Table for 10

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I am frequently asked how we manage a home with 7 kids, their sports all while staying involved and active at church and working a full time job and exercising. Sometimes I step back and see all we do and ask myself that same question?!?  How do we do it?

Truly it is by the strength and help of the Lord that we survive each day and busy week. Constant prayer 🙏🏻 🙏🏻🙏🏻 and endless coffee ☕️☕️☕️

However here are a few things the past few weeks since school and sports swing back into action that have been a huge blessing making it all come together for our family.

My amazing and wonderful husband who works so hard and endlessly for our family 💜

My mother being here and helping drive the kids home from school and to and from their activities. As hard of a transition as it was when she moved to Virginia and in with us.  For all the complaining and bad days that we have had,  we wouldn’t be making this busy season in our lives work without her here. Obviously God knew what He had planned when He led my mom to live with us.

God has blessed me with the gift of being organized. Keeping our calendars and meal plans up to date and flowing each week has been instrumental in keeping track of everything.  I have essentially 4 calendars I keep updated.  One online with our google calendars, a personal paper planner I keep with me, a family monthly calendar in our kitchen and a weekly calendar that sometimes is updated or changing daily!

We have been using a successful meal plan system for several years now.  This meal plan system has worked so well I think the world may end as we know it if we didn’t meal plan for a week.  All the mouths around our table have become very used to looking at the menu each day to see what is being made.

This past week I found some new casserole recipes that were a hit! I made them the night before and put them in the fridge so all I had to do at dinner time was put them in the oven.  At the beginning of each week I make one large salad and chop fresh veggies so that we have vegetables prepared and ready to go.  I use our slow cooker a lot too!

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/taco-bake-casserole-63779.aspx

http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/mac-cheese-lasagna-94496.aspx

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭5:16‬ ‭

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Living through anxiety…journey to hope and joy

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This is a tough one for me to write partially as a result of the destruction of anxiety I have been experiencing. Such a big topic…I’m not sure where to even begin.

Over the past two years for the first time in my life I have experienced anxiety, true anxiety. Not just a little nervous or anxious over typical life stuff but anxiety over something that pushed me to physical symptoms and results of the fear and anxiety.

The heart racing, nauseated, head pounding, feel like you cannot breath because you are suffocating from fear, pretty sure your having a heart attack and dying from being scared to death. ——> ANXIETY.

Anxiety is ugly…Anxiety is a monster…Anxiety is paralyzing…Anxiety is real…Anxiety is a SIN…

There is one specific area in our life beyond my control has caused such an overwhelming fear I have been in some ways completely paralyzed by it. It has robbed me of so many things, the most precious of which is joy and peace.

As a medical provider I am fully aware of anxiety as a medical diagnosis and appropriate treatment options. But being on the other side of this it’s completely different. I had no idea the physical symptoms were so ‘real’. My education training and experience of course I knew they were real. The impact of actually experiencing them was eye opening and quite painful.

It becomes such a horrible cycle. In my mind, my brain knows the truth, God is in control, I know the biblical truths that should keep my mind body and heart from being controlled by fear. Worry and fear is a sin and shows my lack of faith. But in that moment, when fear strikes, my mind shuts down and physical symptoms of fear, flight or fight reaction takes over.

Then when I’m in a safe place I feel overwhelming guilt and beat myself up for being weak and selfish. I feel shame and am angry with myself for allowing the fear to control me and my actions. I feel so defeated and powerless in these moments once the fear passes.

As this cycles through over and over, constantly living in fear and then guilt and shame is exhausting. I was suffocating with the results of this unending fear and I could not find a way to come up for air.

I was listening to a sermon by R.C. Sproul this past week on anxiety and he speaks about how much Jesus warned us against the SIN of anxiety and worry. The conviction that worry and anxiety is a sin has really sunk heavy in my heart.

 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”” Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”” Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭

“”Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew‬ ‭6:34‬ ‭

“do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

Last week my husband and I were having conversation about sin and he asked me what sin I struggle with the most, and anxiety doesn’t even pop in my mind. I immediately think of the first two commandments, and feel convicted of not putting God first and the idols in my life. However anxiety and fear over this part of our lives that is beyond our control is truly what I struggle with the most and results in impacting everything else in my life.

