Hard Day?

Hard day? Maybe some tears or screaming or just going to bed in silence? Yeah, I've had those days. Had one recently in fact. You know what is hardest about those days is that I don't usually tell anyone how hard it is because I don't want to look stupid, and I'm afraid people won't understand or they'll tell me how to handle it better or give some unwanted advice. On those days, really, I don't need that. I just would like a presence. Someone who takes the brunt of my vent and listens. Someone who sits with me while I stare at a TV with some pointless movie on. Someone who nods and says, "Yep, that sucks," and realizes it is just a day, except it is a day at the end of a string of days or weeks, and this last thing happened and...insert tears or screaming or numb silence. So, if it that kind of day, good for you for making it through and letting everyone else make it through and not making any decisions that cannot be undone. Sometimes, it is a big enough battle to just get through the day. Tomorrow when things are less intense, you can think through, have conversations, make decisions. You'll be in a much better place for those things. Tonight, be nice to yourself. Give yourself grace. Dump on someone if you need to. Get some sleep.

 

I'm really sorry if you had a bad day, but I'm really glad you made it through it.

 

Hug, hand squeeze, and presence.

 

Jerri

An Idol

An IDOL

 

is anything that causes you to

 

question God's character

 

or

 

be angry at God

 

because you don't get what you want.

 

--Jerri L. Kelley--

Not Finished Yet

I just had an awesome prayer time with my friend Marza Bush, and you know what?
The stroy isn't finished yet.
My story.
Your story.
Keep working through the pages He is writing. ...
Some parts are hard, really hard.
Sometimes it gets way over dramatic with one thing after another and we all wonder just when this crap is going to stop.
But never give up the hope of a great ending.
The story isn't over.

When You Can't Be There

I said I don't post about my kids or personal stuff on Facebook because my real goal is to encourage people and be a bright place in the world. Well, sometimes those two things kind of collide, and I want to say...

To the officer who responded to WonderGirl's motor accident, thank you for your kindness and encouragement. Thank you for telling her she did the exact right thing by calling campus police and you would handle it. Thank you for your leniencies and not issuing any tickets.

To the woman with white hair, in the white nurses uniform, driving the white car who stopped after the policeman left, made sure WonderGirl was okay, offered to let her sit in your car while she waited for me and WonderBoy to pick her up, and applauded her for her honesty instead of just driving away when no one would know, thank you. WG isn't sure you were not from heaven. I"m not either.

To Shannon at our insurance who immediately started finding out if a tow truck was necessary and if medical care was needed (neither were), I love you.

To Angela who offered to leave work and go pick up WonderGirl since she was closer than I was, I love you.

To Professor Robin who said to take the week off and sleep...a LOT, your are a beautiful gift. Thank you for loving my daughter.

To the parents out there who worry about their kids, I pray for the same happy ending for you every time, and I pray that your children are also blessed to have someone there when you can't be.

First

It is Wednesday! You know what that means? Nope. It does not mean it is humpday. It means it is the FIRST day!

This could be the frist day you take a walk around the block.

Or the first day you read that book you've been wanting to read.

Or the first day you start looking for a job you like instead of complaining about the one you hate.

Or the first day you start seeing your life as amazing instead of amazingly crappy....
 
Or the first day you tell the important people in your life, "I love you." Honest, you can say those words and the world won't end. In fact, someoen might be waiting to hear them, so you might make the world a lot better.
 
Or the first day you read your Bible or pray or go to the zoo or learn that thing you've always wanted to know or...
 
The possibilites are endless!
 
What are you going to do first?

What Next?!

I know some folks having a bad day...or a string of bad days. Been a bit intense here this week, too, and it is easy to get a "what next?" attitude. I want to share some "what next?" that we often forget--the crazy God answers.

WonderGirl and I took her almost undriveable car in to the body shop this morning. The back bumper was sticking way out on the side, which is not good on a plastic car, especially on major roads driving 70+ miles an hour. The man came out to do the est...imate. Looked at it. Got on the ground. Looked some more, and I knew the bumper would most likely have to be replaced, but I was getting nervous about structural stuff. Then he said, "Give me a minute." He went into the shop, got a screwdriver, and got on hte ground. He undid a screw, pushed the bumper back in, and put the screw back in. He bumped it with his hip, and it didn't move. The car is fixed. No claim. No money for fixing the screw. Just, "Y'all be blessed." Oh, sir, we already are. Thank you!

On the way home I was getting information about widening our driveway from the city secretary and mentioned WonderBoy may need surgery on his ingrown toe. She suggested trying pedicures first and told me her story. Same issue as WB, but surgery didn't help, so pedicure once a month does the job. That and essential oil to handle the pain and swelling so they can get the nail is a lot easier fix than surgery.

Then roofer #2 came to the house. VERY different story than roofer #1. He thinks insurance will cover the replacement with no problem, and he certainly didn't suggest lying to the insurance company. (Yeah, I know. Do you see why there is a roofer #2?)

No, not everything is fixed. Yes, there is more to be done, BUT "what next?" isn't always another blow or another exhausting thing. Sometimes "what next?" is an impossibly easy answer, a much easier option, or someone willing to walk through a hard process with you.

I really hope you have an amazing "what next?"!!!

No, He Really is Good

It's going to happen. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow, but it will happen. You are going to pray for something...and not get it. It happens to everyone who prays. When it does, you will most likely be tempted to get angry and tell God a lot of things, like how He doesn't love you, how He has abandoned you, how He needs to tell you what it will take for you to manipulate Him into giving you whatever it is you want. Can I offer you a thought?

God isn't a human being that He abandons His children or that He forgets to value them or that He can be manipulated by human word or action. He's God, and He is a good God, who gives good gifts, and it just might be that this house or job or relationship or pony or vacation or whatever you think you have a right to really isn't a good thing for you right now. I know that is hard to fathom in our all-about-me society, but it is true. God is a good Father, and He gives good gifts, and sometimes that good gift His telling His children no.