Dealing With the "What For"...

This was the picture I sent my hubby from the exam room right after the tongue lashing I received from my doctor last week. Frankly, I was done. Too many doctor visits in one week and I was starting to feel like a pin cushion. I was just done. Now, there will be no medical lawsuit filed for bad bedside manner or bashing him on social media. I really do love my doctor. I met him on a pretty bad day many years ago and he has been a great help as he's seen me through the trenches on some things. He listens and really gets to the root of issues. Even those issues you don't want to deal with. You don't find great docs like that often so he is a gem, but that day he gave me the "what for" because of my neglect of getting in there sooner to take care of some things and, quite frankly, I didn't like him right then. Lol! He didn't buy my whole sob story of "too busy, not enough of me to go around, new school, family responsibilities, can't take time off, I'll get to it when summer rolls around" speech. It didn't sit well with him and I'm pretty sure he gave me the same look as I had in this picture. Whatever doctor! 🙄

But, in all honesty, I'm thankful for him. Though there aren't any major things going on (praise the Lord!🙏🏼), he reminded me that those little things have become bigger things and I need to release my stubbornness and not wait so long. I got the "taking care of yourself is a necessity that needs to be put back on the top of your 'to-do' list so you will be around for a long long time" lecture. Okay, okay!! I get it! 

I'm sure most of us find ourselves in situations like these. Life gets busy. We put off things that need attention because it's just not something we want to deal with right now. We think it can wait because our attention is on so many other things that we feel take precedence. This would involve focus on ourselves when others around us need attention too. For me it is always easier to take care of others. It brings me joy! But as some really great (and kind of bossy 😉) people in my life reminded me that taking care of myself helps me better serve others, I decided not to roll my eyes quite as hard and take it to heart. Yes, I have given this same advice out of my own lips to others many times but it didn't apply to me, right? O, how I still have so much to learn in this life. I am a work in progress and a stubborn one at that. 🙄

That's just part of life. You fall down, you get back up. You make a mistake, you learn from it and press on to do better. Or like me, make that mistake again and again and try not to make it AGAIN. Life is hard. But to be all that God wants us to be takes intentionality to apply all that we learn from His Word and on this journey of life. Like you, I really do want to be around for a long time because there is so much I know God has for me. I have great purpose and YOU do too! So, I will continue pouring into Scripture and do as my doctors say. I will make more time for my dear family and loved ones and I will continue working hard for the glory of God!! Life is hard, but it is a gift and everyday I am reminded of just how precious it is! I love this life God has blessed me with! ❤

So for anyone else out there making sense of some hard places, please know you've been prayed for. Let's remember that God is good and He is good at being God. He knows best and it is up to us to be still, listen, and then follow through on what He has for us. Let's also thank those He puts in our lives that encourage us to be the best of us so we can become better! 

Blessings to you all this day as we press on the pilgrimage of life! 😊

“Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”

Colossians 3:2 ESV

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10 ESV

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

Proverbs 27:17 NIV

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls has no one to help them up."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 NIV

"Mom" is my Superpower!

Life can get so busy that sometimes there just aren't enough hours in a day. That is the glamorous but oh-so-special life of "Mom". One particular morning, during a very busy season, I visited my local grocery store after realizing it was time to restock the pantry and refrigerator that had gone extremely bare. The milk had run out a few days before and there were no trash bags left in the house so we had resorted to using plastic shopping bags to throw out our waste. Yes, it sounds wonderful doesn't it? Lol! I had been pretty busy those last couple of weeks so the minor things like food for my family and proper waste disposal got a little behind. Haha! Ok, I am really not that terrible, I had just been in too many directions.

After I made out my shopping list and had it organized by grocery aisles, I grabbed my purse and coupons and headed out the door. “Mom” is my superpower so that grocery-shopping thing had nothing on me. I even went in full Pender County mode by donning a big old t-shirt and yoga pants and wore my hair up with no makeup on. Yes, yes, I was a sight to behold! But surprisingly, I felt a twinge of freedom and went with my head held high. Or that may have just been the large scrunchie on the top of my head. Haha!

I selected my buggy (a.k.a. shopping cart), disinfected with hand sanitizer and made my first stop at the coupon hub for the special coupons just for me! Oh, how special I felt when they printed out with "Jordan Family" at the top! Ok, now I was ready!

I began stocking my buggy and checking off my list. At the same time I was adding up my purchases and shock and awe began to set in. Wow! Those prices! Of course, the budget is the same but the prices have taken a dramatic hike so then I began making adjustments. I'm sure you all understand, well, unless you have an endless supply of money and in this economy, I kind of doubt that. So, the list gets adjusted and some of those previously selected items get the ax and go back on the shelf. But, nonetheless, I press on and come to the end of the list. By this point my mood starts shifting and I get a little discouraged. It was as if the grocery store acted as some sort of kryptonite to my “mom” superpower. Lol! Of course, it was just my human weakness that came to the surface so I asked God to show me how to make the most of out of what He had blessed us with. 

I paused in mid-aisle and said a prayer of thanks to God for His constant provision. I praised Him for the many items in my buggy; those items that will nourish our family and even our sweet dog, Louie. Though it may not be everything on my list, it was more than enough, and for that, I was grateful! I needed an attitude adjustment and also to refocus on God's many blessings.

I took my final turn down the frozen foods aisle and as I walked, every light in the freezers began lighting up. The more I walked, the more lights lit up! Oh, how I love it when God sends me teachable moments in these unsuspecting places. Lol! In all my redneck glory of no makeup and yoga pants on the frozen food aisle, God reminded me, in His gentle way, that He will always give me just enough light for each step I'm on. His light will always shine brighter than any disappointment or circumstance I am in and He will guide me every day of my life.
This was not exactly how I had imagined my grocery shopping experience that day. But the longer I walk with the Lord and trust His heart, the more I see His presence in every area of my life. From life’s victories to life’s disappointments, He will always show himself faithful and guide me to His Word for comfort and direction.

Thank you, sweet Father, for your perfect ways of adjusting my focus back on YOU. In my weakness, YOU are strong. It’s not my power but YOUR power within me that I walk in. Thank you for reminding me that YOU are always enough and will provide every need beyond what I could ever imagine. You are so good and YOU are enough!

Today, take some time to see the goodness of God. Through all your frustrations and disappointments, remember that you have a God that loves and adores you. He is for YOU! He will provide your every need and give you just enough light for each step your on! Blessings to YOU this day!

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4 (NLT)