“So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.” Romans‬ ‭6:11-13‬

“The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans‬ ‭13:12‬ ‭

This is still a battle for me, ongoing…moment to moment…

This has been a difficult path for me and my husband and essentially our family as they have felt the effects of my anxiety. It took a while to be able to understand the underlying fear and anxiety and how this was taking over me.

I can’t choose not to have the fear in my life, that’s not going to change. The source of my anxiety is a constant in our lives so I must learn how to cope with this. To have faith and peace through the moments when fear is staring me in the face.

I am learning to choose to not let the fear control me. I have not mastered this or perfected this by any means. Oh my word! I am really not even close to where I need to be but I am now moving in the right direction…. making progress, baby steps.

I am learning and growing. With the support patience and understanding of my husband. With God’s word . Many many hours of prayer, ongoing constant prayer. I have reached out to christian women in my life for support and friendship.

God is in control and in the end this will be made to glorify Him. It is already working to grow my relationship with Christ.

With the power of Christ I am rising above this and can see the other side.

God is faithful despite my lack of faith!

By the power of the Holy Spirit at work in my life I am choosing to turn away from the sin of anxiety and fear and am turning to the strength and comfort in Jesus. God and his sovereignty will transform my heart and my life to one of peace and joy despite and through the trials that currently causing my fear.  It won’t be easy, God does not promise easy, but He does promise to be with me.  I will find comfort in knowing He is in control.  There will still be days that are a disaster, I will make many more mistakes along the way during this process.  However when those days come I will repent, turn back to Jesus and not allow the enemy to keep his hold over me.  I am imperfect, I am a sinner and I desperately need my Savior.  I am so thankful for God’s mercy and grace and most importantly for the sacrifice of His Son on the cross for my sins.

To my first born

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Truly how has it been over 15 years since you were so tiny new and fresh?

I was 22 years old when I welcomed you to this world, at that moment in time I thought I was grown up. I was a little unsure of what motherhood would be but I was not afraid. I should have been terrified but I was too proud and naive. On some level I thought that I had things figured out, I was so mistaken. I really had no idea what I was doing.

I believed in a God without a doubt but I had not yet transformed my heart and life for Christ. I was living my life in sin and rebellion.

Oh my sweet boy, if I only knew then what I know now…but nothing can change the past.

I have to stop myself as I reflect on the many things I could have done differently in your lifetime. Satan starts working in my mind to beat myself up with the ‘what if’s’ and tearing myself down for all the things I did wrong or could have done better. More so I tend to feel guilty for what I could have done differently.

I can reflect back and easily recognize the mistakes I made along the way. I can clearly see how I could have been ‘a better mom’.

Rather than focusing on the negative I have been making efforts to have grace and forgiving myself. Transforming my regrets and overpowering guilt for the errors in my early mothering years to being thankful.

I am thankful God chose me to be your mother, even when I was not ready or prepared.

I am thankful that despite the mistakes and poor choices of my past that you and I are healthy and safe.

I am thankful I am not where I once was and continue to grow in my faith and love for Christ.

I am thankful for answered and unanswered prayers.

I am thankful for making mistakes, I am not perfect and I am a sinner, my mistakes resulted in my need for a Savior and my surrender to Christ.

I am thankful for learning and growing in wisdom from my mistakes.

I am thankful that when I was not obedient and honoring to God in my choices and life He was still faithful and merciful to me in my life.

I am thankful for trials and storms along the way making me truly appreciate the triumphs and sunny days.

I am thankful for your unconditional love and grace, thankful for your forgiveness.

I am thankful for the way you inspire me to be a better mother and person.

I am thankful for sleepless nights, sticky hands, loud and hectic home full of little people.

I am thankful for the moments I am able to stop and see the world through your eyes.

I am thankful for toddler tantrums and teenage attitudes.

I am thankful for the opportunities to use my mistakes and life experience to teach and disciple you.

I am thankful for parenting books and the support of my mommy friends to talk, laugh and cry with.

