Sounds of Living

Last night I spent the evening on my own. I didn't say a single word to another soul in over three hours. There was no drone of a nightly news anchor man. No sitcom's canned laughter. Not even a measure of music. And the lack of manufactured noise gave way to something I never realized I was missing.

The splash of dishwater over pots and pans and hand and sleeve. The calming hum of the dryer. The near silent pat of laundry being folded. The sizzle of dinner in the oven. The creak of old vents heating a home, and the sigh of the ancient, overstuffed chair as one settles in to sit awhile.

In the quiet, I found sounds lost in constant hustle and bustle. I found the sound of purpose and accomplishment, of love and faithfulness, of rest and peace. The sound of a life being lived and a family being cared for.

I suppose I should be quiet more often. It underscores such simple things, ones that show daily tasks to be so much more than they seem. I'm sure if I took the time to listen again, I'd find there's plenty more to hear.

I'm Chatting at the Sky with Emily today on Tuesdays Unwrapped.

A Lesson Learned

"There it is," I said, pointing to the Brazilian steakhouse as we turned the corner. We were out for a night Uptown, among the tall buildings, well dressed people and fancy stores and restaurants. It was the evening of our annual quest to indulge in one fantastic dinning experience.

"Now where are we going to park?" I asked.

"Right up here," he replied, pulling alongside the curb.

"But...but," I sputtered, looking at the Styrofoam to-go cup in the holder and thinking of the salt and brine streaks on the outside. "It's just a Honda. And it isn't clean!"

He looked at me and started to chuckle, "It doesn't matter what kind of car it is. I'm sure he's seen worse. Just get out."

So I did my best to tuck away the worrying perfectionist still loudly whispering my faults and failures. I allowed the valet to open my door and help me to the sidewalk. Then I took Hubby's offered arm, stole one last glance at my car, sighed and followed him into the lobby.

In that moment, it never occurred to me that I may have robbed Hubby of the joy of doing something fun and out of the ordinary for me. That I should have gracefully accepted his act of service and not doing so somehow made his surprise unimportant, belittled his love for me.

How often do I do the same to the Lord? He never once asked that I come to Him without fault. And still I wander around wasting time trying to pull myself together - desperate to wash up the outside and sweep away the dirt on the inside. And I wonder why I'm always so tired. I wonder why this striving and fighting to appease my inner perfectionist leaves me so unsatisfied. All the while there is an open invitation to run into His waiting arms, rest in His love, make a home in His peace, and revel in His mercy and grace. Hallelujah!

And next time, I'll respond to Hubby's kind surprises with nothing but delight.

Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live.
Isaiah 55:1-3

Let It Snow?

If there's one thing I've learned about this Southern state of mine, it's that the weather likes to toy and tease from January until spring officially comes to stay.

And with that in mind, dear friends, it should be no wonder that I found this when pulling up the local weather for the next couple of days.

Whether we actually get snow or not (the weather folks never seem to get it right), it will - at the least - be freezing cold and very wet. All after a glorious day of sunshine and the coveted 60 degrees.

So while I'm sure there are plenty of you who would love nothing more than to hunker down with a mug of hot cocoa, a fire roaring in the fireplace and "Let It Snow" playing on repeat, I would prefer that spring come quickly.

Alas, it appears that is not to be.

Welcome to the World

The rain pounds loudly on my windows, accompanied by rare winter thunder. The TV screams as a field goal sends the hometown heroes of a city reborn to the Superbowl. The refrigerator hums through all the ruckus.

Hubby just called. He's finally on his way home. He's been working 15 to 17 hours a day this week and this weekend was going to be more of the same. So I made a trip to visit my parents. He's been in the office 30 of the 36 hours we've been apart.

I can't wait to hug his neck, kiss his face and show him our family's new addition. I went home the day after his brother and sister-in-law had their second child. After spending weeks and months praying for and wondering about that growing life, we were thrilled to learn that our niece has a little brother. I've never held such a new baby before. He is soft and sweet and smells of hope and promise.


Welcome to the world, little boy. It is great and it is big. And it is wonderful and scary and surprising and breathtaking all at once.

Sweet baby, in this world you will have troubles, but take heart! Jesus has overcome the world. (John 16.33). And in the words of the apostle and Gospel-author John, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" (John 21:33). I pray that you trust Him as you grow and discover for yourself the things that He can and will do in your lifetime!

And I hope you come to know and understand how wholly and completely you are loved.

Refuge

God is our refuge and strength,
always ready to help in times of trouble.
So we will not fear when earthquakes come
and the mountains crumble into the sea.
Let the oceans roar and foam.
Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!

The nations are in chaos,
and their kingdoms crumble.
God's voice thunders
and the earth melts!
The LORD of Heaven's Armies is here amoung us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

"Be still, and know that I am God!
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world."

The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here amoung us;
the God of Israel is our fortress.

-Psalm 46: 1-3, 6-7, 8-11

Just to Be With Him

After a week of long work hours and lonely evenings...
After seeing each other for a maximum of three hours a day (not including sleep time)...
We needed to get away. Even if we didn't go very far. Even if it was just for a little while.
Nothing like coffee and Scrabble. I'd do anything just to be with him.

One Step Closer

A while ago, I made a risky statement - proudly declaring that I was going to become a runner and complete a race (even if it was a short one) in the spring.

Well, my goal is now set even though registration isn't yet available. Hopefully on Friday, May 7 (my birthday!) I'll run my city's Twilight 5K (it's run in the evening; nothing to do with the books) with Hubby. And hopefully I won't be too embarrassed by my finishing time.

After being pretty lax about running through the month of December, January demanded that I get back into a routine. But January also brought air from the North Pole into my usually fair-weathered, Southern state. Folks, it's hardly broken the freezing mark in days.

But Saturday sunshine broke through the ever present gray, and suddenly the afternoon looked pretty inviting. So Hubby suggested going for a quick run, and, after some convincing, I relented. The wind was biting, and though the sunshine looked warm, it wasn't. But we turned left at the corner and headed up the street despite weather like this:

Maybe it was the appeal of a warm house waiting for me. Or maybe it was the encouragement Hubby whispered constantly. Or maybe I'm actually getting stronger and my endurance really is increasing. Whatever the reason, for the first time since I started weeks ago, I was able to complete over two miles without walking for a second. Nothing huge for most runners. But for me it's reason to celebrate. I'm one step closer.