Year: 2013

Open Hearts and Baseball

joyouschild Missions Journey

At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. – Matthew 11:25

On our trip, our family was paired with a wonderful group from Ohio.  What a blessing to meet these Godly friends and be able to really get close to them!  Included in the group were Tim and Trish and their boys Emanuel and Ethan, Terry, Ruth, Jessica, and Brittany.  Salt of the earth!  People we will be friends with forever!

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Our first day of work, we went to M.A.T.S. (Ministerial Association Temporary Shelter) to complete various jobs.  This shelter is for women, men, and families who have fallen on hard times and have no place to live.  Wonderful organization!

As we pulled up, a few of the residents were sitting outside at picnic tables.  We said, “hello,” and got a response…but not much of one.  My first thought was that they either were concerned about being judged by us, or were concerned about how we were going to act there (how preachy were we going to be, etc.).

We started working with happy hearts.  We painted rocks, built furniture, and cleaned.  We talked and laughed and made God connections that were beautiful.  Our hearts were full to overflowing.  We kept asking what more we could do, driving poor Melanie crazy, I think.

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The kids helped everywhere they could, Alex doing a man’s work (he is, after all, the size of a man and strong!).  They enjoyed getting to know each other, and were well-behaved and sweet.

They did have some down time, though, when they were unable to help out.  Being resourceful…and active…they found a plastic ball and bat and started a mini game of baseball.

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And God used this for His glory as well.

The residents sitting at the picnic tables were treated to a baseball game!

Inevitably, the ball was hit “foul” near them, and these residents graciously threw the ball back.  Then, the boys asked them to join in!  I looked over to see a couple of the gentlemen pitching and hitting, all of them…men and boys alike…having a great time.

God used some active, loud kiddos to help soften some hearts uncertain about interaction with us.  Praise Him for that!

When we left at the end of the first day, I thanked one of the gentlemen for being sweet with the boys, and he thanked me for getting to play ball with them.  Connections made!

We were blessed to come back a second day.

When we arrived, we were greeted not by small, tentative smiles. but by full-blown ones.

And we were greeted by hearts that were more open to the things of the Lord.

We ate lunch with a couple of the residents and learned their stories…and shared with them.  One of the gentlemen told us stories about his time in Vietnam, and his grandchildren in Nebraska.  He was thrilled to watch children at play.  He knew the Lord and joined our prayer circle at the end of the day.  We met a young woman who was trying to get her life back together and get out of some bondage of her past, and were able to pray with her, leading her to the Lord.

I cannot be certain how conversations would have gone on Day 2 of our time at M.A.T.S. had the boys not jumped in as they did.  God is awesome and would have accomplished His purposes regardless.

But to me, it was a good reminder that He can use the little things in life to accomplish His good works..

I am thankful not only for the work we were able to do…but also for the lesson learned.  God can use our kiddos to do big things for Him, just by being who they are.

And He can use me in the same way.  Praise Him!  Praise Him!  Praise Him!

Team Building

joyouschild Missions Journey

If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. – I Corinthians 12:17-18

The rest of the group started arriving.

We Wrights, already seeing God’s hand in our timely arrival, were not nervous…just excited.  We knew He had it.

And He did.

Each group arrived, as eager as we were.  As open as we were.  As full of God’s spirit as we were.

We started becoming friends in the first minutes, the first hours.

It was a glorious thing!

God took 60 people…from 8 different states…and made us a cohesive, loving family and team.

We laughed together, cried together, worked together.

A body of believers, separate from our own bodies of believers at home.

A body using its different pieces and skills and talents to make the work go well, the planning go well, the worship go well, the fellowship go well.

None of us, except our leaders, had been on an AIM trip before.  Yet, by the end of the week, we were talking about coming again next year, visiting each other in our respective states, and keeping in touch via Facebook, email, and letters.

They say that tragedy can bring people together, and I know from my own widows’ ministry work that it is true.

