From Trash to Treasure

Objet d' art 

One of my most valuable possessions sits on my bathroom counter.  When I brush my teeth in the morning I catch sight of it and smile.  (No, it’s not my toothbrush charger.  And no, I still haven’t found it yet thank you for asking.) Given as a gift, wrapped in newspaper, my daughter sat beside me shaking with excitement until I opened it.  
“Do you like it mummy?” she asked, twirling around the room, blonde curls bouncing in every direction.  
“Absolutely,” I replied, bending down to kiss her little head. 
“It’s very special and I made it just for you.” She smiled at me conspiratorially, as if she had at last fulfilled an unmet desire.  Hopping sideways and grabbing her foot, she continued “You don’t have to share it.”  
“You are very thoughtful and I will not share it at all.  I will hide it in here and keep it all to myself.”  She giggled at my new found selfishness and hopped out of the room, misjudging the corner and bouncing off the door.  Her head missed the doorjamb by an inch and I winced reflexively.  Examining the treasure in my hands I was aware of two things.  One: I had no idea what this thing was and two: I loved it.  I thought some more.  Nope.  No closer to enlightenment.  Sitting with my objet d’art, I thanked the Lord for my creative little creature.

She showed her love of junk at an early age.  While other children played with dolls, my daughter would build imaginary worlds out of tin foil and thread.  Civilizations created out of paper drew water out of bottle cap wells that reached into the earth's core.  Rocks were mined with precision and lint cattle were corralled in yogurt containers that doubled sailing vessels.  When she was old enough to wield a glue gun there was no world that child could not conquer.  Childhood magic runs deep in her heart.

But while I wasn’t looking, something happened.  This child, master of rubbish and rubble started to create.  She acquired skill and resources, talent and treasures and I stand amazed.  What was little, fat and adorable became refined and beautiful.  I sit. I wonder.  I cry.  It happened without my doing.

As September rushes to embrace us, many parents are thinking about their once little people.  It is hard to accept they have grown.  We look at their faces and see shades of chubby cheeks and runny noses.  We recall their tantrums and triumphs, we wonder how they will do without us.  Behind the nostalgia lurks an anxiety, what about their brokenness?  Where will it take them?

We are told that the God sees us hidden in Christ. No amount of self-cleansing or atonement will make us acceptable to the Father, it is a gift bestowed to us by faith in Jesus the Messiah.  Yet as parents, faith in Jesus can dim when we look at our families.  This month is a trial for many who are launching their children.  It takes faith to let them go.  Their sin looms large in our minds and causes fear to rise.  Fear speaks loudly and drowns out the voice of the Father.  If your heart is aching for your child and your nerves are raw at the thought of launching them might I take a moment to speak to your heart?

Dearest Parent, what a job you have done with your child.  What success and trials you have known.  Did you ever believe you would make it this far?  I pray you would come to know God will continue to watch over your child.  That you would find peace knowing He loves your babe more than you do.  His plans for them are for good and growth.  He is not surprised by their weakness, He purposes to use it for their good and His glory.  I pray that Jesus would speak peace and joy to your heart as you learn anew to pray for your child.  That they would rise up and exceed your expectations and bring you joy.  May peace rest on your sore heart during this season.   

Summer has flown too quickly and I was thinking of how my children have grown.  In truth, I can’t spend much time on such thoughts without tears. Dear Friend stand with me, be strong and have faith.  There are good times ahead.  Your child will launch and there will be good fruit.  Beautiful things are yet to be created. Though parts of their heart are ugly and without form, God makes all things beautiful in His time.  I pray that we will have the faith to stand strong while sad, to sing loudly in the dark and await what the future holds. 

I’m praying for you this week,

xoxKaren

10 years later

Weak and Without Power

I was holding it together until the toaster fell on my head.  Moving isn’t easy at the best of times but with my husband away, I was feeling more than a little overwhelmed.  Maybe it wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t misplaced my electric toothbrush recharger.  Have you ever brushed your teeth with a dead sonicare?  The stupid thing had jumped into a box while I wasn’t looking and I had spent the better part of half an hour trying to catch a glimpse of it in the cardboard towers in my living room.  Flopping down in defeat resulted in a minor balance issue, which brought the toaster down with a crash.  About then, I decided I was being persecuted by the universe.  I curled up on the couch, the only piece of furniture left that was readily accessible, grabbed some tissue and had a cry.

Being able to move was actually a blessing, but at that moment it didn’t feel like it.  I was depleted in pretty much every area yet the demands didn’t stop.  Every morning there was a new list of problems to solve, errands to run and details to organize on top of the regular care and feeding of three offspring.  As I cried myself to sleep that night, I decided I would need to call friends for some help the next morning.  I lay on the couch, ice pack on my head and thought, “I’m done.  I cannot do this.  Maybe someone can help me find new momentum in the morning.  Otherwise this move is not going to happen.”

