Perspective

Sometimes, we need some perspective. A north star. A solid foundation in a crazy, crazy world.

Isn't it amazing how many emotions we can feel at once? Tonight, I've been thinking about a few ...

Joy

I feel joy because of my relationship with God. I feel joy (and gratitude) for the family He's given me. I feel joy because I have been blessed with an all-star husband, who is so present with us all the time (i.e. so hands-on, involved, loving).

One day when he walked in the door after a particularly busy day, he said, "Tonight is all about the girls!" He then set-up a beauty parlor (see photo above) by lining up their pink camping chairs, pulled out their favorite nail polish and went to town with his pampering.

He carefully cuts and styles their hair. And he also spent time creating a "God Is..." coloring book for the girls ... and discusses one page a day which features a different characteristic of God. So yes, they are learning characteristics like "omniscient" (on the "God is ... all-knowing" page) all the while having fun coloring with Daddy!

I feel joy because of God's mercy with my parenting ... though I am very far from being a perfect mommy, I love watching our girls blossom. I love watching the beginnings in their lives of what we hope is a lifetime of enjoying God! I just found a booklet Verity made and inside it says, "I love God because he Frst loved Me. My whole family loves God and Jesus. He also loves us because he gaive us the Best Present." I love hearing Annalise scream at the dinner table, "Jesus died to save me!" And I just love watching Moriah fold her little hands when we pray. Joy. What a wonderful gift.

Disappointment

Then on the other side of the scale is disappointment. Big and little things can disappoint us. Just this morning, David checked the basketball scores on-line only to be disappointed to see that his #1 (and undefeated!) Memphis Tigers lost to the #2 Tennessee Vols. Pictured above are David's parents and his brother's family enjoying a game earlier in the season. David managed to get on-line when Memphis was ahead by 1 with only 2 minutes to go. Hope. Then disappointment.

Sorrow

Then there is sorrow. An emotion that brings so much perspective to life ... so much clarity to our priorities ... and so many tears to the grieving. My wonderful aunt (holding Moriah in the photo above, taken about a year and a half ago) has been fighting a brave battle against melanoma. And judging from the e-mails we have received from my cousins, her time on Earth is short.

So David and I called her last night to tell her that we love her. I'm so thankful David was doing the talking because I could barely eek out a few words since I was crying so much. We are so thankful for the peace we feel about her Homegoing but the sorrow is deep and real for those she will leave behind. I'm thankful for the verse that says we do not grieve like those "who have no hope" (I Thess. 4:13) ... because even though David told them, "We called to say good-bye," we know it is not a permanent good-bye.

And so comes the perspective. Though in a 24-hour period, I can swing the pendulum of emotions (from joy to sorrow or from hope to disappointment), I am thankful that I can cling to a few unchanging truths in my relationship with God. He gives me the eternal perspective I need ... He is my North Star and my foundation.

Thanks for being the part of our lives that brings us joy - your friendship is an awesome blessing!