I am thankful for the young man you are growing into despite my many mistakes and ‘could have done betters’.

I am thankful for my amazing husband and his godly influence in your life.

I am thankful for God’s plans in my life being more wonderful than any plans I could have dreamed of.

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭139:13‬ ‭

You my beloved son have had an instrumental and significant role in my journey to be the woman and mother I am today. You my son made me a mother. The greatest and most awesome blessing and responsibility of my life is being a mother.

My first born you have a piece of my heart that no one else ever will. ❤

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭9:15‬

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In response to our growing family we at times get some quite unfiltered responses and questions.

1) YES -we do know where babies come from and how they are made! My husband and I are fully aware of how babies are conceived.

2)No, our television is not broke, we have several operating televisions in our home.  (not joking I have been asked this)

3) Nope, my husband and I are not unintelligent or careless or crazy… we are truly blessed with having children.  ( I have been asked this too, if my husband and I are ‘slow’).

4)Yes! It’s another baby boy 💙💙💙, we have 5 boys and one girl and we are very happy to know we are having a healthy baby boy. While there would have been some perks to adding another girl to our family God had us equipped for boys!

5) Benjamin David Fincher is the name we have selected for our sweet baby boy. He is due June 4th but we anticipate he will make a May arrival.

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭40:28‬ ‭

“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm‬ ‭127:3‬ ‭

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Everyday I fail, I am human, I am a sinner, I am not perfect… especially in my role as a mother and wife … every single day my sinfulness and human nature will cause me to fail…

It seems so futile that my study verse the last few weeks has been ‘I seek You with all my heart do not let me stray from your hand.’ Psalm 119:10.  I had this verse in front of my eyes day in and day out and yet I still failed to truly seek God daily. Not the way I could have or should have.

How is it so easy to know in my mind something, but not be able to apply my knowledge through to my thoughts, words and actions?

Because separate from God I am weak! 

When I am not truly seeking God with all my heart then I am not strong in the Lord.  In these moments I am debilitated and powerless.  The enemy knows when I am weak and he takes full advantage and he attacks, pulling me even farther from Christ and consumed in my sinfulness.

Here are some of my needed reminders for this week…

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

“I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will perish.”  Luke 13:5

“Repent, then, and turn to God so that your suns may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” Acts 3:19

“I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”  Luke 5:32

“My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” Psalm 119:28

“Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 62:6

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ the new creation has come.  The old has gone, the new is here!” 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

 

 

 

I will not be defeated by my mistakes or shortcomings.

I will turn to God with a repentant heart and accept His forgiveness and grace.

I will not beat myself up and dwell on all the ways I have failed this day or this week. 

I am so thankful for God’s love and presence in my life. 

I will truly seek God with all my heart and find my strength for each moment of each day in Him!

Parenting success for 2017!

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Towards the end of 2016 my husband and I spent some time discussing and reviewing the amount of time our children were spending on screen time.

Overall we have maintained boundaries around their screen time that we firmly believe in.  With simples things like these…

-No electronics after 8pm.

-No phones or electronics in their bedrooms they must be used downstairs out in the open.

-No using phones or electronics on the morning on the way to school.

However even with our boundaries in place we were feeling that with all time they were spending with these devices they could be putting a little more into reading. (Ok so they could be putting A LOT more into reading 🤦🏼‍♀️)

Tyler Emily Joshua Richard

None of our older thee children, Joshua 14, Tyler 12 and Emily 12 are super avid readers.  They each have gone through phases when they read for pleasure here and there but overall it is not their favorite leisure activity to do.  They have the same habit their parents have to pick out lots of books and start many but finish few books.  So we explored some ways we could help get them reading more regularly some really great books.

We discussed all the different ways we could come up with and implement an enforced reading plan. This is the simple plan that we came up with for each one of our older three children for 2017.

An ENFORCED READING CHALLEGE each child will be;

-Assigned and required to read one book that was chosen by a parent each month.

-After completing their book they were required to answer some simple questions about the book in writing, I had some worksheets I made for them.

-Required to keep a log of the books they read and how many pages were in each book.