But so can work for the Lord!

Perhaps our trip is not unique in the way we bonded.  Perhaps others have been blessed, as we were, to walk away not as individuals any longer, but as a group.

But I glory in the fact that we were together.  I know I have made friends for life…for eternity.

As we were leaving the area, my little boys said, “Go back, Mom.  Go back to the ranch!”

I answered, “It wouldn’t be the same.  Everyone has gone home.”

And, while that makes me sad for the now, I know I will keep in touch with these people for the rest of the time we have here on earth.

And then starts our heavenly work in eternity!

How sweet it will be to get the team together there!

mountain lake ranch our home away from home pix

Not Too Early for God

joyouschild Faith Community, Missions Journey

He has made everything beautiful in its time. – Ecclesiastes 3:11a

Uh…what do you mean you are here?…we did not expect you…until tomorrow.

My first thought was disbelief; my second, embarrassment…acute embarrassment.

We had arrived at our family missions trip in Appalachia…the five of us…a full day early.

But…God had a plan, and it was soon revealed to us.

We had never done anything like this as a family.  We were excited…and just a bit nervous…about our week.

Now we were here…and here a day early.

A thousand things flitted through my mind:

  • Did I make a mistake on the date or did they?
  • Where were we staying that night?
  • Had I gotten other things wrong in my planning for the trip?
  • What did this mean for the rest of our week?

The lovely couple who were care-taking were not stressed by our early arrival.  They assured us that it would work out, that God had a plan for our early arrival.  That took some of the stress from my mind.  They called the owners of the ranch and secured a place for us to stay for the evening.  Problem #1 solved.

Now, what were we going to do since we were here early?

God quickly answered that question for us.

You see, our team leads, Dave and Sheila, needed us.  When we called them to inform them of our arrival, they were at the store, purchasing food for the 60 of us for the week.  They came back to the ranch, loaded to the roof with stuff…just as we arrived back from dinner.  We were able to jump right in and assist them.  Praise God!  And we continued to assist them…filling in for other advance team members who were forced to cancel for this trip.

God, in His providence, had provided extra hands for Dave and Sheila’s work, hands they would normally have had, but did not in this case.  He knew of the cancellations…and put right on my calendar to arrive a day early.  And we Wrights gloried in the opportunity to assist.

By the time the rest of the missions team arrived, we had “moved in,” become comfortable, shared some of our story with Dave and Sheila, and fallen in love with them.  We all recognized God’s hand in our early arrival

We Wrights were able to greet all who arrived, help carry luggage, and help set the tone for a week of ministry.  God was using gifts He had already worked on with us for His glory.

My embarrassment and confusion over how we arrived early was replaced by joy in the fact that we had.  God was in control of the week; that was highly evident.  He had set us there, early, to help get the ball rolling in the right direction.  Praise Him!  Praise Him!  Praise Him!

And this was just the beginning!  Please stay tuned for blogs the rest of this week, illustrating what He did in us…through us…it was truly a glorious week in the Lord.

AIM Appalachia July 2013

Confessions of a Lego-Sucking Momma

joyouschild Grace Again and Again

I must admit I do it from time to time.  And it’s not always an accident.  Sometimes it is frustration…I just can’t bend down one. more. time.

Sometimes it is pure glee and (gulp!) malice.

The boys have left their Legos on the floor again…and I have sucked them right up into the vacuum.

Now, on the one hand, it seems really silly to do this.  Yes, they should not have left them out.  Yes, I am a busy momma and don’t always have time to pick up after them.  And, yes, those silly little pieces of plastic are expensive (often $50 for a set they really only want the special “guy” from).

But, dang it, how else can I teach them about stewardship??

Don’t get me wrong; I give plenty of warnings.

Boys, you need to pick up your rooms; I am vacuuming today.

Here I come…get the stuff off the floor!

Get. this. stuff. off. the. floor. NOW!