When I awoke, I peeled myself off the pleather groggily and sat up.  I took inventory of my person.  My head had stopped hurting but everything else ached.  I put on the kettle and phoned my prayer partner.  A genuine morning person, she wakes up an hour or two before I do.  When I’m in need she is a well spring of encouragement, when I’m grumpy I want to drown her in the well spring in order to tone her enthusiasm down a bit.   This morning I was in need and grumpy, so I found her equal parts encouraging and maddening.  Her zeal for my move well exceeded my own.  In truth, I wanted to God to sweep in from the heavens and send me magical moving angels.  She was all about me rising up and taking the kingdom one moving box at a time.  We drank tea, (she drank coffee) chatted and she prayed me up until I felt like I had the fortitude to face the next 12 hours.  

After the call I was in need of more reinforcement so I sat down in front of my concordance and looked up scriptures to do with strength.  I was sorely in need of some truth and didn’t even mind if it was applied out of context.  I started hunting.   Lest you think me spiritual, I will fill in some of the running commentary in my head while “meditating” on the word of God.

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13 – Fabulous scripture but it just makes me mad.  I have a really bad attitude.  I don’t want to overcome, I want to be delivered.  This one makes me sit on the floor and pout.  Perhaps putting myself in time out is going to be necessary…

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31 – Arrg!  I am fainting.  I am not an eagle.  I’m like a chicken with mange.  Can chickens get mange?  I’m too old for this, I’m not even standing let alone walking.  Dear Lord, what am I doing wrong?  Where did my faith go? I’m a carnal Christian I’m sure of it.  This is what I get for looking at birb and food subreddits.  I’ve lost my faith and am going to hell.

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29 – This is more like it.  There is still hope for me.  Weak.  That sums it up.  Thank you Lord that you don’t despise me in weakness.  Thank you that you have time for me when I’m such a toad.  Please help me today.  You got me through yesterday, you will do it again.  I’m sorry I’m looking at my feet when I should be looking at your face.  Please give grace.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor12:9-10 – Back to the weakness issue.  I do not like weakness.  I like looking good.  But that’s not an option.  Lord, I’m needing help.  Help slowing down and getting help.  Give me eyes to see your grace, and the grace to be thankful and accept it.

Two weeks out from my move, I am reviewing God’s faithfulness and the many ways he showed up when I was in deep need; tired, weak and overwhelmed. The truth of it is, even when I’m on my game, my best efforts are not enough to merit God’s grace and intervention.   God acts out of his love and kindness.  I’m deeply thankful to those who serve the Lord and who helped me through.  I guess I just want to testify…

Danielle: I reserved a 17 ft truck and you offered a 10 ft truck 30 miles away.  You are probably not evil.  You are good at making your company money.  When I picture you, I envision you with three heads.  I’m sorry for that.

Criff: Thank you first and foremost for being a foot and half taller than me.  Though I almost killed myself in your garage storage space trying to find the drop cloths, you packed the van and organized like a pro.  I would not have moved without your help.  Deep appreciation.

Darrell: You are one of the nicest people on the planet.  Do you help all your wife’s crazy friends?  Seriously.  I think we need to find you a hobby.  For being so easy going and kind, thank you.

Sara & Dennis: I don’t know anyone who would spend the last three hours before their holiday helping someone move.  You are truly wonderfully.  Such kindness. After spending time in your presence, I can rest assured my furniture has heard the gospel and is saved. 

Loises: I lack words.  If we were travelling with the Israelites in the desert, you would be the one battling the Midianite raiders.  Watching over the stragglers and the weak, your ministry is amazing.

Mara: My children bless your name.  They would have starved without you.  I hadn’t had a casserole in over 5 years.  Do I have to move to get another or can I bribe you?  Thank you friend.

Jana: For having the enthusiasm to go the extra mile.  You put the enegizer bunny to shame.  I am so proud of what you have become. E and L for spending your summer days with us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. 

Selina: For actually remembering I was moving and coming by to help.  So very kind of you to spend your time that way.  Glad to be in your hood. 

Homeschooling teens:  Hardest working, strangest, and most fabulous work crew ever.  I watch your work ethic and it makes me so glad I have chosen to raise my girls with you. 

Girlies: You are amazing and I love you.  Good work.  May God grant you joy in your new home.

Husband: Even though you were absent for this one you funded the entire thing.  You are a very good man.  Next time, we pay someone else to do this.  Thank you for loving me.  Never go away again.  

I’m thankful Lord, for the many ways you blessed me during this last month.  Thank you for a new home, and friends.  For the lesson of being weak and watching your faithfulness as you shore up lack.  You are good and your mercy endures forever. 

And so I'm praying for you this week my friend.  That you too, would have eyes to see the ways in which the Lord loves you and provides in your weakness.  May He be proved strong this week. 

xoxKaren

P.S.  Did any one of the aforementioned amazing people see where my toothbrush charger went?  Let me know if you did, it’s still missing. 

