I have mentioned frequently how busy our fall has been, good busy, but still busy none the less. We are in the middle of moving from one house to another, moving from this house includes packing, getting the yard cleaned up from the leaves, and getting odds and ends cleaned and ready for the next person who moves in here. While, trying to do a few things to the house we are moving into before all of our stuff is all over. Last week began the starting packing seriously, empty cupboards, go through books, etc. I had a list in my head of when to do what so the timing of it flows together or at least that was my plan.
Then, God let us in on his plan, and I have come to expect God’s twists in my plans, because God’s plans and my plans do not always, do not usually, line up with each other. That’s ok, I trust Abba to change my plans, I trust he has a plan and knows exactly what he is doing. This week was going to be chalk full of getting the house we are in ready and gone through so next week can be focused only on packing and moving to the next house. Well, hmmm, that didn’t work! Mark got a sinus infection and when he gets one of those it works him over! Then, Titus got pneumonia and was up multiple nights, which means I did not get much sleep and pregnancy and not much sleep are not a good combination. So, packing, cleaning, and raking got put on the back burner, but never once did I forgot they were what I was suppose to be doing or should be doing. But, God, in his mercy and love for us, knew it was exactly what we needed.
You see we had begun to focus on our tasks, instead of being focused on our family, on our kids. We had begun to hunker down and plow through life, flying through it without really seeing anyone. This is a dangerous place, because it’s a place were we tend to not ask for help, we tend to try and do life on our own. We were never meant to do life on our own, it’s why he made a large human race. He knew we would need one another, he knew we would all have skills, talents, and ideas that would benefit all. Also, in times where a lot is going on, we tend to hunker down and plow through, ignoring our daily need of God’s strength, love, and endurance and we trade it for a yoke that is much to heavy for us. So, God stopped us in our tracks, in the heat of the race, while our adrenaline was still pumping strongly. He slowed us down, reminded us of what is truly, really important. In the moment when Titus was laying on my chest gasping to breath, I did not care if the leaves ever got raked and bagged, I did not care that the packing was barely done, all I cared about in that moment, was Buddy and his important place in our family. God slowed me down and reminded me to rely on his strength, his endurance, and his love. He reminded me that I was never ever meant to do life on my own. He reminded me that anything attempted on my own strength will never work and all I will end up being is tired and frustrated wondering where everyone is and why they aren’t helping. But, what really happens is I get so set on pulling my own wagon, I am not able to see the people on the side of me lovingly tapping me on the shoulder asking if they can help, love on me, and help me carry the load. I must take my blinders off, I must stop pulling, and allow God to carry the weight of the load. It is much to heavy for me or for anyone!
So, we stopped, dead in our tracks, weary and tired, downtrodden and heavy burdened. What we ended up with was peace, rest, and perspective. God in his mercy slows and stops those he loves, that’s what a father does, it’s what protection and love look like. Learning to trust the father one moment, one circumstance at a time!