My son Chris loves baseball and I mean LOVES baseball. He reads everything he can about baseball; magazines, books, stats. He watches everything from Little League through Major League on TV – even reruns of old games. His room is filled with stuff from his favorite team – I won’t go into who that is, I will just say there is an abundance of blue pinstripes! He wears team shirts almost every day. He is rarely without a ball cap and almost all of them are from a baseball team – one in particular! The amount of baseball cards in his room could wallpaper the entire room, walls, ceiling and floor. I think you get the idea.
He has been struggling with hitting this year. I mentioned this to the pastor of our church and gave me some advice to pass on. He told me to tell Chris that as he enters the batters box to look at the infielders, pick someone to be the recipient of a line drive chest high and laugh when then drop the ball as he is running to first base. I was skeptical but passed the advice on and Chris seemed to start connecting more. Chris isn’t a speed demon but he was knocking in RBI’s even if he wasn’t getting on base. The more he connected the more his confidence rose.
Last night though was a night to remember. His team was down 2 runs going into the bottom of the third inning. They managed to tie the game and held the other team scoreless in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth they loaded the bases and Chris was up to bat. This is the time when my stomach starts to churn, my palms get sweaty and my heart starts thumping. Usually I have a hard time watching.
A group of parents were sitting in the benches in left field for the best view of the game. I had just said to my husband that there was a huge hole between the left fielder and the center fielder and now would be a great time for Chris to hit the ball there. Just as I said those words I heard that unmistakable sound of an aluminum bat hitting a baseball. I looked up to see the ball heading right down the third base line, heard my husband shouting something about it being in there and watched the ball hit the top of the fence and drop just inside the fence. It was a base’s clearing double which put his team up by 3 runs. Chris came within 6 inches of hitting his first homerun and it would have been a grand slam! They went on to win the game 7-6.
What a hit! What a night!
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Stuff
Stuff. We all have it. You know that space you really don’t want to open it may be a drawer, a closet, or in my case the basement. Isn’t it funny how fast we accumulate stuff?
Less than five years ago we rented a dumpster. It was full of stuff that was broken or of no use to us or anyone else for that matter. Over the past two weeks we have been cleaning out the basement again! I am amazed at what is down there. The furniture from the nursery – my youngest is 9, the cabinets from our kitchen, which hopefully will be hung for storage sometime before I am 100, and our old kitchen table which of course is in pieces so we could move it downstairs. Even if someone wanted it I am not sure we could find all the pieces. Clothing from when my boys were only a size 8 and believe me that hasn’t been for years! Cake baking pans which have accumulated so much dust it looks like I painted the storage bin a pale shade of grey. Just stuff.
Why do we save things? Is it for the what if’s and the some days? Maybe it’s for the memories. What ever the reason all that stuff takes up room leaving us with clutter and in some cases disarray.
Lately I have been saving/storing a lot of stuff in my heart. Stuff that I should have let go of long ago. All that junk has filled my heart and left little room for life. It lurks in there waiting for just the right instance to grab hold of me sending me to a place I would rather not visit. Leaving me preoccupied with all that stuff so I can’t hear what God has to say.
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Be still – eliminate the clutter – make room to hear. AH HA!
Less than five years ago we rented a dumpster. It was full of stuff that was broken or of no use to us or anyone else for that matter. Over the past two weeks we have been cleaning out the basement again! I am amazed at what is down there. The furniture from the nursery – my youngest is 9, the cabinets from our kitchen, which hopefully will be hung for storage sometime before I am 100, and our old kitchen table which of course is in pieces so we could move it downstairs. Even if someone wanted it I am not sure we could find all the pieces. Clothing from when my boys were only a size 8 and believe me that hasn’t been for years! Cake baking pans which have accumulated so much dust it looks like I painted the storage bin a pale shade of grey. Just stuff.
Why do we save things? Is it for the what if’s and the some days? Maybe it’s for the memories. What ever the reason all that stuff takes up room leaving us with clutter and in some cases disarray.
Lately I have been saving/storing a lot of stuff in my heart. Stuff that I should have let go of long ago. All that junk has filled my heart and left little room for life. It lurks in there waiting for just the right instance to grab hold of me sending me to a place I would rather not visit. Leaving me preoccupied with all that stuff so I can’t hear what God has to say.
Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Be still – eliminate the clutter – make room to hear. AH HA!
Friday, April 4, 2008
Why?
Why does God put people in our lives for only a period of time? You know the ~ some people come into our lives for a reason, season or life time ~ I am pretty sure I dislike two of the three!
I don't let people "in". For more years that I would like to admit I have built a fortress around my heart. It is very high, guarded by an army, and surrounded by a moat. Get the picture. I have been working hard at building a bridge over the moat, calling off the troops and adding an entrance. Quite a few now have crossed the bridge, not quite as many have gotten past the troops and only a handful have actually gained entrance.
This past week two of those who have gained entrance have been called to serve God somewhere else. OUCH! Instinct set in and the door has locked, the troops have been called back in full force and the bridge has closed until further notice or at least until I have had time to grieve and process.
I may never know the answer to why God needed them somewhere else when I need them here. Maybe I am not supposed to but I do know I love them and will miss them so much it hurt.
I don't let people "in". For more years that I would like to admit I have built a fortress around my heart. It is very high, guarded by an army, and surrounded by a moat. Get the picture. I have been working hard at building a bridge over the moat, calling off the troops and adding an entrance. Quite a few now have crossed the bridge, not quite as many have gotten past the troops and only a handful have actually gained entrance.