P.S. I was right...

May I introduce the S-bag varieties...

Hello Friend!

How are you?  I missed you while I was away.  Lack of planning left me without any writing to post during my absence, but I thought of you frequently while I was gone.  Is your summer going well?  We are finally starting to warm up in the Pacific Northwest, it’s been rather odd weather here of late.

Lots of things have been peculiar quite frankly.  When I’m not utterly overwhelmed by your Nation’s politics, I find myself perplexed by current events, news stories and most recently the mass influx of people with phones who have suddenly come outside and in order to chase imaginary monsters.  The girls and I took a walk at the marina our last night away and we counted 42 teens chasing about the park with their phones.  Previously, we could have counted those belonging to the under 50 set on one hand.  

In a rapidly changing world, the continuity of friends and family brings me deep comfort.  I should add a qualifier because every now and then, family causes contention.  Recently, my eldest decided to teach herself how to play the ukulele.  As a homeschooling mother, my heart was thrilled she would take on such a challenge.  It was a praiseworthy undertaking yet my sanity was somewhat taxed by the fact my entire Canadian vacation acquired a new sound track.  You haven’t experienced true mental acuity until you’ve had to deal with 2 senior citizens’ medications, homecare staff and three children while simultaneously blocking out the ukulele version of “Riptide.”   My hubby is generally a balm to my fragile state of mind but even he took a kick at my mental health when I asked him to buy me some cleaning supplies online.  

Online shopping is both brilliant and evil.  Brilliant because I can run to my computer and purchase a product when I remember I need it, evil because one day a drone will attempt to drop a box of sandwich bags on my doorstep and I will get in trouble for catching it and drowning it in my bathtub.  My man is good at online shopping and I asked him to purchase some vacuum bags to save me a trip to the store.  He has bought them in the past and some form of computer wizardry allows him to repeat order certain items.  Our computer is wicked clever that way.

It came as some surprise then that when I needed one a month later it didn’t seem to fit the machine.  I examined the bag and tried repeatedly to squash it to make it work.  That night I asked my man, 
“Babe, you know the vacuum bags you got me?  They’re not right.”
“What do you mean not right?  I got the kind we always do, the S-bag.”
“Well it says S-bag but it doesn’t fit.”
“Are you sure you’re putting it in right?”
“Well no, but even if I’m wrong, it can’t be right.  It doesn’t work”
“I think you must be putting it in upside down darling. I got the same kind we always get.”
“Think you could check later?  Upside down doesn’t account for the shape not working.”

To this day, I’m unclear if it was the conviction with which my guy spoke, or if I got distracted but for some reason I let the matter drop...  until I faced my vacuum again.  No matter what I did, the bag wouldn’t go in.  I got a box cutter and filed down the offending piece until it fit my vacuum.  I started the vacuum at it screamed like an asthmatic elephant. Surprised, I turned it off and kept wiggling cardboard sections until at last I could get the appliance to suffer in silence.  It worked.  Sort of.   

So I continued to vacuum with a patched together connector until one day between the sick elephant, the staggering amount of teen hair wrapped around the beater bar and a plastic bead that refused to disappear up the stupid hose, I lost my patience and sat in wait for my husband to come home from work.  
“Hi there!” He smiled as he walked in the door.  “It doesn’t work!” I shouted at him, pointing to the offending appliance.  “What doesn’t work?” He froze, looking around for the offending object, surprised and somewhat defensive. Poor man.  I didn’t care, context meant little at this point.  “The vacuum!  You said they are S-bags!  They can’t be!  They don’t fit, it doesn’t work.  It says S-bag but it’s lying.  Please could you look and order me the right bag.”  My man, wise beyond his years came over and gave me a hug.  “Yes.  I’ll go check.  Just let me change and I’ll be right out.”  He tiptoed out of the room quickly, not saying the word crazy, but looking back over his shoulder and smiling encouragingly.  I bit my lip and did not scream. 

It was after dinner when the matter finally resolved.  “Honey, you were right.” He called across the kitchen while sitting at his computer.  “I ordered the right type of bag but it was the wrong model.  Those bags won’t work.”  “Oh they work,” I replied.  “It just takes some creativity.”  Vindication wasn’t even sweet at that point, I was amazed with myself for not complaining sooner.  

It was a perplexing experience,  being told I had the right product even though my experience was telling me the opposite.  When I contemplate the world my children are entering, it is easy to become overwhelmed at the hash moral relativism is making of things.  Sometimes I take for granted the blessing of having a text to turn to when I feel the push and pull of politics, politicians and political correctness.

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

Might I encourage you for the sake of your sanity, to spend some time in your bible this week?  Tuck into your favourite scripture and let what is temporary fall away as you focus on the eternal.  As things on the planet develop, divide and deceive, the presence of the Lord will keep you.

I’m praying for you this week.

xoxKaren