My Best Friend

"Then the Lord God said, 'It is not good for the man to be alone; will make him a helper suitable
for him.'" Genesis 2:18


My best friend has been under the weather; he had a series of blood work done yesterday. Today is the third time he wakes up feeling nauseated, yet he decided to go to work. Once there, he felt really bad and decided to come back home. I was still in town dropping off the kids and my niece at the local community college, when he called to talk about his puking. I jokingly teased him..."Maybe you're pregnant?" We both laughed, it was nice to hear a calmness in his voice.

As we both arrived at home, I couldn't help but notice how stressed he looked. I asked if he was feeling okay and if there was anything I could do for him. He mumbled something about "work". Leaning in to give him a hug, we lingered in each others arms, I told him how much I loved him, he whispered in my ear, " I don't know what I've done, that God placed you in my life ".

I smiled, and teased him some more, I told him I had been the one to have been blessed. "God blessed me,... he punished you." He laughed and gave me a big hug, and assured me he had been the one who was blessed.

Now, I know the Lord does not punish us, I was merely conveying a feeling of gratitude. The gratitude I feel every morning, when my husband leans over and gives me a gentle kiss; carefully placed so he will not wake me (because I am not a morning person, and do not like to be woken up). The gratitude, that on his days off, he wakes up and takes the kids to school, the many trips he makes upstairs, due to our potty trained toddler that has a preference to the "Elmo" potty- only upstairs. Even after working 10 or more hours a day, he is my biggest cheerleader, he is my best friend.

Believe me it's hard sometimes; I have to take a step back and appreciate everything about him, especially when I was use to doing everything on my own. Everything he does, for me and our family makes my job as a mother and wife so much easier. "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion." Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.



Dear Lord, help me be the encouraging, supportive wife my husband needs me to be. Today I commit to not complain when he hugs me too tight, or when his facial hair scratches my face. Remind me Lord that it is because he loves me, and it is all because you loved us first.
In Jesus name, Amen.

Replenish

Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7


Living out in the country has its advantages and disadvantages. Our kids go to a school that is about 50 minutes away, so every weekday we make the daily commute to and from our little town. My husband is a foreman who also has a long trek to and from work, if he is scheduled to get out at 5:30, he'll typically arrive at 7:00-7:30, due to distance and traffic. My problem is getting to our Wednesday Bible study, after the trip to pick up the kids at 4:00 and getting home at 5:00, rushing to cook dinner and get ready for church, is sometimes an impossible. Then there are the times that my husband can't join us....makes me feel overwhelmed and exhausted with our 2 year-old.

When we can't make it, my 12 year-old son, gets upset and makes me feel guilty. My kids really look forward to Wed. and Sun. services. I think to myself, "Isn't it suppose to be the other way around- the parents trying to get their kids to go to church?" Talk about feeling like a bad mom, bad example, bad Christian! How can I talk the talk and not walk the walk? Excuses, Excuses, right?

Well, I have been praying for the Lord to strengthen my relationship, and get us to those Wednesday night studies. My grandfather lives about five minutes from our church, I asked the kids if after school they would like to visit and cook great-grandpa some dinner... my son's eyes lit up with JOY! I explained, while I cook dinner, they could spend time with grandpa and wait for dad to meet us there and then we would be off to church.

We arrived early! It was really nice seeing everyone, my son was running around playing with his friends, the women's Bible study replenished my thirsty soul, paid for my daughter's youth conference. Everyone had a smile on, including my exhausted husband.

As we made our way inside our home, talking about each message and what we learned from our Bible study....It felt as we were walking in the "Twilight Zone" (music playing in the background) Chaos eruptted...homework...uniforms...progress reports...

Our tiny Chihuahua, Pinky ran out of her home and into the laundry room. I asked my 12 year-old son to go take a look, because due to past events...Pinky likes to poop in there. Obviously, my pre-teen son, assured me that didn't happen. As he picked up his beloved pet and headed to bed, I decided to walk in the washroom to grab some clothes...

Yes, I stepped in a mound of fresh, smelly, gooey poop. Simultaneously, my two year-old grabbed a packet of What-A-Burger (jumbo size) ketchup and squeezed, sending gushes of ketchup on his face, clothes, shoes and the floor. Mind you, my husband was going over progress reports and didn't look too happy.

I forgot all about what I had learned at the Bible study, it was 10:00 P.M. and all that was before me was more work.

After much disarray, I was getting ready for bed, I caught a glimpse of my Bible on the bathroom counter. Brought it to bed and started to replenish everything that had spilled out the moment I started SCREAMING and SCOLDING my boys.

Yes, I felt guilty; I had just came home from our Wednesday night Bible study. Didn't I learn anything? I had prayed for patience and wisdom. The Lord provided an avenue to get us where we needed to be. Although, last night I excercised no patience, this morning was different, I made an extra effort to be kind and patient. After all life is full of poop, and it's not going to deter me from getting to where I need to be.

Thank you Lord for providing my family and I a way to your home. I am grateful for my spiritual husband and God-loving children. Help me be a better mother, teacher, example and give me the wisdom to use the knowledge that you have placed in my heart, for I will continue to seek you and knock on as many doors needed.

Unconditional Love

"The LORD is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love."
Psalm 103:8

Five football seasons ago, I met a man that would become my husband. Of course at that time I was living my life by semesters and was sure, by Fall... he'd be gone. He had an intoxicating smile, always laughing and smiling, I thought for sure there was something wrong with him. "No one can possibly be that happy!"

The reasoning behind my thoughts, were years of pain and sorrow. My heart was filled with bitterness and a void, I called baggage, was weighing down my being, like old mortar.
I was often curt, and ashamed to say, downright ugly at times. However, he was so patient, compassionate and loving, he never gave up on me. He taught me to smile, laugh, and love again.


Then, it hit me, I never really understood just how much the Lord loves, until my husband tried to love a brick wall (me) unconditionally. It was at that moment that I fell to my knees and cried out to Jesus and thanked him for loving me. For not giving up on me! I realized if this man can love me with all my faults and fractures, and he sees only the beauty in me, How much more can my Jesus love me? Multitudes! Because, "He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. Psalm 103:4


I thank the Lord everyday for my better-half...Gilbert, for his faith, for his unconditional love.
Thank You Jesus!