good talking to.  After looking towards the vehicle with a bit of despair, I told them that there wasn’t a chance that we were going to continue standing there looking out of shape.  I figured even if I had to hobble slowly up the hill, I was getting my lunch!  Those legs were going to get a move on.

Apparently, I was a teensy bit out of shape…maybe.  Anyhow, once I reached the vehicle, I had a decision to make.  I could go back to the cold, dark creek or bask in the beautiful beams of the sun while being washed in warmth.  Usually, I’d want the adventure of heading back with the family.  That day, I gave into the whining legs and comfy vehicle.

The sun was shining straight onto my seat and it was a perfect December day in North Carolina.  I had a drink, snacks, and pen and paper with my bare feet poking out the window.  It was so incredibly peaceful, and the absolute happiness bubbling out of me was huge.  It was one of those times that it didn’t manifest in energy, but contentment.

I was breathing in the fresh air, watching the trees directly in front of me, and just loving life.  The quiet was nice and refreshing!  There I was with God wrapping me in a blanket of love.  Maybe I was escaping life for a while, but it sure did feel wonderful.

Sitting there in complete relaxation I realized I had a companion with me in my bliss.  There was a dog who had joined me.  We had an understanding.  We didn’t talk, we didn’t touch, we just shared space.  Me in the car.  The dog right beside me on the ground.

We shared that contentment together.  There was a bond that took place that transcended words.  We were just a human and a dog who were enjoying being close to one another without needing the “filler” of words and touch.  That dog would actually back off when someone would come talk to me and my focus turned to that person.  Very rarely would he be coaxed into a pet from someone.  He enjoyed that silence with me.

There’s a Spanish Proverb that says to open your mouth only if what you are going to say is more beautiful than the silence.  After feeling how that dog was choosing to be there because he simply wanted to share his space, silence was even more beautiful.  He wasn’t looking for anything else.  That dog wasn’t there for what I could give him.  He radiated such peace without treats, chatter, and petting.

I was feeling so very special and privileged to have this calm company with me as my legs relaxed and I enjoyed the time reclining there until that dog went back to his owner.  It was the best feeling!

It got me thinking that maybe I had found something God would want me to do with Him way more often than I do.  Prayer and listening in great expectation for words from Him is so important in communicating with God, but maybe, just maybe, wanting to be near Him without looking for anything except His presence would be quite a gift we should be offering more often.

Do I do that enough?  How often am I just inviting God into my space just because of who He is?  There are so many times that we go through something difficult and rely on God’s helping hand.  That’s great; we can trust Him!  Now, think about how beautiful it is to get quiet and simply share our space and be in contentment and peace with absolute joy simply because He’s there.

I challenge you to let all your needs and expectations go today and welcome God into your space.  Oh, what rest that would be, wrapped in God’s blanket of love!

I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.  Ezekiel 34:26

While planning on a little road trip next weekend for, what we think, is the final college visit for my oldest, got me thinking about the first part of my honeymoon.  We won’t be far from that very spot!  It was twenty-one years ago our married adventure began.

We stayed at a sweet little place where we could sit outside and enjoy the view of the Blue Ridge Mountains while drinking the delicious peach tea that was waiting for us when we arrived.  How nice it was to recuperate from the wedding excitement. Mostly, we drove around looking at the beautiful area, but eventually we did explore the Luray Caverns close by.

All this reminiscing led my mind back to the caverns.  There was something among all the stalactites and stalagmites that my brain was getting tangled up in.  I kept going back to them.  What was it that I was to learn from that underground formation?  It felt like there was a treasure that I couldn’t find.  I went back to their website to see if anything popped out to me.  Sure enough, things were starting to come together.

At luraycaverns.com, the process of creating caverns is described in this way:  As rainwater seeps through decaying vegetation in the soil, it picks up diluted carbonic acid. The acidified water percolates through limestone, dissolving and eroding layers along the way. It descends into lower levels of the earth and leaves huge chambers.

Calcium carbonate enters the cave and releases carbon dioxide. Over time, what starts as slow seepage and thin deposits of crystallized calcite becomes the massive forms that you see in Luray Caverns today. These formations continue to grow at the rate of one cubic inch every 120 years.

Thinking how someone could view the caverns as either being scary, dark, damp, and unpleasant or something of great and intricate beauty, I decided this is where we were going to have some real truths uncovered for us.

