The Donkeys on Pleasantview Road

Day 23: People of the Resurrection

 

Ooh baby, Asa took a real digger tonight. I would say he fell right on his head, but it appeared it was more on his forehead-elbow-nose-knee. Anyways, he tumbled right over the handlebars on his bike going about uberfast mph downhill on our road. Apparently the urge to be ALL BOY superceded the maternal urging of "take it slow, keep your brakes on at all times". You know you're a mother of boys when you are simply grateful no bones are broken (although his white t-shirt was speckled with red blood). My sister, who is really sensitive to others pain, would have probably passed out. Lucky Asa, I'm insensitive. :)

One second we were a family enjoying the warmth and wind; the next moment we are holding Asa together with blue shop towels from my neighbors garage and some ice in a baggy Mr. Bluetruck dug out of the chest freezer. As he gave us a ride home in that blue truck I asked a question I have been curious about for a few weeks. I casually asked what the new fence they have been building was for. Apparently Momma Bluetruck is going to rescue 2 donkeys. This is funny, you see, because that is precisely what her son was doing right at that moment.

I could draw some great analogy about when we topple over our handle bars and get bloody and broken God is there to hold us together with whatever tools he can find.  Or I could compare my warnings about going slow and using your brakes to the lessons Jesus shares in parable after parable. Lesson that go unheaded. Lastly, I could bring in those jackasses as final symbolism of my stupidity, Asa's stubbornness, and how no fence is strong enough to contain man's pride.

But alas, I am going to snuggle with Asa just a bit longer, I'm going to say my prayer of thanksgiving that he is home asleep in his bed with only skin wounds and I am going to tighten the helmet policy at the Tarjeson household no matter how much whining I hear from the minors. No righteous message here, just broken people living post-resurrection.

Tick Tock Tick Tock

Day 22: Time of the People of the Resurrection

I admit it, in a lot of ways I am a slacker mom. At least by today's standards my kids are under-involved, under-active, and under-scheduled. Some of this is because their mom is a bit "over" in some of these areas. But mostly it is because I relish in seeing them build forts out of rubbish behind my dad's old shed. I savor the dirty hands, faces, and feet they track into the house after playing outside all day. I pray over the relationships they are forming with their siblings, these life-long friendships that will be part of a legacy we as parents leave to them.

No, Colby probably won't have a shot at pro-ball since I didn't start him early in T-ball. Paige may never break the child-actress scene since I won't drive her to long-distance auditions (or even short distance ones for that matter). Asa . . . shucks for all of Asa's creative genius, he won't master the stroke of a paintbrush till he's in his 20's at least. But . . . I think they'll be fine. I think they'll have these fond memories of 6-acres in the clay soil with dogs, wild rabbits, and the valley wind chasing them. I can see their memories playing out into the future with sleds in dirty white snow and bikes jostling on the gravel driveway. They're memories will latch onto their childhood like the burdock's that catch in their warm winter coat and Zeke's once velvet tail.

Don't get me wrong, families who make other decisions about their time are also going to have great memories of trips to games and family bonding over these activities. Please take no offense if your schedule is pleasantly busy. But if it's a bit more crowded than you'd like, if the carpool van and the soccer mom that drives it are beat down tired; if your weekend feels like a full-time job and your kids can't remember what the purpose of that flat piece of wood on four legs in the dining room; then it might be time to simplify. Living simply doesn't have to mean dirty kids either (this just happens to be the case for me)! 

Find the things that you want your family to remember most, chances are they will cost no money to encourage and will require traveling no further than your own backyard. Put away the keys, turn of the tech, and focus in on the blessing of this family and this moment.

The most daring words anyone can say!

Day 21: The Generous People of the Resurrection

We are called to be generous. Research shows that it is even one of several things people have as a need for successful human development: Independence, Belonging, Mastery and Generosity. People need to feel as though they are contributing to something meaningful. They need to feel as though they are part of something larger than themselves: their community, their country, their world! (O.k. now I'm officially speaking 4-H )

But fulfilling this need isn't just about donating money, or being kind to someone. It's about being able to identify a need, joyfully take action to meet the need, and actually make a positive impact around you!

