Reward

Well hello my friends and Happy Fall. There have been many blessed distractions this past month, many of them grandchildren, and now it seems the path of routine is back in sight. I have heard from several of you and it seems that many of you too have experienced adjustments in life and its settings. Hopefully God has helped you to settle into the changes that he has allowed.
I may not have written down the lessons of the past month but I surely have been aware of them. And I shall begin with this one!

I knew she needed help and going to New York and staying with Tom and Rebecka and their new baby Emma was way out of my contort zone. I am great for a visit, when I can go back to my spot at the hotel but being the baby helper as a "mother in law" to Rebecka was a huge stretch. I know, I have had four kids and should know a thing or two about babies but many of you know the rules have changed and this generation of moms are reading their books and abiding by the changed rules. But I don't know the new rules and have only experienced watching my own daughters as moms and picked up a few pointers from them. Being the sole helper in NY, I had wondered if I really knew what to do, or how to help, or really if I would be more of a house guest than an assist.

I kept saying God, I am not sure about this, and I kept hearing His same response in my mind, "I know but I am". So I committed to a date bought my flights and was off. Tom had gone back to work, and when I got to their apt. Rebecka had Emma, 2 weeks old, dressed in her finest and was waiting. God knew that what he was nudging me to do would be a blessings beyond all my expectations, but I still remained on shaky ground. I was afraid that after a c-section that we would be cabin bound but Rebecka rallied with courage and was ready for an outing and we were off almost immediately, baby Emma in the stroller.

There is a vast difference between visiting out of city, in this case state, children and living with them. I was only there for three nights, but
it was an opportunity for me to be a real part of their daily activities. They were in the dead middle of real transition, and sleep depravation. When you just come in for a visit, you don't often get to experience their way of life and their daily routine and chores. At least I hadn't. I was given wonderful advise from some seasoned mother in laws before I left "Just help do whatever you can, and let mom be the one to direct your activities with the baby". Rebecka was gracious in every way and I was given a green light to participate in it all and with great pleasure. She even welcomed me with wonderful snacks. I slept with Emma at night, loved on her during the day, did some grocery shopping, cooking, washing,and even got to give that precious baby her first bath in the sink. It was the freedom hat Rebecka had given me that allowed me to loosen up and do those things that I knew how to do, and even make some changes that I saw could be a lasting help, like adding dimmers to lamps for middle of the night wake up calls. But the grandest blessing of all was really getting to know my daughter in law, and be invited into her world, and then of course seeing my son truly grasp the joy of having a healthy and beautiful little girl...who favors him a bit in the eyes, and who has her mamas nose and mouth.

Did God know the blessings I would reap. Of course he did. We don't always want to do the things that we are called to do, but if we are obedient God will help us to see the joys and use those opportunities to transform us further into being what he has envisioned us to be.

My last night there, after dinner, Rebecka took Emma to her bedroom to just see if she could get her to take a little nap on Rebecka's chest.
The baby had a full tummy and was secured in the arms of her mom and yes they both slept peacewfully for hours. But this night there was one more blessing that God would extend. A one on one visit with Tom. We talked of jobs and babies and trusting God and further plans and changed lives. It had been a long time since we had had that time. You know boys just don't talk too much! But this was was a special really special time to get to share thoughts.

My heart was full of love and loving and my gratefulness to God was overflowing. God gave Rebecka and I a bonding time, for we got to share of time of celebration, of transition, of new beginnings, of new responsibilities, of eating cupcakes and grocery shopping, of Z cars and card operated laundry machines, and a New York way of life in the city with the locals with fruit stands and flowers and vendors waiting at every corner.

Oh how I love these precious ones and am so blessed to have been invited to stay with them and love on them in my own simple ways. It was a reality check that if you give what you know with what you have...and the rest will come when it may.

It was just a one bedroom apt with a small balcony, and it was there way of life. God gave us beautiful sunsets each night as we ate dinner on that little balcony. And amidst the many buildings that framed theirs, there was a church steeple with a cross on it that towered clearly in the distance. It was a reminder to me that God towers over situations, God towers over our lives, and God 's power towers over our frailties....if we allow it to be our focus and enable it to be our strength.

There are many blessing that come from being obedient. But it is hard sometimes to let go of our own comforts and slide cautiously onto God's trailing call. If we trust him with all our heart and faithfully submit to his nudge, he will show us the joys and give us the peace that come from being obedient. And we will be blessed in ways we could not imagine.

Jeremiah 7:23
but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in obedience to all I command you, that it may go well with you.

Dear Lord, Oh how you have showed me through this experience that you do have our best in mind. Your blessings from obedience are rich and and lasting and I thank you with all my heart for the opportunity to spend time with Tom and his precious family. Now instead of two towels hanging on the door of the bathroom, there are three and they are a family! Thank you Lord! Amen

Praise God wherever you are or whatever situation he has allowed....for His Glory will shine through!