Blessed and don't even realize

I think I've said before that I've kept a thankful journal off and on throughout my life, especially as a parent... but this week I thought I would blog it instead of a journal entry...

As we checked into the emergency room for the 2nd time in 3 days, we were asked a series of questions....

1. Do you feel safe? 
2. Do you feel safe to go home today? 
3. Do you have any restraining orders that we need to alert security? 

Those questions obviously have to be asked because there are these problems.  A world I know nothing about, really.  

While I waited for Hunter to get his xray - I was standing in the hall overhearing a social worker trying to explain to someone that they can give them a way out - they don't have to go home.  The police had brought her here to protect her as well as treat her injuries, but that she had a choice to get out. 

I was knee deep in helping Hunter and helping him work through his pain, yet I realized we have it so easy.  Our home is a safe place (unless I'm on a rampage if you get my drift... :)), never in fear of being hurt let alone my kids being hurt.  A grave reminder that someone ALWAYS has it worse than you..... 

Granted, it was agony to see my child hurt for 6 days straight and in pain worse than I've ever seen him -- but it was 6 days, some of you or others have weeks, months, years of watching those you love in pain.  

Then as you watch, some of these kids have parents that don't have a clue, are too distraught in their own issues to focus on their kids while the kid is obviously sick, hurt, in pain -- the parent is not invested.  Sad in a whole other way.

This led me to remember my thankful journal, that I need to pull it out again, that is needs to be visible, that no matter what we face in this minute or even tomorrow, there is MUCH to be thankful for... 

Is it easy to go through struggles? No -- a few days this week sucked.  Literally sucked.  It's ok to cry (when he wasn't looking) and it's ok to say it's not ok ---- I felt better when I acknowledged it and didn't have to say it was going ok when it really wasn't.  But once I acknowledged it and let myself feel it, at about the same time I told myself to keep it in perspective --- someone else was dying of hunger, someone else was losing a loved one to cancer, someone else had an accident.  I was able to hold my baby boy (not literally as he's way taller than me) and comfort him, reassure him we were going to get to the bottom of this. That in itself is something to be thankful for.  

Today I'm thankful for the doctors and nurses that study, work hard, have empathy, return my phone calls, put up with my 1,000 questions, concerns, ideas.  And I'm one in thousands that they do it for.  Thank the Lord we live in the USA where we have doctors, choices of hospitals, care whether I can pay for it today or not, technology to figure out what was wrong, medicine to correct it and ease his pain, medical staff that cared about his modesty, his well being.  

How's that for my thankful list for the day?  And at this moment, VERY thankful for a husband that comes home in 1 sleep!! :)  

Fiery Furnace

In spring, I led an in depth bible study on the book of Daniel.  I'm sure you all have heard of the story of the fiery furnace.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace for not worshiping the king.  And they came out of the furnace with no marks, not even smelling like smoke... a true miracle. These guys along with Daniel were studying/training with the king.  Daniel seemed to be the leader of the pack.  He had been called away -- so these 3 were on their own during this trial/testing of their faith.

True character often comes in the most inconvenient, alone, tough times.

Our lesson that week was on Daniel 3.  And today as we celebrate my friend Judy's life, I wanted to share this with you.  From that day of bible study we learned 3 different scenarios when people face a fiery trial:

1. We can be delivered FROM the fire.  These trials are not usually life long, they resolve.  
1. The dividend of this trial is our faith is BUILT
2. We can be delivered THROUGH the fire.  This is a fight, hard work, could be a long struggle, but it is a fight to reveal God's glory.  (James 1:12, John 11:4, IPeter 1:6-7)
1. The dividend of this trial is our faith is REFINED. 
3. We can be delivered BY the fire straight into His arms. (Heb 12:1-2, I Cor 15:26).  No explanation needed.... 
1. The dividend is that our faith is PERFECTED

My friend's faith is perfected.  She was delivered right into His arms.  

^{I Timothy 4:6-8}

 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Something's missing....

The definition of a Mentor - a wise and trusted counselor, an influential senior sponsor or supporter. 

^{Titus 2:4-5} These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,^[b] to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

My friend Judy lived this out.  I am going to miss her, her influence, her wise words, her comfort, her smile that made you feel welcome and everything would be okay.  

When I very first decided to find my birth mom, Judy and I talked about it.  She encouraged me, she prayed for me, she waited with me expectantly.  

When I wavered if Lindsay should do competitive cheer, she encouraged me and encouraged me to be active in it to calm my fears. 

When I've had moments of being a Mama bear -- she has backed me up.  She too is a Mama bear.  She too loves her kids and grand kids with a force not to be messed with.  

When I've felt out of balance and that work is invading my home life, she had been there and done that and told me that work will come and go, but raising kids is but a fleeting moment. 

At book club, she was a voice of reason. A voice to learn from, to soak up and listen to.  

At bible study, her interpretation of God's Word and His love for others was contagious.  She loved people.  She was a total example of loving people and hating the sin.  She could separate the 2 much more easily than I can.  

She was there for me in February in a whole new way --when I had told God no to a particular situation and He opened that wound and said I needed to say yes.  She cried with me.  She hurt for me.  She planted seeds in my life.  She hugged me. Gave me loving, but tough advice. She loved me.  When I tried to thank her for being there for me, she turned it right back around to thanking me for being a part of her life and how influential I was to her.  

She laughed with me ( a lot -- or maybe it was at me, I'm not sure) and she cried with me.  It doesn't get much more real than this, does it? I think Jesus is the same, Judy was on quest to be more like Jesus. I desire this too.  I want to be a real friend, a friend like Jesus would be. 

This week, Lindsay was asked to be a mentor at her school.  I will remind her of our friend Judy and what God says a mentor is to be... being a mentor is biblical, practical and much needed. We have so much to learn from those that are a stage ahead of us in life.  We can learn from the good and the bad.. Judy would give you illustrations of both.
 I'm missing my mentor... but know that Jesus has BIGGER plans for her and loves her with a love that I can't even begin to grasp.  Judy, I'm sure you are already planting seeds of your wisdom and love for others.  

It's time for us all to take a step to the next level, continue on the work that Judy was doing. Love people, invest in them, take interest in their journeys.