Okay, so this is really a conclusion to yesterday's post.
Yesterday started to be what seemed like would be an awful-horrible-terrible-no good day. I was so overwhelmed by about 10 a.m. that I not only posted about it here, but I even asked for prayer on facebook status. What with acid reflux baby spewing and toddler girl having potty accidents (which she actually inherited from me problems with incontinence), I didn't even have the time to really pray much more than "God help me!", which I did, and I know others who did. And He did, but in ways I couldn't even imagine.
When we finally did leave, it was about 20 minutes later than I had hoped, but we got to town and saw a really bad wreck ahead. I could see the fire engine, ambulance, and police, but no cars, only a man and woman walking from way back where we were carrying a little boy in their arms and his carseat. (Please pray for those in this accident, some were taken to the hospital strapped to boards.) All I could think of was how angry and frustrated I had been about all the delays that morning, and had we left much earlier that could've been us, and it could've been us anyway, but God had protected us as we traveled. I couldn't help but cry right there and tell my kids in the back seat how much I loved them. I had to apologize to them and God. I'm so glad He forgives my stupidity.
Then, again because we were running late, we got to the AT&T store and my mom and dad asked if they could take us out to eat for lunch, because my dad had just finished his cardiac rehab class and they were in town anyway. Um, Yes! (If you know me at all, you'd know that a promise of a meal, especially with good friends and family is something I cannot resist.)
I had planned on going to the store while we were out anyway, so after we ate, my mom wanted to go with us (dad gets really exhausted after his workout). So, we decided to go to Walmart. I actually don't go to Walmart usually, but for some reason we decided to go. While just walking through the store with my mom and kids, we were approached by the Picture Studio photographer who asked us if she could take pictures of the kids for free with $50 of free pictures included! I had never heard of this, but she said that they have to have at least one session per shift and that she had had no one scheduled, so in that case they are allowed to give away free pictures to someone! (Although as their mother, I'm sure it had something to do with their cuteness.) I'm sure it's with the assumption that mommy or daddy won't be able to just stop with the $50 worth and will buy more, but they didn't know me, I'm cheap ;)
While we were there, Shelby used a public potty. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but if you knew how terrified she is of them and how tired I am of going back out to the car everywhere to sit in 98 degree heat while she uses a fold up potty in the parking lot and then I have to find some remotely discreet way to dispose of the, er, waste, you'd totally understand why this could improve my day.
Also while getting the kids pictures taken, my husband called and said he was getting off work, did I want him to pick up something for dinner on his way home? Yes, please! Hey, sometimes you just need a break from cooking.
After a pizza dinner, which I have found I can eat after the last feeding of the evening even though Jonah can't tolerate dairy in my milk, both kids went to sleep relatively easy. Jonah with the usual face caressing and thumb/paci sucking (picture taking wears little babes out) and Shelby after singing "Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus" and "Trust and Obey" with mommy and daddy, talking about Jesus, prayer, and reading of Psalm 22 (per her request this particular passage, though we read something from the Bible almost every night, that is if she doesn't fall asleep before). Shelby even got out of bed to go poopy in the potty by herself, another big deal in our house.
Was God rewarding me for how I handled the first part of my day? Not hardly. You see I had only been angry, ungrateful, and self-pitying, but He brought me to repentance for my sins and lead me to prayer and to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and most of all to Himself. So that by the end of the day all I could do was sing praises to Him!
I'm forever glad and grateful to God that He pursues me, that His love isn't in the least dependent on anything I do or don't do, and that He sees me in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ!
God's infinite love isn't dependent on us. He loves us because He loves us, and He is owed our utmost devotion for that love and care.
""And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD, which I am commanding you today for your good? Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day. Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who is not partial and takes no bribe......He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen."-Deuteronomy 10:12-17, 21
Yesterday started to be what seemed like would be an awful-horrible-terrible-no good day. I was so overwhelmed by about 10 a.m. that I not only posted about it here, but I even asked for prayer on facebook status. What with acid reflux baby spewing and toddler girl having potty accidents (which she actually inherited from me problems with incontinence), I didn't even have the time to really pray much more than "God help me!", which I did, and I know others who did. And He did, but in ways I couldn't even imagine.
When we finally did leave, it was about 20 minutes later than I had hoped, but we got to town and saw a really bad wreck ahead. I could see the fire engine, ambulance, and police, but no cars, only a man and woman walking from way back where we were carrying a little boy in their arms and his carseat. (Please pray for those in this accident, some were taken to the hospital strapped to boards.) All I could think of was how angry and frustrated I had been about all the delays that morning, and had we left much earlier that could've been us, and it could've been us anyway, but God had protected us as we traveled. I couldn't help but cry right there and tell my kids in the back seat how much I loved them. I had to apologize to them and God. I'm so glad He forgives my stupidity.
Then, again because we were running late, we got to the AT&T store and my mom and dad asked if they could take us out to eat for lunch, because my dad had just finished his cardiac rehab class and they were in town anyway. Um, Yes! (If you know me at all, you'd know that a promise of a meal, especially with good friends and family is something I cannot resist.)
I had planned on going to the store while we were out anyway, so after we ate, my mom wanted to go with us (dad gets really exhausted after his workout). So, we decided to go to Walmart. I actually don't go to Walmart usually, but for some reason we decided to go. While just walking through the store with my mom and kids, we were approached by the Picture Studio photographer who asked us if she could take pictures of the kids for free with $50 of free pictures included! I had never heard of this, but she said that they have to have at least one session per shift and that she had had no one scheduled, so in that case they are allowed to give away free pictures to someone! (Although as their mother, I'm sure it had something to do with their cuteness.) I'm sure it's with the assumption that mommy or daddy won't be able to just stop with the $50 worth and will buy more, but they didn't know me, I'm cheap ;)
While we were there, Shelby used a public potty. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal, but if you knew how terrified she is of them and how tired I am of going back out to the car everywhere to sit in 98 degree heat while she uses a fold up potty in the parking lot and then I have to find some remotely discreet way to dispose of the, er, waste, you'd totally understand why this could improve my day.
Also while getting the kids pictures taken, my husband called and said he was getting off work, did I want him to pick up something for dinner on his way home? Yes, please! Hey, sometimes you just need a break from cooking.
After a pizza dinner, which I have found I can eat after the last feeding of the evening even though Jonah can't tolerate dairy in my milk, both kids went to sleep relatively easy. Jonah with the usual face caressing and thumb/paci sucking (picture taking wears little babes out) and Shelby after singing "Tis So Sweet To Trust in Jesus" and "Trust and Obey" with mommy and daddy, talking about Jesus, prayer, and reading of Psalm 22 (per her request this particular passage, though we read something from the Bible almost every night, that is if she doesn't fall asleep before). Shelby even got out of bed to go poopy in the potty by herself, another big deal in our house.
Was God rewarding me for how I handled the first part of my day? Not hardly. You see I had only been angry, ungrateful, and self-pitying, but He brought me to repentance for my sins and lead me to prayer and to my brothers and sisters in Christ, and most of all to Himself. So that by the end of the day all I could do was sing praises to Him!
I'm forever glad and grateful to God that He pursues me, that His love isn't in the least dependent on anything I do or don't do, and that He sees me in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ!
God's infinite love isn't dependent on us. He loves us because He loves us, and He is owed our utmost devotion for that love and care.