Let’s start at the beginning as the process described.  Rainwater.  Since rain is a major part of our water cycle, I think we can agree on the importance of it.  We need it to survive; it’s essential.

When rain comes down, I think of it washing the old away and providing fresh.  The blessing of rain falling reminds me of showers of blessings that are poured onto us. Even though we initially appreciate them, sometimes things can take a bit of a turn.

I  learned that when rainwater seeps through decaying vegetation in the soil, it picks up diluted carbonic acid.  Let’s just think about that for a moment.  On the ground we have something that is no longer the healthy, living vegetation it used to be.  It’s being broken down.  That pure rainwater is now getting mixed in with garbage…hmm.

Of course I had to look up pure carbonic acid and found out it’s some strong stuff that will kill!  Imagine my surprise when I also learned that solutions of carbonic acid are safe and in beverages.  That’s a little confusing to me, but lucky for us, the diluted part in the process we’re talking about means it’s in low concentration.  Digging into that, has me making some connections.

A blessing falls down like rain.  This could be anything.  It falls fresh on us…positive situation here.  What happens though?  It starts streaming through our rotten vegetation (the past, the old thoughts, the negative experiences, the fear, the shame, the condemnation) that we believed was disposed of.

This is the way I see it.  The rainwater (the blessings) seeps through decaying vegetation while picking up diluted carbonic acid (our junk).  Could this be where our mind starts receiving something that was not intended?

Next, the acidified water percolates through limestone, dissolving and eroding layers along the way.  Makes me think the limestone could be our heart.

Then, it descends into lower levels of the earth and leaves huge chambers.  Now we’re in our inner most being.  Could this represent our soul?  It’s quite a process we’re seeing here.  It wouldn’t happen overnight.

Finally, the calcium carbonate begins its work.  In those places that were hollowed out, new formations are seen in the form of stalactites and stalagmites due to this build up.  I was agreeing with this line of thinking but reached a snag.

How did we go from our emptiness and hollowed out inside to something beautiful?  The blessing started out as beautiful but changed as it got to our inner most being, right?

We could say that those deposits were hardened pieces of us.  They could be like scar tissue building up and causing more and more problems.  It’s sad to think of beginnings turning into such a mess!  I know I’m surely not inspired by that.

Here’s the problem with that being my final conclusion.  The inside of the cavern wasn’t ugly, it was beautiful and amazing.  It was like artwork from a master with the majestic formations, the gorgeous pool of water, and I can’t forget about the stalactites’ singing!

So, how did the ending go from one that was going downhill rapidly to one of beauty?  One word…light.  They filled the space with light and music.

There’s our answer.  It isn’t over.  Our stories aren’t finished.  Our situation isn’t hopeless.  Our big, gaping holes inside have the potential for joy and awe.  Only if we allow Light in.  How often do we take the gift and leave the Giver at the door?  The gift will surely turn into something it wasn’t meant to if that is how we receive.

Are you feeling like you have big, gaping holes inside today that are filling up with more negativity and garbage?  Have you given up hope for the world around you?

Turn on the Light!  Invite the Giver of great and wondrous things in so you can be awed at how He can transform the view.  God can take what was garbage in the dark and change it into a piece of art in the light.

Really see what type of work He has done on the inside but don’t get stuck there.  It’s time to climb out of the cavern knowing the beauty and light that’s now within.  With the Holy Spirit shining, you can’t keep that light to  yourself.  You are needed in this world.  He who is in you is needed to brighten the world, so share!  You’re a vital part of the process.  The process that began the downward spiral is not complete when kept to yourself.

There’s a warning that comes with this challenge.  It will be hard facing the world.  As I came out of the Luray Caverns, My eyes needed to adjust.  That’s absolutely understandable.  What I don’t want you to do is turn around and hide out again.  You’re needed.  You’re important.  You have too much to offer!

I can’t seem to leave it at that.  There’s one more thing that keeps begging to get out.  Blessings are interchangeable with words in this writing.  Are others’ words seeping through that decaying vegetation causing some issues in you today?  Just think about it.  It’s a key to a treasure that has been hidden in those dark places.

Will you see the scary, dark, damp, and unpleasant or something of great and intricate beauty today?  Your choice!

Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!  Luke 12:22-24

“What is that noise?” asked my youngest a couple months ago.

There was a crazy banging sound coming from outside, and it was time for an investigation to ensue.  I figured that the wind must have caused something to flap back and forth creating the ruckus.  I’d take care of it and get back to my day.

What a surprise I received after realizing the flapping wasn’t created from the wind at all.  As I was going down the steps under the house, I had a direct line of sight to a struggling bird.  It definitely didn’t belong in our gutter, and it was stuck!

That poor bird was in a panic, and my first thought was how it might not survive the stress it was under even if it wasn’t physically hurt.  I knew the quicker we acted, the better the chances were of it getting through the ordeal.

With eyes as big as saucers, it took my oldest a second to understand what he was seeing.  The next thing I knew he was taking action.  Since he’s taller than me, it was up to him to get the bird.  I wasn’t sure what response the bird would have, but I was pretty sure it wouldn’t say, “Oh, sweet human, so good of you to come to my rescue.  Now that I know you’ve arrived, let me be very still and allow you to help me.”

Having that thought run through my head, I made my oldest grab a pair of gloves before trying to get the bird.  I handed him the scissors, and he had quite the job trying to maneuver the little one out of the gutter while cutting around netting that the poor thing got caught in.  I didn’t even know there was any netting there!

I was relieved when I saw him bringing the bird down.  It was my turn to take over the scissors while Mr. Hero kept holding the bird.  There was quite the tangled mess to work through, and I knew it was going to take a few minutes to get it all sorted out.

Looking back, the bird probably would have preferred silence as I was working, but instead it got a one-sided conversation by me.  I didn’t even realize I was treating it as I would a spooked horse until thinking back on it later.

It amazed me how the bird responded to me with such kindness and respect.  That bird gave me it’s full attention with such dignity!  I mean, it was a bit trapped, but still…we could all learn something from that.

Those tiny eyes locked onto me while I snipped, unraveled, and kept talking in a slow, quiet voice.  I think the reassurances were for me as much as for the bird.

I kept thinking how that bird was in shock because it wasn’t even trying to move as I was face to face cutting around its beak and feet.  It just kept watching me and letting me maneuver it however I needed to.  I’ll never forget the focus it felt like I was receiving.  I can still see those eyes!

When all of the netting was removed from the bird, I directed my oldest to an area that wasn’t completely out in the open.  I told him to gently put the bird on the grass and walk away.  Honestly, I thought it was all too much for the bird by its lack of movement.  It seemed to have completely given up any type of fight, but I was hoping that once we gave it space, it would eventually come around.

Mr. Hero knelt on the ground and opened his hands to set the bird down.  Before the bird even touched the ground, we had liftoff, startling both of us humans!  What just happened?  It took no time at all to recover; it just started flying directly from his hands!  How could it have gone from completely calm to moving with mighty speed?

I got to thinking that there just might be some pretty good lessons in our adventure that day.  First, there really isn’t anything good that can come from worrying.  Most of the time what we’re worrying about doesn’t ever happen.  If we do find ourselves in a predicament, do we really want to use what we’ve come up with as the final solution?

The bird made me realize that God can take a situation that could have ended up with completely different results and have the perfect solution lined up without any help at all from humans and our worries.  If He could make sure that we were home, heard the bird, were able to free it, and that it didn’t suffer any injuries with how badly it was trapped and struggling, don’t you think He lines up some pretty good solutions?

Do you want to trust your worrying to get you out of tricky situations or God’s unlimited mercy and grace?  I think I’d prefer to go with the One who is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent.  Sounds like a solid plan to me, and makes me think of the Quecreek Mine Rescue from 2002 and everything God already had in place.

The second lesson was recognizing that we can survive the stress we find ourselves going through.  That bird was stronger than I realized.  We are too.

Finally, I can’t forget those eyes looking at me during the rescue.  What seemed like absolute focus.  Lesson number three…keep the focus off the problem and on the rescuer. Our Rescuer. I challenge you to do that today.

And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.”  Genesis 1:20

We’ve been living on the water for eight months now, and I’m just as excited today as I was the first day to see the creatures that are near us.  When we first moved in, I used to watch the majestic eagles on a regular basis.  I’m not seeing them as much now, but what are showing up haven’t disappointed me.  It’s so special to wake up to a seagull’s laugh or watch a shorebird flying by with a tasty snack.