With Christ, being generous is about serving him, serving his people, and expressing gratitude in the blessings he has given you. It is about allowing him to use the church and all of the parts within it (including you) to strengthen and encourage one another. It is about remembering that when you feel weak he is strongest and can do for others through you. Ah my Thursday morning friends taught me this: He does not call the equipped, he equips the called. So don't wait for the right time, tools, or talents. Be generous NOW. TODAY. GO. Say those daring words loudly, HERE I AM LORD SEND ME. He will actually do it.

(Why are you still reading this, go on with getting generous already?!?!?)

Go Ahead . . . Make My Decisions

Day 20: People of the Resurrection

I have "discovered" a fun new website that makes me giggle at http://dailyoddcompliment.tumblr.com/. This site, created by writer Logan Rhoades posts a fun and odd compliment each day. I love reading thoughts that actually reflect how I think, and here there are plenty of them. Have you ever thought about what it'd be like to have a thought bubble follow you around all the time and have your thoughts posted inside it? No? O.k. so that's just me then. But if this actually happened, the comments from this site would be like the ones in my thought bubble. For example, one of these daily odd compliments claims "My life would be a lot easier if you just made every decision for me."

This is something that I have thought often when around many, many people. Not just your run of the mill control freaks either. I remember being a young woman begging my mother for even a bit of advice while she would methodically force me to think out and solve problems for myself. I hated it. Yeah, yeah what a great mom . . . she taught me such a valuable lesson. Blagh! The only reason it's valuable is because NO ONE is willing to make my decisions for me.

Even this God of ours gave me free will!?!?!?! Doesn't he know how dangerous I will be with that? Doesn't he know that left to my own devices I can royally mess this life up for myself and maybe even for some other people he cares about?  He has to know that I am q clumsy, prideful sinner-girl!? Wouldn't so many things about this life just be easier for  everyone if he just made every decision for me? I imagine I would not wound him deeply as I often do.

No instead, I am told, he wants us to come to him willingly. He wants our relationship to be genuine and true. He wants me to ask for his assistance with all matters. He desires me to make my own decisions using the gifts that he has given to me. That is not to say it is I who has done anything right. The gift of a relationship with him is always there. He infuses the power of the Holy Spirit into me. He sent his son to atone for me. He provides grace that is sufficient for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Now, that I think about it, there really isn't much left for me to do. He even provides law and gospel for me when making the decisions I have to make.

So today, I got mad at Big D when he wouldn't tell me what to wear for our church directory picture. Big D reminds me that when decisions like that are made for me I rarely listen to them anyway. Asa gave me some wise 5-year old advice tonight. I can't even tell you what it was, but I do remember responding with "Don't tell me what to do little man." Hmmm sounds like I might just not relish the whole "make my decisions for me" thing after all. The hardest thing about being People of the Resurrection is being left to make our own decisions in a flawed and crazy world. But it is also a gift to bless our days as People of the Resurrection.

Wheelchairs, Bendy Beds and Scrubs OH MY!

Day 19: Mothers of the Resurrection

I love to laugh, and most of all I love to laugh with my mother. Today my mother blessed St. Lukes Hospital up and down with her sarcasm, teasing and goodnatured laughter. It was a blessing to me to hear all kinds of people tell me how much they loved serving my mother. I thoroughly enjoyed serving her today as well. Thank you God for the gift of my mother!

360 Degree Effect

Day 18: People of the Resurrection

Given my recent 'choice' use of words, I decided to pray before I blog from now on.

