Simple Things

 The simple things in life are the things I love to appreciate. I often forget how precious those simple things can be. My life often gets messed up and marred by the complicated and busy life I live. It's not that it is complicated in itself, but that I make it complicated by being so busy! I pray daily that God will help me to be more focused on him and to uncomplicate my life and my mind. I ask him to renew my mind and spirit so that I can focus on the simple things in life. The things that matter ... to Him, to my family, to me.

I am fortunate to work in a school district with a 4 day school week. When Thursday rolls around, I can hardly wait to get home to my family and my weekend. Sadly, when that weekend gets here though I am still so busy that I rarely take the time to "enjoy" it. My time is littered with obligations and not necessarily bad ones, but the fact is, they all take my time. It seems sad to me that I often feel like the only time I can really appreciate the simple things in life is when I "get away" from life. For me, getting away can mean a trip back home, a camping trip in the mountains, a glorious mountain hike, a simple hike at the lake or a once every seven years trip to a West coast beach. My appreciation for the simple things .... and perhaps better stated as the finer things in my life is usually most evident to me in these times when I am away. This is because I am "away".

My away times give me time to reflect on life and it's goodness and the little things that bring me joy. The laughter of my children, the puffy clouds in the bright, blue winter sky, the smell of springtime in the air, a ripe tomato in my garden, a baby bunny on my lawn, the changing seasons, watching quiet deer in a grassy field, the touch of my husband's hand on mine, the sound of my mom's voice on the phone, the jovial twinkle in my dad's eyes, time to pray, a cup of coffee with a friend, a hug, a secret shared, a calm summer evening, gentle conversations around a campfire, a snow-covered trail hike and this list could go on. Forever. It could go on. Importantly, these things do not cost me a single cent, but to ignore these things robs me of contentment, joy and comfort. I do not need the material things of this world to make me happy.

Tonight is the first night of my "weekend" even though it is Thursday evening. From the moment I left my school building this afternoon, I have been busy. A parent meeting at my daughter's high school, making dinner and clean-up, then phone calls to fill a schedule with volunteers for activities on Saturday at my church. My "busy"ness has made me crazy and stressed and searching for a moment of peace. As my evening is winding down, I have found myself kicked back in my chair trying to "de-program" myself from the constant flutter of activity, while still shuffling papers and making phone calls. My hubby and son headed to bed and my girls (teenaged, almost out of the house girls, sniffle, sniffle) decided they would go to a late night movie with some friends.

My girls were only gone from the house about five minutes when I receive a text from my youngest daughter. My heart of course sinks, thinking "Oh no! What happened?" I open the text to reveal something to me that is peace capturing! It reads, "Hey ma, the stars are beautiful tonight!" Wow! Do you know what that does to my heart? To my inner well-being? My quick response was, "Well that's because God made them." My sweet girl's response, "Haha, well duh ma, but they look like mountain stars."

MOUNTAIN STARS! So simple and I love it because that simple description took me right to a mountain top, looking at stars with my girl. I closed my eyes and I could see the stars. Then I walked outside and looked at those beautiful mountain stars. So crisp, so clear, so beautiful, so God-infused that I could not help but grin from ear to ear. I love that she wanted to share with me. A simple observation, a simple feeling, a simple appreciation she had. Simple things! Oh but to take the time to observe the simple things! I have found my peace tonight .... my happy place. I didn't have to go "away" to find it. I only had to be still and listen to the heart and the voice of teenage girl who loves her God and all that he has created as much as I do. Right now I feel renewed in spirit and in mind. I am at peace and it feels perfect.

Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is-what is proper, pleasing, and perfect. ~ Romans 12:2

Direction

I am a mother of two teenage daughters and a very soon to be teenage son. Our conversations no longer dwell on the new Disney movie releases, the latest action figure toys or new Barbie dolls. Our conversations instead have turned to more grown-up topics and things like what they want to do with their lives or how do they know if they are going the right direction in life. How do they know if they are making the right choice when looking at a college and what about a major and what if they change their mind after they get there? Should they go to college out of town or stay close to home? What if they make the wrong choice?

These are the kind of questions that currently plague my senior daughter, Katie, who will be graduating 105 days from now. (She could quickly give me the hours, minutes and seconds too if I asked!) However unsure she may be about her actual direction in life, she seems to know without a doubt that she is leaving town and heading north to the college of her choice.

This mom hurts a bit when the reality of it all sinks in. The thought of Katie leaving home and wanting so desperately to escape the life we have here with her. She is ready to live her own independent life. Yes, this hurts. You see, this is my baby girl, my first born daughter whose due date of September 15 was exactly, to the date, the exact date that I lost our first baby 16 weeks in to my pregnancy. God has a way of turning anguish to joy. John 16:20 says “Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.” Yes, we lost a baby, but in losing that baby, God gave us Katie, then Aubrie and Jordan.

I suddenly feel like I am now losing my Katie to the big scary world, I realize that God has pre-ordained this step in her life. He has been growing her since the day of her conception. He has been preparing her for the direction she must take in her life. In preparing her, God entrusted her to us. Our job has been to parent her, raise her, teach her, direct her, guide her, nurture her and love her as we have each one of our children. Most importantly we have brought her up to love the Lord and seek His will in her life. I am confident that He will direct her path and fill her with peace as she realizes His will for her. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not upon your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.”

While I face the grief of losing my daughter to a college to the north, it really isn’t a loss, but an opportunity for growth and for joy to be born through this new experience in her life. In seeking out new experiences in their lives, I pray that my children will always seek His will. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” May their direction be God’s direction.