Focusing on the water brings me great peace; although, my family gets quite startled when it has brought out some major excitement too.  The first time I saw dolphins right in front of our house, I sure scared my hubby and boys with an exuberant response.  I couldn’t help it!  Today, I looked out and saw a turtle swimming by.  How amazing is that?

My oldest loves to fish.  He will catch something, then say to me, “Do you see why I don’t swim in this water?  I know what’s living there.”  Well, thanks a lot Mr. Cautious.  Why don’t you ruin it for the rest of us?  (I say that in the most loving way.)

I took his completely logical thoughts and made them my own until one day the call of the water was just too much.  Having carefully watched person after person surviving the summer pastime of water play, I figured there was enough room for God’s creatures AND me.

A quick saltwater baptism one day made my determination to enjoy that huge swimming pool right outside our door a must.  Yesterday, armed with floats for enjoying, a rope to not be carried away, and water shoes just in case my oldest was right, I was ready for some fun!  Because my youngest was feeling wild and adventurous, he joined me.

I made my way down the ladder into water that felt like it belonged in a bathtub.  So far, so good.  I got situated on the float and watched my cohort break into a grin.  This was great!  We were such risk-takers that we decided to forgo the rope to have a little more freedom.  We’d let the gentle current slowly take us a little ways before we’d make our way back to the starting point.

To advise my youngest, just in case he decided to get nervous, I passed on my knowledge.  If he was struggling, stand up.  It was low tide.  Also, I told him to shuffle his feet in case there were any rays on the sandy bottom.  It gives them time to get out of the way, so they don’t get stepped on.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t positive this was true.

Once we were in there for a bit without any fins circling around us, my bravery was almost out of control.  I took off my shoes!  Summertime joy was surrounding me.  When it was my turn for the inner tube, I was spinning in circles and living life to the fullest.  It was awesome!

There was only one problem.  Something touched my leg!  I pulled them up and paddled quickly away from that spot.  A little while later, it was back!  Don’t worry though because my superhero of a son saved me.  He informed me that I was feeling the plants that were growing from the bottom since it was so shallow.  Umm…there weren’t any sea monsters trying to wrap their tails around my legs and drag me away.  I still didn’t like those plants touching me.  I’d jump and giggle while my youngest rolled his eyes and tried not to laugh.

I learned a few things.  When things are murky, it doesn’t always mean you should just sit back and watch everyone else live life around you, waiting for things to become perfectly clear.  There are times we need to take a step before we know which direction we should go, even if we can’t see the bottom.  There’s nothing wrong with shuffling your feet occasionally if that’s what’s going to get you to move!

Today, take this into consideration…if God created the living creatures in the water and the birds in the sky by just a word, don’t you think He’s capable of keeping you from getting carried away by the currents you face in life?  Come on!  He made the water and the sky!  Let God be your rope today.  That’s a rope I never want to forgo.

By the way, don’t let someone else’s opinion keep you from experiencing great things…even if it does sound logical, it may not be right for you.

He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” John 9:25

Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. Acts 9:18-19

Something happened to me the other day that disgusted me but also got me thinking. This situation has been percolating in my mind for a bit. The working of our thoughts can be an interesting thing. Mine might lean a little on the weird side rather than the interesting, but there you have it.

Certain times, thoughts are rattling around in my brain and firing off quicker than I can make sense of them! Occasionally, they’ll come and go faster than I can even jot down. Those thoughts are usually gone and will not return, unlike this past time.

Quite often, something will happen around me, and I connect it to a lesson to be learned. Every once in a while, those thoughts sit with me, and I’m not quite understanding which way to look at them. I could argue one side against another in my own brain. These times are more complicated than those that go in and out quicker than I can process. Any psychologists out there, please don’t look at that too closely!

Let me explain it like this. Have you ever been looking at a seemingly normal object when you see features of a face? It could be an outlet in the house or a cloud in the sky. Did you know there’s a name for that? Pareidolia. I admit that mine can be quite silly. As I let my mind free to experience its creative side, it’s amazing the things I come up with.

