Month: May 2024

The days had been good and full, but there was this undercurrent of change that was tugging on me. Lack of sleep and too much sugar did not help either. Exhausted and unsettled was my state of heart. One simple question and it all came spilling out. Like colorful tops spinning away, I saw what had been normal changing. All is worthy to celebrate of course, but there had not been an opportunity for me to take some time to process. What do we do at this crossroads of change? We cannot go back, to stay exactly the same is impossible, so we choose to move forward. I wonder about many things, one being will I be faithful to participate in what He has called me to as a mother? In the midst of change, will I be overwhelmed or engaged? Will I get back up when I fail again and again?

I take a look back and see God’s faithfulness as our family has navigated many changes as all families do. With one child going into middle school, one more starting high school, another off to college and the oldest getting married, we will see His faithfulness many times over. He always has been faithful and He always will be. And so we move towards all that is changing with joy, dependence and gratitude.

It is a rare occasion to find me in a fitting room. I like the safety of our home when trying on something new. Today I ventured into the small space to try on some dresses to wear to our daughter’s graduation. You know what made all the difference? Shame was not welcome to whisper lies as I viewed my reflection. I judged the dress, not the person it hung on. Some had too much fabric, one was a weird length and another was not the color for me. This reminded me that there are millions of dresses in this world, but only one of you and me. And that image I saw staring back at me, she is made in the image of God.

We read a familiar Bible story this morning and I noticed something new. In the account of the exchange between Zechariah and Gabriel, unbelief led to the loss of the ability to speak. When Zechariah wrote the truth, then he was given back his voice. It wasn’t the question that silenced him, it was unbelief. Mary too received impossible news, asked questions, but she responded with belief. However, that was not the end of either of their stories. Both Zechariah and Mary end up praising the God of grace and good news with a song.

I do not know about you, but unbelief is natural when faced with impossible. Maybe it is during times when we are kept quiet that God works to strengthen our faith. Then when we are given back our voice, so to speak, it sounds more like praise.