Our Family Circus

Our church is reading through the Bible in a year.   The children and I read through the old testament during the school year last year, which was arranged over 5 days a week and only during the school months.   This reading is much easier than 5-6 chapters a day allowing more time to hover over The Word.  We read it together during the week and on our own on the weekend.   The weekends, I hover! Matthew 11 was a weekend read for me to hover over.   First, I never thought about the fact that John did not know who Jesus was.  There were no baby showers, family reunions,  or social media accounts to reacquaint those babies once they became men.   John heard about Jesus just like others.    John sent messengers to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?"   I love this!   I love that he asked and let him know I'm going to keep looking if it's not you.   John KNEW who he was looking for.   Jesus responded:

We've been married for over 20 years....but... I do NOT complete my husband. I am NOT his soulmate. I am NOT his best friend. AND I am NOT the one his soul longs for. So much for a Happy Valentine's Day for us.    Here's the truth .   We are 2 imperfect people, living imperfect lives, raising imperfect people as we go about our days trying to share truth. The truth. Jesus Christ completes my husband. Jesus Christ is his soulmate. Jesus Christ is his best friend. Jesus Christ is whom his soul longs for.  And this is all the better for me!   My Dear's love for the Lord lavishes on me, our children, our family, friends, and even complete strangers.   My Dear's desire for me, our children, and all others  is the same; that ONLY Jesus will complete us, ONLY Jesus is our soulmate and best friend and ONLY Jesus is who our souls long for.   

Time for the word of the year.   I struggled with accepting this year's word of the year.  Probably because last year's brought such significant change.  But, you know what else it brought, peace.   It brought peace because as the year unfolded, I was reminded that God gave me that word for this year.  He knew the year.  He knew the changes.  He know how upside down everything would feel. Late December, I felt like my word would be HOMELESS.   I didn't like it!!!   I was in homelessness already and it had been hard....BUT I know that I am truly in the most beautiful of homelessness.  We have a beautiful home to hide in until we have our own.  Everything we want and need is available to us.  I wake up to a beautiful view and go to sleep with the light of the moon reflecting off the earth.  This is where healing has happened for us.   But, I don't want to be here....here, as in this position.   I don't want our friends to have to sacrifice to take care of us