The Soul Of My Feet

I’ve been watching a house a few doors up from us undergo a major renovation, they’re adding a 2nd level. Now I thought I initially, what look ed to be a lot of work…and money… that this was going to take at least a couple of months to complete. But in the space of  a few days they have removed the roof of the first level and have put all the frames together for the top level and they’re about to put the floor in. Amazing…it got me thinking, and I’m a big thinker as you might have guessed. I suppose it’s a little bit the same as us when we undergo a renovation by God, our old roof… i.e our heart is removed and a new heart is put in and it only takes a few moments once you commit to the plans. Then  it’s just a matter of adding a few essentials i.e daily bible reading, prayer, Church, fellowship to complete the picture…hmmm

Isn’t it amazing the technology we have today…computers, phones, mp3 players, ipods, sat navs, digital camera’s, plasma tv’s. Even our kids seem to have way more gadgets then we ever did as kids. I remember being given a talking teddy as a kid and that was considered to be in thing and probably cost my parents a fair bit of money back then. I guess all these things are great for entertainment but I worry for my kids  because it seems that their generation is spending more time with gadgets then talking to people or being consumed by computer games even at 3 rather than playing in the dirt or building cubby houses. Much of Gods word speaks about the problem we have in focussing our time on these types of things rather than talking and relating to one another which is what God wants and more so he wants us to spend more time with Him. So although we are craving the latest gimmick, God is craving more time with us….what’s on your to do- list today?

You might be wondering, in fact I’m wondering myself what to do about this book I’ve written. It seemed that it was a God thing at the time, because the inspiration behind it seemed to be fuelled by something bigger than me but I suppose the dream to see it published has hit a lull. I haven’t heard back from publishers and I guess in this economy they would be hesitant to take something on from a new writer. But God is saying wait and be patient, it will have it’s time but I just need to wait on Him a little longer…So I will…I hope you will too…

I love my boys wholeheartedly but there are times when the not so nice parts of their nature creeps out and often it’s in prime view of onlookers. Only recently, I witnessed my two year old push a kid off a trike and jump on board. I was horrified, my kids were supposed to be the nice ones who always did the right thing. I suppose it’s a lot like us, we can be nice generally most of time but our ugly side surfaces when we least expect it, often triggered by stress, tiredness or just general grumpiness. We like to cut in on lines, speed past someone on the freeway and partake in not so nice behaviour and I reckon God must be a little dissapointed whe he sees this and wonders if we really are his children. It’s pretty Good News that He loves us, even that bit of ugliness in us all and he’s made a way for us to be perfect again. If only we could love our children with that same amazing love…

uggghh, I’ve been sick with flu this week so I’ve been completely cranky and unmotivated to do anything but the sun is shining today and I’m off to work and I’m actually starting to feel like I’m coming out of the storm. Praise God, it made me think though how it must be for my sisters in Christ who are constantly ill or worse terminally. For me I feel so spiritually empty when I’m sick, like I have nothing to give…to God. So today I’m praying for those in sickness that they would feel God’s presence in their heart and even though physically inable, I’m praying that their hearts are on fire for Christ….

I think God has been teaching me something lately, in fact, I know He has. Motherhood is so far away from my natural talents that sometimes I feel like a bit of a failure because I seem to be able to conquer every other aspect of my life. What I have been realising is…I’m a control freak. I like routine, predictability and order and when these 3 things don’t exist, well I can go a little nutty…which is what happened last week. My boys are 4 and 2 and whilst they are incredibly cute, they are very busy and like to be doing something minute by minute which can get pretty exhausting and some days I just can’t keep up with them and I spend the entire day frustrated, cranky and running in circles feeling like I have achieved nothing.

So after a few tears during the week and a BIG plea to God, we had a team meeting and decided we needed to make some changes to our home days. So today was our first home day of the week, so I decided to wake up before them, hee hee, already I was at least one step ahead of them. I made sure I was ready and feeling beautiful, then I prepared breakfast, anticipating their every need. So far so good everybody is happy…then around 8.30 the phone rings, oh oh this can be the part where it all turns to custard which is why I avoid the phone at all costs which must frustrate my friends. Thankfully, I had already set up a game for them outside in the dirt with their trucks. Horaay phone call success….we play tennis at 9.30, then we have morning tea outside in the beautiful sunshine, then while they’re having their morning tea, start setting up our morning craft ‘Mothers Day Cards’. I know I’m probably sounding like a true magazine Mum.. but a day like this rare, mostly it’s crazy, messy and chaotic. But God helped me today to bring order and with a little planning the night before I knew how I wanted the day to unfold and thankfully it unfolded exactly how I visioned it to be.

They are tucked away in bed now hopefully for the entire afternoon (I wish!). Did I forget to mention that we even cooked a cake, which I can smell a beautiful aroma wafting down the hallway…can’t wait for the boys to wake up so we can head outside for some yummy cake and cinos…

Thank you J, you’re the best mummy guide ever…