Forty —Part Deux!

A few years ago I dedicated an entry to Heather celebrating her fortieth birthday.  It was a milestone for her but also for me.  Now here I am again…celebrating our youngest Kara reaching that same milestone today.  I can now officailly enter senior adult status -(actually I’ve been enjoying that for a few years now!)

I can remember the exact moment and place I found out I was going to have another baby and was immediately filled with questions and concerns.  As silly as it was I wondered if I would be able to love and care for this new baby like I did Heather.  I don’t know why I wondered that question but it was completely answered when my eyes beheld our second little daughter.  My heart suddenly and miraculously was doubled in love.  Kara came into this world wide-eyed and thrashing her arms like she was ready to go-to get in the game.  This by the way hasn’t stopped in forty years!  

Some of Kara’s early obsessions were with Mary Lou Retton - complete with the stars and stripes gymnastic outfit, from that obsession to Karate Kid and karate lessons and then on to dinosaurs, paper making and drawing to name a few fascinations. ( Yes Kara we haven’t forgotten the salesman who came unannounced to our house to view at your drawings and recognize ‘artistic talent’ because of a card you had mailed in.)  She was notorious for picking up postcards, credit card applications, and leaflets or whatever else was available for free.  She always was her own kid caring little what others thought or did.  

She loved to play competively with Bill (and still does).  They were always throwing something or making a competition of whatever they could get their hands on.  Later in elementary grades she developed a love for sports, especially basketball.  She set personal goals toward excellence and it paid off with championships and college.  

I don’t say that to brag but to be mindful of some important things about our second born.  Her perseverance has gotten her through many circumstances.  Whether the circumstances have been memorable and fun or difficult and stressful she seemed to persevere.  Kara is happy with living and doing and has always had a positive outlook toward life.  She was that way as a kid- finding joy in simple things, being grateful for small treasures and she is still that way today.  

Now two little blue eyed beautiful blonde girls call her momma. Husband Jamie is always a busy guy who is one of the hardest workers you can find.  He is a great taste tester for Kara’s creative recipes which by the way she has actually become a great cook! 

There are so many things I want Kara to know and remember today but of course it’s hard to put forty years all into a few words.  While she and Bill share a lot of personality traits, she and I share a love for words.  Many times I have been sustained and encouraged by her written wisdom.  They are my treasures, hiding and pondering them in my heart.  

So no matter what the term may be for this generaltion we can all agree it’s officially adulthood now.  What advice do I give that I haven’t given before?  The only thing I could do is solidly point back to the Word of God.  This was written by Paul but I don’t think I could give any greater testimony or birthday wish:  “Brothers and sisters I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.”  

Happy 40th—love and prayers,

MoM

Praying Simply or Simply Praying

“Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act!”  We find this simple yet profoundly powerful prayer in Daniel 9:19.  I am astonished and amazed to think of how appropriate and perfect that prayer is for us today-amid COVID and its consequences, amid political confusion, amid our own consternation of what to do with all of it!

I realized it has been exactly one year today since I have posted on my blog-Turn Left Right Here.  I can certain testify it has not been for lack of something to say or that nothing has been going on in my life or the lives of those around me!  I have probably thought of a hundred or more possible entries yet here I am 365 days later ready to start again.  

One year ago today Bill and I had just celebrated with family and friends his retirement from FBC Burkburnett.  As I still think so tenderly of our Burk family I am reminded what I posted in our thanks to the community via The Informer Star “—as Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 “We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives because you had become dear to us.”  We also celebrated with friends from other churches on that day.  For us these friendships are all intertwined -being a part of our story.  We forget that the friends from Fairview don’t know the friends from Bristow or Allen or Burkburnett.  So now we find ourselves in the next chapter of our story.  Adding new characters and new plots. More to come later on that!

The biggest plot for us, as well as almost everyone in the world, has been the COVID crisis.  There have been plenty of voices saying a lot of things so I didn’t think I needed to add mine.  Lately though I have been convicted and convinced that my story, my insights are unique and while I certainly don’t have answers to our crisis I can share how I am dealing.

I admit I haven’t handled this whole ‘thing’ well.  I am always thankful (or maybe validated) when I hear from a respected Christian leader that they are also struggling-maybe that’s not necessarily something to be thankful of but none the less it helps.  I can’t make this post include everything I have learned for the last 365 days but I want to focus on the above passage and hopefully become more intentional about writing.  

There have been a ton of studies done on the book of Daniel and many of them are great!  I will not be deep in meaning of this wonderful book but we should be reminded Daniel was taken from his home at a young age.  He was taken to Babylon which at this time, was the world power.  Babylon was not a godly nation by any means and yet Daniel and at least three of his friends whom we know best by their Babylonian names-Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego took a firm stand for Jehovah.  Daniel even though he was given a powerful position in Babylon and actually grew old there never compromised his faith.  In Daniel 9, we see he knows God’s Word (according to Jeremiah) so he is aware there will be 70 years of captivity for Israel.  He doesn’t have all the details of how it will end, or how people will respond, nor does he have any answers.  He just turns to God in prayer and petition.  The whole prayer in verses 4-19 is definitely worth reading but in verse 19 he says “Lord, hear! Lord, forgive! Lord, listen and act!”  I am thinking it is very similar in heart to the LORD’s prayer in Matthew 6:9-13.  He acknowledges the LORD; he acknowledges His kingdom come, he acknowledges our need for forgiveness, he acknowledges it is only God who can act.  

God is not asking us to come up with good solutions for COVID and its consequences, He is wanting us to rely on Him.  Sometimes through all of this craziness, I have really had a hard time seeing good.  I know God welcomes our thoughts and concerns and questions.  He knows our hearts are heavy.  I don’t think there is anyone who (truly) says they were or are unaffected by COVID.  There are tons of perspectives and opinions on how to look at our current situation but when I came across this prayer in Scripture, I was encouraged.  Simple and to the point.  Sometimes less is more…. 

(I love writing and sharing my thoughts and the best way for me to do that currently is sharing my blog.  I hope to be much more intentional and regular to share.  My prayer is to use my insights to glorify God and be a good steward of what He has given me.)