Letting Go

And just like that...Boom! 

Life is all different, again.

Our family had a young visitor for the past couple of months. 

He came into our home and our hearts, and broke them wide open.

With him, he brought chaos, frustration, challenges, needs, wants, dreams - CHANGE.

We endured, made due, and sacrificed with each other.

Together, we created love, laughter, healing, and hope.

Then, yesterday, he left.

He left behind an unnaturally quiet house, an empty bed, and a few aching hearts.

I hear his never-ending questions, his running feet, and his rare laugh echo in my mind.

In a thousand different ways, I wonder and worry.

Is he okay? 

Are his questions being answered?

Is he getting enough...?

Who will remember he needs....?

Finally, when the pain is great enough, I remember.

God loves him, too.

"For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you." 

(2 Corinthians 9:10 NLT)

God definitely did this for our family.

When I just knew grocery money would not last the month - we always had enough.

Bills, baseball, and birthdays were all on the increase during our visitor's stay - all were provided for:)

Our budget plan flew out the window with another mouth to feed.

Yet, ALL of our needs were met!

I trust that God will provide in the same ways for our little visitor.

God loves him even more than I do.

The most effective way I can help those I love and worry about is to pray.

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." 

(Philippians 4:6, 7 NLT)

Pray.

Tell God what is on my heart. Remember what He has already done for me.

Thank Him. Let go of my fear. Receive peace.

Wow!

It really is that simple.

Not always easy...but truly simple.

So, today I will pray, let go of my worries, and allow God's love and peace to free me from fear.

That's absolutely the best way I can love my little visitor, even from a distance.

Thanks for reading!

Please share your own comments and Adventures:)

Happy Mother's Day!

This blog, Adventures in the After, is an experiment in sharing my unique experiences as I walk through my journey of life.

I'm nervous about what my friends and acquaintances will think, scared to make a million typos, and unsure if there are special rules I should be aware of for beginning a blog - but I am still pushing forward. 

This has kinda always been my story - Before and After.

I think the title is an aptly chosen descriptor for my life.

For now, suffice to say that the Before part of my life is in the past, and I'm living in the After now each day as it comes.

Adventures is a great word for me, because it speaks of the excitement, challenge, uncertainty, and sheer joy of my daily life.

I hope to honor myself and my family with my words. I hope to empower, and to encourage. 

And above all, I hope to bring joy to the hearts of all who happen upon this blog:)

So, on this day set aside to celebrate mothers, I thought, "What a great day for this mom to start my blog!"

                                             

This is the card I got today from my 15 year-old daughter. 

She made this card using a really cool app, on which she has previously made very beautiful artwork. 

However, today, after skipping church, waking up at 2pm to eat, and having her dad suggest she "at least" make me a card, the best she could come up with was this: Happy Mothers Day - her signature. 

Her signature? 

Really? 

Not, "I love you Mommy!"

Not, "You're the Best Mom Ever!" 

Needless to say, I was disappointed. 

As I lovingly tried to explain my disappointment, she put on her sweetest, mean face and backed away from me nodding and muttering, "I gotchu, Mom," until she disappeared into her room. 

Enter: motherhood guilt and shame.

How did my joy-filled Mother's Day turn into the day of "You're One Bad Mother"?

Life with my teenager has reaffirmed in me the value of keeping my emotions based in the reality of my actions and who I am created to be, rather than in my loved ones' reactions and constant mood swings. 

"For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility" (Ephesians 2:14 ESV)

Practicing this principle gives me the freedom to love my daughter unconditionally, even when she can't be bothered to remember she appreciates me. 

No matter where she is in her journey, I know am blessed to be her mom and to have the opportunity to share in her Adventures. 

So, in spite of the Before, and despite the challenges of life in the After, witnessing myself becoming more and more of the woman God has created me to be, in the face of all the average and not-so-average adversities, gives me the willingness, courage, and strength to keep moving forward.

Thanks for hanging with me and letting me share my adventures. I can't wait to hear about yours! 

So, please feel free to share:)