a long obedience in the same direction
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our granddaddy.
Today in Kissimmee, Florida, was the memorial service celebrating my grandfather’s life. I am heart-broken to have missed it. My mom says it was a very special service, and that my Grandma was at peace. I was asked to write something about Granddaddy, and one of the best parts of my month was sharing stories and memories with my cousins and brothers over Facebook in preparation for the writing, remembering together how special he was. I’m thankful for a chance to participate from very far away. I’m thankful for my cousin, Amy, who read this at the service today. I am thankful for my family, and I’m thankful to…
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the wrestling.
The kids and I walked the half-mile to our neighborhood park this morning. It was a perfect day: not a cloud in the sky. Warm in the sun, chilly in the shade. Judah and Amie love to roam in the park. They usually by-pass the paint-chipped playground in favor of the walking path, where they can explore gnarled banyan trees and trash heaps and point out squirrels, birds and rats of all sizes. They pick up sticks and ruffle through the leaves and make themselves busy. And I like to find a bench in a patch of sun and just sit and be. Today I breathe deep and look around…
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lilly.
We have now been a month in our new flat, which means we’ve been a month with our house helper, Lilly. There are really no words to adequately describe Lilly. She burst into my home and into my life mid-November with the announcement that she wanted to work for me, and now she appears to be a permanent fixture here. One who brings mingled joy and exasperation, but who is rarely far from my thoughts. Lilly’s husband died a year ago from kidney failure, leaving behind a wife, seven children and five thousand dollars in hospital bills. Lilly works two part-time jobs as a maid–for us and for our next-door…
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one year.
I realized with a start today that our one year anniversary came and went without notice. November 21st marked the end of our first year of living here in South Asia. Can you believe it? I have to be honest with you: there were a couple of moments in these twelve months where I thought we might not last a whole year. But God is faithful. And here we are. Many people told us, “The first year is the worst.” And so, even though there are good memories too, I am very relieved to have it behind me, like the closed chapter of a book. Now, I think I’m coming…
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we’re a hot mess.
In case you had any doubts, let me set the record straight that we are a mess in our family. Every one of us. We are never more aware of this than during Moving Week. Last week we lived in the euphoria of signing a two-year lease on our “top choice” apartment. Of taking photos and dreaming about paint colors and pictures on the walls and finally having a guest room. Then this week, reality hit. And it hit hard. Moving is just plain stressful. And we should know. David and I have now officially lived in eight homes in our seven years of marriage. But moving in a third…
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malaysia.
Well, we are home, safe and sound. When I think about our trip I want to cry because it was so wonderful. First, as you know, we had our agency’s area retreat, which I’ll get to in a second. Then, because we were already in Malaysia, we took the once-in-a-lifetime chance of a little island vacation afterwards. And that was amazing in a different way because it was just our family at the beach, breathing in the cleanest sea air imaginable, taking long walks and lots of naps in the silence. I didn’t realize how good it would feel to just get away by ourselves for awhile. But, I’m getting…
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romans.
We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. There’s more to come: we continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling short-changed. …
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me again.
Thank you so much for your prayers and for keeping company with me on this blog. Your prayers are helping us. David and I feel cautiously optimistic that the worst is over. I am gaining a little strength back. I have been able to get up several times during the day and am not needing sleep as much. Over the past couple days I have done some laundry, chopped veggies for dinner, and changed a few diapers . . . which feels like a victory. I still get exhausted so easily. I want more than anything to take care of my kids, but I can’t be around them very long…
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in the middle.
Our life with others is always life in the middle. We are always building community in the tension between God’s “already” and “not yet” grace. And we have no more control over the not yet than we have had over the already. The timetable is in the hands of the sovereign Lord of grace. His timing is always right and he never gets a wrong address. Our job is to learn how best to live in the middle. So we live as broken people who are being repaired, among neighbors in the same condition — always thankful for what has already been done, but ever aware of our need for…
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wise company.
“…reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” (9:8-9) “…he who hates reproof is stupid.” (12:1) The Proverbs are replete with pleas to gain wisdom through others. It is not a solo quest but a community affair. Counselors, parents, teachers, guides, friends, those who encourage, rebuke, reprove, and correct all contribute. The wise lean hard on others. The road to wisdom is filled with friends.