When my youngest was little, we’d put his brother on the school bus and go for a walk that was filled with quite the adventures! There would be dinosaurs all around us one minute and an alligator watching us from the bayou the next. Yes, logs we’ll do that. They were never scary and often would cause us to giggle.

Just like we’d get creative on our walks, a different part of me seems to get creative with the things I see around me. I’d get the boys rolling their eyes as I was coming up with all kinds of stories as to why people were doing the things they were doing. I’m telling you, you have to be careful at the conversations you might hear when eavesdropping! Well, I guess if you don’t actually hear the conversation, it can’t be considered eavesdropping, right? When I knew their names, it really blew the boys away. By blowing them away, I mean I was fearful that the hot air might actually do that.

The crazy thing is that when I tell you these stories I write, no creativity is needed on my part. I seem to attract some goofy happenings. Now, after all my ramblings, we’re back to the part where a lesson connects to something I’ve seen. Does any of this really have to deal with pareidolia? What was my point? See, good example of the workings of my mind. The crazy thing…I’m quite a logical person normally. I’m a list and orderly kind of girl! Except in my thoughts apparently. Sidetracked again. Anyhow, there is a story.

It’s been getting warmer and warmer in the mornings. The sun has been beautiful and bright…and hot! I’ve been taking the pup for a walk, but we’re both panting by the time we get back home. Scratch that. The pup is panting and I’m simply sweating! Using the logical side of my brain, I figured it would be better to get out the door earlier than what we’ve been. It was 6:30 in the morning when my “incident” took place.

The pup did his business and I had to cross under the house to throw it away. Paying zero attention to my surroundings, I made it to the garbage when I stepped on something. That’s an odd feeling pinecone I thought. I looked down, and it took me a few moments to process what I had stepped on. Ewww, Hubby, seriously? How did you lose your bait on the cement? The poor thing!

Since I was apparently walking around in some sort of stupor up until that point, the fog cleared from my eyes and I looked around in horrified disbelief. There were minnows everywhere! They weren’t in water anymore! Even stranger, how did I pass through them without seeing a thing? How did the pup not get curious? I ran upstairs and told my hubby of the breakout. When I was able to form a thought at that early hour, I figured a raccoon came in and was thinking he reached the jackpot of buffets.

Later, the puzzle was solved. The raccoons were found innocent and it was determined the minnows did it to themselves. They jumped out! Rookie mistake on my hubby’s part. Now he has a great system that prevents the traumatic experience from happening again. There was apparently a reason, besides the heat, we were setting out on our journey so early. Many of the minnows were able to be saved. Yes, even the ones who thought they were better off out of the water.

Can I just chalk this up to a hiccup in my morning routine and move on? For some reason I couldn’t. I kept thinking there was a lesson in there somewhere. Instead of looking for a face in a tree, I was trying to see the lesson in the situation. I had two conflicting opinions. First, when we jump before it’s time, we don’t have the necessities to sustain us. Second, if we don’t make the move, we’d be stuck forever. I could argue both of these and it just brought more confusion. Confusion certainly isn’t right.

I figured if I’d start writing my thoughts down, maybe there’d be a revelation in there somewhere. I needed discernment in specifically how this was to apply to me since my thoughts kept going back to that morning. It kept coming back up. Was that God giving me a nudge to keep searching?

When I was writing, I realized that there are times we do have to make a move. The minnows jumped without knowing where they were going. I needed to start writing without knowing where this writing would be going. Everything doesn’t need to be figured out before starting. That makes sense. Since some of the minnows had a very negative outcome, I was curious about that other side of jumping too early. Maybe it’s simply about patience while moving forward.

Those thoughts are valid, but do you know what the startling conclusion I had that changed everything for me? I had two pieces of scripture pop into my head while I was writing. They took the attention from the minnows and put it on me during that situation. How often are we focusing on the wrong thing? It wasn’t so amazing that the minnows jumped out, it was that the pup and I were blind and never saw them when they were surrounding us!

Is that something you can relate to? Have you ever been blind to something that was right in front of you? Maybe there’s something right now that you’re needing to see. It’s there, but you’re blind to it. How can you know if it’s invisible, right? That’s a difficult question. I don’t have all the answers, but I know that just as I searched through writing this that I found my answer, I think you’ll find yours too.

