Shotgun Blessings!

Have you ever had something great happen, but it happens so fast that, at the time, you feel like you're just trying to keep up? A sudden vacation that's planned, but leaves you scrambling to pack in one day? that new car you weren't expecting to get yet, but goes on sale? a house that you've been looking at that suddenly comes on the market? that business venture you had been pondering that all of a sudden takes off?

Okay, my thing isn't quite as big as those, but still left me spinning. Our pastor and his wife were getting rid of their four-year-old fridge, stove and microwave and I was needing new ones. Well, just the stove really. In the space of 2 minutes I was scrambling to empty my fridge and stove, pull them both out and vacuum and scrub the floors behind each. (I hadn't cleaned behind there since we moved in). At the time, I felt rushed to get things done with three kids who needed supper. I had no table (my fridge stuff was spread out on it) and hungry babes. I couldn't fully appreciate what a blessing this was turning out to be.

But now, I'm sitting back and looking at my "new" white stove, fridge and microwave and I'm thinking, "wow, this is great." And the best part is, the oven is self-cleaning! That is HUGE for me. I have a habit of boiling things over, both on the stove and in the oven! I call this a "Shotgun Blessing"!

Mommy the Grouch!

I have a bit of a confession. I'm a grouch. I don't do mornings. But it hit me today just how often I tend to let my grouchiness invade my life. It just kind of spills over on to my children who, bless their hearts, are the sweetest, most forgiving, totally adoring boys.

I often feel like Oscar from Sesame Street when someone bangs on his garbage can. He shouts out, "who's there?" in that grumpy voice of his. Me, I hear the not-so-soft padding of little feet approaching my bedroom at the ungodly hour of...uh...7:00 a.m., and I crack one eyelid and growl, "waddayawant."

I was gently shown today by my five-year-old that I was being Mommy the Grouch. He so sweetly looked at me and said, "Mom, I still love you even when I bother you." Huh? I was shocked! When I asked what he meant he said, "I still love you when you're grouchy."

God overflowed my cup when he gave me my three children. No matter how often I grump or growl, those big eyes (all six of them) stare up at me in total adoration. They forgive in the blink of an eye my sour behaviour. Those little hearts are willing to overlook all my faults and they wrap their little arms around me and proclaim, "I love you even when you grouch."

Is there any greater blessing than that?

Good Friend...Good Shoes!

A good friend is like a good pair of shoes. They may be hard to find, but they're worth the wait! I was thinking the other day how we want shoes to be comfortable, a perfect fit, to wear well and look good. A good friend is like that.

Finding a friend who is a perfect fit can be impossible. That's why I believe that when one does come along, it is a true gift from God. A blessing that's invaluable! Like that perfect pair of shoes, a good friend is someone who you're comfortable with. Someone who knows where all your secret messes are hidden, both on the outside and on the inside. They quietly roll up their sleeves and are willing to dive in and help you organize the messiness of house and life. They can hold the mirror up to us and love us at the same time. Your ugliness doesn't scare them - they see the diamond God is making you to be! And they wear well! With each road they walk with you, they become more valuable, each scuff mark a sign of endurance and strength!

I have friends like this and you know who you are! Friends who are blessings straight from a Father who loves me. They are people I never thought would "click" with me, but they have been the ones to hold my hand, to share my tears, fears, sorrows, joys and laughter. They have held up that mirror and pointed out some ugliness, and then loved me right through it! They push me to be a better Christian, wife, mother and friend, but they accept me where I'm at. Who am I that I would be so blessed?

So today, I'm going to thank God for good friends.....and good shoes!