Chapter 4

Christmas night 2012.  It’s been a whirlwind few weeks in many ways, but in other ways, peaceful as the snow falling softly outside.   Lots going on outside, but our hearts are content.  It’s difficult to describe, but it feels almost as if a cloud has been lifted from our house lately.  It could have something to do with the fact that our 5 year old FINALLY decided that she was no longer afraid to go on the potty anymore.  It could also have something to do with Galen’s winter break from his MBA classes and consequently, our having more “margin” as a family and as a couple.  I’m sure the magic and excitement of Christmas is also a factor.  Last week was busy—I finished Christmas shopping and wrapping, baked 12 plates of my mom’s labor-intensive (but delicious) sticky buns, attended 4 classroom holiday parties, prepared and helped 18 preschoolers make edible nativity scenes, and taught 4 spinning classes.   We’ve had a lot of fun family events and activities- immediate and extended, and we attended some dynamic and reflective worship services.  Despite the fact that we’ve seen an increase in grumbling, bickering, and fighting among our kids lately (misdirected excitement?!?!), we’ve also seen some very tender and sweet moments that honestly take our breath away.  Even at their worst, they are amazing gifts to us, and we are incredibly blessed… 

I think that perhaps the biggest factor in the sense of freedom and relief we are experiencing is due to our responding to God’s call to pursue Abraham.  The “whisper” that God speaks through in the Bible is what we’ve experienced in the last few weeks.  The restlessness in my spirit that I had been experiencing for a while has been replaced by a peace that transcends my understanding.  I like to please people, and that is the opposite of what I feel this decision is doing.  Yet, we are at peace.  Our family unit is joy-filled and excited to be on this journey no matter where it takes us because God, Himself, is leading.  Galen and I are of one mind and spirit too which is an incredible gift.  We are taking things one day at a time, aware that we are living for a purpose that is bigger than what is seen, and we are united under and by Him.  It’s hard to put into words, but the experience of living by faith—of putting one foot in front of the other, of trusting in what is not seen, and putting your entire weight on Him IS really freeing.  I think a lot of the world’s stress, anxiety, skepticism, and fear is reflective of our NEED to live by faith.  It’s how we were created—to trust Him completely.  It’s what sin ruined and what Christ’s death and resurrection made possible once again.   On Christmas Eve, our pastor asked the question, “What are you doing with what you’ve got?” The information— the Bible, Christ Himself- is in our midst.  What are we doing with it?  May this question be our springboard into 2013.