Counting the Cost

My news feed is filled with Chadwick Boseman tributes. There are so many statements about the testament of his character. For all accounts, he was an amazing human being with a legacy for the ages. I have to admit, I’ve been a fan since 42 and followed his career. More than his films, I’m impressed by how he lived his life. I can only imagine receiving a terminal diagnosis at the height of my career, and still choosing to live. He choose to still use and share his gifts regardless of how long he had left on this Earth. He chose to work despite his pain. He chose to give despite his need. He chose to encourage despite his own diagnosis. He chose art. He chose charity. All of us will have to count the cost. We will have to make decisions and ask ourselves, “is it worth it?” Will my gifts last? Does my life matter? Will my actions make life better for someone else? If the reward is greater than this risk, then it’s probably worth it. Counting the cost is the easy part. Living despite the cost is the hard part. Thank you Chadwick for doing the hard part, for giving us you in spite of your circumstances. #wakandaforever

Force of Nature

August always brings back memories of Hurricane Katrina. For as much destruction it brought, it brought opportunity as well. Many people were able to better themselves. Many people were able to create the kind of life they always wanted. Sometimes, it takes a force of nature to force people to change. Maybe that's what is happening right now. Maybe we aren't supposed to go back to business as usual. Maybe things are supposed to be different. Maybe we are supposed to be different. Maybe just maybe, we are being forced to change our nature.

Contract

Four years ago I said yes to the unknown. I agreed to be with my husband through better and worse, through riches and poverty and sickness and health. We have no idea what these extremes look like when we are mouthing the words at the altar of our choosing. We have no idea how the stressors of life will affect our lives and our marriage. We don’t know what caregiving and unstable job markets will do to our union. We don’t know how kids will utterly disrupt our norm. We don’t know what life looks like after “I do.” Each year, we say “yes” again to the unknown. Each year we sign our names at the bottom of a contract not knowing what the following year may bring. That’s marriage….it’s jumping in the deep end holding hands. It’s saying, "I might not like you, but I love you, and we are going to get through this together.” Marriage is saying it might be our last, but we will spend it together. Marriage is signing a contract you never intend to break.

Teach

Students are returning to school, virtually. Teachers are trying to maintain some sense of normalcy. Parents are adjusting to homeschooling. We all have the same goals in mind. We want the best for our kids. Teachers want the best for their students. We just have to take a more active approach. We have to engage our kids. We have to reinforce what the teachers teach. We have to check schoolwork and homework. We have to assist with projects. We have to make sure they are dressed and ready for virtual school day with no classmates and recess. We have to encourage and remind them that this isn’t forever. We have to teach them how to live despite circumstances. We have to teach them how to thrive in uncertainty. We have to teach them it’s okay to be frustrated and angry, but to utilize healthy outlets. We have to teach them the same lessons we are learning ourselves.

Too Blessed to Be Stressed

I know it's hard to imagine calling yourself blessed with everything that is going on in the world, but I want to remind you of something….you're here. You are alive. You have everything you need in this moment. You have hope and a future. You are not forgotten. God is mindful. When I think of all the people God called blessed, it was not because their life was without calamity or pain. It was because they endured. They survived and you will too. We will count it all joy. We are too blessed to be stressed.

1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Ain’t my fault

I’m big on accountability because I’ve seen what lack of accountability looks like in a person’s life. I’ve heard people make excuses for justifiable actions. It doesn't make it right. You can do wrong for the right reasons, but it doesn't make it any less wrong. People make excuses when they are trying to justify their wrongdoing. Hold yourself to a higher standard. Hold yourself accountable. Stop saying, “it ain’t your fault,” when it is or when you are a part of the problem. Be a part of the solution. Change begins with you.

Beauty for Ashes

Isaiah 61:3 “and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”

I’ve got to have hope. I’ve got to believe that this is not it. I’ve got to believe it gets better. I’ve got to think that this too shall pass. I’ve got to know that all of this is for my good. It gets better. Every day there is something. Bad news. Crazy headlines. Death and despair everywhere, BUT God! His word gives us comfort that there will be a great exchange. We will trade our ashes for beauty. What are the ashes? They are all the difficult and challenging things we have experienced. We can give God our burdens. We can give God our hurt. We can give God our fear. We can give God our anger. We can give it all to God. We can have beauty for ashes.