Something that I think we all need to remember is that life is not always going to be sunshine and rainbows. Although that's what we'd all like, challenges, struggles and difficult times hover over all of us at different stages. At times I find myself even thinking "when will the rainbow show itself?"
Truthfully, it's partly my job to put those rainbows in my life, in my kids' lives, in my husband's day. It's partly my job to find the sliver lining during all those thunderstorms.
The past school year has been difficult, yet joyously sweet.
My sweet Maddie struggled so much in the beginning with her health, stress and anxieties. So much on her precious heart and mind. Though it seemed like we'd never get through it all, we did.
Avery struggled off and on all year with various challenges. She didn't like coloring at preschool, though, popular belief says at this age that's just what they do. She struggled with change and understanding social interactions like why one girl wouldn't play with her or why she all of a sudden had a fascination with boys. (God help me. Already?)
Jason struggled at work and as a manager trying to learn how to adapt to different personalities, work ethics, and the long hours he had to put in all of a sudden. He struggled the most with not getting to be home with us as much as he'd anticipated. Such is life.
I struggled because for almost the whole school year, I was pregnant. While it was wonderful and we were so very happy, my body at 33 was much, much different than my body at 23 when I'd had Maddie. The days seemed longer, the work seemed harder, and juggling everyone's schedules was quite a challenge. Though, I know in the depths of my soul our life's purpose is to find joy during these times most of all.
I admit there were days that I wasn't finding any rainbows at all. Thank goodness for a great husband to whip me back into shape. :)
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"When it rains, it pours."
While this is true I love remembering that without the rain, we cannot have the rainbows.
Without a struggle, we cannot celebrate in full a victory.
Without death, we would not have life.
Without tears, those smiles would not be as sweet.
Without sadness, we would not be able to experience pure joy.
Without a good attitude, life can seem dark, cloudy, and as though it's flooding around us.
"And God said, "This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." Genesis 9:12 & 13
Today I celebrate my family, those who've fought for us away from their own families, my girls' and their struggles and victories, my husband and his loving dedication as a leader to all of us, my new son, Jace, as he grows and changes before our eyes. . . .
Today, I'm making the rainbow and remembering to celebrate the RAIN AND the RAINBOWS ...
Note - in the making of this fun rainbow cake, it all broke apart right before the icing. :) I guess it's just cake fate after writing this blog. :)
Go figure. The week I come up with a great blog is the week I go back to work. I think it's because I've been more disciplined to take time to spend with God, working out and taking some time alone. This time, I know, is imperative to my growth. Imperative.
Last week, we were talking about our five year old and all the things she must learn. She's at a stage where she thinks everything revolves around her. I have to constantly remind her that it's not all about her. I make her repeat this to me often. Sometimes 5 times a day.
We are also working on how to teach her that it's ok to ask for certain things, want certain things, but to not expect those things at the drop of a hat. We remind her that she must have patience for some things and must work for other things.
When she gets the "thing" she wants, she quickly moves on to the next thing she wants. For example, she just HAD TO HAVE an ice skating party. Once that was over, the minute it was over, she started talking about what she wanted next year. *sigh* I had just hoped she would savor that moment and that day for a little longer than 5 minutes.
This didn't impact me at all until I was running one very early morning this week. I like to listen to a variety of podcasts and in this particular podcast the speaker spoke these words: " If you ask God for something and then you get it, but very quickly move on to the next thing you are praying to Him for; the thing you "need" right now, what are the chances he'll give you anything else?
It clicked.
We, as adults, have lately been acting a lot like Avery. We have fallen into a stage where we are praying for this and that and this. There are specific things that we've both prayed for that we have now and it seems that instead of savoring the exact thing we prayed for and GOT - we have moved on to the next thing we think we "deserve." I had been looking at her with a magnifying glass, but looking at myself with rose-colored glasses. How many times do we do this with the people around us? Our kids? Our "friends?"
When I began to view my prayers in the same way that I view my conversations with Avery, I laughed out loud.
Seriously. I need to stop being a "spoiled brat." Things aren't always going to go our way. Get over it. Move on. Instead of whining and asking for something more, we need to savor and sit right where we are at this moment -even if in that moment we are struggling or uncomfortable.
After all, if we aren't going to take care of and enjoy the relationships we prayed for, the house we prayed for, the child we prayed for, the job we asked for. . . why in the world would we be given anything more?
We have to get over this idea that we are "entitled" to whatever it is we pray for or think we "deserve" - it's not always about US.
