Black, White and Shades of Grey

Tonight I want to believe that there is hope.  Hope for my future as a woman, a mom, an employee, and a friend.  

Why is it that Christians are so often the most black and white people?  I mean, such black and white thinking is so linear, so well, limited.  I'm not saying that God's word is unclear or isn't black and white, I'm just saying that often life is not black and white.  You can do all the right things and your spouse could still leave you.  Or you could blunder the marriage and your spouse could stay.  Mature Christian parents raise their child only to get a call from jail someday, wanting bail money.  

Mature Christians sometimes struggle with depression.  Many of us struggle the same ways that non-believers do.  Our minds know that God is caring for us, but our bodies and physiology make us depressed nonetheless.

Some of us fail miserably and are blessed with wonderful children and families.  What I know is that God's grace is this amazing blanket of cover that covers us all, the good, the bad and the imperfect.  His love is something the clingy can cling to and the hardened can cling to as well. 

I want to shout out from the tallest building to those who think in black and white.  To shout to them about God's love and to sing a song about God's grace and His ability to forgive, unconditionally for all the times we mess it up.  

I want to shout out to believers to love everyone, whether they are black, white or grey.  To be open to the fact that you might learn something from someone or some situation that is a shade of grey.  Be willing to think in a circle instead of your usual linear line of thought.  

I know enough to know that I've just barely scratched the surface of what is available to us as believers should we embrace God, really embrace Him and be willing to have Him take us wherever He leads.  Unbashedly throwing our wills and our lives over to the care of God as we know Him.  

So tonight I am a grey.  I realize some of you are blacks and some of you are whites.  Know that we are all God's creation...lets love those God has put in our lives radically and in a way that causes others to notice.  I want to love my co-workers to Christ.  I want to lead by example of the way I do business.  I want my work ethic to be representative of God.  

So I'm a grey.  256 shades of grey instead of one black and one white.  God's made me a creative, complicated individual who has a place in His world.  

Makes me Want to be a Better Person

I guess the time has come to start living life.  I've come to the conclusion that there is no "getting over" being married then going through a divorce.  There is just putting your feet in front of the other, moving forward, even if it's just by inches everyday.

I'm tired of hurting.  I'm tired of feeling betrayed and torn in two.  I'm tired of feeling angry.  I'm just tired.  So I am going to pray that God will continue to work in me and will help me do whatever it is that is next.

I'm trying my best to forgive but that's hard to do when you're torn in little pieces, still mourning the death of your most precious relationship.  I'm not sure I know how to do this, to move forward.  When every thing in me screams, go back, "wait!"  I want my life back.  

When I am with my children, my love for them moves me to become a better person.  To be better.  To be Mom with a capital M.  Because they expect and deserve nothing less.  I can't quit, I can't bow out, I choose to be MOM.  Strong, individual, humbled.

I have to find some peace in all of this mess.  To know that even in the mess that God still loves me and I'm resting with Him.   God, grant me wisdom first, then Your peace and Your strength.  Help me to be the kind of woman that my children can look up to.  Help me to have integrity.  Grant me Your peace.  I beg of you.

New Position?

New position has given me an optimistic outlook on life.  My dad always taught me that if you go in, work hard, you'll probably be recognized for it and rewarded.  I work hard every day, heartily as unto the Lord.  

This week has been great so far.  I'm really excited about the possibilities of my future.  

What a roller coaster ride it has been.

What do I know of Holy?

What do I know of Holy?  The words to that popular song haunt me, day and night.  I've awakened in the middle of the night for the past couple of nights and can barely get back to sleep just thinking about God's holiness.

Learning about holiness is going to be my quest.  I want to learn about God's holiness and how that relates to us.  His holiness sets Him apart.  

Here are the definitions of Holy from the dictionary:

ho·ly  (hl)

adj. ho·li·er, ho·li·est

1. Belonging to, derived from, or associated with a divine power; sacred.

2. Regarded with or worthy of worship or veneration; revered: a holy book.

3. Living according to a strict or highly moral religious or spiritual system; saintly: a holy person.

4. Specified or set apart for a religious purpose: a holy place.

5. Solemnly undertaken; sacrosanct: a holy pledge.

6. Regarded as deserving special respect or reverence: The pursuit of peace is our holiest quest.

7. Informal Used as an intensive: raised holy hell over the mischief their children did.

I'm pretty sure that none of these capture what God's holiness is.  I am fascinated by the idea of being in God's presence, experiencing the holiness of God.  Lately I found myself dreaming of being in the presence of God, worshipping at His feet and what that must be like.  

So I do not have any answers, only questions tonight.  What do I know of Holy?

Jaded

Spending a couple of minutes on the phone with my kids simply isn't enough.  I miss them profoundly  and with all of my heart.  It is going on almost a year that I've been without them by my side every day.  Instead we've had to just enjoy every second we do have together until it can be different.

I pray, I hope, I prepare for the end of this marriage and of a potential change of custody.  I pray that God will work within the judge to see the true situation ; to see why I should have them and be their primary caregiver.  

I just want to be with them.  

I feel like it's one thing to be divorced or get divorced and that is one matter.  It's quite another to have your parenting rights practically taken away for the course of a year.  I miss them so much I cannot stand it.  We have such great times together....but then I have to drop them off and every time I relive the horror of my situation every time.  Three times a week, for a year.  

The legal process is so frustrating.  Every thing takes so long.  Each time it's more time without my children.  It's hard not to be jaded when you're here alone without them every stinkin night.

Children are not Possessions

My children are not possessions even though I call them "mine."   As such I would like them returned to me, their mother, for safe keeping.  I want them, I need to be allowed to be their mom full time.  This is ridiculous.  

I just have to trust that God is in control.  Some nights when I sit here by myself I just cling to the knowledge that we are God's creations and that He is in control.  I have to believe that in the end good will conquer over evil in this situation.  Or maybe this divorce is a lose-lose.  But it's the kids that lose.  

Enough said. Good night.

Day of Peace

I had a whole day of peace.  I took power back today and it felt good.  Not in a vindictive kind of way but in a positive way.  The peace flowed all day.  After a year of hurt and pain I had a nice day.  For a while today I was free of all the "stuff" that has swirled around my life because of this divorce.  Today God just gave me peace.  His peace.  The peace that passes understanding.  This kind of peace is more than mere relaxation, it is an inner calm that transcends. 

The only thing that makes this peace that I've had today incomplete is not having my children with me.   When I think of them I have a profound sadness, a longing that will only be filled when they return here to me someday (God willing).

Now I'm tired of thinking, of feeling and am going to go think of nothing, God willing, until I go to sleep.  Okay I might think of my children a little bit.....