Skip to main content

The Disruption and Pain and Completion of Being a Family


To love the way we love our families can be absolutely devastating.   Not in the typical use of the word.  Completely disrupting and confounding!!

Each time, a sister was born, my family was disrupted.  "It's a girl," was said over and over and over and over!  Life was not the same as before.  Louder and more chaotic and better.

When my boys were born, I was completely disrupted.  I was thoroughly turned inside out and outside in and upside down.  I would never be the same.  The path I was on blocked and another chosen for me.  I've walked down this path with great pride and desire.  Love that is painful and aching and complete was born as well.

To live and love within families is a painful road to take.  Wouldn't it be so much "easier" to walk the path of selfishness?  To think only of oneself?  To spend one's energy, time and effort only on the "me."

For example, if had not been "disrupted" by my children and my sisters, would I have spent the past week crying and burdened?  My sisters live in the most devastated part of the South Dakota blizzard.  I'm broken for them.

Today, when I can't go to my son's college football game, I'm devastated.   Each time I miss a pinning or promotion for my oldest or an activity for my youngest, I'm broken.

And yet, families make us complete.  Not in the unhealthy and enmeshed, but in the wholeness.  

The wholeness of a complete and real relationship that family brings.  With all of it's disruption, pain, joy and contentment.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Starting a Journey

September 3, 2010 Originally posted How to Begin a Journey 1. Pick a destination or simply start. 2. Plan a detailed itinerary or just take the first step. 3. Pack everything or travel lightly. I am choosing to just begin. To leave behind the baggage, pick up a day pack, and go. Several nights before we moved to Ogallala, I was praying about the transition when I heard that still, small voice of God. In that moment, I knew He heard my Heart's Cry. He hears every whispered plea, every unspoken longing. If I truly sit with that truth, it humbles me. What courage, boldness, passion, and decisiveness I have when I remember: He never leaves or forsakes me. He provides for my every need according to His riches in glory. My hope is to encourage you He hears your Heart's Cry too.

Picking up Rocks and Riding in Boats

I took a walk with a three year old young man today.   His mama was frazzled and he was bored.  "Grab your shoes," I told him.  He ran to his Mom to get his shoes on and ran to the door.  After fixing the shoestrings and the coat was on the way he wanted and I showed him the edge of the sidewalk and where we would walk...we were off. A dried piece of weed draped across an edge of the sidewalk, and I bent down to check it out.  He followed my lead and bent in half beside me.  I broke a piece off and gave him half and continued on our way.  Have you ever took a walk with a toddler?  And looked at things the way they do?  The broken sticks in the gutter, the ice and the small patch of snowing clinging to life are all gold to these little explorers.   A little encouragement is all they need to sift for treasure along the way. A smooth stone sat contentedly on the driveway of a house.  I stopped to admire...

Hurry. Time is Running Out...

Hurry.  Time is running out . 6.5 hours left of 12/10/2012. 4 days le ft until the weekend. 15 days left until Christmas.   21 day s until we fall over the fiscal cliff & financial Armageddon.   Time is running out. Time to make a difference. Time to count. Time to make moments matter. Time to make my life matter.     Time is running out. Time to tell my family that I love them. Time to breathe. Time to love. Time to heal. Time to restore. Time IS RUNNING OUT. BUT it is all the time I have. IT IS All the time I need.  Time to Praise. Time to Pray. Time to smile. Time to listen. Time to be.   Time is running out . Today I will take the time to love. Time to tell others about the hope I have in Jesus! Today I have the time t o listen to God. Time to reach.  Time to teach.  Time to lead.   Time to make a change. Time is running out. ...