10:18pm Embrace the Curveballs. Does this sound familiar to anyone? Last night I watched one of the few remaining episodes of our favorite show, "Parenthood." Near the end of the show, some moms were sharing their advice with their niece/granddaughter, a soon-to-be mom. One of the moms was talking about how 'life with kids will throw you lots of curveballs...don't run from them, embrace them.' I love this. So yes, I am stealing another title, this time from the writers of "Parenthood." :)I decided this may be my new year's resolution. Since Avelyn has passed, I've tried to do this more, but I can always get better. Cherish every moment. No matter what is thrown at you, embrace it. I just realized this actually goes along with my last post about embracing suffering, because sometimes those curveballs involve suffering; they can involve lots of different things, but suffering is one of them. Suffering may be the hardest thing to embrace. But also hard are the day to day curveballs that we all face. From work to kids to spouse to sickness (minor or major) to social life to holiday stress to friends to family; good or bad...curveballs come at us from every direction, all day long. My new goal is not to dodge them, but to embrace them, run with them, try to enjoy them.
I heard something a while back that has really stuck with me. I remember it well, but need to live by it more. I think it was something I read; it talked about how our nightly routine as moms, as parents, is usually the same for our kids: homework, dinner, bath, bed. Maybe a few other things thrown in here or there like sporting events, a little playtime, etc., but generally a similar routine. Night after night, the same routine. What I read said that because we HAVE to do these things, WHY NOT ENJOY THEM?!?! Thinking about this, I realize this monotonous routine isn't a curveball at all, but we should still enjoy it! And sometimes harder things do interrupt that nightly routine, like maybe a minor sickness, or dinner that doesn't go just the way we planned, or someone's practice runs later than expected, or someone is grouchy, or someone doesn't want to eat the dinner you took so much time to prepare.--The curveballs enter in, which probably happens more often than not. Embrace them. Enjoy those moments. As all those moms on 'Parenthood' said, time goes WAY too fast. Before we know it, we will be craving those routines, those curveballs, again.
In our life group, since late September, we have continued to discuss the book "Trusting God." The overall theme thus far has been that God is sovereign in everything. He controls everything. It is already planned, already mapped out. Everything. Balancing this concept with free will was quite the topic early on in our study, but we quickly realized it's impossible for our human minds to understand. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) God has a plan for each of us. As difficult as His path sometimes is for us, it gives me great peace knowing that whatever curveballs He throws our way, or our kids throw our way, He knows the outcome. He has a plan...and it fills my heart with thankful joy and an utmost peace that He promises us that things work out in the end for our good and His glory. It may not be the way I wanted it or the way I pictured it, but He knows best, and I must put my trust in this. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)--Thank goodness, because even though sometimes I have a plan and think I know where I am going, I need Someone bigger guiding me, leading me.
As Avelyn's 7 month birthday came and went on Wednesday, I don't ever want to forget to cherish this life. Cherish these moments with my girls. As not only does time go by way too fast, but also we're not guaranteed a certain number of days on this earth anyway. We don't know how long that 'time that goes by way too fast' will be. 95 years? 70 years? 50 years? 25 years? 10 years? 1 year? 16 days? Even though it may not be your plan or your choice for how things go, embrace those curveballs, because life is too short and because no matter what, He's got your back. He's a good catcher, the best there is. :)
I heard something a while back that has really stuck with me. I remember it well, but need to live by it more. I think it was something I read; it talked about how our nightly routine as moms, as parents, is usually the same for our kids: homework, dinner, bath, bed. Maybe a few other things thrown in here or there like sporting events, a little playtime, etc., but generally a similar routine. Night after night, the same routine. What I read said that because we HAVE to do these things, WHY NOT ENJOY THEM?!?! Thinking about this, I realize this monotonous routine isn't a curveball at all, but we should still enjoy it! And sometimes harder things do interrupt that nightly routine, like maybe a minor sickness, or dinner that doesn't go just the way we planned, or someone's practice runs later than expected, or someone is grouchy, or someone doesn't want to eat the dinner you took so much time to prepare.--The curveballs enter in, which probably happens more often than not. Embrace them. Enjoy those moments. As all those moms on 'Parenthood' said, time goes WAY too fast. Before we know it, we will be craving those routines, those curveballs, again.
In our life group, since late September, we have continued to discuss the book "Trusting God." The overall theme thus far has been that God is sovereign in everything. He controls everything. It is already planned, already mapped out. Everything. Balancing this concept with free will was quite the topic early on in our study, but we quickly realized it's impossible for our human minds to understand. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding." (Proverbs 3:5) God has a plan for each of us. As difficult as His path sometimes is for us, it gives me great peace knowing that whatever curveballs He throws our way, or our kids throw our way, He knows the outcome. He has a plan...and it fills my heart with thankful joy and an utmost peace that He promises us that things work out in the end for our good and His glory. It may not be the way I wanted it or the way I pictured it, but He knows best, and I must put my trust in this. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)--Thank goodness, because even though sometimes I have a plan and think I know where I am going, I need Someone bigger guiding me, leading me.
As Avelyn's 7 month birthday came and went on Wednesday, I don't ever want to forget to cherish this life. Cherish these moments with my girls. As not only does time go by way too fast, but also we're not guaranteed a certain number of days on this earth anyway. We don't know how long that 'time that goes by way too fast' will be. 95 years? 70 years? 50 years? 25 years? 10 years? 1 year? 16 days? Even though it may not be your plan or your choice for how things go, embrace those curveballs, because life is too short and because no matter what, He's got your back. He's a good catcher, the best there is. :)