Clothes... and not the jeans & sweater kind!

It's been a while.  What's going on?  Lots is going on and nothing is going on; which is why I haven't blogged in a while.

Layth continues with his job search.  It will be interesting to see where we land.  He's pretty excited about one of the potentials that we'll know the answer to soon.  We just continue to trust in God.  We both know He is faithful and we ultimately want His will.  When we pray together about the situation I find that we really are on the same page as far as how we're viewing this season of life.

He's been sick.  Like, really ,really sick.  Today was the first time I saw him up and around since last Wednesday.  He took a nap this afternoon and was down for the count this evening by 7pm, so it's still got him wiped out.  But, he is improving each and every day.

Me?  I'm busy planning our trip to Salem.  Our trip to Arizona.  Our trip to the island.  So much fun!  Had coffee with a friend the other day.  That was wonderful.  The first time we'd ever gotten together.   I really enjoyed it.  Had Girls Night with my mom and sis.  Always a wonderful experience.  It would have been nice to have had another hour or so at dinner since the show went for three hours and so we headed straight home following, but I cherish the time I do get with them.

Still watching little Olivia. What a joy!!

That's about it in my world, I guess.  REALLY looking forward to a weekend in Salem.  I'm working on connecting with several people there that I've not seen since we moved.  Plus, we have a whole-group get together on Sunday afternoon.  Can hardly wait.

I started to write the post below a few days ago (I think it was last Saturday, the day it happened) but didn't get it done.  I finished it tonight and so here it is.  An area of conviction that hit me directly between the eyes.


We were getting ready to leave and I told Keiton, for the third time, to put his pants on (he was running around in his underwear, a common occurrence around here).   He sighed heavily and in resignation with jeans in hand he said, "I'm tired of putting my pants on."

My first thought was "oh boy, if you're tired already of putting your pants on at age 3, you've got a LONG life ahead of you."

My second thought was a verse from Colossians that popped into my head.  (pesky verse).  "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."  (Colossians 3:12).

"Oh", I sighed inwardly still overseeing the pants putting on process of my child, "I know how you feel after-all".

I was immediately convicted.  How many times a day does God command me to pull on the clothes of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience and I simply avoid the command, thinking to myself instead "I'm simply too tired to do it." I ignore His call to clothe myself as His child and instead, in the nakedness of my own sinful nature, I lash out, give a grumpy retort, or dwell on the injustice done to me.   I can always seem to find a justification for discounting His command - especially in THAT situation (you know because you have "that situation" too, everyday):  the one where someone is demanding my time or attention when I'm stressed, I'm hungry, things aren't going the way I planned, I have a lot going on, the request is unreasonable...  you get the idea.  Always something.

And yet, in the same way that I asked my child to get dressed to be ready for the outside world, so God has asked me to "clothe" myself with certain garments as His child.  Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  These garments reveal to those around me that I am His child.   I want to be recognized as His child.  I really do.   Not only to the world around me, but to my husband and children at home as well.  This is where it gets really convicting for me... right here at home.  I know I need work in this area.  I'm sure that is why the Holy Spirit planted the verse in my mind right at that time.  And then wouldn't let it go.

Even though it may be difficult for me to practice these things on a daily and moment-by-moment basis, I am commanded to do it.  God did not give me the option, really.  He made it very clear.  "Clothe yourselves," the verse says - it is an action phrase, complete with a verb.   It demands that I DO something which means, unfortunately, that it will not come naturally. (but I already know that!).  Anything that does not come naturally is work and takes a certain measure of effort.   Like my 3-year old grunting his way into his jeans in obedience to me, even if it is difficult I need obey God, make the choice to overcome my natural state and instead reveal those characteristics that He deems worthy of His children.   Compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Yes, even at home with my husband and children and yes, even in “that situation,” too!