Sometimes being in ministry is stinkin' hard. Bare with me through a few essential details to understand what I mean.
Yesterday was a full day.
I had to give Mark a little talkin' to about why it's important to remember to turn the stove top off when he finishes cooking soup. He remembered to remove the pot. He even remembered to rinse the pot out after eating his soup straight from said pot. But the flame--- the flame! The flame burned unsupervised for many hours. Mercy!
Jackson is knee deep in college applications and the world of possibilities that stretch out before him. Still a boy, yet very much a man. And still scratching his head when I tried to explain how crucial it is to get the correct Weight Watcher chocolate cakes and Slim Fast fudge bars from the grocery--- because you do NOT mess with a dieting woman's food for heaven's sake.
Brooke admitted she lost her toothbrush and has been using her finger--- for a week. (Insert a mom gagging here.)
Hope needed me to help edit her paper on the novel "Animal Farm." There should be a law against moms having to try and comprehend books about animals that have strong political parallels with the Russian Revolution and other historical situations. The complexity made my brain throb.
Ashley is at a major cross roads. Her gymnastics injury still hasn't healed enough for her to get back into the sport she loves. This is huge in her little world and she needs help navigating through the probable loss of something she loves doing.
Combine all this with a run to Target. A run to the grocery. Another run to the grocery because all brain cells were left sitting on the counter next to the list that got left at home. And five loads of laundry--- and you have a day filled with choices to love those right in front of me while hundreds of e-mails sat unanswered.
Hundreds of e-mails that may sit unanswered tomorrow and the next day as well.
It's not that I don't want to answer all those e-mails. It's not that I don't love and care for and desire to touch all those lives being lived on the other side of cyber world.
It's just that I'm in a season where I've had to make peace with not being able to be all things to all people so that I can be a mom to some really important little people.
People that need a new toothbrush and reminders to turn the stove off. People that need to be told they are loved to the moon and back--- that they are loved more than all those e-mails.
Yet, in making those choices, I inevitably become a disappointment to other people.
This past weekend, I got an anonymous comment here on the blog under my contact me page that stung. It read:
"Lysa, I have heard you speak and your story really touched my heart. I sent you a note and I didn't ever get a response. You don't even read your own emails...your assistant takes care of them and she doesn't even respond? Your story is great, your cause is great, it unfortunate to see that you have gotten bigger than all of it. Books and events will never replace the impact you can make with a little personal attention. Thank you."
Oh dear anonymous friend, please understand, it is not because I am bigger that I haven't responded yet. It is because I make choices everyday to keep my heart in the small, wonderful, place called my home.
God has called me to share my story but please know, I am a flawed woman.
I share my story to lead people to Jesus---not to lead people to me. Jesus is the only One able to lavish people with personal attention tailor made for each and every soul.
Please know that I read and treasure every e-mail I get. But in this season of my life, answering every e-mail is something I've had to let go of--- so I can hold on to my priority blessings while they still need their momma.
Oh dear friend, I pray this post helps you understand ~
Yesterday was a full day.
I had to give Mark a little talkin' to about why it's important to remember to turn the stove top off when he finishes cooking soup. He remembered to remove the pot. He even remembered to rinse the pot out after eating his soup straight from said pot. But the flame--- the flame! The flame burned unsupervised for many hours. Mercy!
Jackson is knee deep in college applications and the world of possibilities that stretch out before him. Still a boy, yet very much a man. And still scratching his head when I tried to explain how crucial it is to get the correct Weight Watcher chocolate cakes and Slim Fast fudge bars from the grocery--- because you do NOT mess with a dieting woman's food for heaven's sake.
Brooke admitted she lost her toothbrush and has been using her finger--- for a week. (Insert a mom gagging here.)
Hope needed me to help edit her paper on the novel "Animal Farm." There should be a law against moms having to try and comprehend books about animals that have strong political parallels with the Russian Revolution and other historical situations. The complexity made my brain throb.
Ashley is at a major cross roads. Her gymnastics injury still hasn't healed enough for her to get back into the sport she loves. This is huge in her little world and she needs help navigating through the probable loss of something she loves doing.
Combine all this with a run to Target. A run to the grocery. Another run to the grocery because all brain cells were left sitting on the counter next to the list that got left at home. And five loads of laundry--- and you have a day filled with choices to love those right in front of me while hundreds of e-mails sat unanswered.
Hundreds of e-mails that may sit unanswered tomorrow and the next day as well.
It's not that I don't want to answer all those e-mails. It's not that I don't love and care for and desire to touch all those lives being lived on the other side of cyber world.
It's just that I'm in a season where I've had to make peace with not being able to be all things to all people so that I can be a mom to some really important little people.
People that need a new toothbrush and reminders to turn the stove off. People that need to be told they are loved to the moon and back--- that they are loved more than all those e-mails.
Yet, in making those choices, I inevitably become a disappointment to other people.
This past weekend, I got an anonymous comment here on the blog under my contact me page that stung. It read:
"Lysa, I have heard you speak and your story really touched my heart. I sent you a note and I didn't ever get a response. You don't even read your own emails...your assistant takes care of them and she doesn't even respond? Your story is great, your cause is great, it unfortunate to see that you have gotten bigger than all of it. Books and events will never replace the impact you can make with a little personal attention. Thank you."
Oh dear anonymous friend, please understand, it is not because I am bigger that I haven't responded yet. It is because I make choices everyday to keep my heart in the small, wonderful, place called my home.
God has called me to share my story but please know, I am a flawed woman.
I share my story to lead people to Jesus---not to lead people to me. Jesus is the only One able to lavish people with personal attention tailor made for each and every soul.
Please know that I read and treasure every e-mail I get. But in this season of my life, answering every e-mail is something I've had to let go of--- so I can hold on to my priority blessings while they still need their momma.
Oh dear friend, I pray this post helps you understand ~
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