#onebigtruth

I saw Courtney's #onebigtruth project last week and immediately knew that I was in the midst of God teaching me one BIG truth and knew I had to share.

So here it is..

I ran my 1st 5K last Saturday.

I am not a runner. I've never been an athlete.

In fact, when I played sports as a child I hated it.

Actually through my "career" as an "athlete" as a child, it was discovered that I was born with a defective joint in my ankle. Two bones were actually fused together where a joint should be resulting in limited mobility, significant pain when running, walking or even standing for long periods of time.

I had surgery to correct the issue when I was 13, but it didn't work.

All of my life, I've had a slight limp, usually noticeable after a long day working and every person I meet asking me "what's wrong?" or checking to see if I was okay.

So, I've never been interested in running--in any form--because I couldn't. Can't.

Its a defect, I'll be fine, I just can't do things because of my "bad ankle".

Except, now I CAN.

I started running on the treadmill earlier this year and this week joined 700+ runners and walkers at the Shrimp Fest 5K/10K.

And ran.

And finished.

Praise the Lord.

I'm not defined by a defect, but by definition am wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:14)

I'm not relegated to the sidelines, but pressing on to the goal.(Philippians 3:14)

Here's the truth-

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

1 Corinthians, 9 v 24-27 NLT

We're all created equal and with countless abilities. We all have things that we can allow to hold us back. Sometimes its a physical challenge, sometimes its a mental or emotional struggle that we hold onto instead of running with purpose. God wants us to let go of what's holding us back and wants us to look to Him for the strength to do the impossible. Together, we can do hard things.

Happy Heart

A happy heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. -Proverbs 17:22

Because meditating on a few ancient words from the lips of God will do more for me, today, than any parenting book ever written.

Teaching and learning is the constant cycle at our house. All day I'm teaching, teaching, teaching these little ones.

Don't run around with a mouthful of Skittles, you'll get choked. 

It's easier to take your socks off if you are sitting down.

We don't touch the garbage can. 

Don't drink bath water.

Say you're sorry.

Let's pray.

In this role as parent its easy to see yourself as a teacher, perhaps even one who knows everything and has all of the answers. Then your child turns 2 or becomes more independent or refuses to say sorry or just can't help himself from hurting others no matter what you have tried to teach him.

You realize you don't have all of the answers, in fact, by the time bedtime finally draws near you feel like you have no answers. Everything is a challenge, a battle, a test, a problem.

Then Hallelujah!
Its bedtime, he sleeps and you can prepare to get up and do it all again tomorrow.

We're in an interesting time with Jay. He is so sweet and loving, so thoughtful and well spoken. But then, out of nowhere some of the darnedest things come out of his sweet mouth and Joseph and I just look at each other, stunned.

I know we aren't the only parents who are going through this phase. I pray it is short lived for us and that he only acts out in this way in front of us and not in front of others.

We have been thinking that he simply does it for the reaction he gets, so we're being proactive by trying to give him lots of positive attention in the hopes that he will not seek out negative attention. But, he is in fact three and logic does not necessarily apply when you are three.

God showed me these words in Proverbs one recent morning and with all 5 members of this household being sick (yes, even the dog kept us up the night before) this verse stuck with me as I managed to pray and read a bit while following Lizzy toddle around the house and cooking breakfast.

I'm so thankful God speaks to us the words we need to hear.

I'm thankful that I could share these words with Jay that morning and Joseph and I can think about this message as we combat some of the surprises, challenges and frustrations life can throw at us.

A happy heart is good medicine.

Indeed.

We have much to be happy about. Its our job to reflect God's love and the joy that comes with it to others.

Even when it's hard. Even when I don't have any of the answers. Even when my job so clearly is not teaching, but learning.

A happy heart is good medicine.

I've been using this verse for weeks now. Repeating to myself. Speaking it to Jay. Explaining that happy words come from happy hearts. Happy hearts like to make others' hearts happy. Happy hearts make smiles and fun.

The night before his first day back at school I dug a heart shaped foam sticker out of our craft supplies and sharpi-ed a happy face onto it. Before bed, I showed that "happy heart" to Jay and together we put it on the inside of his lunchbox. We talked about it again in the morning in carpool .

Just this evening Joseph told me that he heard Jay telling his grandmother about his happy heart in his lunchbox. It was so good to hear that he was talking about it.

Today's Build 'Em Up topic is Creative Correction. At our house we use time-out for Jay and set a timer. It is effective in that it gives him a chance to think and us a chance to calmly discuss inappropriate behavior and sincere apologies. It isn't creative, but it gets the job done.

My only other "tactic" is what I've referred to as "filling in the blanks with Jesus". If we have time throughout the day where the kids are just playing around the house-I press play on their kids' worship cd. If we're reading books or just pulling them all off of the shelf, I will pick our Bible or one of our new prayer or devotional books or the Jesus Calling Storybook version and read a short story from it.

