Put Your Hands Up:

I am in Week 3 of a great online Bible Study on Let. It. Go. by Karen Ehman. I have been learning so much about myself, what I like about me, what I would like to change about myself and learning about my relationship with God.  Some days I truly feel like just putting my hands up and saying I give up, give in or just scream in defeat.  But I know those are the times I need to Let It Go and give it to God.  I need to get down on my knees in prayer and spend some serious time in God's word.  

I need to realize although I am no domestic diva, I can do better than what I have been doing.  We have 7 people living under one roof - two parents, my mother and four children.  We have a crazy schedule - we homeschool, are out of the house four of five week days with various activities, plus another activity every other Saturday along with my husband's drill schedule once a month (he is active duty in the Army Reserves) along with at least being gone two weeks a year.  Plus he is now a rear detachment commander (even though he is enlisted and holds the rank of Sergeant First Class) he is in charge of the unit so this adds numerous conference calls, trips and other responsibilities to his plate.  It also means there are times where we can't stay in contact.

So I have to Let. It. Go but still do my best.  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays we try to go to my husband's office to do school - since he is commander we can do this.  It allows him to participate more.  It also lets him back me up immediately when there are behavior issues or other things that arise.

I believe children as they grow up - ours are 16, 14, 12 and 10 respectively need responsibility and the chance to sink or swim.  As much as I would love to protect them from everything the world has to offer, I can't.  What I can do is give them a firm biblical footing to stand on and demonstrate my faith.  We have to be doing something fairly right because the oldest two have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and they did on their own merits.  They both were able to organize and carry out their individual projects. I have been blessed to see both boys accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior and be baptized by their father (an ordained minister for over 19 years) while my in-laws (my father in law is also ordained) were able to attend and see first hand.  

Then about two weeks ago, my husband and I were able to hear our 10 year old daughter profess she wanted Jesus Christ to be her personal Lord and Savior.  It is moments like these that make me realize what a blessing children are.  I want to do my best for them.  This means I need to let them sink or swim.  Or as Karen Ehman puts it in her book, let them experience life's disappointments.  Yes I could make things easy for them, but that is not life.  What I can do is teach them that God is always with them, even during the darkest points.  

Belonging to something and someone can bring a lot of fulfillment, but belonging to God brings the ultimate perfect peace and joy.  People can let us down.  Circumstances can let us down.  But God's love will never waver, falter or let us down.  If we Let. It. Go. and then give it all to Him, he will give us much more than we could ever have asked for.  For God's word says:

Matthew 11:28

King James Version (KJV)

²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

This is a true statement if we will just come to our Heavenly Father.   It means we have to let go and "give the reins to Him" so to speak.  This is the one thing that I really want to come away from this study.  I don't have to be perfect.  My house and children don't have to be perfect.  All I have to do is be what God intended me to be and to do my best.  As we tell our children:  It is okay to not be perfect as long as you try and give that try your best.

Well until next time, I pray God will be with you.