resurface

There were just lots of little off things today.

A new neighbor who was really, just really unkind...vile in her speech...first time we met her, in a local church t-shirt.

An important meeting I had written in big letters in my planner, and then completely and totally forgot about and came in a full hour late...only to be disheveled, breastfeeding, and behind.

A dog with persistent fleas resulting in a disastrous hair cut and extra laundry. 

Several snotty and coughy kids, no one feeling great...short fuses and short grace and higher needs.

An unusually colicky baby, screaming and fussing her way almost entirely through a much looked forward to dinner with friends.

Several "lose-lose" situations with kiddos, which come up a lot more often these days with sensitive and unique seven sharing time, money, and attention.

The weight of our house still unsold just heavy.

There were little sweet things today, too, of course.

Dear, busy ones who thought of us and brought us all lunch in the middle of their madness.

Good friends for dinner...even with a screaming baby.

FaceTime with Grandpa and Yaya, passed from kid to kid and mom even got some time, too. 

Pictures finally hung, windows finally cleaned, food in the fridge, clean water.

As I hold all the painful and pretty pieces in my hands, end of the day, I read this by Bethany Broderick and am grateful for the reminder...maybe you will be, too.

“I remember nursing my daughter to sleep one night feeling completely overwhelmed as a new mother. My husband and I had both made major career transitions, we had moved across the state, and I was dealing with my mother’s cancer diagnosis. As I sat in the near dark, clinging to my four-month-old, I felt like I would never resurface. I would never adjust to working from home. I would never feel comfortable in our new house. I would never have security about my mom’s health. The pressures of those few months were heaped on my shoulders. Yet in that moment of hopelessness, God reminded me . . . this is just a season.

Maybe you’re facing a difficult season because of health issues, life changes, spiritual dryness, or physical and emotional stress. Maybe it’s lasted a week or a year. Maybe you’re like me that night in my daughter’s nursery rocker, feeling you’ll never escape the weight of stress in that moment. But you will, because this is just one season God has ordained for your spiritual growth.

And because of who God is and what he has done, it can be a good season, no matter how difficult it is.”