A happy heart is good medicine.

If we are having a particularly grumpy, ill-tempered, testing-the-boundaries kind of day I am reminded of this verse and try to turn it around by making sure my joy is visible and tangible. I will openly discuss things we are happy about and thankful for. A distraction of attitude if you will. What I'm learning is that this type of distraction is what we are called to do daily-whether we are adults or little adults in training. 

Thankful.

Happy.

It doesn't always keep bad behavior at bay, but it's been a simple way to remind a three year old (and thirty three year old) about being the person God has called us to be and changing our hearts to reflect love and joy rather than becoming mired in frustration and what isn't going our way.

A happy heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 

I've linked up with the Build 'Em Up Series today and want to say thank you for stopping by and sharing your stories. I'm praying you are encouraged and lifted up daily by the wonderful work of raising little people. While we know it isn't easy it is important to show our children the joy we want them to know through Christ. Its vital that we change our hearts when necessary to reflect God's love, joy and peace to our children. I'm praying for you and that your love, joy and peace shine brightly, in all ways, at all times. 



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Bringing Faith to Life

Normally, I just post pics of my kids, the occasional project and update family, friends and a few blog buds on the everyday life of our little fam. Today I'm blogging on a topic because I love the concept behind Build 'Em Up and am looking forward to sharing in encouragement among the blog-bubble. 

Welcome. 

The timing of this little story goes like this. Our children are 19 months apart (2.5 and a 1 year old on Saturday). I am a stay-at-home mom to my very busy kids and have a very busy husband who is successful in his career and a go-to guy for virtually everyone we know. We truly wouldn't want it any other way.

I try to maintain friendships, worry over family issues, stay connected to other adults and help foster young friendships for my children. 

I pray daily for BIG things-homeless, sick, broken-hearted, those who feel alone, our leaders and armed forces. 

I pray daily for anything anyone asks me to lift up to God. 

I pray daily for my children's future. 

I pray little "pistol prayers" all day long--when I drop Jay at school "Lord, keep him safe, help him to show kindness."--when Lizzy cries out while I've stepped out of the room, "Lord, don't let her be hurt." --when Jay locks the car with the keys AND the baby sister inside, "Jesus, let the spare key be in the drawer I think it is..."

All of these things I prayed for, yet there were mornings when I felt pulled too many directions, was stressed, emotional, frustrated and frayed before the coffee had time to get cold. I realized I had a zillion thoughts running simultaneously and was feeling overwhelmed. 

One recent morning, when life felt hectic (and sleep deprived), I just decided to end the hectic cycle before it got out of control. I picked a cartoon and snacks for the kids, cracked open my Bible and just asked God to give me something to meditate on to ease the feelings of frustration, anxiety, senseless stress and more. Somehow I got to Psalm 121 v 1-2

Thanks, Lord. 

So, I started some new ways to pray--

Lord, thank you for your abiding grace and being the only help I'll ever need. 

Lord, thank you for this day with my family and the life you've given us. 

Lord, thank you for trusting us to be parents. Help us to seek your will and listen to your voice as we    teach them, guide them and love them. 

Father God, I give this day to you. Allow me to serve you through my thoughts, my actions and my service to my family and anyone I meet. 

Lord, I know each day is a gift and a chance to both teach and learn. Thank you for being my teacher and help me teach my children by example and service. 

Lord, I'm probably going to mess up today, help me to ask for forgiveness, forgive myself and get back on track. 

The overall "mood" in our house changed INSTANTLY. I'm not saying we're all rah-rah hunkie-dorie all of the time, but the change is tangible. 

I feel better.

Things are easier.

There is more joy.

The kids are generally happier.

Things are running much more smoothly. 

I am able to focus on the good, right things and let the rest go. 

I truly feel like this IS the way it should be. Yes, we are in the throws of the "terrible twos". Yes, I have a sweet (perhaps too rotten) teething "infant". But I can find the joy, the peace and move past the yuck and stress. The joy is eternal, the yuck is quite temporary. 

I brought my faith to life through prayer. I'll pray the same prayer for all of you. 

I brought my faith to life by printing these two verses and framing them in places I see them 20 times a day. 

I brought my faith to life and am carrying it with me throughout my day. It is making all the difference in our daily lives. 

Thanks Be to God. 

I'm linking up with Build 'Em Up through these blogs. Please visit and share in the encouragement!
Lil' Light O' Mine
Kelly's Korner
Blue Eyed Bride
Life at the Green House


I'll try to continue to post about teaching Jay and Lizzy about faith and the things we're doing to learn and grow as we travel God's path. But just so we're clear this is a tad out of my comfort zone, but I'm sharing it anyway.