I'm sitting out in the early March afternoon sun - light coming through the still bare branches. Watching Maggs sleep by my feet on the deck, turning my chair so the breeze doesn't blow my hair into my face. Thinking about this long winter... who am I kidding? This long YEAR. So thankful for the promise of Spring. I think it's finally here.
February brought an opportunity to learn to be more intentional - and it surprised me how even the things I would have said, "I always do that," weren't always being done. My best efforts often failed. My determination to do better kept disappearing, as the hours turned into another busy day, as the busy days became weeks, and as weeks morphed into months.
It's been a long, hard four years here at the troops. There's been SO much joy and so many good gifts. But there's also been a lot of just surviving, too.
One thing about having a big family AND getting older - is that if the phase you are in is uncomfortable, a new one will be here soon. Maybe harder, maybe less demanding but it will be different. The constant is that it's always changing. Winter may be long and dark and cold, but Spring will come.
Just this morning I was talking to one of the kids (they'll always be kids, even though we now have FOUR in their 20's - what in the world?), about how regardless of how fast time goes or what season you're in... whether you are in school or college, or engaged or married, starting a career or finishing up year 28 in your vocation (like the Coach)... never stop being a learner.
Knowing our need for Jesus, our need for wisdom, our need for grace... knowing ALL we can learn from God's Word and the moving of the Holy Spirit and the wise counsel that we can glean from others...you never out grow those things. Not at 21, not at 47, not ever. Read your Bible, read books, listen to podcasts, listen to sermons, read more books, really LISTEN to people - who have already been where you are and have learned well along the way.
I've always told my kids to learn from those around them - positive and negative. Something they've all seen is that arrogance and lack of accountability never serve us well. There's huge need for humility when you live with 9 other people, who are all different than you are! Thinking we know all and can do all and have all and be all is a sure path to destruction. God didn't create us to do it on our own. He created us to depend on HIM. When we are weak, then HE is strong. The opposite of arrogance and pride? Humility and a willingness to learn. A desire to learn. A heart that says, no matter how well I do this, I want to do it better. No matter how well I love people, I want to love them more. No matter how many opportunities I have to bring glory to the name of Christ, I never want to stop looking for more ways to honor Him. The Coach is a beautiful example of this quality. He strives for excellence in every area of his life.
And that's what I pray for my kids.
I find it easier to be humble, the older I get. I know I'm such a mess. I know more about how little I know... every single day. But I look at my kids and see these amazing, God-following, wise, intelligent, young men and women - and I know they need Jesus just as desperately. They must be determined not to give pride and arrogance a foothold. So I keep telling them... always learn, always grow, never think you have it all figured out. Pursue humility and have a learner's heart. Pursue JESUS. Because in light of HIS righteousness, holiness, perfection... we're not so amazing. But OH how amazing He is.
So I remind myself today, as I work on losing weight... AGAIN. As I seek to continue to grow discipline in my daily life. As I plan and prepare and organize and budget. As I work on more consistent journaling and writing. As I think about what race will be next for the Coach and I (one of the many things we've missed in the last year). That I must always be a learner.
I'd love to hear what part of God's Word, Bible study, book, podcast, etc. YOU are learning from this week! Leave me a comment, so I can keep learning along with you.
Happy Wednesday!
