That was me to my brother/angel from God, Kevin, under my God tree today. He has been my crucial guard rail for the past three years, helping me make some pretty significant decisions. I had called him to tell him how my daughter, Ember, got a chance yesterday to witness how his advice to me has paid off. My daughters often question my decisions as to why I’m always the first to apologize to their dad, even if he was the one wrong, looking at me as some “weak” woman. Yesterday, Ember got to see that her mom was actually being very wise, as Kevin has been teaching me to be, choosing her battles wisely and leaving the insignificant ones to God.
Someone had called me requesting some information, and I needed to call my husband. We talked about the girls, and seeing him not playing around with his responsibility as their dad just blew me away. After telling Ember about the conversation, I asked her, “Now do you see why mom apologizes even when I’m not in the wrong. Your dad may have his ways, but he is truly God’s gift to our family. That’s why I’ve been teaching you to overwhelm him with your love and respect.”
Your girl here has become a professional at swallowing some bitter pills and taking emotionally painful punches, but I feel that’s my special role from God (Me a soldier!). To be the glue that’s keeping my family together and at the same time show you guys that love can still exist within imperfections. Love is a decision that we can make every day despite whatever has happened in the past, and we do it all for God. Hubby certainly puts up with the crazy God lady here who writes posts sharing all our family drama with the world!
“Obey God and leave the consequences to Him,” was the advice of Dr. Charles Stanley that I want us all running with. His ways are definitely not our ordinary human ways; they are so much better. He exceeds my expectations giving me more than I can ever ask or imagine when I follow His leading. That conversation with hubs yesterday really brought that reality home, ‘Nik, you are blessed!’
That’s why it’s so important to learn God’s voice for yourself. Like the “311” that has been showing up from Him to remind me to stay on the high road with Him, and again, making that decision every day to be still and show up as the best wife, mother, and person, leaving the battles with Him, has paid off tremendously. Sounds crazy that God would say all that through the number “311” but that “311” has beautifully guided me. God is pretty talkative, and I want us all to get to know Him better and His voice to understand the people He is calling us to be.
Like right after talking to Kevin about how thankful I was for him teaching me to be patient AND reading about how prayer and patience go together under my tree with God, I got in my car to go home, and exactly at that moment, the very lyrics on the radio at precisely that moment was ‘Grateful I had all the patience,’ by Meek Mill. Wink! Wink! That lined up too perfectly to be a coincidence! It was all orchestrated by God to let me know that His invisible Presence is always with me as I take on this superheroic mission on His behalf. Also, His fun, sweet, and playful personality to have THAT song of all songs in the world playing on the radio at that very moment.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
Let’s all be God’s superheroes doing everything for His glory, especially in our homes. This is how He guides us on the paths to the best life with Him as our Guide and Partner. Not always easy, but His Presence will be there to give us the strength, courage, and wisdom to get through anything. Grateful I had all the patience!