To try and make things fun and a little competitive we put a challenge on it.  We told them they could read above what we assigned with parent approved books and the child who read the most books would win a prize and the child who read the most pages would win a prize.  Of course our reading choices were carefully selected to make sure they were reading good books.  This was done on top of what assigned reading they had in school and reading they wanted to do on their own.

At first they grumbled and complained…but they did it.  We were mean parents but our children were reading some great books!

It seemed after a few months in they were even starting to enjoy some of the books.  Some of the books were faith based, some were nonfiction, some were fiction.  We even through in some of the books we had to read as a child like ‘Where the red fern grows.’  Some of the months they were challenged more than others.  Emily did note on several occasions she felt this reading at home was helping her at school with her reading comprehension.  Hopefully it helped the other two as well!

Of course this meant work on our part as parents, following through with it.  Taking the time to select books each month and keep up with them and make sure they were actually reading.  We did let the month of September go by as a free month as they got back into school routine that month.

We sat down one night last week at dinner and pulled out all their reading logs and the questions they answered on the books they read over 2017.  Talked about their favorite books and least favorite.  Added up totals to find the winners of the most read and the most pages read.  Talked about what a successful year of reading they had and how awesome they felt for accomplishing this challenge.  And then came the reward…my husband and I told them that since they did such a great job we would find a weekend before the end of winter and take just the three of them to Great Wolf Lodge for some play and fun!  This is a huge treat for them and they are super excited and looking forward to this.  Our 6 year old who was not part of 2017 reading sat in on our reading discussion and got to see what all the fuss was about.  He will be jumping into our new and improved 2018 ENFORCED READING CHALLENGE.  Now he is excited too!

And of course the OCD nature in me has neatly filed away all the reading logs and questions so next year we can pull them out and compare and see how they have grown in their reading and writing.

We are super pleased with the way this reading challenge progressed however we have learned along the way and have made some adjustments to our plan as we take on 2018.

—–>First: we are adding a book of the bible to be assigned each month as well as their assigned book.  January they are reading 1Timothy.  We the parents of course will be reading the books of the bible as well.  Last year I did read some of the books before giving them to the kids to make sure they would be appropriate and beneficial.

—->Second:  Richard is joining the reading challenge this year so since he is an early reader as a 1st grader he will have some help especially the first few months as he gets the hang of this and his comprehension questions are scaled down to his level.

—->Last: When the 1st of the month rolls around if their reading from the prior month is not done they will lose all electronics and phones until it is complete.  I think after once or twice this will help encourage them to be more aware of having their reading and questions done on time which was a challenge last year we saw.   Hopefully this year they can be completing each month without being reminded.

As in most parenting moments this has been a learning experience for us this past year as well.  As a result I myself have increased the number of books I read and have been reading a wider variety—->Mom win!!!

I know felt super accomplished that we followed through and stuck this out even through all the grumbling and complaining. Even when it was extra work to keep up with during busier seasons.

I do believe the kids and the parents in our home are pleased with the outcome of this 2017 ENFORCED READING CHALLENGE.

Sometimes the parenting successes feel few and far between but this was a big success for us and I am excited to see how the children and parents in our home grow with our 2018 reading!

PS——>We are open to books suggestions for 2018!

(almost) ready

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I had a brief conversation with a stranger last week. A sweet and kind middle age woman who was beyond the years of bearing children. She was just amazed to learn we had six children at home and that we have one on the way. Her eyes lit up as she pondered the busyness we see everyday.  Then when she spoke of how exciting Christmas morning must be in our home she was so excited. And she repeatedly told me just how lucky my husband and I were to have a large family.

Then the light in her eyes died as she spoke of never being lucky enough to have any children of her own and I could see the pain and heart break in her eyes. My heart broke for her.  The deep hurt and longing and emptiness she felt deep inside could be seen in those few brief moments of our conversation. I wanted to be able to say something, to say anything to offer her comfort or healing. The words didn’t come, I sidestepped the conversation into a different direction.

But her pain has not left me or my heart.

