Smiling with Tears in my Eyes

For quite a while now, I have been putting off starting this blog.  Short of fire falling from the sky, God has been doing a lot of elbow-nudging, shoulder-tapping, and head-thumping to get me to start.  I have so many stories, some already written and some stilling swirling around in my head – that I know He wants me to share. Oh – but what are people going to think of me?  Will I make a fool of myself?  Will I expose too much? Will it be good enough? What about my grammar? Can I handle any criticism? Would anyone bother to read it?

After sharing an article I had written, a friend commented that she was “smiling with tears in her eyes.”  Hearing her say that really has given me the courage to share more. My stories may make you laugh, cry, or even both at the same time.  I really just want to share some of the lessons I have learned the hard way, and to tell you about the amazing ways God can show up in our lives if we let Him.  There have been so many times God has left me smiling with tears in my eyes, too.  I want this to be a place where we can be real with each other – which can be so hard sometimes for many of us. It may not always be pretty, but let’s give it a try.

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like…

We’re just a few days before Thanksgiving.  When I start to think about this coming season of non-stop holidays…all the gifts I need to buy, gifts to make yet, food to cook, decorations to put up…I start to panic a little bit. As much as I try to keep things simple, I usually end up going overboard and things can get overwhelming around here.  Shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping – it all gets a little crazy.

I went for a walk the other day down by the lake.  The waves were lapping up on the shore…whoosh…whoosh…whoosh.  Shopping… baking…wrapping…whoosh. All the things we have to do this season, rhythmically and consistently beat on us in an attempt to wear us away like the shoreline. Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh.

But today the lake is calm.  Quiet.  Frozen.  Peaceful.  The sun is out and the ice is sleek and glistening.  It is still and beautiful. Nothing else has changed – my list to get ready for the holiday season is still growing.  But today I am reminded to stop. Be quiet. Have peace.

It’s amazing what a day can do.