When Grace is a Baby Shower

Why, when grace appears, do I refuse it? Maybe it's because I fail to consider how Creative the grace-giver is. I didn't know grace looked like a mother-in-law busily cleaning, baking and preparing. And two lovely ladies brainstorming, decorating and planning. And a sister-in-law scouring stores for that perfect gift and driving 1 1/2 hours to be here. And a whole host of ladies bringing w/ them gift bags, smiles, cheerful chatter and laughter... No, I never pictured grace that way. Then too, I was much too busy thinking about Me to accept the free gift. *oh, they'll all be looking at me! *oh, I hate being fussed over! *oh, my baby will fuss all evening! *oh, I really don't need more stuff in my little house! And all the time there was Grace, loving and free, just waiting to be received. Sometimes the Grace-giver is very creative. Sometimes He uses earthen vessels to distribute His grace and bless with His love and all He wants from me is open handed acceptance. Because sometimes Grace is a Baby Shower!

Normal is just a setting on the dryer....

You certainly couldn't call life "normal" right now! Or could you? Is it just normal to grab bites of food between caring for little people? Normal to need a shower desperately and still not get one taken? Normal to have a 5 yr old throwing up and sick for 3 days? Normal to call washing clothes a big accomplishment? Normal to think carefully before you grab bites "will this affect the baby"? Normal to wonder if you'll ever be able to do anything 'fun' again? Normal to sleepily mumble "good night" and "good bye" to your husband and that's about it? Normal to have one child better and the next one struck down? Normal to make the difficult decision of what to do quickly when the baby finally naps? Normal to squeeze baby's sweetness one minute and the next wipe dripping tears over the craziness of life? Hmmm... somehow I didn't consider this life as normal. But who am I to say? Maybe it is? Seems to me I've been this way several times before. And, after all, I think normal is just a setting on the dryer!!

Charles elmer

On april 7 @ 11:24 pm and little 7lb 12oz 20 inch long bundle entered our lives. Small in size, but large in impact, our days since have been like none before. Before there were 4, now there are 5.efore there was "everyone to bed!" now there is walking the floor and bouncing and getting up every 2 hours. Before there was combing hair, fixing lunches, all the ordinary. Now, added, there is worry about jaundice and circumcisions and nursing. Before there were toys and games and playing dolls. Now there is "may i hold him??" before there was planning menus and cooking meals. Now there is seeing what the next person brings for our meal. Before there was running to town, driving school children, cleaning the shop. Now there is cozying up at home, snatching any chance for a nap. Before there was love, now there is love multiplied! God is good.