Simply Tuesday

The past year several years I have struggled to consistently keep Jesus as my guide and first in my life. Sometimes I feel like that person who is able to not stand still against the waves of life. Or the seed that falls on the different grounds other than fertile soil. Except for when things get tough, my faith usually gets stronger. I tend to have my faith grow much like that of a Yo-Yo diet. I do awesome for awhile but then things are going well so...I decide it isn't as important. When things are going well...well, I tend to make due with what's going on in life and put God on the wayside. Like maybe on the 19th floor in the Wayside School books by Louis Sachar (P.S. I had to look the author up, I am not that good. But if you or your kids haven't read them I remember thinking they were hilarious in Elementary school). You know, the 19th floor right? The floor that well...doesn't exist.

Yup I said it. Sometimes I act like I am more part of the world than a child of God. My Bible has been read sporadically at best this past year. My prayer life has been pretty dry, only because I not offer up the cup to feel refreshed. We haven't tithed more than a meager amount during our "good months". When I don't have accountability with others to keep me looking for Christ in the midst of life things become a hot mess in the faith department. Sure I notice Him during the "big" times but what about in between? 

Tonight I decided to pull the plug and dive into a closer relationship with Christ once more. Even if it means watching fewer Bones episodes or drooling over new LuLaRoe patterns and styles. I bought Simply Tuesday by Emily P. Freeman sometime in May. It has been on my wishlist to read since attending Momcon last year when I heard her speak. Instead of reading it right away it has sat, collecting dust (because who has time to dust when there are unwatched episodes of Bones or LuLaRoe clothing to be discovered and stalked), on my end stand or on the floor next to it for the past 3 months. 

Earlier today I actually thought, "How do people find time to read anymore? I really should find the time." Simply...they don't watch Bones and drool after LuLaRoe (or insert whatever it is that consumes your time). So here I am, on Tuesday...starting Simply Tuesday. And let me tell you, I don't think it is going to disappoint.

So often we yearn for the big, important things in life...fame, recognition, being honored or acknowledged. We wish to have nicer things and to make more money to do things like go on vacation or purchase a newer vehicle. While those things are nice, it's now how most of our days are spent. Emily states, "Most of life happens, not in brightness or in darkness, but in the medium light of a regular day." 

Where are you getting your light from on your regular days? Are you searching for worldly things to give you light? Trying to work harder to be acknowledged and seen by the world? Or does your light come from your faith in Christ as he shines out from you to the world? Are you embracing your smallness. The moments where you are able to talk about Christ to patients or coworkers in a fleeting moment. Or the moments when you are picking up toys for the 15 millionth time in the day (or your husbands socks!)? Or what about when you are doing dishes or cooking dinner? These moments matter. So isn't it time we embrace these moments and seek God out during these times? It is time for me to embrace that cleaning up my house is a blessing because it means that we have these things to take care of. I have food to cook so it means we will not go hungry. I may not have all the things in life that I desire, but God has given me what I need. It's time to find contentment among the ordinary business of life. 

It's time to discover Christ in the midst of my ordinary days. Why don't you join me? Christ never disappoints, He is always available to chat, and He is yearning for you to draw nearer to Him. 

Confession.

Confession: I hate Mother's Day.

I love my mom and am beyond thankful for her....but I hate Mother's day.

Some years I see Mother's Day as a hallmark holiday.

Most years all I see is the pain of all the women that are childless. Those that yearned to be mothers but life didn't have it in her cards.

This year I saw it with potential and hope of a day to celebrate women who parent children, either their own or others.

But I still felt sad. It is a tainted "holiday" for me. I see posts of mothers with all their children and think about all of our babies. The ones that made me a mother without recognition from this world.

13 babies in heaven, and one little miracle. Matthew.

My cup is full but still feels empty some days. An ache that never fully goes away.

In Sunday school we were asked to reflect on a time we questioned God's goodness. I had held back the tides of sadness pretty well all morning and then it all came crashing into me. Our infertility. Our losses. I questioned God's goodness. I questioned His plans for my life. I almost walked away from God during the most bitter angry moments in my life.

I held tears back for the most part. But the excitement of Mother's Day was gone for me at that point.

I hate Mother's Day. I nominate a change to Women's Day. But that probably would be politically incorrect.

Let's celebrate the women in our lives that have impacted our lives or our children's lives. Ministry workers. Aunts. Grandparents. Babysitters. Friends.

I am beyond thankful for the women that have influenced my life from my mom, my grandmothers, my aunts, my mom's friend Faith, Chris Coddaire and other girl scout mom's, my friends' mothers, my friends, those that teach my son at church, and those watched him endless hours during nursing school.

But I have to confess in all honesty.
I hate Mother's Day.

Bittersweet

Tonight I was pouring my heart out to God. Sorting through left over, painful scars from infertility. Wounds that I wish would heal without anymore pain.