How humbling and startling at the same time. In all the chaos of this Christmas season to see our family through the eyes of another. I do know our children and large family are an amazing blessing but the day to day takes over and you in a way become desensitized to truly appreciate these blessings.

On a typical day when I am tired or sick, the kids are not getting along, not listening, complaining and bickering, full blown two year old tantrums, preteen attitudes in full swing, messes to be cleaned, never-ending to do lists are growing its hard to look at all that in the moment and think ‘wow I am blessed!’.

So in this moment, this conversation I was given the gift of seeing our super size family through the eyes of someone who longed for a family that never came.  To be reminded that all the mess and chaos and busyness is a blessing even during the hard days and moments.

Not to be taken for granted but loved, valued and appreciated.

I am thankful but not as thankful as I should be.

‘Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.’ Colossians 4:2

I am joyful but not as joyful as I should be.

‘But may the righteous be glad and rejoice before God, may they be happy and joyful.’ Psalm 68:3

I am imperfect, a work in progress.  I will continue making progress and I will continue to grow.

‘Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’ 1Thessalonians 5:18

During this last week of December I will reflect on this past year and pray for the upcoming year.  This sweet reminder will continue to sit with my heart as I prepare myself to enter 2018.  I will study scripture and lean to the Lord to mold me and guide me to be a more thankful and more joyful momma-bear and wife during this next year and season in our life.

Bring God glory in all circumstances!  Bring on 2018!  I am (almost) ready.

Rising to the challenge

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We had a heck of an evening.  One of those disaster after disaster days when you question whether or not you have done anything right as a mother.   

After several minor sibling problems and other behavior issues brewing amongst several of our children.  Our daughter especially presented us with quite the challenge as her preteen attitiude took rude and disrespectful to an entirely new level.  There have been moments of this attitude here and there but this evening her attitude exploded and crossed many lines.

I will not go into all of the details but reached a point a line was crossed and enough was enough.  It was not quite 6 pm when this situation peaked.  As an immediate consequence her youth activities at church were taken away and she was sent to bed without dinner.  And to bed without being allowed to complete her homework for the evening.  If you know Emily you know that not being allowed to do her homework is devastating.  

All this being done with discussion and further consequences to be given tomorrow.  These are the moments when parenting is at its hardest and most challenging.  Respond don’t react.  Don’t overreact.  I am human, I struggle in the heat of the moment with this concept, but today this situation I kept it together.  Calm face, no raised voices. Success, no yelling or arguing she put herself to bed.  Deep breath and I have time to collect my thoughts and prepare to sit down and discuss this with her tomorrow.  

Several hours later after I chopped up some fresh veggies for salad I slipped into Emily’s room to slip the carrot peels and lettuce heads to her bunnies.  I startled her out of her sleep as I was slipping back out of the room.  Half asleep, eyes closed and she says quietly to me “Mom I love you”.  That’s it, drifts back off to sleep.  

No pleading for getting up out of bed, no justifying her behavior, no apologizing, begging, arguing, just a sweet simple ‘mom I love you’.  

This is the first thought she had when she woke up.  Not angry with me for holding her accountable.  Not trying to get out of consequences.  Just that she loves me.  Oh despite her many flaws I love this girl’s heart.  This sweet heart melting moment does not change her consequences the following day.  She is still held accountable for her words, actions and behaviors.  


But as I lay drifting off to sleep I wonder what if that’s how I responded to God.  When I am dealing with the consequences of my own sin, facing the mess I have created trying to do things in my own strength and not turning to God.  Instead of rationalizing, justifying, complaining and worrying about the discussions of tomorrow.   To just stop and rest and tell the Lord I love Him.  Laying in bed after a day of trials and storms and just say “God I love You.”  How peaceful, simple.  

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”  ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭


Uncharted years ahead

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My husband and I are entering a new season of parenting, our oldest is 14 going on 15 years old and in his first year of high school.  Over the next several years we will have several other children that will be following into their teenage and high school years.  I do not know that there is any way we can adequately be prepared for what this season in our parenting journey may bring us.  It almost feels like we just need to be braced and ready for the impact of what is next.  Oh Lord help us!
While my emotions and thoughts drive me stray with worry and anxiety.  My mind knows that what we need to do is to stay in constant and unceasing prayer.

