I think since Audrey was born I have woke up every single day at three am. I don't know why. But strangely I have come to enjoy the time. (Obviously by making the previous statement I have confessed my insanity, and possibly might need to turn in my "normal" card.)
I pour a glass of water and usually stand at the back kitchen window and look outside. It is always quiet. Everyone is sleeping. I find myself having conversations out loud. I imagine that Jesus is standing next to me, or sitting in my favorite rocker, or sitting on the ledge of the island counter, dangling his feet and talking with me. (I know, I turned in my "normal" card a long time ago!)
The tune of a Frank Sinatra song is in my head. "The Way You Look Tonight" It was our wedding song. I find myself smiling.
Some day, when I'm awfully low,
When the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
And the way you look tonight.
I remember picking the song and thinking that is exactly what I want. I want to one day be able to look back and smile when I remember our wedding.
I am looking out my kitchen window smiling. I start thinking about how much I love Kenney. Which reminds me of my first love, Jesus. Which brings me back to my crappy day that I lost.
I think about things that one day, I will want to remember, and I will want to remember accurately. As my dad says, "When we look back on things we tend to have revisionist history." (and that would be another dadism) We paint things a bit differently than they really were. The only way to prevent that from happening is to write it down. So, I write this story down to accurately remember.
Why remember? I feel like one day someone, maybe my kids, my grandkids, someone, somewhere, will have a day like mine, and I will have the unique ability to share empathy. I don't want to forget. So I write it down.
It was also important for me to write down yesterday exactly like yesterday was. The day didn't get better, it didn't end good. Why is that important? Some days we loose. Some days, my flesh takes over. Some days that little devil sitting on my shoulder, well, I befriend him. I listen to his lies.
I am still looking out the window and it's still dark, and I find myself going through the events of yesterday...with Jesus this time.
I realized no event in and of itself was bad or sinful. Not the person sharing about their life, not the kids spilling drinks, not the dishes in the sink, not the poop on the floor, the tick in the house, the kid running towards the street, even the little girl that says she hates me- NONE of those things were sin or sinful.
Why did those events bother me so much? Why did the day end in such a disaster? Why did I feel defeated? And if I am honest here, I will admit, days like yesterday, events like yesterday happen all the time in our house. I suck at laundry, since we were married and without any kids, I was always a couple days behind. I leave dishes in the sink all. the. time. My kids spill something every day. I live in the country in the woods and grass, we have ticks all the time. The annoying people are in my life, and always have been, and I talk to them all the time. The poop thing- for crying out loud, I have a kid that used to play with and eat his poop!
Then the thoughts come into my mind. It's crazy, like a giant hailstorm, thoughts, truth, God's truth hits me.
James 1:2-3 Consider it joy when you encounter trials, or fall into temptation. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and patience.
Did I consider it joy?
John 10:4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. Did I hear His voice? Did I follow Him?
1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. Did I take HIS way out, or did I listen to the whispers on my shoulder? God's word says he provided a way out for me... did I take it?
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Did I give thanks?
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vine, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. Did I rejoice? Was I joyful? Regardless of my situation...
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression. Was I slow to anger? When I didn't hear the words I wanted to hear, did I overlook it?
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, Love is kind... Was I patient? Was I kind to my kids, my husband?
Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. I hate you... have I used those words before?
And I could keep going. I could keep finding scripture after scripture that I disobeyed.
That is the point. I needed a day like yesterday. I needed to be reminded of my sin. In just three short weeks, my mind started slipping. I started thinking how "I" was able to handle things. How "I" was doing so good with my five kids. "I" was pretty good at getting into a routine. "I" was getting good at managing a schedule. "I" had it all figured out. Heck, "I" even got a couple of projects accomplished.
Can you imagine God in heaven? I imagine He would have said "Really Laura?" "YOU think you've got it together???" "YOU think these last couple of weeks that haven't been so bad are because of YOU???" "YOU think you've got it together???" HA!!!
3:30 AM
I am sitting on the floor. I feel sick. I am so full of sin. I was so quick to forget all of HIS blessings. I was so quick to give in to Satan. I failed without HIM. I am a sinner. As the apostle Paul writes.. Oh wretched man that I am. Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? (Romans 7:24)
Isn't it appropriate it's Good Friday? How fitting... I am a sinner. Christ is a great Savior. Every sin I have committed, every sin I will commit, with Christ, there is no condemnation. I claim Jesus as my savior, and the gates of hell will not prevail. Today is a day to be reminded of my great sin. To be reminded I deserve hell. I deserve a fiery punishment. I deserve death. But, my Jesus loves me, even in my sin! The cross proves that. His grace flows freely.
My awareness of my constant need for Him, is my greatest strength. My inadequacy presents me with a continual choice - deep dependence on HIM, or despair. The emptiness I felt can be filled with either problems, or HIS presence.
While a day like yesterday presents many problems. Some practical advice can be rendered- like getting more sleep, finding someone to help with the dishes or laundry, eating healthier, exercise, etc etc, it just isn't the point, and it isn't what I needed most. I needed my first love. I needed to be brought to my knees. I needed to be reminded of my sin.
Praise God, He knows what I need!! I needed to loose.
No comments:
Post a Comment