Quote of the Week

Does Jesus care about the flu?

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Normally, I put up a new blog post on Wednesday mornings. But this week, we got sick. Colds and fever hit our house over the Christmas weekend. Both children are sick, though not at the same time, thankfully. And while I never got a fever (I felt like I had a low grade one once or twice.), I did get the cold, cough and body aches. We have definitely been a slow moving group.

It is so hard to see your children sick. My son had a bit of a clue what was going on. He has taken full advantage of his fever and binge-watched Thomas the Tank Engine. He didn't remember throwing up, but remembers it now. (As he was throwing up, he told me, "I'm spitting.")

My daughter isn't so lucky. She has no idea why she is hot, why her throat hurts and what that nasty stuff is that she keeps coughing/spitting up. And I know she is sick, because she is still. She is never still. She never falls asleep in my arms. She never falls asleep sitting upright. And she never refuses Mommy's milk. It really is heart breaking to see her so miserable. Thankfully, she is starting to act somewhat like her adorable, active self again thanks to her deciding to take a bottle of Pedialyte. (Apparently my breast-loving baby has decided that yummy stuff really can come from a bottle. It's a big relief for this Mama.)

As I was thinking about my sick children, I had to wonder if God hurts when His children are sick the way we hurt when our children are sick. There is an old hymn that speaks to this.

1. 
   
2. Does Jesus care when my heart is pained
   Too deeply for mirth or song,
   As the burdens press, and the cares distress,
   And the way grows weary and long?
• Refrain:
  Oh, yes, He cares, I know He cares,
  His heart is touched with my grief;
  When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,
  I know my Savior cares.

Luke 2:20 - Verse of the Week

Quote of the Week

The Story of Christmas

This year, as I have been contemplating Christmas, I have been putting what I know of giving birth into the Christmas story. I can't imagine being in a strange town without my doctor and parents. Of course, having both of my babies in a hospital, can't imagine giving birth anywhere else. And with the cleanliness practices of the hospital, even the idea of giving birth where animals have been is appalling. Yet, this is the environment in which Mary gave birth. 

Below is the Christmas story as found in Luke 2:1-20. As you read this familiar story, try to imagine what it may have been like to be Mary. You may have to imagine a little bit between the lines. Imagine being in a strange town without your support system - doctor, family, friends. Imagine what it might have been like to wrap your newborn, not in the hospital blanket or carefully chosen baby clothes, but swaddling cloths of Mary's day. Imagine placing your newborn in an animal feed trough, not a bassinet or crib. Maybe even imagine a curious animal or two sniffing the new baby. Imagine a visit by complete strangers. Let the story come to life.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

- Luke 2:1-20 ESV

Luke 2:14 - Verse of the Week

God vs. Chocolate

I love chocolate. But that may have been obvious by the name of this blog. On rough days, I eat chocolate to get by - to survive. Raising children is hard work. Small children are a lot of work. (Right now, I want to say that raising small children is harder than any other stage. But I suspect that in a few years, I will want to retract that. So I won’t officially say it.)

As I was first brainstorming this post, I was going to write a post all about how we need chocolate to survive children. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized how totally wrong that philosophy is. Sure, there are calming benefits to eating chocolate. (Sometimes I think I imagine more benefit than the chocolate actually gives.) But relying on chocolate for survival is not how it should be. We should be relying on God for our survival.

With small children constantly demanding our time and attention, spending time with God can be challenging (or impossible). I find that time to myself is a premium. Spending time reading my Bible without interruption is impossible. So, slowly over time, I have quit reading my Bible.

One year in junior high, my Christian school had a drama class. One of the plays was a skit with three demons attempting to distract a christian from reading his Bible. They tried phone calls, his girlfriend and his love of his hair. But he stayed on track. Finally, they resorted to Plan B. They told him, “You have plenty of time later to read your Bible.” And after a few minutes, he put his Bible away because he thought he could do it later.

I think that has been kind of been my story as a mom. I’ll read my Bible later when I have more time. But when I do have a few moments to myself while sitting on the toilet, I check Facebook, emails or something totally unrelated to my Bible. And as time goes on, Bible reading is totally forgotten and prayer becomes scarce. Until one day, I wake up and realize the reason I am so frustrated and emotionally exhausted is because I have totally forgotten my life source. I am depending on chocolate for something that I should be depending on God for. This is not metaphor or what could happen, this is where I am living right now. It is terrible to admit, I know. But this is a constant struggle for me. Some months, I’m on a spiritual mountain top. Then I speed headlong into the valley where I forget all about the mountains. Then I reach the bottom of the valley and head back up the mountain.

I guess my main question is this - what are you depending on? If it is chocolate or (enter applicable word here), then what are you doing to reshift your focus and make God the One you rely on to survive? When I ask myself the second question, I can’t give a good answer. I want to say I’ll trust God. I’ll stop worrying. I’ll..., I’ll..., I’ll… - I’m to emotionally worn out to even attempt a good answer. Maybe my first step is to commit to listen to Christian radio again and to read my Bible once a week. It feels like a half-hearted attempt. But right now, I think it will be better than relying on chocolate for my survival.

And I may need to change the tagline for this blog. Any suggestions?

Isaiah 9:6 - Verse of the Week

Quote of the Week

A letter to my two-year-old

My dear two-year-old,

I will miss you.

I will miss how easily you fit in my lap. I will miss your sweet snuggles. I will miss your sweet kisses, including the ones when you would only put your lips to our cheek and couldn't make the sound. I will miss your blissful innocence. I will miss your smallness. I will miss your baby-like curiosity about the world around you. I will miss the crazy, inside-out, mismatched, backwards outfits. I will miss your chubby, baby cheeks.

I will miss the essence of you as you were two.

Yes, we have had our struggles. We have had our moments where I have wanted to kill you because of how disobedient and stubborn you were being. And we had our messes, like poop all over the floor. There were days when I wanted to pull my hair out, but ate chocolate instead.

But we made it through. And for now, you ask if we can be friends.

I'm glad that your changes are happening slowly over time. I'm glad I won't lose the daily requests to watch Thomas the Tank Engine and Japanese videos on YouTube. I'm glad that you still like to snuggle, although those snuggles are changing. I'm glad you still impulsively throw your arms around my neck. I'm glad you still think I'm the best mom in the world. I'm glad you still like to play with your trains. (I'm guessing you will like doing that for several years to come.)

I am so proud of you and the boy you are becoming. You are such a good big brother. I love how you play with your sister. I appreciate how you try to make her happy and give her toys to play with. You are responsible. You ride the bus well (and gets lots of compliments for it). I appreciate how you help me do laundry. You make the task easier.

While I am sad that we are about to leave the twos behind, I am looking forward to watching you continue to grow in the threes.

I love you. I love you more than you will ever know.

Mommy

Is. 7:14 - Verse of the Week

Quote of the Week