‘pray without ceasing’ 1Thessalonians 5:17

However my struggle is really to learn to let go completely.  For so many years through child hood you have such a huge impact on what and who your children are exposed to but these teen years they are becoming young adults and need to learn to make their own choices.  To stand back and allow them to make their own choices even when I know they may fall is possibly the most challenging parenting role I have yet encountered.  My biggest fear is for our children to make the same mistakes that I have made, it hurts my heart to think of them having to experience what I had to go through to get to where I am today and it is my biggest desire to protect them from that.  The big bad mean momma bear in me wants to come out and keep protecting them.  I need to turn mama bear protection directly to prayer and not allow this fear into trying to control their actions and choices.

I have read dozens of christian parenting ‘how to’ books and I will have a fleeting wish for a more specific step by step instruction manual in how to raise our children and then remind myself we have one, God’s word, the Bible is where we need to be turning and studying and teaching our children from.


The most powerful tool we have as parents that we can do is to pray for them, constantly and without end.  We need to continue to love them, support them and equip them to make these big life changing decisions on their own.  If they make poor choices and fail then they will have to learn from their own mistakes, every child is different and going to learn things in their own way.    It really does not matter what are children do with the future careers, family, education as long as they are followers of Christ and find true salivation, God will take care of everything else.

Don’t get me wrong this is not an open ended, our teenagers get to make all their own choices and sink or swim.  Of course we will maintain some rules and boundaries but it is during this time that they need to learn to make choices and to be responsible members of our society and be accountable for their actions. We as parents need to equip them and allow them to make more and more decisions and then hold them accountable and responsible.

“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people— the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace.”  Colossians‬ ‭1:3-6

As parents we are human, we are sinful and we will make mistakes.   Lots and lots of mistakes.  It is my natural tendency to beat myself up over my mistakes, especially when it comes to parenting.  But this does not help and something I am working on and praying over.  To accept the mistake and learn from it and move on.  Oh boy, so much easier to say that than to actually do it!

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”  Ephesians‬ ‭6:4‬ ‭

14 years old and in high school and now the decisions they are making could and will impact the rest of their lives!  And these are the decisions we need to equip them and prepare them to make.  But most importantly we need to be praying they are following God’s will through all this.  Let go and allow God to takeover these uncharted teenage years we are diving into.  

Our oldest and I before his 1st homecoming dance!

Be still my heart ❤️

Cross country…. passion for running

Thank you sweet friend

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This week a much needed reminder appeared on my desk the other morning.  It has been a challenging few months and weeks and days.  Taking things day by day, moment by moment.  I came into work and this beautiful figureine was sitting there waiting for me.

It really took my breath away.  And then I picked it up and read the inscription.





‘Help me heal

And use my gifts

As you command

With gentle hands’


     What a treasure this gift this is.

     This statute on this day 

     at this moment 

     was God’s perfect timing.  

I walked into work with the weight of the world, all of the trials our family is facing in this season of busyness and then the night before we had received news of a loved one who had passed away.  This morning  I was struggling and walked in to work this morning see this statue.  

During a time when I would be sitting down and diving into another busy day without a second thought I stopped as this quiet reminder caused me to pause and start my day in silent prayer.

“Hear my prayer, LORD; listen to my cry for mercy.”  ‭Psalm‬ ‭86:6‬ 

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”  Colossians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭

What a sweet and precious reminder to me that I need to be carrying the presence of Jesus and not the weight of our trials and circumstances.  

I can rest knowing that God is in control of this crazy stressful fallen world.  I need to continually place my trust and faith in Him, He will not leave me or forsake me.  Even in the most challenging of our trials when I am blinded by my own emotions and sin He is there, steady and strong.  

In all things I need to be going first to the Lord in prayer, even in my work and caring for my patients.  Not trying to take control and carry all this on my own but I need to stay in continual prayer.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭

On my desk is where this statue will remain to remind me day after day.  From the bottom of my heart thank you sweet friend for your thoughtful gift.