I just looked up ebb and flow in the dictionary. I found it under idioms and phrases in a free online dictionary. Here's the definition, "to decrease and then increase, as with tides; a decrease followed by an increase, as with tides." As far as I can tell, the ebb and flow of life is biblical. Job, of the Bible, said it this way, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord."
As I might have mentioned a time or two or a thousand, we've been through some interesting days around here. Johnny and I talked just today about a vacation we cancelled last summer to make a trip to see his dad when we realized the cancer was back and the doctor's said there was nothing else they could do. Less than 3 weeks after that we made another trip to Georgia, when we said goodbye.
Maybe it's because that was right before my baby's senior year in high school but it seems like I've been particularly emotional for about 11 months now. I'm a person that runs on high emotion anyway - just ask anyone in my family. There's been a lot of ebb and flow going on around here and I'm a little exhausted by it.
I started to make a laundry list of all the happenings going on around here but I decided to cut to the chase. I sat on the floor of my bathroom today and just started crying. Part of it was this...
We spent the last day and a half getting our third child registered for classes at DBU. Yep, following in his siblings' footsteps, Jacob is now officially a Patriot. The tears weren't tears of sadness, really, although I'm a little sad for me because I've been at this parent thing for 23 years now and it's who I've become. A mom, for heaven's sake, is my highest calling. It's been my favorite job on the planet. Not that I'm going to stop being a mom because obviously I'm not. My role's changing and I'm getting used to that.
As I might have mentioned a time or two or a thousand, we've been through some interesting days around here. Johnny and I talked just today about a vacation we cancelled last summer to make a trip to see his dad when we realized the cancer was back and the doctor's said there was nothing else they could do. Less than 3 weeks after that we made another trip to Georgia, when we said goodbye.
Maybe it's because that was right before my baby's senior year in high school but it seems like I've been particularly emotional for about 11 months now. I'm a person that runs on high emotion anyway - just ask anyone in my family. There's been a lot of ebb and flow going on around here and I'm a little exhausted by it.
I started to make a laundry list of all the happenings going on around here but I decided to cut to the chase. I sat on the floor of my bathroom today and just started crying. Part of it was this...
We spent the last day and a half getting our third child registered for classes at DBU. Yep, following in his siblings' footsteps, Jacob is now officially a Patriot. The tears weren't tears of sadness, really, although I'm a little sad for me because I've been at this parent thing for 23 years now and it's who I've become. A mom, for heaven's sake, is my highest calling. It's been my favorite job on the planet. Not that I'm going to stop being a mom because obviously I'm not. My role's changing and I'm getting used to that.
The tears were an outpouring of gratitude. Honestly, even with the ebb and flow of these days, I see God's hand in so many ways. His realness is evident and powerful. His care is comforting and compassionate. His plan is so much better than I can ask or imagine.
Do you ever just have a moment when you realize how good God is and you just have to respond? I mean, it's spontaneous not like a planned time of worship. I've laughed out loud at times and I've shed tears at times. More tears lately, it seems.
Mostly, I'm thankful for the awesome hand of God in my life and in the lives of my family people - and other people I love.
And, because of it, all I really have is a thank You.
Thank You.
Serving the King,
Jeanette
