Single Mom Sabbath: How Reading Brings Rest

I am finding gems of truth in the book I am currently reading: The Indwelling Life of Christ, All of Him in All of Me by Major W. Ian Thomas.  It is packed with practical but poignant insight into what it means to live the exchanged life...my old life for the new life of Christ which resides in me.

I have found reading to bring me rest over the years of my single life. I love biographies, faith building books, and when in the right frame of mind can even enjoy a great love story. Reading can remove you from your current circumstances and place you mind elsewhere whether it be a glorious setting described in the book providing peace or a frightening prisoner camp affording the opportunity for a tenacious act of courage inspiring us to trust in a new way.

Yesterday I enjoyed my  new book from my car while watching a double header baseball game. It was entirely too cold to be sitting on bleachers and I had a birds eye view anyway from the warmth of my front seat as the sun shone through my window.

As I pondered over what all I desired to accomplish after the ball games I felt myself slipping into sadness. That place of disappointment that once again I am in charge of it all....cooking, shopping, errands, fix the Easter baskets, Easter morning breakfast and the list goes on and on.

I allowed my mind to fast forward to this morning when AGAIN we would pile into church....all 7 of us with an absent dad/husband. And I remembered then:

Holidays can be hard for single parents and their children.

My kids will look around and see all the whole families: mom, dad, children. In the past they've shared their hurts with me of how painful it is to sit next to a complete family. It is then I remember what we are celebrating tomorrow and refuse to allow my mind to advance one more negative thought. I pick up my book and here is what I find:

God is indispensable for the truly normal human being. The human spirit is that part of us where God lives within us in the person of the Holy Spirit, so that with our moral consent (and never without it), God gains access to our human soul. This is where He Himself, as the Creator within the creature, can teach our minds, control our emotions, and direct our wills, so that He, as God from within, governs our behavior as we let God be God.  

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25), and this is what it means to walk in the Holy Spirit: to take one step at a time, and for every new situation into which every step takes you, no matter what it may be, to hear Christ saying to your heart, "I AM," then to look into His face by faith and say, "You are!" That is all I need to know, Lord, and I thank you, for You are never less than adequate."

Thank you God for being all I needed today and everyday. Thank you for giving me your courage to brave through going to church ONE MORE EASTER without a husband or father for my children. Thank you for reeling my mind back in with truth that you are enough for me as well as my children.

Thank you for the resurrection hope that we are complete in you.

I'm including a few pictures to record our memories of another sweet holiday with it's traditions.

Two dozen delicious deviled eggs!

Traditional Easter goodies for the children!

Grandmother's china ready for breakfast!

Something special to eat: egg cups and hot sugar doughnuts!

A wonderful family. So happy Mom and my brother Jonathan joined us for church!

What are you reading that's inspiring your mind, changing your thinking?

I hope you will share!

Love, Pam

Single Mom Sabbath: Why I Keep Trying

I'm back....barely.  Today marks day 10 of feeling yucky. Thankfully, I'm one of the ones who fell into the blessing of Obamacare. After 15 years of no insurance I am now insured and on antibiotics for a severe sinus infection. Alabama has seen temps vary in 24 hours by more than 30 degrees. We haven't known whether to wear snow boots or flip flops. Ironically, this weather calls to mind the internal crisis I can incur daily left to my own.

Being sick for so many days while life continues to happen can spiral one into depression quickly. As the sole proprietor of our family business, there is no shutting down due to illness because we want to eat everyday. Therefore someone's gotta go to work.

However feeling bad will allow justification for letting the less important stuff go...folding laundry, cooking, and cleaning. Hence, the idea for today's Sabbath post. I've had my Easter tote of decorations out for over a week. In the attic, I keep a tote for every major holiday and 1000 totes for Christmas:)

I try to split the decorations: taking some to the store to inspire my customers while keeping some at home to continue the tradition for the children of bringing their thoughts toward something more than their cell phones or dinner.

Today Lawren, my oldest daughter, and her husband Brandon are coming for lunch. I never knew how much I would miss her when she got married. They only live about an hour away but they both work full time while she also teaches dance. Our schedules leave time for texts and short phone calls occasionally.

Because they are coming I became motivated to finally empty the Easter tote to bring some beauty into the clutter for lunch today. As I cut the devotion strips, punched holes (btw: I've been looking for our hole puncher for two weeks minimum...finally broke down last night and sent Hannah into Wal-Mart to purchase one because I had already stopped earlier in the week at the Dollar Tree to come up empty handed), hung the devotion cards onto the Easter tree, I questioned myself, "Why do you keep trying?"

Here's the first pic: leftover Valentine decor becomes an Easter Tree but first have to rid the clutter!

Why do I persevere season after season of climbing into the attic, finding and dragging down the appropriate tote, clear off a spot to decorate, and then take it down to start over again? Well, because my first thought is, "If I don't take the time to do this for my  kids, who will?" There isn't anyone else here.

I want my kids to know the importance of tradition and beauty. I want them to know holidays are special and some even sacred and holy. How can they know that if they are not invited in to celebrate?

More than tradition, I want to obey the command in scripture to teach my children. In Deuteronomy 11:18-19

"You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up."

When I stop a moment to think about all God has rescued me from, how He has redeemed and restored me, His great love for me is written on every page of my story.

We love because God first loved us...1st John 4:19

A love response to God from me is my small effort to impact my children's hearts for the kingdom of God by bringing out the decorations. Their hearts are precious and it is my responsibility and privilege to speak life into them in creative ways. I am trusting that because I keep trying and God is faithful, my efforts will not be in vain.

Final pic: the reason I keep trying: Because God has entrusted these 5 precious soles to this single momma.

Will you consider this morning how the Holy One has rescued, redeemed, and restored you?

Will you ask the Holy Spirit for creativity to pull some items together and place as a focal point to celebrate the Lenten season as we prepare our hearts for Easter.

Yes, it is a little work to get it done, but the result is rest for my soul which is my aim.

Bringing beauty into my home and into our hearts pushes the negative out of  my spirit and replaces with rest of God. Will you try it and tell me about it?

Love, Pam