I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m not finished with this lesson. After learning the story wasn’t about the minnows, it was about my blindness, I believe I need to open my eyes to something right in front of me. I hope that when my eyes are open, I’m able to jump since God has been waiting. When He’s involved, I know I won’t be landing on the concrete.

What is it that you’ve been blind to that’s now being pointed out? Once you have your eyes open, you can’t ignore it anymore. I believe in you. I know that there’s a strength in you to take the steps necessary to deal with those eyes being open. I’m excited for you! Don’t be afraid of what’s to come. Be bold and embrace the journey as it unfolds!

If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Galations 6:3

As we were preparing to launch our kayaks today, I was excited about our bay and creek adventure that was ahead. We’ve had mix success in this new world on the water that we’re embracing. Without being very knowledgeable about all things water sports, some research needed to be done.

A class was taken online, and I went over safety about a thousand times with my boys. I tried…with my teenage boys…to talk safety. Anyhow, who knew we needed more than a kayak, a paddle, and a lifejacket? After all those talks, I think they began using “it’s for safety purposes” to their advantage. Their father got in on it too. For example, a GPS was needed instead of a compass. Fine. Really though, I think they wanted the fish finder that just happened to have a GPS with it!

What was the best way to be prepared for this salt life? Having people with previous experience sharing their knowledge of course! Although, I’m wondering if there wasn’t some wish list items that appeared as necessity items. I think they all were in cahoots.

The first ramp that was made to launch the kayak was out of scrap lumber, and it was a little heavy, awkward, and needed some improvement. The big trial was a few weeks ago. Everything was ready and our lifejackets were on. My youngest had previous experience with kayaks, and he wanted to go first.

Let me tell you, it’s quite a new concept of having neighbors with front row seats for the show! The entertainment was quite spectacular. It consisted of action and suspense with a few bloopers thrown in for laughs. They got that piece of wood slid over the sea wall, down went the kayak, then it was time to move the kayak down to the dock for boarding. That kind of worked…more or less. My son was in the water being tossed by the waves when he made the announcement it was too rough out. He did learn something!

When it was time to bring the kayak out, I quietly slipped out of my lifejacket and cowardly snuck back to the house. It wasn’t as easy to bring the kayak back up the ramp. I didn’t want to get in the way or have my opinions slip out at an inopportune time.

Take two was the next day. It was a fun paddling trip! We stayed out the perfect amount of time and enjoyed without anyone landing in the water. It was energizing trying something new and seeing success! Getting used to our kayaks was our goal for the day, and we accomplished that with perfectly calm waters.

I sent the three guys out fishing for the next trip. They explored a creek and had a blast. They didn’t catch any fish but pulled up some blue crabs. I filed that information away and encouraged something different to be done with that ramp.

That brings us to yesterday. We decided to have a trial run with the new and improved PVC pipe ramp. Thank heavens for wonderful people willing to help figure out these oh-so-important challenges in life! Guess what? It worked smoothly and easily! We figured it was time for another trip on the water, which led to today’s excursion. Since we knew where there were crabs from their fishing experience, I knew what we were going to do.

Although entertainment value went down, the process of getting on the water was a much smoother one. Well, there was the issue of my uncontrollable laughter due to my hubby’s struggle of getting from the ladder into the kayak. Don’t worry, he made it. Kind of. No, he made it.

It was a calm and beautiful morning with the seagulls laughing, dragonflies darting about, terns looking for food, egrets sailing above, and the marsh grasses whispering in the light breeze. We divided up and found our spots. After dropping our strings into the water, we waited. Before long, the tug on the line came. We slowly brought the line up, and the crab was caught. It was a great start! Several were put back to grow some more; however, we got plenty for a feast.

Challenges certainly found a way of working into our day. Number one, those crabs were stubborn! They liked to use their claws to latch onto the net. They’d tangle themselves up, and we’d have to work a puzzle to get them out. At least they didn’t get us! Number two, the paddle back home was quite interesting. The wind and current were working against us. The water was no longer smooth as glass. Up the kayak would go, down it would splash.

What was a calm, relaxing ride to our spot turned into a focused and determined one on the way home. It wasn’t the motion that bothered me, it was the strength that was needed to move forward! It was 45 minutes later, but I pulled up to the ladder as my kayak bobbed up and down in the water. Oh, sweet survival, I made it! The boys were all smiles with my oldest completely stoked. He informed me that the water I was leaving was the best to kayak in. Safety boys. Safety first!

