It’s almost Thanksgiving Day! It’s been so nice to have the kids all under our roof for a few days. I scheduled professional family photos while we were all together. No one was overjoyed by this fact, but considering it has been four years since we had real photos taken, I didn’t entertain any complaints.
Josh and I have been talking about parenting a lot lately. The way we parent has changed as the kids have grown, but they still need our direction, our prayers, our input and our money. Josh gave a little lecture of sorts this morning—a pow-wow to help them on their journey. Then later at lunch we talked about what we would say to each other to help us on our journey. To Josh I would probably remind him to reflect on his priorities and to not let work take up quite so much mental energy if he could help it. To me Josh said he thinks I should enjoy the moments, the days and not carry the heaviness of life around. Easier said than done, but it’s something I am taking to heart this Thanksgiving. A grateful heart is a light heart. Happy Thanksgiving!🧡
This fall I hosted a bible study in my home. I’ve done this off and on for years and years. There’s just something about the gathering of women and studying of God’s Word—it’s always a special time!
The study was by Megan Fate Marshman—Relaxed: Walking with the One Who is Not Worried About a Thing. We studied and applied Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”
There were so many practical truths and personal ways to apply them. Even this morning I used one of our new ways of processing my heart in prayer by drawing a heart in the middle of the journal page and then on each spoke coming from the heart, I wrote down all that was on my heart. It could be anything at all; this morning my heart was filled with some concerns for people in my family, projects I have on my mind, and a personal issue I need clarity on. After the heart dump, I went around the spokes and asked God if there was anything He wanted to tell me. I was reminded of the truth that He created my kids and He loves them more than I do. I was reminded that God never wastes our waiting seasons. And I just felt so much better talking to God and listening to God about all that was on my heart.
But the main reason for this post is to tell you about a revelation I had after our last meeting. I snapped a photo before we began. Then I went on to speak to each of them in the order that I met them over the years of living here (with one girl I met years ago in Georgia!), sharing with them how we met and what they mean to me. I was a little emotional because the move to Charlotte 8 years ago was hard for me. Friends didn’t come quickly. The Lord was so personal and faithful to be to me all I needed in the lonely season. I wouldn’t trade that for the world.
However, in my living room over these weeks there were 8 ladies.
8 years here in Charlotte.
8 friends the Lord has brought me along the way.
God is so faithful and so personal. I’m grateful.
And this picture reminds me that God could see this day and these faces and knew when I would meet them and how the friendships would grow. He can be trusted. I hope I never forget that truth.
