Date Archives → April 2013

filling my days, my heart.

Life unfold all around us:

— birds return, and suddenly, the air is full of activity after a long and silent winter.
— trees form beds, but not before they let their sap run, giving us the maple syrup we enjoy all year.
— snow melts, at last, and boys dig out mud boots for an inaugural tromp through our property.
— bedroom and bath gets emptied of all belongings in preparation for a coat of paint.
— baby adds words to her vocabulary every day, and after 20 months of waking multiple times each night to nurse, suddenly sleeps like a big girl. (I miss her cuddled-up body.)
— family room gets cleaned from top to bottom, and rearranged, and I’m amazed by how much peace it brings.
— baked falafel and homemade pita are my new favorite.
— and so many other little things that make up our alternating simple and busy days.

But I’ll admit, my heart is a bit preoccupied in this season:

— blatant dismissal of our Constitution by NY’s governor.
— the same man’s attempt to “lead the country” in abortion expansion.
— a huge population of the Church showing confusion over what, exactly, marriage is (a picture of Christ and the Church, and nothing less.)
— a serial murderer who first got away with his crime for far too long, and now continues to get away with anonymity.
— people who are shameless about their agenda to take my children away. (Don’t stay silent.)
— 336 million murdered since 1971.
— and so much more.

This is the world which God so loved.
These are the sins for which Jesus died.
I need Him.
You need Him.
We need Him.

I love the Lord
Because He hears my prayers and answers them;
Because He bends down and listens.
I will pray as long as I live. Psalm 116

today

Today, our house recovers from a whirlwind weekend of celebration. Bedrooms were more than a bit askew when we woke up this morning, proving just how crazy getting ready for church can be — especially on Easter Sunday. Ironing boards, stray “grass” from baskets, laundry piles that hadn’t been touched for three days: our to-do list was obvious this morning. It was also quickly accomplished, thanks to two cheerful boys.

Today, the sun never quite made it out. When dawn finally came, it revealed rain. My planned walk was quickly cancelled, and our morning chores were motivated by a reward of afghans, candles, and All Creatures Great and Small on Netflix. (Overcast spring days can be such a disappointment, but reminding myself that I romanticize such weather when it happens in England helps me to change my opinion.)

Today, I put our Advent-turned-Lenten candle wreath away. Our awaited Redemption has come, and we live in His great victory — today, tomorrow, and the next day. But we also continue to wait and look and live in expectation, groaning with creation, knowing there is a complete redemption to come. We live in brokenness — experiencing within ourselves the wholeness of a new birth, and proclaiming that Good News to the broken hearts, broken societies, broken systems around us. There is life to be had! He has come! And He is coming!

Today, I had school plans and chores lists and hopes for reading out loud. But inspiration swept two boys into the world of Playmobil, and so I slip quietly away, not wanting to interrupt them in this magical moment. Play away, little boys. Pretend and laugh and build and create. The bathrooms and books can wait.

Today, I pray for the grace to be a faithful wife, mother, homemaker, sister, friend, citizen, daughter. How? How to be faithful in even one of those without lacking faithfulness in the others? Because most of all, I’m called to faithfulness to Jesus, and to the will of my Father. And He is happy to lead those who long to be led.