After grabbing a bite to eat, I collapsed onto the floor beside the dining table. I wasn’t making it any farther. I informed them that I was onto their plan, they were trying to kill me. They looked at me with shocked expressions and protests coming out of their mouths. Nothing registered. There I stayed, sound asleep, for about two hours.

I had a better outlook after getting back up this afternoon. I recognized I wasn’t really in any danger, but I needed to get into better shape. Those crabs better be good.

My conclusion from today is that challenges are a part of life. I might even conclude that they can be healthy! If nothing was a challenge, how would we find satisfaction in overcoming struggles or accomplishing a difficult task? It seems to me that what comes easily doesn’t develop the character that helps us become the people God intended for His children to be. It reminds us that someone bigger needs to be in the lead.

Honestly, I think it’s easy to crumble under pressure even when we rely on God. We’re human and giving up control is uncomfortable. When there isn’t any reliance on God, I’m afraid we’re just deceiving ourselves. I would hate to see a hurdle placed before someone who just can’t jump it on their own. I don’t won’t anyone to face that terrible pain when it isn’t necessary. The sad fact that people who’ve denied Jesus will.

Today, try looking at challenges in a new way. Try thinking that they aren’t something set before you to defeat you but to give you the opportunity to make a choice. The choice can be of reliance not on your own ability, but on that of God’s. You are never alone, things aren’t ever hopeless, and there’s a great feast waiting at the end of the challenge! Mine just happens to include some blue crab.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

It’s been a time of change for my family, and even though we’d been settling into our new home in a new state, it’s given us a crash course on stepping out of our comfort zones. We never imagined the changes that were still to come! One of my first appointments scheduled in our new area was for the pup’s annual checkup. I was scrolling through a list in my head the morning of the appointment.

Did I have his medical records? Check.

What about remembering everything I needed to tell the doctor and the questions I had? Of course not; that’s where my notes would come into play.

I did schedule the first appointment of the day, didn’t I? Yes, pretty sure.

Do I have the stool sample? Ugg! Not something I wanted to think about first thing in the morning, but that’s life.

I had the address, right? Yep.

Oh, the dog! It might be kind of important to grab him.

Our appointment with a new veterinarian had me a little nervous because I didn’t know what to expect. Even though he wasn’t a perfect pup at his old veterinarian’s office, I pretty much knew how he’d behave. We’d been through the process many times before.

After those first couple checkups when he was just a little thing, and quite fearful, that pup learned the veterinarian’s office was a place to absorb love and good feelings from all.

He’d get through the door quite politely, and then he’d get a view of the high desk off to the side. Knowing that there was someone behind the impossibly high barrier just waiting to see him, he’d become Tigger from Winnie the Pooh. Bouncing up and down he’d go, trying to get a good visual of his favorite person there.

Although he’d take about ten seconds to get himself under control, he would proceed to put on quite the show of an engaged, mannerly pup. Now he was faced with a new situation with people he didn’t know.

This new situation could play out in a few different ways. That’s why I wanted an appointment when it wasn’t very crowded inside. I was wondering if I’d get the out-of-control, bouncy pup who forgot he was now four years old and was capable of better behavior, or would I get the tail tucked, afraid, shaking, and not wanting to be seen pup?  There was a smidgeon of hope I’d get a calm, controlled, well-mannered, and confident dog. That was my dreaming big picture.

There might have been a slight argument with the GPS, making us arrive without much time to spare. This was after leaving fifteen minutes early, I might add. That sarcastic voice which likes to tell me what all I do wrong isn’t right all the time, even if my hubby thinks it’s operator error. She gets something wrong but still acts all inconvenienced when she needs to begin her “recalculating.” She’s the one who took me to a field!

Anyhow, after finally making it, I left the pup in the car so I could fill out the paperwork. Having finished, I took a deep breath, thought good thoughts, asked God to please help him not act like an idiot, and went to get him. He did his business and became a very attentive dog. I began gaining a little confidence for that appointment.

I opened the door to the office, and he politely waited for me to enter before following behind. Hmm…so far, so good. What was he going to do when he saw the tall desk that was similar to the other office? Well, he was going to completely ignore it of course. Alrighty then. We sat in the waiting room for some time before being called back to the exam room. Just enough time to test his control, I thought.

