Archive for September, 2008

Showing that smile again in the midst of growing pains

Published September 26, 2008 What I'm Thinking About... 7 Comments

“Show me that smile again
Don’t waste another minute on your crying
We’re nowhere near the end
The best is ready to begin.”

I have growing pains. No, that is not a declaration of acquiring the beloved 90’s TV series on DVD or a reference to how my pants don’t fit properly anymore. I’m talking growing pains – the “I’m growing up and I’m an adult but I still don’t know what to do with my life and I know I’m not going to be an astronaut anymore but I just am not sure where this whole thing is going” type of growing pains. If it were up to me, I’d rather this be about Kirk Cameron, but it’s not.

I really am not trying to complain. Quite frankly, this all seems a little self-centered. I feel like Derek Zoolander, staring at a mud puddle, asking “Who am I?” His question is mine lately…”I guess I have a lot of things to ponder.”

I remain unconvinced that there is one solitary thing every person was meant to do and until you find “the thing” you will forever feel like a piece of driftwood in the sea. But I am starting (I’m a little slow) to see that there are things I probably should NOT be doing…which makes me think that there are probably things that I should be doing too. This is a question I posed to some of my friends…what is that thing or things I should be doing that if I weren’t, someone somewhere is getting robbed? I don’t think this is a egotistical question. On the contrary, I think it’s the opposite – the opportunity to be in a place where others are truly benefiting because I am being what they need me to be. Ironically, the journey to serve others in this way has begun with a whole lot of me. Honestly, I’m ready to be done.

[end note: as my header says, i'm just talking this through. please don't feel "guilted" in any way to tell me how great i am. i hope i'm not that shameless!]

I think I felt something!

Published September 3, 2008 Family 2 Comments


Sometimes, I have to question some of the things we say to try and explain Jesus to kids. Somewhere along the way, possibly from us, maybe at church, Cody (my oldest) was told that Jesus lives inside of him. I don’t know if we have really thought through how a 4-year-old might process such a revelation. Certainly with good intention, it is easy to tell a kid that Jesus wants to live “in their heart” without thinking through how such news might be received. I was not told this at such a young age but I could imagine that to be a pretty disturbing realization. I mean, kids are small. Where would he go?

Now obviously I don’t have issues with kids learning about Jesus. I love hearing my children talk about Jesus because it is my great hope they will choose to become his disciples. Nonetheless, I know that we need to accept that they might get it wrong, and I don’t think for one second that Jesus is disappointed in them.

Take last night for instance. My two year old daughter decided to stick both fingers up her nose. Not very uncommon around our house (with the kids, that is). Anyway, Cody, upon seeing Laila up to her knuckles shouted “Laila! Be careful! You’re going to touch Jesus!”

How can you not help but smile at something like that?