Remember

I heard this today.

“God calls us to remember.”

It’s true isn’t it?

“He causes us to remember His wonderful works.”

I love the verb.  He causes.

My daughter wears a necklace for this purpose.  And, not because she might forget.  She’ll never forget.  She wears this memory to hold dear and preserve what was dearly and desperately desired.

A permanent reminder, so to speak.

There was a tattoo on the arm of another.   

I know of a lily that was planted because it blooms every summer.

A timely photo was framed.

Over and over we’re told to remember.

Remember you were “chosen long ago”.  Remember it’s “by His dust you were made“.  You were “formed in utter seclusion woven together in the dark of the womb”.

They remember.

Nothing is certain with life.  It can be short.

It has been explained to us that a generation died and another generation grew up who did not acknowledge the Lord or remember the mighty things that He had done.  So, we are  called to remember.  We will not hide these truths from our children.  We will tell the next generation.

We will wear necklaces and tattoos.   We will plant.  We will frame.

Children are a gift from Him.

The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.

We’ve all been them.

Little children.

Psalm 111

Psalm 139

Judges 2

Ecclesiastes 7

Psalm 89

Last Day of School

Three little ones had their last day of pre-school before the summer.

Mommas’  hearts were achy.

It was a sentimental mile-marker.

And, so it begins, doesn’t it? Swirling thoughts of how one ending becomes a beginning to another.  All kinds of decisions are already being considered for what’s next.  Some are pivotal!  They determine the most likely trajectory for what follows after.  One decision can feel liberating while another can increase the weight already placed on a set of shoulders.

Let me tell you who’s not worried what tomorrow will bring.

These three little ones.

To be honest, they’re not even thinking about tomorrow.  They know tomorrow will come and still there is no worry for today.

There’s this confidence.  There’s this trust. It’s all wrapped up in the one they love.

Oh, to have faith like the little ones.

We’re not to worry what tomorrow will bring either.  It won’t add a single moment to our life.  It is the Lord who lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads.  He already knows our needs.  He has wings to shelter.  He has feathers to cover.  It is these faithful promises that are our armor and protection.

It’s a confidence.

It’s a trust.

You know what three little ones are thinking about today?

Ice cream.

“If you know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him.”

He wraps them up in love.

Psalm 91:4

Luke 12:25

Matthew 6:27; 7:11

Call Your Mom

Call your mom.

It’s likely she’s home.

It’s an ordinary day.

But, those are the best days.  Not the fabricated holidays.

It doesn’t have to be long.  There doesn’t have to be a reason.

She’s been thinking of you.

She knows the pressure you’re under.  The busyness of your season. She’s likely quit calling because she doesn’t want to interrupt your flow, your work, your children, your husband, your wife, your life.  She’s not mad about it.  She loves it.  She had it, too.  She can’t believe those days of her own are already passed down to your days.  Her heart is full with how you seemingly do it better than she did.  Than she could.  She thinks of her own mishaps and missteps but wouldn’t change a one of them because that might in fact have changed you.

Call your mom.

She’s likely out and about.

She loves the free reign but sentimentally longs for just one moment of the season you’re in.  Just a moment, though.  She couldn’t imagine doing it again.  Her energy and stamina wonders how she ever did.  But, she’ll take one more lap to be sat on.  One more bed to be tucked in.  One more night to be wakened. One more hand to be held.  One more scrape to be bandaged.  One more story to be told.

Call your mom.

She may not answer.  But, no regrets.  She knew you would when you could.  She kept no tabs.  She only measured her full heart.  And oh, how she loved you.  Always did.  Nothing could have ever changed that, but her time ran out, too.

It’s likely she’s home.

Don’t cry.

She was incredibly humbled.

She was beyond blessed.

She was so proud to be the mother of you.

Proverbs 31

Green Tree

It’s green!

It’s green!

I could not be more ecstatic.

I really, really, really, thought it was dead.  I didn’t cry, of course.  It’s a tree.  But, my soul sure was downcast.   I so desperately wanted life for it.  Every tree I have ever personally planted with my two fatal thumbs have gone the way of soil back into God’s green earth.  My own personal regeneration contributions.

But, what do I know?  What am I to do?

“I don’t make tender grass spring up. I don’t tilt the water jars of heaven when the ground is dry and the soil hardened to clods. My breath doesn’t send the ice. I can’t spread light to the ends of the earth.”

I’m so glad that I stopped short of terminating this little tree of life when I thought there wasn’t any.  It was in such an undeveloped stage, though.  I had confirmed with others in this sorry plight and was resolving myself to its unfortunate fate. Dare I mention my own husband who is mildly inconvenienced by its mere maintenance.  I could always attempt to try again amid better conditions. I didn’t want to be void of wisdom though, so I tried to refrain from acting hastily.  I retained a wee bit of excitement to consider the full beauty and purpose it could play.   

With one quick double-take as I passed it with the lawnmower assessing whether to mow right over it, I literally had to stop the mower and bend over low to get up close and personal and my heart rejoiced.

There was evidence of life.

That was my hope.  That was my hope.

I was just so thrilled for the sign that there is still abundant life to burst forth and so much potential for full flourishing.

It’s like God saying,  “No need to mow what I intend to grow.”

You will be nurtured my little slight sprig.

Such a small life must be preserved by such great care.

Psalm 92:12

Job 38

Psalm 139