A season

I started having thoughts last week of sharing about this season of joy that I feel our family is experiencing right now. My heart is just overflowing with gratitude with all the good gifts that the Lord is bestowing on us each and every day. It's amazing. Then, wouldn't you know, I happened to have a very challenging morning with the boys. Thank you, Lord, for humbling me...and for naptime!

The thing is, we all have ups and downs, good days & bad ones. They all sort of swirl together, though, to make up seasons of our lives. And they fly by! The season of being single, of being a newlywed, the season of having our first baby, the season of preschoolers, the season of breaking free, the season of a marriage renewed, the season of hardships, the season of drought, the season of harvest...and on and on. Through every season, though, His mercy remains. And His blessings are abundant. The multitude.

"Every good and perfect gift is from above...from the Father...who does not change like shifting shadows." ~James 1:17 (emphasis mine)

This counting up of blessings has been life-changing for me. Everyone knows it's good to be thankful. It's a popular thing in many religions today. But this time of gratitude for me has been huge in that my eyes have truly been open to seeing God's undoubtable, tangible work in my life. Day in and day out. He is good. He is always good! And He is always at work.

I am no different than anyone else, with struggles and strongholds to overcome. I struggle sometimes to even accept the goodness of God. As if when I am in a season of abundance, I might be standing on the edge of something really hard, of what "might happen next." But thankfully that's not how our God works. He is true to his Word, and he does not change...no matter what season we are in. I want to stand on this edge and say "I trust you, Lord. With an open hand I hold onto these blessings in my life. I lay before you those that I love the most. I trust you."

All our days are numbered. We are here on this earth for but a season. For a time and a purpose. So, for now, I will live in this abundance, in this multitude of life. I will love. I will laugh. I will smile. I will feel peace in my soul. I will give thanks to my Father in heaven. I will follow where He leads. From one season to the next.

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#239-257

239. I'm thankful I still have teeth! (straight from the middle son)
240. an afternoon of uninterrupted sister talk
241. a friend's "crazy" idea that is oh so powerful
242. feeling my nephew's little foot poking out of his mommy's belly
243. celebrating the day of his birth

244. his mother who birthed him
245. lots of little boy artwork to display
246. knee hugs from a one yr. old
247. wonderful mommy friends to hang out with
248. a fun morning at the museum
249. not having to clean up
250. a gracious day of good listening, cooperating and getting along :)
251. a little ring made just for me by a certain 4 yr. old boy
252. he's home!
253. stories of God's faithfulness
254. walls coming down
255. boys loving their daddy
256. laughing together
257. blessing them