First up, was a cat walking around freely right in front of us. I was quite curious to see his reaction to this entertaining view. As he was sitting there with his head high and chest out, he paid no attention to the cat. Zero. I thought that was rather interesting.

Next came a dog scurrying out of the back to chase after the cat. Well, that even got my attention. Nope, nothing. “Oh, the peasants they allow into this office,” he seemed to say. Wait, what? You need to get off your high horse sir!

We even had a lady come in for one thing but got sidetracked when seeing Mr. Dignified sitting there. I thought, we’re done for. He’s going to get excited now; however, he sat there regally while waiting for me to give him the command to say hello. Shocked is a good word to describe feelings as he calmly approached her, sat down, and let her love on him a bit. Then, he gave her a head nod while resuming his place beside me. I’m telling you, that’s what it seemed like! Whose dog was this?

When we were called into the office, I was pretty much over my nerves, but was incredibly intrigued to watch the next act. I noticed a second of hesitation, but after a small sigh, he took everything like a champ while maintaining his dignity. Impressive.

The shots were administered, and we were wrapping up the appointment when he turned his back to all of us and put his nose about three inches from the door. He stood there. I think I heard him mutter, because he wouldn’t dare say something out loud that could be used against him, “I am finished here. Please open the door my servant.”

I guess I got my answer about how he’d behave. He was playing the royal part of prince for the appointment. The third scenario I hoped would happen came true, even though he was a bit snotty with it all. Seriously though, I was impressed. He had manners, was under control, and even showed love to that sweet lady who took the time to pet him.

Looking back, my pup was teaching me a lesson. We can handle new and difficult situations with confidence. It isn’t because we know we’re going to say everything right. We probably won’t. We might miss the mark. When I’ve spoken with what I know was from a heart of love, people have still taken offense. Some have simply ignored.

With all the opinions flying and people dissecting everything said, it might be easier to not say anything. Seems like that’s what the devil wants. Just like my pup knew that I was there if things took a wrong turn, I know that Someone is watching out for me too. Someone with far greater power than a GPS.

Those negative outcomes stuck with me, but the pup is helping me learn that we can’t put our memories on current situations. It stunts our growth, and we miss too many opportunities to connect with and encourage others. More times than not, those words I stepped out to say actually helped someone.

In a time when chaos seems to be reigning, an overwhelming feeling of helplessness, or even hopelessness, can take over when we start living in fear of how our words will be taken. That’s how the devil will separate us, discourage us, and silence us. My pup was willing to walk into a situation he wasn’t sure how to navigate. He didn’t freeze and refuse to walk through the door. He took one step at a time. He was brave. I believe we can be too.

Ask God for the words to say and have conversations, even if they’re scary and hard. If we speak from that place of love, if we show respect, if we always allow people to maintain their dignity, this world will become a better place.

I challenge you to speak in kindness and love today. Don’t shy away from the hard topics. I’d rather see us ask questions and get it wrong due to ignorance, than keep a division because of silence. Don’t remain quiet because you’re afraid to look silly or be rejected.

Also, remember that just because someone is speaking louder than you doesn’t mean you need to be silent or use the same tactics as them. Loud children will come to a halt quicker than anything if you start whispering to them instead of shouting over them. Does God shout at us or whisper to us? He gets His point across. Something to think about.

Do go into situations willing to hear a different viewpoint. That doesn’t mean you reject what you believe, but it’s amazing what you can learn and how you can grow from true conversations that aren’t just arguments. Appreciate the differences of others. Show empathy. Stand up for those who are being treated wrongly. Do have integrity and show love. See people’s potential and not their insufficiencies. Do give people the benefit of the doubt if you feel insulted because maybe what they’re trying to say comes from a place of good intention.

Maybe I need to take a page out of my pup’s book and hold my head high, stand taller, and work on this confidence thing. What about you? Are you able to bring out your inner royalty today? I’m not talking about being someone who is better than others, but remembering 1 Peter 2:9. Leave the darkness, the chaos, the uncertainty, the overwhelming feelings, the helplessness, and the hopelessness if they’ve tried to take up residency inside you.

You are needed. Don’t let your insecurities halt progress. Step into God’s wonderful light. Start a conversation and make a positive difference today!