The other day when presented with an opportunity to visit some friends, I responded with “Maybe. We will have to see.” I was met with “That always means No. Why can’t you just say No instead of Maybe?” And my husband turned and walked out of the room. Friendships and relationships require time. They require attention. I need to be deliberate and present in the time I do give. Even small investments can have huge payoffs.
All I know is that I almost really blew it. | Some call it coincidence, but I don't believe in coincidence anymore. Others refer to them as Divine Appointments. All I know is that I almost really blew it. The irony is I almost missed a chance to put all that I have been learning into action, so that I could go learn some more. |
It started with me thinking I was busy. I have been spinning my wheels, frantically, and having nothing to show for it. That day my To Do List was daunting, my frustration was growing, and Boo approached me with a story book. She looked so small and timid clutching her little book that she stopped me in my tracks. My children should NEVER feel ashamed or scared to approach me with something and yet here she was, quietly asking for five minutes of my attention. The story she chose was a children’s version of Jesus feeding the 5,000. It can be found in Matthew 14, John 6, Mark 6, and Luke 9. The super condensed version is that Jesus is speaking to a huge crowd and there is no grub for them. A little boy gives his lunch of two fish and five pieces of bread to Jesus who then uses it to feed the entire crowd and still have a lot of leftovers. He is good like that.
I had read this story a hundred times to her but I never had an “AH HA” moment before. Here was a little boy giving all his food away. I’m sure the thought of “I won’t get to eat it if I give it away,” crossed his mind. Or for the adult version, “My offering is meager, and I am embarrassed. What can you do with it?” But here was a little boy who didn’t question the how or the why. He just gave his small part to Jesus. The miracle was that Jesus turned two little fish into a feast that fed well over 5,000. So what miracle could Jesus perform if I started giving him my two fish?
Giving my two fish has carried over into several areas of my life. A family member is battling a life threatening illness and has been for several months. The evening of the storybook, her extremely stressed out caregiver called and asked if she could come over. (See why I don’t believe in coincidence?) I politely declined and brushed her away. I already had a Bible study commitment that night and I intended on being there. Proud of myself for continuing my studies, I hung up the phone, and God thunked me in the back of the head. It occurred to me that I turned down an opportunity to show love and caring to a tired, burdened woman. But WHY did I turn down the chance to show warmth, and love, and hospitality? So I could go read where it says, “Go show love to each other” (James 2:8). Hmmmm. So I picked up the phone. I felt embarrassed of my small offering of two fish (a messy home and a simple dinner) but an hour later, we were all having a great time and her burden seemed a lot lighter. There’s no way I did that on my own. Jesus is good like that.
Literally overnight, I went from being content with my old site and its 20 visitors in 4 years to the need to reach more people. In one sleepless prayer filled night, I had a new name, a new mission, and a plan for a new site. Third In Command has had over 500 visitors in its first month. There is no way I did that alone. I said “Yes God” when I was prompted, I gave Him my two fish of meager writing skills and self-taught web design, and He has done more than I could ever imagine with them. He is good like that.
By the time Captain Stud gets home from work, I’m tired. I want to get dinner on the table and put my feet up. But ~and here’s the shocker~ he missed me. He wants time with me. Me?! Really, me. The me with the crazy hair and kid snot on my shoulder. So I give my two fish offering. At least once a week, we intentionally schedule quality time. It is written on the calendar. It is just one hour and we put the kids to bed early. We turn off the TV, put away the phones, and any distractions can wait until tomorrow. At first, our quality time was as awkward as a blind date. We haltingly asked shallow questions and gave hesitant one word answers. We reminded ourselves that our marriage is a gift from God and our time together glorifies Him, so we didn't give up. Now our quality time is twice a week and we can’t wait to spend as much time together as possible.
Jesus took our one hour offering and has stretched it to cover our whole marriage, and in a trickle-down effect it has impacted our parenting also. Because He is good like that and doesn't just feed one, He feeds thousands.
Giving my two fish has carried over into several areas of my life. A family member is battling a life threatening illness and has been for several months. The evening of the storybook, her extremely stressed out caregiver called and asked if she could come over. (See why I don’t believe in coincidence?) I politely declined and brushed her away. I already had a Bible study commitment that night and I intended on being there. Proud of myself for continuing my studies, I hung up the phone, and God thunked me in the back of the head. It occurred to me that I turned down an opportunity to show love and caring to a tired, burdened woman. But WHY did I turn down the chance to show warmth, and love, and hospitality? So I could go read where it says, “Go show love to each other” (James 2:8). Hmmmm. So I picked up the phone. I felt embarrassed of my small offering of two fish (a messy home and a simple dinner) but an hour later, we were all having a great time and her burden seemed a lot lighter. There’s no way I did that on my own. Jesus is good like that.
Literally overnight, I went from being content with my old site and its 20 visitors in 4 years to the need to reach more people. In one sleepless prayer filled night, I had a new name, a new mission, and a plan for a new site. Third In Command has had over 500 visitors in its first month. There is no way I did that alone. I said “Yes God” when I was prompted, I gave Him my two fish of meager writing skills and self-taught web design, and He has done more than I could ever imagine with them. He is good like that.
By the time Captain Stud gets home from work, I’m tired. I want to get dinner on the table and put my feet up. But ~and here’s the shocker~ he missed me. He wants time with me. Me?! Really, me. The me with the crazy hair and kid snot on my shoulder. So I give my two fish offering. At least once a week, we intentionally schedule quality time. It is written on the calendar. It is just one hour and we put the kids to bed early. We turn off the TV, put away the phones, and any distractions can wait until tomorrow. At first, our quality time was as awkward as a blind date. We haltingly asked shallow questions and gave hesitant one word answers. We reminded ourselves that our marriage is a gift from God and our time together glorifies Him, so we didn't give up. Now our quality time is twice a week and we can’t wait to spend as much time together as possible.
Jesus took our one hour offering and has stretched it to cover our whole marriage, and in a trickle-down effect it has impacted our parenting also. Because He is good like that and doesn't just feed one, He feeds thousands.