Storms

Last week was one week I wouldn't want to ever do over. It was stressful from beginning to end. There were days where I just wanted to open the cover of my Bible and wrap it tightly around me - like an infant in a blanket. I didn't want to teach the children, clean the house, cook the meals, wash the clothes, play taxi driver, etc., etc. Tax season is tough on us. Ryan is torn between his responsibilities at work vs his responsibilities here and struggles to find enough energy for both. I struggle with bouncing from leader to follower; leading in his absence - following in his prescence. The kids struggle with who's in charge and just the daily schedule. When the kids were younger, Ryan hated to hear my distressed call of "what time did you say you were coming home?" As the kids have gotten older, the call is different. It is more of a challenge to get them to all their activities as well as keep him in the loop of where we are, what is going on, etc. However, one thing I have learned this week is that there are somethings you should never take for granted. It is easy to get comfortable where we are and no longer notice the things around us or the people around us. During my distress calls to the Lord this week I came across this quote: "Those who abandon ship the first time it enters a storm miss the calm beyond. And the rougher the storms weathered together, the deeper and stronger real love grows." (Ruth Bell Graham) I think of how many things/blessings we may miss out on because we aren't willing to buckle down and weather the storm. I'll be honest, I don't like storms - especially big ones; I cannot control storms, I cannot predict storms. However, I am equipped with what I need to weather storms and to learn from them. This is my new favorite verse "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." (Psalm 139: 23-24)