This past week two of those who have gained entrance have been called to serve God somewhere else. OUCH! Instinct set in and the door has locked, the troops have been called back in full force and the bridge has closed until further notice or at least until I have had time to grieve and process.
I may never know the answer to why God needed them somewhere else when I need them here. Maybe I am not supposed to but I do know I love them and will miss them so much it hurt.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Friends
How do you know if someone is a true friend? That is easy...they are willing to come over even if you don't ask or can't talk about what you needed a friend for. Tonight I found that out. The reason I needed a friend - well - that will need to be a later post when I have had time to process.
The lesson I needed tonight from God was that there are people in my life who are true friends and it is ok to rely on them. They are there for me when I ask and even when I don't. They know when I am hurting but don't speak it, they know when I need help but won't ask; they just know me.
To those friends I say thank you!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Faith/Trust
Sometimes - well most times - God needs to use the good old swift kick in the pants or the brick upside the head approach with me. It seems I had forgotten something and it was time for my wake up call.
In the last three weeks I have been faced with opportunities which have required faith. Each week offered another opportunity to have faith that God was with me. Each another brick, another kick.
The first week my oldest went for his driving test. Every parents fear, well at least it was mine. My child will no longer need me to taxi him around. He will now have freedom. All this went through my head before I even picked him for his test.
As he drove to the testing center I kept reminding him of every little tip I had ever heard. As we were just about there he said, "I think you are more nervous than I am." Scary thing is he was right! I needed to have faith that he was ready, that all the practice hours had taught him what he needed to know and that God would be guiding the way as he got behind the wheel both during the test and each time in the future.
Two weeks ago I stepped out of my comfort zone and began a blog. Talk about having to rely on faith. Without having faith that God would guide my hands, send a support system, and provide words I would still be stuck in that comfort zone. Not seizing an opportunity to grow. Once again scary.
Today my oldest had his wisdom teeth out. Talk about faith. I must have asked God a thousand times to keep him safe, to guide the surgeons hands and for a quick recovery with little pain. Then as I was driving it hit me - that little feeling in my gut. You know that quiet voice inside that reminds you God has it covered. God was with him, the surgeon and me as I waited.
This one was the scariest. I don't mean Andrew having his wisdom teeth out, I mean the fact that I had forgotten that God was with me. I thought I was "going it alone". Had I been relying on my own abilities and not trusting God? Had I felt alone? Did I forget God was always with me? YES! That little voice inside said, finally. Now it's time to stop going it alone and time to trust, time to have faith and know that God is always with me.
This week I am committed to memorizing, meditating on and living - Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." So if you see me ask me how I am doing.
In the last three weeks I have been faced with opportunities which have required faith. Each week offered another opportunity to have faith that God was with me. Each another brick, another kick.
The first week my oldest went for his driving test. Every parents fear, well at least it was mine. My child will no longer need me to taxi him around. He will now have freedom. All this went through my head before I even picked him for his test.
As he drove to the testing center I kept reminding him of every little tip I had ever heard. As we were just about there he said, "I think you are more nervous than I am." Scary thing is he was right! I needed to have faith that he was ready, that all the practice hours had taught him what he needed to know and that God would be guiding the way as he got behind the wheel both during the test and each time in the future.
Two weeks ago I stepped out of my comfort zone and began a blog. Talk about having to rely on faith. Without having faith that God would guide my hands, send a support system, and provide words I would still be stuck in that comfort zone. Not seizing an opportunity to grow. Once again scary.
Today my oldest had his wisdom teeth out. Talk about faith. I must have asked God a thousand times to keep him safe, to guide the surgeons hands and for a quick recovery with little pain. Then as I was driving it hit me - that little feeling in my gut. You know that quiet voice inside that reminds you God has it covered. God was with him, the surgeon and me as I waited.
This one was the scariest. I don't mean Andrew having his wisdom teeth out, I mean the fact that I had forgotten that God was with me. I thought I was "going it alone". Had I been relying on my own abilities and not trusting God? Had I felt alone? Did I forget God was always with me? YES! That little voice inside said, finally. Now it's time to stop going it alone and time to trust, time to have faith and know that God is always with me.
This week I am committed to memorizing, meditating on and living - Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." So if you see me ask me how I am doing.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Just
Have you ever thought of yourself as just a ______? You fill in the blank - mother, father, wife, husband, friend, volunteer the list could go on forever. I think we have all felt that way one time or another.
Check out this article I found about being "just a volunteer". After reading it let me know what you think.
http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/topics/volunteers/dont_ask.php?
Happy reading!
Check out this article I found about being "just a volunteer". After reading it let me know what you think.
http://www.youthspecialties.com/articles/topics/volunteers/dont_ask.php?
Happy reading!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Time to grow
"You must do the things you think you cannot do."
Eleanor Roosevelt
Today is the day I start doing things I think I can't do; like creating a blog. Yesterday with the help of Matt (an awesome Youth Pastor and Mentor) I created this blog as a way to inspire and share my own perspectives about life and all it has for us. It has taken me until today at 3:30 to actually gain the courage to sit and write.
Stepping out of my comfort zone isn't always easy for me. Each time I step out of that zone it gives me the opportunity to grow, learn and have faith that God is beside me. So the journey begins and I am glad you are along for the ride.
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