Surprises in the Road

Every once in a while I will come upon something unexpected in the road. Sometimes it is something funny, unusual, unpleasant, or inconvenient. Well, this morning was another of those times but unlike anything I have ever seen in the road before. As I returned from dropping the kids off at school I was surprised to come up close and personal with a wild turkey in the road. He/she was simply standing there watching us as one by one each car would go around him/her. The turkey did not move once as cars went around it. In its eye was a look of curiosity it seems and even a hint of "what's wrong with you people, keep on going around, this is where I belong". Yes, my car was that close to this turkey to look in its eyes.  

But that got me to thinking after my morning devotion about surprises in the road of life. Over the years I have had a fair share of surprises in the road. Some have been wonderful and others I would rather forget that I had stumbled upon them. However, each has brought with it a lesson. Some of which I learned very quickly and others where it seems that I need frequent tutorials. As they all have helped shaped and continue to determine the person that I am and will be, I am thankful for each one of them. I am grateful that God loved me enough to capture my attention with all of his surprises--good and bad. So although I don't always like surprises, I will continue to embrace each one of them.  

So what about you? How will you handle surprises in the road?

In a Hurry

Today was one of those days when we all got up late and scurried hastily about to try to regain the time lost to sleeping late. Thankfully, we did somehow manage to get out of the house and be on track for zero tardies this morning despite our delayed start. As I approached the entrance of our neighborhood I delighted in the appearance of very little to no traffic as I assumed I would be able to easily get out of our neighborhood and onto the road that leads to school. Just as I began to smile and relax a bit I saw why there was little traffic whizzing by---approaching was a very slow moving, but very large tractor passing by on the main road. Ugh! No! Not this morning! And behind it was a trail of cars as long as I could see. We're going to be here awhile I thought as I pulled into the median. However, I wasn't there long at all. Some very kind soul allowed me to go in front of them. I am so grateful for their kindness. As I pulled into traffic in my morning prayer I pleaded with Jesus to please let the tractor turn off so that we could get to school on time. As we approached the upcoming intersection it became clear that this tractor had no intention of turning off. I pleaded once more but in that plea also accepted that it would be okay if the tractor did not turn off and it took 20 minutes to get to school instead of the usual 5-7. I would just go in and sign them in and that being tardy isn't the end of the world. But just as I was resigning myself and the girls to that fate, the tractor turned into the parking lot of a church, allowing traffic to flow at its normal pace. I thanked Jesus and safely dropped the girls off at school on time.  On the way back from school, who did I pass? The guy driving the tractor. He'd pulled off the road to allow traffic to go on ahead of him. God bless him today. I am so grateful and amazed at what happens when I put my trust and faith in Christ and not myself.    

Have You Ever?

Have you ever been so exhausted that you didn't think that you could go another step, move another muscle, or even speak another sentence until you got some much needed sleep? I'm sure those of you with children can think back on the first days of parenthood and the sheer exhaustion you basically lived in until your little one finally had longer stretches of sleep. Well, that is where I find myself today and have been for the past few days. No, it is not that our 9 month old is keeping me up at night. She has been sleeping through the night for several months now. That is a major blessing from God. The girls have all been very busy as of late and I think that this trying to be "supermom"'s battery is drained. For the past few days I have woken up asking God to please give me energy for this day. And He being the loving father that he is, he has graciously obliged me and given me what I need. Often times--correction, most times I run around doing things in my own strength, trying to do it all on my own, receiving less than stellar results and ending up like I am right now, totally drained, battery almost dead. And then I am reminded as I was this morning that instead to trying to do it all in and of myself, I should do as the psalmist did when he said, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him." So today I am telling my soul to wait silently for only God for all of my expectations come from Him and Him alone.

Dreams

I have another poem that I would like to share in celebration of Black History month. This poem was written by Langston Hughes and is entitled Dreams. Paige will be reciting this poem on Saturday evening during our Black History Program at church.

Dreams

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird 

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field 

Frozen with snow.

So I encourage you to dream. Never stop dreaming and don't ever let your dreams die.

Black History Month

In honor of black history month, I am sharing a poem written by one of my favorite authors, Dr. Maya Angelou.

Still I Rise 

You may write me down in history 

With your bitter, twisted lies, 

You may trod me in the very dirt 

But still, like dust, I'll rise. 

Does my sassiness upset you? 

Why are you beset with gloom? 

'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells 

Pumping in my living room. 

Just like moons and like suns, 

With the certainty of tides, 

Just like hopes springing high, 

Still I'll rise. 

Did you want to see me broken? 

Bowed head and lowered eyes? 

Shoulders falling down like teardrops. 

Weakened by my soulful cries. 

Does my haughtiness offend you? 

Don't you take it awful hard 

'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines 

Diggin' in my own back yard. 

You may shoot me with your words, 

You may cut me with your eyes, 

You may kill me with your hatefulness, 

But still, like air, I'll rise. 

Does my sexiness upset you? 

Does it come as a surprise 

That I dance like I've got diamonds 

At the meeting of my thighs? 

Out of the huts of history's shame 

I rise 

Up from a past that's rooted in pain 

I rise 

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, 

Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. 

Leaving behind nights of terror and fear 

I rise 

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear 

I rise 

Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, 

I am the dream and the hope of the slave. 

I rise 

I rise 

I rise. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  John 15:12

Princess Ball 2012

Heading to the Royal Ball....