Been praying a lot today actually. I found myself ready ten minutes before I needed to be so I decided to stop and pray before I headed out the door. At first look, prayer is an incredibly unique experience for everyone isn't it? Some people can read a prayer using words that someone else came up with. Some people have prayers that are memorized (I think they are called rote prayers). Some have stream-of-consciousness prayers (this is often where I am at). And yet there are times when nothing will suffice but carefully chosen and intentional words spoken aloud (this is where I was this morning).

Prayer is unique in that everyone calling upon the Lord, giving thanks and beseeching him is doing so according to their own preferences, experiences, and challenges. Everyone has their own personal (or impersonal) relationship with our Savior. At the 2013 Set Apart Conference I saw women from all walks of life demonstrate their relationships with God through hands extended "to the heavens" or heads bowed in reverence or eyes darting shyly not certain where to fix their gaze or what to do with their awkward self. It is truly humbling to engage in a relationship where the other party can drastically alter who you are and how you feel about anything. Sure, I have friends who influence me but with God I have felt this full 360 degree effect.

I was recently reminded of the blind man who was healed and although he could not explain how or why he said in paraphrase "All I know is I was blind and now I can see." For me the sentence would be more like "All I know is before God my marriage was broken and with him it is healing." Pre-Marriage Retreat I did not believe and Post-Marriage Retreat I not only believe but trust. And the blessings have been poured out ever since.

The most delicious part of this relationship with our Savior is that in addition to our prayers being a unique and personal experience, He experiences a unique and personal relationship with us as well. His capacity to hear and answer and experience is far greater than ours but he sincerely wants us to come to him with the bigs and the littles in our life.

Dancing On His Sheds

Day 17: People of the Resurrection

Why is it when you feel really icky and someone calls you because they feel really icky, you start to feel better? (I know my great use of the word icky leaves a lot to be desired). But seriously, I've been pretty miserable this week and my dear friend called me twice to check in and share some of her angst and I suddenly felt better. I would say that misery loves company, but I don't really wish misery on others . . . do I? I don't think I wish it on others, but maybe if someone were to experience pain of their own accord it might just make me feel as though I'm not so alone. I may not feel like I'm the only little "sinner-girl" out here; the only one experiencing the symptoms of pain that this disease has flaked into our world.

 

So this makes me wonder, what's good about all of us being sinners? IT IS NOT GREAT TO BE A SINNER, BUT TO BE A REPENTANT SINNER, AND TO LIVE AMONG OTHER REPENTANT SINNERS WHO RECEIVE HIS GRACE AND MERCY. I make messes, I KNOW I do (Chief of Sinners though I be), but I repent, am forgiven and through the work of the Holy Spirit strive to make my actions match my words. I want the fruit of these vines to be strong enough to witness for Him in one succulent bite. A lofty goal, and a good one.

 

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."  I love a good party! Luke 15:7

 

I am over half-way through this 30 Day Blog and have learned a lot about myself as I share my thoughts here. I'm not sure that my message always come out as I intend, but that really isn't too important to me. This is an accountability blog. It is for me and my family. To record the things that we have noticed, experienced and hold fast to. There is not part of this journey that grants or requires me to hold others accountable (at least not through this blog). I do not have the power, in myself, to demand that others repent or abide in Christ. I have faith that he'll take care of that if they let him.

 

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do-living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead."
1 Peter 4:3-6

 

So while blog my thoughts and my family's journey to live as People of the Resurrection, I don't wish any pain, misery, hurting, or hardship on others. I only offer the advice I got from another dear friend (I am so blessed to have these dear women in my life); the work of living and rejoicing as people of the resurrection really PISSES SATAN OFF (No my friend did not use those exact words, she would never!). He will do what he can to thwart you, he will use the only real tool he has in his slippery tool belt . . . doubt. He will tempt and torture and taunt. I know 100% that is what I am experiencing this week. So I encourage you to do what I will do, VERBALLY CALL HIM OUT ON THE CARPET AND EVACUATE, ERADICATE AND EXHUME HIS SORRY BUTT. Together as People of the Resurrection, we will draw strength and dance on the sheds of his skin.