I am sure it works about the same in your house if you have boys (maybe girls, too…no experience with them here).

The people who live here have the nerve to look surprised…even irate when I cheerfully suck up heads, bodies, and (horror of horrors) light sabers and other weapons.

I try to be philosophical, but they just don’t care.  They have had their stuff eaten in good ole Mr. Dyson, and they feel violated.

I just feel frustrated.

Just pick up your stuff, I tell them.  Take good care of what God has blessed you with.

But they are not having any of it.  They storm off, muttering things I would prefer not to hear under their breath.

Deep sigh.

Dealing with these sweet, albeit messy, people gives me a bit of insight into just how awesome God’s grace is.

I wonder how many times I have just totally neglected any number of gifts the Lord has given me, leaving them lying around when He so carefully made sure they were given to me.

I wonder how many times I neglected that still, small voice that was lovingly bringing me back into the proper attitude and relationship with Him.

I wonder how many times I have neglected the huge, warning shout from my Lord and Savior and gone merrily on my way into sin…or into doubt.

And I wonder at the patience of a God who does not suck me into oblivion rather than deal with my sorry, ungrateful self any longer.

Another deep sigh.

Thank You, Lord, for loving me regardless of what a rotten steward I am with my life, and for being patient enough to continue to work to mold me into something useful!

My Lego problem may not be solved, but I hope I can be more philosophical about it, next time approaching it not with anger and malice but with love and patience.

Just like God does with me.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. – Psalm 86:15

In Praise of “Fathers”

joyouschild Faith Community

You know who are.

Or maybe you don’t…

You’re the one who took my boys to the movies for their birthdays.

You’re the one who hugged them on the day they were asking for it.

You’re the one who wrestled with them on the church floor.

You’re the one who talked sports with them and included them in fantasy leagues.

You’re the one who carried them around on your shoulders as if they were your own.

You’re the one who showed up at their games and cheered them on, and consoled them when they lost.

You’re the one who took them hunting, fishing, and four-wheeling.

You’re the one who taught them to use a mower, edger, trimmer, and weed eater.

You’re the one who prayed for them, asked about them, invested in them.

You’re the one who helped this tired momma with the raising-of-boys process.

I am not sure what life for us would have looked like if their dad was still here…but I am blessed beyond measure that you all were here to take of some of the man slack!

Well done, good and faithful servants!

Monitoring the Pressure

joyouschild Faithwalk, The Power of the Witness

I have had an ongoing battle with my tire pressure monitoring system on my car.

A couple years ago, one of the sensors got broken off when I purchased new tires.  Since then, the system has given me fits, telling me I have no pressure in a tire that is obviously just fine.  The system itself even registered it as fine just before it went haywire. 

This whole issue has led to frustration, to say the least.

Today, as sweet friend who owns a body shop told me something about tire pressure monitoring systems that I did not know. 

They are actually wireless gadgets and have to be activated to a particular computer system in a car.  Think of synching your IPod.  Because they synch this way, they can get thrown off if they are too close to another car when synched and then can be triggered by something other than your particular tire pressure.  Kind of foolish, if you ask me.

But I have to wonder…how often do I do the same thing?  Do I, by my actions or inactions, cause someone else to get off track, like my wayward tire pressure system?

I know it happens some days at home.  Keith used to say that I determined when I got up in the morning what kind of day we would all have by how the morning went.  Smooth morning, smooth day, and vice versa.  If we started out crummy, I had it in my head that it would be crummy all day…and then it became a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I think I have gotten a bit better about this…most days.  This single-parent world is just too crazy to get wrapped around the wheel about little things that happen.  As a result, I am better able to take a breath, put things in perspective, and move on. 

I still fail at times, though, letting my poor night’s sleep, my stresses of the day, or my failure to plan better for a calm day, take over and affect the way we operate as a family.  At those times, I am extremely thankful for grace.  Aren’t you?

