The Greatest Gift

As I sit here, typing with one hand because my child is laying on me, I can't help but praise God for such a sweet gift. This is probably the best gift I've ever received. I didn't even know how much I wanted it until I got it. The gift...? My daughter.

This is the gift that keeps on giving.

Along with this gift came the gift parenthood, naturally; which changes your entire life. In the best way imaginable, of course!

This is the most rewarding gift.

My daughter is beautiful, sweet, charming, delightful, sassy, tender, compassionate and forgiving.

In the two year's I've known her, I've learned the following things:

• Patience. Patience. Patience.
• The little things do matter.
• Sometimes we just need to be held.
• Everyone deserves a hello.
• Everyone deserves a sweet smile (her's is infectious).
• You are always playing a game of follow the leader. (Hint: You're always the leader)
• Do you have two legs? Good. Stand firm. Do... not... buckle.... no matter how cute her "no!" sounds.

There are many many many things she has taught me. Not sure who the teacher is in the situation. I think we are learning just as much from each other. 

One thing I've realized is that she is not my own. This gift, her life, was given, no, entrusted rather, to Aaron and I. Our gracious Lord bestowed her upon us; which we humbly accepted. To think He is giving us a life to take of, to treasure, and to provide guidance to is... well, an honor! 

Earlier today as I was praying over Gavi's life, I prayed that she would be like nothing in this world. That she would be different. Be filled with God's Holy Spirit, confidence, and wisdom. That she would have the gift of discernment. It is not good enough that she will know good from bad. I pray for her character to mimic Jesus'. I pray that every decision she makes that she seeks her Father first and foremost. The only way she will learn these things is if her parents model these things first.

She challenges us. She motivates us. She encourages us.

Because here is the thing. She is not our own. Are we responsible for her? Sure. But at the end of my life I want to know that I have done everything I could to show her what it means to be a disciple of Christ, and then for her to do the same with her family, her daughters, her sons. For it then this pattern begins, and we begin to see generations seeking the glory of God. 

This is gift is precious. It is not a burden, but pure joy. The gift of parenthood is a gift that I wish everyone was willing to accept, open mindedly. I think that if we were to stop and think about the responsibility, the impact, the opportunity that sits in front of us -- wide-eyed, full of excitement and energy -- we may begin to fully receive the gift that God is trying to give us. 

I am far from the "perfect" parent. We skip baths. We eat candy. We dance in our skivvies. This is an idea, a theology of parenthood that I have to continually remind myself of. I've learned in the moments of impatience, tiredness, and weakness is the perfect place to pray. 

"I'm not raising my kids to survive the world. I'm raising them to change it." || Steven Furtick, Sun Stand Still

posting out of obedience

There is something about exposing your raw thoughts in print. It seems it may last a lifetime. And then some. It is intimidating. It is refreshing. What if you say the wrong thing? People seem to get into quite a tizzy these days when you express your opinion, which just so happens to be different than theirs. I'm a non-confrontational person, so I keep my mouth shut. What purpose does that serve? I've been avoiding posting on this blog for quite some time now. It seems to be an area that the Lord wants me to pursue. For me it seems to be an area where I might fail. Failure is not an option. Then I'm reminded that if I am not using the gifts the Lord gave me, especially for His honor and glory, then I'm being disobedient. So this post, while it may serve no purpose, is really serving God. Some may think, blogging isn't that big of deal, why fret so much? I have put an extreme amount of pressure on myself to succeed in writing, whatever the avenue, that I've paralyzed myself with fear. In all actuality, I can't take all the credit. I do believe that the enemy has his hand in this. He is sneaky, devilish scheme is to try to stop me by lying to me. He doesn't want to me to pursue this. He doesn't want me to be obedient. He wants me to fail. So while this post serves to serve God. This post also is in-spite of the enemy. If I'm obedient, even in the small -- what may seem insignificant -- things, God has the opportunity to show his faithfulness and glory. I am disobedient, even in the small things, the enemy wins.

I refuse to let the enemy win, especially on my account.

This post is to get my jitters out. To shake off the lies and distractions (specifically the fact my blog has to look perfect before I can even begin... really?!). To, most importantly, be obedient.

"Are you called to write? That's the only question you need to answer. And if the answer is yes, then you need to write the book (or blog, or poem, or article) as an act of obedience. It doesn't matter whether anyone reads it or not." -- Mark Batterson, The Circle Maker

Printables

The Fruit of the Spirit has been on my mind so much lately. Everyday the Holy Spirit gently reminds me of the fruit I should be producing. Occasionally, when I journal, I write down the scripture, Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB). I meditate on it. I have become obsessed with it; which is not such a bad thing to be obsessed with. I pray this scripture over my life and over my family's life. 

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25

And this is how we know he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. 1 John 3:24

The fruit is the by-product of the Spirit's work within us. People should be able to recognize that we are different by the fruit we produce.


By their fruit you will recognize them... Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Matthew 7:16-17

Can you say CONVICTING?! In Matthew, Jesus is warning us against false teachers/prophets. But if the Spirit lives in us, then are we not held accountable of the same accord?

Like I said before, I write the Fruit of the Spirit every time it comes into my mind. So in my obsession, and need to bear good fruit, I've created a few printables for you! As a reminder or to give to a friend.

I pray that you will bear good fruit, too.

clearly, i really love shades of blue...

more color combos to come!