Learning to Live Like Giants

Once you are over your shock that I am finally updating my blog, I hope you will enjoy this little insight into something I have learned over the past few months.

Since Maddy was born, Chris and I have been under a transformation. Many, actually. We both experienced job changes (mine was more of job additions...), we both turned into parents (the most miraculous transformation of all), and we are both learning that in order to survive this time in our lives, we must be larger than life.

When I look back on the past months, I see so many moments when we really should have just crumbled beneath all the pressure. Plenty of opportunities have presented themselves that could have delivered a damaging blow to our marriage, our family, our happiness. I know that I was weak in those moments, I know that I thought "why is this happening?" and "what are we going to do??" I know that I questioned God's plan in our lives. I have realized this and repented it. Because, in the end, HE was faithful, HE answered the questions, and HE provided when we were in need.

This road is a long one. We have another two years to go (at least) before we get out of this financial hole. We have plans, and dreams...and hope that spans our lifetime! It is just a road of small steps on the way to all of that.

So, in the meantime, we have learned to grow beyond ourselves. At the point when we feel like falling over from exhaustion, or retreating into isolation from the frustration, we have to get be bigger and larger than ever. For Maddy...for our marriage. Often this is simply choosing positive thoughts and words over negative. Sometimes it means Chris stays up for 48 straight to be there for maddy or myself in between long nights at the hospital. For me, this means I often put on a brave and happy face even at my most exhausted and overwhelmed- checking off the to-do list, getting the jobs done.

For our marriage, this is simply putting aside expectations and supporting one another. It is finding humor in absolutely everything and treasuring the brief moments we have with one another. Being a giant for us is doing something we absolutely have no time for, just because we know it will lessen the load for one another or bring a smile to our faces.

This time in our family's life is good for testing our mettle. To see what we are really made of. To see if we can make it through with joy intact! I would say, sure we will! By the Lord's grace alone!

To live like a giant, to grow beyond ourselves...it requires this- less of us, more of Jesus.