Wounds that I wish I could forget most days. Wounds that I feel have tainted my joy for others some days. Especially when I see reflections or remember where we were 4 years ago. Facing our fifth loss with only a tiny thread of hope left. Only to have Christ sweep in and deliver this amazing little miracle to us, our goofy boy named Matthew.

You see, I want to fully rejoice with those who rejoice over having a baby instead of the painful reminder bubbling up time and time again. I desperately want Christ to remove our infertility or to remove the pain and desire to carry another baby in my womb.

And then I heard the Holy Spirit ask me, "Do you want another baby more? Or would you rather build my kingdom?"

I don't know fully the meaning of it. But I do know with my heart and soul I do not want to get in the way of God. I want people to choose Him. I know our story can be part of that. But it is so darn hard to walk this path.

I am learning so many things about myself since starting this antidepressant/antianxiety medication. Feeling things I haven't allowed myself to feel in quite some time. I carry a wounded heart that only Jesus can heal. A wounded heart that he looks at and sees a masterpiece in the making. Even if I am feeling like a mess in the moment.

It's a little bittersweet to know that because of my hope in Christ it makes it possible to have hope in circumstances such as these, even when the sense of hopelessness tries to take over. It is bittersweet to know that even in my brokenness God wishes me no harm, but rather to use it for His Kingdom. Some days my heart says, "Bring it!" And other says, I want to hide and not move from my couch.

And then I hear the sweet whispers of Christ, in the midst of the darkness, crying out to me, come home. Let me tell you all that you have ever done. Let me help you walk through the tough times. Let me help you find joy and laughter once more.

And I answer, Lord I am coming. Help me walk through this. Let me see my life through your eyes.

Raw.

Lately it has been pretty chaotic and stressful here at the Hillard household. Sickness has been keeping a hold of me. Between sinus infection that would not clear up, migraines from high blood pressure, anxiety, a stomach bug, and oh did I mention high blood pressure and anxiety?

I have been struggling with sleep for a long time now, but it has culminated itself in exhaustive zombie modes brought on by insomnia. I have had nights where I literally feel so exhausted and go from area to area trying to sleep. At one point I may have lied on the couch and hit my pillow because I was so frustrated and wanted to sleep. My brain wouldn't shut off about all the anxieties of the day, or the anxieties of what the future may hold.

I am usually able to function on minimal sleep. I can usually grin and bear it. I can usually formulate words when I am exhausted without much issue. Add anxiety and a "mild" depression as termed by my physician, I feel like a slobbering mess most of the time. I cannot tell you how many times over the walkie at work I have said to my staff mid sentence, or middle of a sentence that should be forming but is not coming out correctly, "I promise, I can say words....just maybe not right now."

I literally feel stuck to my couch some days with anxieties of all the to do lists that I have to do. Not joking. I can usually fake a smile when out and about or when I am able to forget everything that is pressing in around me...but lately the couch has been glued to my glutes. And my eyes glued to a screen. Counseling may be in my future. Which causes more anxiety because of finances.

I just kind of feel numb towards life lately. I miss laughing. Like big belly laughs with snorts included. Laughter until you cry. Carefree smiles and fun times with friends. I keep trying to tell myself once you are done with school. Or once finances start to look better. Or...you get the picture. But the fact of the matter is, I have been spiritually dry lately. 

I haven't been looking to Christ to fill me with his promises. It is so easy for me to keep my eyes on my circumstances of life when I take out Godly influences such as church, small group, and MOPs. Most of it isn't by choice, it is the season I am at in life. And the fact that I have been trying to fill myself up by the things at life that may fill my physical "needs" but do nothing for spiritual growth and sustenance.

I have now been taking an antidepressant for approximately a week. Let me tell you, it is amazing to sleep. I am sure the giving up caffeine on most days and doing my best not to nap is helping amazingly, but to sleep all night long?! What an amazing feeling!! I haven't slept this well in such a long time. Possibly since before having Matthew. I am not even joking, 3 years is a long time to live life on crappy sleep.

The day I made the phone call to ask for the doctor to squeeze me in to discuss an antidepressant I almost threw up. Literally, I choked back the taste in my mouth and felt so nauseated. How did I get to that pit? Last week I felt so raw with the realization that I had let myself believe the lies of Satan. I had taken my eyes off Christ. I stopped reading the Bible. I stopped actively listening to worship music. Podcasts were not played. I stopped going to group even when I was able to go. I felt exhausted and overwhelmed by life. I focused on the problems or potential problems of the future instead of remembering that my feet were on the rock and keeping my eyes above the waves of life. I was like that person tossed around by the sees of life.

Even now Satan tries to whisper to my heart at times, "See you are indeed that seed that was planted on crappy soil. You cannot even grow your roots down deep enough into Christ to live victoriously. You will always be bound in my chains." Admitting that makes my heart pound harder and faster.

Christ and the Bible teach the opposite. Christ was pierced for my transgressions, all of the sin of the past, present, and future were upon Him. Through His death the chains of sin were broken. Death couldn't hold Him down. And because of God's plan, the death and life of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit I can live in victory. If only I make the conscious choice to do so.