This last November when my son returned home with us after a 13 day hospital stay, I came home a different person. I left the old person with my old habits behind. God had started something new in me and I chose to accept and embrace my new beginning (Isaiah 43:19).

When I was a kid, I recieved a baby blue hard plastic deck with sparkly blue spinning wheels for Christmas. It was a totally rad 1970’s skateboard that I could totally bang some awesome tricks with. I was a happy tomboy. I loved the freedom that came with the board. I loved the wind rushing in my face as I flew down the sidewalk in my husky fit Toughskin jeans with the patches worn clean through to see my skinned knees (I still want my free pair!).

When I received the skateboard, I remember wanting everyone to share as much of the excitement as I did. I wanted everyone to feel like I felt: awesome. That is the same feeling I have about the clarity God gave to me when I returned home with my son. The feelings are overwhelming and meant to be shared (Psalms 5:11-12; Psalm 47:1).

Among many things, God gave me a clarity to see the connection between my life and His love, the freedom that comes with submission, and the disciplin it requires to allow that love to flourish in my relationship with God. Like the skatergirl with the new skateboard, the love I have for the board spilled over for all to see. it’s the same thing here. I want to shout it from the rooftops, I want to shout at any passerby how much they need to experience the depth of God’s love. The love I have for the Lord spills over in to all areas of my life. It is such an awesome gift that I struggle with why anyone would not want this kind of love in their life. 

I’d like to think I would have come around to submitting to God’s will with this kind of maturity without the trial. To be honest, I wish I had not needed the trial to arrive at the blessing of clarity. I wish I could have just accepted a ride on a brand-spankin’ new skateboard and instantly could see how awesome God’s love can be. up until the trial, my relationship with the Lord had not arrived at the depth of maturity it has now. While I would never want to do it again, I am grateful for the trial (James 1:12).

There is a richness in trials that accompanies the heartache. God is walking beside us waiting at any moment to hand over His love, His strength, His clarity. Accept it, my friend. Hang on to it with the grip of a child. Like a sweet slightly-awkward green-eyed, dirty-blonde-haired tomboy with a new skateboard from the 70’s. Trust me, you will never be sorry. 

P31Wife

“A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.,” (Proverbs 31:10).

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland,” Isaiah 43:19.