Friday, October 24, 2008


Friday Wrap Up

How time flies!

As we approach the end of October, I have delighted in the changing colors of this changing season. The burnt orange, brilliant red, and stunning yellow of the leaves are a hard-to-miss sign that winter is coming. Still, I have tried to stay in the moment and appreciate the beauty of fall.

I wonder:  do I do the same thing with the seasons of my life? Do I delight in the gift of this season or do I dread the coming season so that I miss the gifts that are now present?

How about you? Do you worry so for tomorrow that you miss the joy of today?

Being in the moment takes practice. Breathe, pause...stop racing.

Easier said than done.

But when I do just that, this is what I find:
  • It is a fabulous Fall day in Minnesota
  • Our daughter and her husband are so happy
  • Our youngest son is in love! It is a long distance relationship; his girlfriend lives in Dallas. This is really difficult for them--but oh the benefits of a long distance relationship! Especially in this techno-friendly time in our communications. She visited last weekend and he will be traveling to Dallas to visit her next weekend and he is giddy with excitement! Don't mention the giddy part to him; he's 6' tall, a Junior in High School--and certain he never visits giddy!
  • Our MIP (miracle in progress) has a job! For the past few months, we have been sitting in the lap of God as He works in our MIP's life. Many of you know, he has not been employed for nearly a year. This fact alone makes it very difficult to stay in the moment. My mind races to that distorted thinkin' thing: "He'll never hold a job." "His life is such a mess." "He will never be happy." TODAY, however, I am sitting in this moment of gratitude. Thank you God for using the dark times to bring light to our son's life.
  • My husband and I will spend the weekend preparing the cabin for winter. I am thankful for the time we will share at the place he most loves.
  • And if all of the above wasn't good enough, the piece de resistance in this moment is my partnership with Allison Bottke, author of the landmark book, Setting Boundaries With Your Adult Children: Six Steps to Hope and Healing for Struggling Parents. The learning curve has been.....exhilirating and exhaustive. My desire to grow this very important ministry takes me miles ahead of any moment! My joy that God brought together two strangers, yet sisters of the heart....causes an overflowing of gratitude.  I can not begin to tell you how stunned I am when God steps into our lives and says, "I have prepared you for such a time as this!" There is no doubt, He is always ready to use our pain for His purpose; the real test is whether we are in the moment and listening for His voice.
What better reason to breathe, pause....stop racing and just listen for what God is doing in your life and in the lives of those you love.

I'd love to hear how you practice being in the moment.  

3 comments:

Pam said...

I always appreciate reading your posts... I have been praying for a prodigal husband for so long... he has been without a job for almost 6 months now and I know what you mean...

I started a blog-carnival every weekend, where I write about the "moments" that I am trying to capture and not let pass by without notice... I'd love it if you came over to check that out... a few people play along with me.

Dawn said...

I didn't realize the MIP had been without a job that long! That's hard. But I love the thoughts today - and am glad you shared your biggest news!

Sharon Lynne said...

Fall is a beautiful change of scenery and a wonderful time to live in the moment.

I'm so happy about your son's new job!

I, too, have the same thoughts regarding my son. Will he ever be able to straighten his life out...and be independent of us?

In a few recent posts, I've shared a little more about C.

How exciting to be on the forefront of helping other families with their MIP's with Alison B.

Her book is the most helpful book I've ever read. I pick it up again and again when I need to be reminded not to ENABLE.