My tire pressure monitor problem was finally solved today.  It was a bad sensor.  It has been replaced.  I only pray that I can as easily and completely replace my bad attitude and over-stimulated blood pressure to not give the wrong reading to those around me…especially my boys.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.

– Psalm 25:16-18

Beauty in Ashes

joyouschild Faithwalk

Today I went to the funeral for a dear friend’s husband.  It was beautiful and poignant; I teared up several times.  Something else made me tear up, however, a moment of joy among the sadness, beauty amidst the ashes.

When I came in, the sanctuary was filling up fast (this man was well-loved and well-known).  I saw a seat for myself past a gentleman.  As I walked up to the row if pews, I saw a walker parked at the end, between his row and the next.  As I asked the gentleman, about 10 years older than myself, if I could scoot in there, it became evident it was his walker.  When more people came to fill in the extra space, he graciously, but with evident effort, slid down closer to me to let the others into the row.

The service started and we stood for the first hymn.  He rose slowly, painfully, to his feet.  I reached over and gave him a hand up.  I did not want to step on his dignity, but did not want to see him struggle, either, when it was needless.  When we sat back down, he moved with slow deliberation, obviously intent on the effort and keeping his balance.

I must admit I became a bit protective of my pew buddy.  I helped him when I could, taking care not to hover.  I retrieved fallen glasses, gave him a hand with the up and down movements, and shared a hymnal.

The time came for communion, and people started going forward, coming across each row of pews to the front of the church, then around to the other side to come back to their seats, making one large circle.  I was concerned about this gentleman and how he would be able to move enough for people to slide past, and the pain that might cause him.

What happened next was truly lovely, a real testament to human kindness.

Each person, whether headed to the front or re-entering the pew, took the long way around, thus not disturbing him.  It was so kindly done, so automatically so, that I teared up with the sheer beauty of it.  No looks of irritation; no rolled eyes.  Just service to a fellow human being.  Not even knowing this man, I wanted to thank them on his behalf…thank them for being Christlike.

Now, I know nothing about this man.  I don’t know how long he has been this way, how hard it has been on his self-esteem, or even his name.  But I know that Christ was served by simple acts of kindness, and that was beautiful to see…and to be a part of.

How often do we miss the opportunities to show love to a fellow human being?  How often do I?

I have had so many times in my life when I have been helped by the kindness of a stranger.  It was joyous to return the favor.  I hope it was for the others as well.

Just as the service ended, he leaned in to me a bit and thanked me sincerely for my assistance.  I really felt no thanks were necessary, and demurred slightly.

My sweet friend’s husband was a man who helped, who gave to others, and was gracious, always to me, and to my kids as well.  What a fitting tribute that kindness happened as we celebrated his entry into glory.

I pray that I can always remember the difference a small bit of kindness makes.

The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:40

Dancing

joyouschild Doing it on My Own, Faithwalk, Widow Walk

My sweet husband was good at many things…but dancing was not one of them.

Even at his funeral, our dear sweet friend, the preacher who married us, talked about Keith’s inability to dance.

I always wished we could take a dancing class, but, alas, he wasn’t having any of it.  He did not care that he could not dance.

As we watched his muscle strength leave over the last couple months of his illness, the boys and I saw that he could barely stand and walk around, much less dance.  It was painful…for us and for him.

A day or two after Keith died, I remember Matthew, not quite six, saying, “Now, in Heaven, Daddy can dance!”

Ah, the simple words of a child!

Since Keith’s passing, I have done my own share of dancing.

Learning how to be a single mom and juggle all that I must juggle is tiring work at times.  I always had respect for single moms, and prayed for them, but now that I have become one, I realize that I had no idea what their lives were like.

Now, I run from schooling four boys, to laundry, to writing, to guitar lessons, to soccer, to church activities, to errands…on and on.

The dancing comes in when I can do these with grace and the love of Jesus in my every action.  Some days, I achieve my activities and dance; some days I do not.

