The Light

I am thankful:

~ for the sweetest time with the kids doing our morning Bible time out on the front porch in the cool of the morning. We talked about looking for the blessings. And my heart was completely overwhelmed looking at all the blessings cuddled around me and the way their hearts are so open.

~for pool-soaked pruny piggies.

~ for ice cold juicy watermelon.

~ for steady Giddyup & Whoa orders. I’ve been a busy bee sanding, staining, lettering, and water coloring. It’s such a blessing to have the opportunity to be creative and add to our family’s income, and the kids love helping!

~ for the first juicy and delicious tomatoes from our little garden. To me, there is nothing more absolutely delicious than a salted fresh tomato. Heaven on a plate. They even got me craving fried green tomatoes!

~ for streaming television. I know I’m not alone in my opinion that there is very little redeemable programming on TV these days. But the streaming services have allowed us to introduce our kids to some of our nostalgic favorites. The girls have been enjoying Little House on the Prairie, and the boys are now obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Imagine having those 2 theme songs constantly playing through your head!

~ for super fun and functional finds. A local school was getting rid of old classroom tables and chairs. After a good scrubbing they were perfect for my Littles to snack and color. At first I wasn’t sure if Tatum K would allow anybody else sit at “HER TABLE”, but she finally eased up a bit.

~ for the next steps of the kitchen project. I gave the walls, ceiling, trim, and doors a coat of crisp, creamy white paint, freshening the dingy beige, and brightening the whole space. Then, after three weeks of temporary plywood paneling countertops, our quartz was finally installed this week! It was a fascinating process to watch, and we are just thrilled with how they turned out. Finally almost done…

Two more precious children, Hope and Jacob, went to heaven on Friday. Cancer had ravaged their childhood, and it does bring some comfort to know that they are whole and healed in the arms of Jesus now instead of suffering. But that doesn’t take away the steel-toed boot kick to the gut. I’ll never understand. BUT GOD. Please lift up these devastated families who will never be the same.

All of the chaos and unrest swirling around everywhere continues to scream for my attention. The pain, the death, the hate, the virus. It makes me think of Jesus in the boat with his disciples. He was asleep and his disciples were terrified. And with a Word, He stilled the storm. He stilled the wind. He stilled the waves. And then I think about Peter calling out to the Lord, when he was standing upon the water. When he took his eyes off Jesus, and looked instead at the wind and the waves, he freaked out and began to sink. Now, I wouldn’t say that I’ve actually been freaking out, but I know my eyes have not stayed where they belong. And I know that Jesus doesn’t only want to calm the storms around me, he wants to calm the storms inside me. He’s asking me to trust Him. He’s asking me to model that for my kids. He’s asking me to love my neighbor. I remember the quote from Mother Teresa, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” It starts with me. It starts in my house. It starts with me loving my neighbor. It starts with me being more patient with my kids and loving them the way Christ loves me. Jesus, You are the Light of the world. And no matter how bleak things get, the darkness will never, EVER win. No matter how small, the tiniest spark cuts through darkness. And I see it. I see Light. I see Hope. I see it in my kids. Thank You Jesus.

Let’s be the light.

Thanks for giving thanks with me.

““Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:29-33)

“They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm. And He said to them, “Where is your faith?” They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?”” (Luke 8:24-25)

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24)

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)