Tag: choose life

What Story do You Want to be Able to Tell in Fifteen Years?

June 7, 2022 /

On this blog I share stories from my life, but my deepest prayer is that they wouldn’t be just about me, but about all of us and our quest to see the hand of God in all of life.  Even though this was written 10 years ago, and a lot has changed, I hope it’s meaningful for parents and sons and daughters alike.

A Letter to my Daughters, May, 2012

Dear Precious Girls,

As I write this we’re on our third flight coming home from Sri Lanka, through Mumbai and Amsterdam.  Too much time to think.  Feeling out of sync with time changes, and nostalgic, and ready to sleep in my own bed and be in a normal summer routine that includes Minnesota lakes and green grass.

In this season, traveling to exotic places, experiencing the humidity and dust of ancient cultures, the taste of unusual spices and the the smell of incense and poverty, I am grateful.  But I also long for home and the simplicity of summer days when you both were little.

Playing Monopoly and hopscotch on the driveway, picking strawberries, and making water balloons, and walking to the library as we were serenaded by cicadas.  Creating forts and reading Betsy, Tacy, and Tib aloud on hot summer afternoons that we savored like melting popsicles, slurping up the goodness of the day.

I think in contrast, of this season of your life now, as young professional women living in D.C. where you have a vibrant faith community, stimulating dialog about important ideas, and the opportunity to experience Supreme Court arguments, Embassy receptions, and White House fireworks.  A good, good season.

I want you to savor every moment, drink up every drop.  To choose life in all its fullness.

This is the season of your life when you’ll set courageous goals and experience lovely victories and maybe fall flat on your face some too.  You’ll nurture friendships, look to wise mentors, and invest in causes that are deeply meaningful.

It’s the season when you get to ask yourself,  “What story do I want to be able to tell in fifteen years?”

Will it matter what Netflix you binged on, or that you had the courage to stand up for what’s right, or learned the name of the homeless guy on your corner, or invited that lonely person to church? What will you remember? What will make a difference? What will grow your character?

In this season I pray you’ll pause, not only to acknowledge the good gifts, but also the Gift Giver.  Yeah, I know there are rough days with job stress, and not enough money, and bad hair days, and questions about what’s next and where, but still…

I may be tempted to look back with longing, and you to look forward with longing, but meanwhile there’s today.  Gregory Boyle quotes Thich Nhat Hahn saying “our true home is the present moment.”

The Desert Fathers would repeat one word over and over.  Not “Jesus” or “Love”, but the word, “today”.  It reminded them where they needed to be.

So today, where you are, and where I am, let’s just choose life and thanksgiving in the present.  God is good.  We get to sing “Great is Thy Faithfulness” in every season. May He write an inspiring paragraph through your life today.

And when you come home this summer for a visit, let’s be sure to play Monopoly and go to Dairy Queen.

love,

Mama

What are you praying for your children? Let me know in the comments and I’ll join you in prayer.

How Do You Make Decisions During a Time of Chaos?

March 30, 2020 /

John and I sit in our study, a cold metal gray Minnesota sky letting barely any light squeeze in. We swivel our comfy chairs towards each other, both with expressions of love, concern, and regret written on our faces regarding a hard decision we have to make.

We had rented a condo in Florida for the month of April, but don’t know if it is wise to go.

I know, I know…I see you rolling your eyes!

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Definitely a first world problem; not the life-and-death, or will-our-business-survive, or can-we-afford-our rent type!

This season has made us more acutely aware of the privilege of having choices and not feeling the desperation many feel.

As we pray and process this decision that would seem of little consequence to many, it strikes me that what guides us in this tiny thing, is relevant to many of the big decisions we face during this pandemic.

Daily we may be guided by the line many have quoted over the years, and most recently by Emily P. Freeman, “Do the next right thing.” but there are times when even that is unclear.

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So here’s what I did that might help you with other types of decisions:

  1. I started by making a list of pros and cons based on the facts that we knew.
  2. Then I made a list of questions – variables that might change, and if they did, would affect our decision.
  3. As a follower of Jesus this last thing was the most important. I asked: What does Scripture say about this? I wasn’t looking for a fear-driven decision, or the most fun, or comfortable decision, but the wisest and most pleasing to God.

Here are some verses that guided me:

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

james 1:5-6

This is not always my first instinct, and I’m also inclined to throw up a prayer and then not stop and be still before rushing forward in my own thinking.

This is a time when it’s important to be guided by facts and advice from experts, but we are bombarded with information that’s changing daily (and we have more time to read it too!) God is the ultimate source of all wisdom.

I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live  and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…

deuteronomy 30:19-20

What does “choosing life” look like not just for me, but for my family and community and world?

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

Philippians 2:3-4

There is a greater awareness in this season, that our decisions don’t just impact us, but may affect others, more vulnerable than we are.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Romans 13:1

Romans 13 was pertinent because while we were praying about this, our governor issued a “shelter-in-place” order.

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In the end, it still wasn’t totally clear to us. John leaned one way, and I leaned the other. We both truly wanted to adhere to Ephesians 5.

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

There’s an additional element that influenced me that may seem odd since we can’t meet physically. I was motivated by the fact that my people are here in MN.

The community I’m closest to and want to serve in any way I can is here. Even if that just means waving from a distance to a mama and toddler, or participating in a birthday car parade, or leaving a wiped down plant on someone’s doorstep, it’s something.

So, we say, along with Peter, It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us…(Acts 15:28) to stay home. We will not be going to FL.

What are some hard decisions you’ve had to make? How have you been creative during this season?

One Word for a New Year

December 31, 2014 /

It’s New Year’s Eve day.  A day of goal-setting, resolutions, and One Word 365.  This is the third year I have decided to choose one word to focus on.  Call it “aspirational” or “anticipatory”.  If you’re considering this practice for 2015 here are some questions to ask as you pray about it:

  • What character quality do you think God wants to nurture in you?
  • What does your soul long for or what do you need?
  • What challenges do you think you’ll face in 2015 that might inform your word?

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