hearingnseeing
Hearing and seeing God in everyday lifeArchive for May, 2013
Barefoot in the Summer
I had quite a shock the other day. I was running around the house barefooted and found myself eye to eye with my 12-year old. When did that happen?! Oh, he was thrilled. I already knew not to stand too close to him with his high-heeled cowboy boots on. I also knew that his arms were now longer than mine and took advantage of that with objects in cabinets. Now I’m not short, but I was totally taken aback the other day. How could this happen so suddenly??
Simply. I wear platform flip-flops every day once nature starts to think about spring. Barefoot puts me at least an inch shorter.
So the gloating began. Can you remember achieving that status of being taller than your parent or older sibling? It’s annoying on this end.
This is how my summer has begun. We’re now at the ball fields nearly every night. Supper kind of starts with a snack around 4 and ends with whatever you can find at 9:30. The front door opens and closes about 75 times during the day. An hour’s worth of chores is about to kill the kids during their, what, other 16 hours of freedom? Five o’clock in the morning is the only real quiet time for quiet — but, sheesh, who wants to get up that early??
Yet I know the Lord is in this crazy, busy, unstructured time. Summer can be a little hard on my type A personality, but it is probably exactly what I need. What I really want, though, is a pair of taller platforms . . . Happy Summer!
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Lights Out
I have just returned from the mechanic because of grace.
I got pulled over last night for having a headlight out. Two, actually, but he didn’t know that. Even more actually, the light had “clicked” back on somehow when I asked him “Which one?” and he was left scratching his head. I really shouldn’t have asked, hee, hee. He came back to my window and said, “Ma’am, I wouldn’t have pulled you over if you didn’t have a light out. I don’t know if it is electrical or what, but it was out just a bit ago.” I still find this kind of funny.
The grace comes in in that he pulled me over the only place I could pull over — the high school parking lot, the place near where I was headed to wait for the bus carrying the varsity baseball team on it including my son. I did beg/pray for it to be late. I dreaded that the cop had to still get my driver’s license, insurance, etc. I hoped he wouldn’t see my fuzzy slippers (what — I was 2 blocks from home in the dark while I should have been in bed!). I got a smile and a verbal warning. Phew.
It was no sooner than he turned off his lights and pulled away that the bus came around the corner. It was so timely, in fact, my son asked me why I was pulled in there and not by the gym. Oh, but the grace of God saved both our reputations.
So I got my headlights fixed today.
Tomorrow is Friday. Love it. It rained yesterday. Love it. I am so thankful God is mindful of the smaller details of my life and gives me uncomfortable moments to laugh at later. Glad he loves you like that too!
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Principals
I had to go to the principal’s office today. Well, I actually just called. I remember my elementary principal — he had a paddle in his office. I didn’t think boys cried until I saw one coming out of his office one time. Scary stuff to a 1st grader, I’ll tell you.
Today it was over my son and state tests and field trips. Sometimes you have to go to bat for your kids even if you hate confrontation. I’m still a little afraid of principals.
I didn’t “win” or get my way. I’m not sure the extent I was heard — how could I know since administrators train in the art of placation, eh? But I had done my homework, had a few people in my corner, had my list of questions and arguments, put on deodorant. I was ready.
The truth is, no matter what I said or did, I am still just a pawn. Taking on big problems sometimes just takes many, many small moves, and the result is often just enlarged faith. Faith that you did your part no matter its size. Faith that while you didn’t get your way, some change may come about albeit a minor change. Faith that whatever was said or done somehow shifts you and/or others onto a better course — even if by only one degree.
This principal I know from church. We are sisters in Christ with differing philosophies. At the end of our conversation, I told her that I realized how difficult her job most likely was and that I would pray for her because of that. I meant it too. So for me that one degree is a move away from my selfish self to the more spiritual one, the one who prays for the leaders placed in authority over me — and my kids’ schools administrators. My son won’t get to go on the special trip, but she has one more backer in her spiritual corner. Not entirely the victory I was looking for but . . .
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
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