Overall, though, it is about my attitude.  I may not have taken a dancing class with Keith, but I take a daily dancing class with my Bridegroom, learning to follow His lead…and to not step on His toes in how I go through this life.  Fortunately, He is a patient Partner and a consummate Teacher.

And my life is still a dance, not a drudge–even without Keith, even as hard as it is sometimes.

Praise God!

You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
You have loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
That my soul may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

– Psalm 30:11-12

Amazing Grace

joyouschild Faithwalk, Grace Again and Again

It was the last straw.

It had been a crummy week:  forgotten and missed appointments, repairs to the eldest’s braces (again), planning a birthday party, cranky children and cranky momma.

When I found that I was out of shower gel, somehow that sent me right to the edge.

I couldn’t see how I would be able to get to the store to get more any time in the near future.

I was whiny about it.  Oh poor Liz! (extreme eye roll)

Then…God intervened.

My sweet friend Judi brought me a gift …of…you guessed it…shower gel!

How amazing that the God of the universe cares so much about little whiny me as to give me just what I needed just when I needed it.

But God was not done there.

Here is the shower gel she gave me:

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Can you read the title of it?  Yep.  Amazing Grace shower gel.  There was a greater message here, and one I needed to hear even more.

Oh, Father!  How Your love soothes me!  In the midst of the turmoil, knowing I would be kicking myself for all the things that have fallen through the cracks, You gave me a message of hope and redemption to set me back on track.

While these troubles I faced this week are really, truly, light and momentary, there are always bigger struggles lurking around the corner, times and places for me to lose my focus and my way, times for me to strike out instead of wrapping in to the Lord.

I know I will remember this gift…from Judi and from God…while I still have the bottle of shower gel.  But I pray that I will remember it always, especially on the hard days.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Mirror, Mirror

joyouschild Faithwalk, Joy in the Journey, On the Inside

I miss the sweetness of a man who loved me just the way I am, warts (and c-section scars) and all!

I know I have the sweetness a Savior who feels that way…He has told me over and over!  In the Bible, He calls me beautiful and His bride.

But sometimes, in my human heart, it is hard to believe that.  I look in my mirror for answers to the inside of me and fail to find them…I find scars instead…and extra pounds…more grey hair…wrinkles.

It didn’t help when recently my almost-date did not pan out (not my fault…totally his readiness-to-date issues).  That “almost” hurts, though, makes me doubt myself, my desirability.

So how do I get back to the truth?  How do I stop believing the negative self-talk, the Liar who is speaking to me oh-so-convincingly in my ear?

It becomes a matter of trust.

I believe that God knows what I need better than I do.  I believe that He will be my Husband and my Best Friend in ways that even Keith could not.  While I cannot physically hug Him, at my darkest points, He sends a physical hug by way of a friend…or a small boy.  Praise Him for that!

But in the daily slogging through this life, I can only trust Him at His word…that He is who He says He is, and loves me like He says He loves me.

An old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.”

Did you catch that?  I cannot trust anyone else on this earth like I can trust Christ…not even Keith…and he would definitely fall into the “sweetest frame” category.

So…I will continue to look in the mirror, but will try to see Christ’s covering of blood rather than my failings…be they physical, emotional, or spiritual.  I will try to see me the way He sees me.  I know I will probably fail from time to time…but I know He will not.

It’s like my favorite scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Indy needs to take the leap from the lion’s mouth to find the grail.  He realizes that this is the ultimate test of faith, and prepares himself prior to the leap.  It works out for him…and a bridge appears out of nowhere to catch him and take him across to the grail.

My ultimate test of faith came nearly 5 years ago with the words, “Mrs. Wright, I’m afraid he didn’t make it.”

I choose now what I chose on that day.  No matter what, my hope is in the Lord.  He has never let me down…and He never will.  That is my grail.

And, even on the tough days, that knowledge is enough.

I am still confident of this:  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.  – Psalm 27:13-14