Minivan Moments

People say " the grass is always greener on the other side ." Maybe i'm too practical, but i've not been one to fall for that. I guess i'm a realist that leans toward pessimism ever so slightly. My glass is never half full OR half empty. It just... is. You know? It has some . And that's always been enough for me. For example, growing up, i wanted out of the city and away from the cold. Too many people, too much winter, get me outta there! My parents would say, " the grass is always greener on the other side ." For most people, maybe, but not for me. I hightailed it away from the city and the cold the first chance i got and i haven't regretted it. :) Some people going through a difficult marriage or on the other side of a divorce can't wait to find "someone different" that they can be happy with because they are sure it is out there. And maybe it is, for some. But for me, i'm not interested. You see, from a distance, a dirt...

There's an old hymn called " His Eye Is On The Sparrow " that popped into my head this morning. The refrain that goes "I sing because i'm happy; I sing because i'm free" was the part that i was reminded of. Not because i was singing it or humming it, not because i had heard it recently somewhere. It popped into my head because i found myself weeping at the Christmas Story once again. And i wondered to to myself, why am i crying over this every year? And as i let that question marinade in my heart, an answer was given in the depths of my being.... i weep because i know. i know what it is like to wait for God to send help. And i know what it is like to doubt that He ever will. i know what it is like to know the pure joy of finally receiving that help. i know what it is like to face persecution. i know what it is like to suffer trials. And God sent His Son to us so that all of that might not be in vain! He sent us Jesus so that all of the hardshi...