Your Word is a Lamp Unto My Feet

Acts 15:31 says "When they read it aloud, the people rejoiced at its encouragement."

Reading at our house is not fun. Dyslexia is doing its best to steal the joy that can come from sitting quietly and being transformed through the words of a book.  This struggle affects every area of our life. Having mixed up letters (or numbers) changes not just "reading". It makes a math problem a challenge, instructions become difficult, a recipe becomes something to decode. Most things that people consider normal and easy are made harder.

As I sit with her each night and listen to her try and try to read and to make sense of these jumbled up letters, I turn my head so she can't see my chin start to quiver and a tear fall.  I wipe the tear and give her an encouraging smile to keep going. Watching her work so hard and for it not to be getting easier makes this mother's heart ache.

So, when our family committed to do a Christmas Advent exercise that involved reading and writing scripture each day, I never dreamed this would be something she would be excited about.  I praise Him that I was wrong.  John and I had been doing the reading aloud and we each started a journal to write down the verses.  After a few days, she said, "Can I be the one to read the Bible?" I almost said No.  In the back of my mind thinking, "Oh this will be too hard, it will take too long....it is much easier for us to read it, these words are hard and some unfamiliar! I want this to be a special time, not a frustrating time!!" But, wanting to encourage her - I gave in.  I passed her the Bible and told her the verses...Isaiah 11:6-10...What came next was so moving that even five days later, as I write this, my page is marked with tears.

It was beautiful. It was confident. It flowed with ease. Her voice proudly reading His word. I had told her to stop at verse 10, but as she neared the end of that verse she just kept going.  I tried to interrupt - nope, she kept on.

I was amazed. We read simple and hard books and with each one we struggle. Yet, she was able to read the Word of The Lord with confidence. May I have the same hunger for His Word. May I be so confident that I keep reading far past the "required" portion. Lord, I do not question why my child faces this struggle. I believe it is part of your perfect plan. I praise You that of ALL the books that could come easily - that you have opened her eyes and her heart for Your word. Thank you for unscrambling the letters for her.  If she never loves another book - continue to give her a love for Your Word. Amen

The Story of my Life

About 12 years ago, my sister and I were chosen to speak at the Baccalaureate Ceremony at our High School. It was a huge honor and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to the seniors about the next phase of life.  What could we tell them that we wish we had known at the time? We looked and looked for ideas and prayed about inspiration.  We landed on a theme of "The Story of Your Life". A reminder that each moment, each decision, each day will be combined to create your story.  You are moving to a new chapter and should approach it as an opportunity. Does your story need a plot twist? I remember very vividly a moment in college when I looked in the mirror and the Lord was so gracious to bring the book of James to my mind...."Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like." James 1:23-24. I did not want my story to go down that road - so a plot twist was needed.

As I was preparing for my most recent speaking engagement this theme once again came to my mind.  Reflecting over the passages of my story that have already been written and how the Lord has used good and bad moments to draw me closer to Him.  I prayed and prayed for the Lord to point out moments that others might be able to relate to in their own lives.  

When I finished and read through it for the first time I thought, WOW - this story is a tear jerker! It is filled with ups and downs - twists and turns. Chapters centered around death of loved ones, learning to be married (and stay that way), infertility, miscarriages, and the many trials of parenting.  Sounding like a downer??? If you focus on just that it might, but that is just a piece of it.  I can look back on each of these painful moments and see how God used and continues to use them to shape my story.  God has turned these horrible events into moments to Glorify His Name.  There have also been many moments of laughter, celebration and blessings woven in to make the story complete.

Like every story, there are some moments that I would like to cover up with White Out (young people won't even know what that is!!!).  Unfortunately, in earthly terms those moments are a part. I am thankful that because I accepted Christ that He not only used White Out - he erased them completely from His story.  Like everyone, I am not proud of some chapters - but am learning how I can use them to make the next chapter better.  

There are many chapters of hilarious moments - one chapter includes me knocking a bag of candy corn on the CEO of my bank. As he got out of my car he had to take his shoes off to pour out the remaining kernels.  Or when Mary-Peyton was little and John would turn on the vacuum cleaner and she would stop crying. I would sit and cry and just knew she would become a vacuum cleaner addict.  I can assure you she has no addiction to the vacuum and feels no need to use one to this day :)  

I am thankful to see how the Lord has and is using my life. How the funny, the hard, and the in between are woven into my story. I am most grateful that while I gave my life to Him 35 years ago - it is the moments since then that have built my testimony.  I am also thankful for YOU - if you are reading this you are a part of that story.  My story can be called a drama, sometimes a comedy, but mostly a reality show full of grace.  

"For it is by grace you have been saved, thru faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph 2:8-9