Tuesday, July 15, 2008

silver linings

Do you want to know my biggest spiritual struggle? Somewhere along the way I got the idea that God doesn't care about details. World peace, yes. If I got to shower today, not so much.

I think this started as a personal backlash to the prosperity gospel. Does God care if I have a cool house? I don't think so. But Jesus always addressed immediate needs, and his parables used ordinary things. To think God doesn't care about my day is, ultimately, to assume He doesn't care about me, because my life is just a string of days put together. It's not true; He does care about me and my life, and while it is not His yearning desire for me to have clean hair, my gratitude to Him for all things is.

So, here it is. I'm grateful for the silver linings in my week, such as:

1. We ordered a camera. Ours was stolen with my purse, and I take pictures every day. I'm just not willing to have babies without one. So, we got a good one - a digital SLR, which means no more pictures of the side of Asher's face. And because my husband is nothing if not a bargain hunter, we (he) found it for about half-price. Yay for us.

2. I do, in fact, have clean hair at this moment. Also, a cake in the oven. Cake gets double points.

3. Silas has been peaceful all morning. Thank you God.

4. A friend is coming to eat grilled cheese sandwiches at naptime today, which means I may actually finish a sentence while she is here.

5. My neighbors have started a local playgroup, and I can't tell you how excited I am about it. Right now we have to drive to do everything. I would love to have friends in walking distance; I would also love for Asher to have friends that live down the street. The older he gets, the more that will matter. They started the week Silas was born, so Thursday will be my first opportunity to join them.

6. Best of all - I love Brian. Today is our 8th anniversary, and I'm so thankful to be in a relationship where we still like and appreciate each other. The value of that is not lost on me.

7. Silas is still eating around the clock (of course), but he's starting to sleep through the middle of the night feeding. That's a good sign, and I'll take whatever good signs I can get about sleep.

Why are you thankful today?

Happy Tuesday everyone.

9 comments:

Lisa said...

What a lovely post! I am thankful that my baby's naps have become more predictably long. She must be growing. But, of course, that means plenty of time for me to sneak in a nap myself or, you know, check some blogs. :)

Jackie said...

Happy Anniversary! Eight years...that's wonderful.

Right now...I'm thankful that I just got 2 dozen eggs for $1. Sometimes it's the little things, right? :)

Anonymous said...

I love silver linings.

Nick M. said...

I am thankful that Harper and Lily came home TODAY!!

The Bean said...

I am thankful that I have a husband who believes so passionately in what he does and never takes our sacrifices as a family for granted.

And you can most definitely not have babies without a camera!

Anonymous said...

i love this post. clean hair, new camera, cake and an anniversary. what more can you ask for? sweet babies? well, you've got that too! :)

Stephanie said...

Elizabeth (the first one) - you are in a golden age for naps. It's hard to get out of the house, but man, you can get so much done at home right now. Enjoy.

Jackie - I'd be pretty excited about two dozen eggs for a dollar, too.

Nick - Congratulations!

Emily - me too. For your house and mine.

Laura Mielke said...

Room for one more comment? :)
As you read from Nick, Harper and Lily are home which of course is reason enough to be thankful... but I am thankful for so much more than that. After I fed them at 8:30 and 9 this morning I was pouring myself a cup of coffee to sit down and check blogs. I talked to my mom who told me that my sister, one day after graduation Cotton school in Memphis and partying all night, has to go back to work... my thought was... I will NEVER take this maternity leave from work for granted. What an AMAZING time to have with my new babies and with myself and Nick.

I, too, somewhere along the way have told myself that God doesn't need to hear about my details... where did this lie come from? He is out MOST intimate friend and comforter OF COURSE He cares. For example, instead of getting frustrated that the babies were choking up during their 11pm feeding last night when WE were most tired I help Harper close, and said "Jesus forgive me for not coming to you in times of thanks. I need you now, please help these babies to slow down and breathe and be able to take in the amount of milk they need and also Lord help Nick and I get the rest we need to care for them." It DOES matter AND make a difference in our relationships...

Laura Mielke said...

oh my gosh, happy anniversary by the way! Kudos to neighborhood play groups.