Begin Again

Having raised only girls for more than 9 years before Jackson entered our world, I have to say, I thought all the moms of boys were liars.  Every single time I heard a mom with a boy say something to the effect of “he just has too much energy to sit still,” I thought, “sounds like a mom who doesn’t want to do the work to train up her child.”  I’m laughing as I type at the ridiculousness of my pride….I repent.  As I have learned what anyone who has had any significant contact with a male toddler knows, boys do in fact have limitless energy!  To all those who knew me prior to Jackson….I apologize for all the internal eye rolls!

One of Jackson’s favorite things in the world to do is read books.  When he gets about 2 feet from my lap, he faces away from me, does a shimmy backwards until he can feel my touch, and plops down.  He often gets distracted within a minute or two and needs to drive the toy car for 30 seconds or pick up the sock lint across the room and get it to the trash.  It can be difficult to keep his full attention!  As he takes a second to explore what has caught his attention, I usually stay sitting right where I am because I know if I wait just a minute, I’ll get to see his cute little shimmy coming back toward me.  

I wonder if God is sometimes looking at me like a scatter-brained toddler.  Expectantly I sit down to let His story wash over me and within a couple of minutes, I’m thinking about a project due, the grocery list, or the text I just received.  I realize, it can be difficult for me to keep my full focus on God, even for just a few minutes.

It can be easy to convince ourselves we are failures, believe God is frustrated with our lack of focus, and let those lies keep us from continuing to try.

The truth of God’s character is: He is patient, good, and never runs out of time.  He doesn’t have one single place He would rather be than with you.  In Him, there is no condemnation.  Zero.

God rejoices when we purpose ourselves to spend time with Him.

One of the most freeing realizations is that the grace of Jesus is not just poured out on us first thing in the morning and then washed away a little at a time with each diversion.  

He does not grow weary with us.  No, the Lord rejoices to see us begin with Him again, and again, and again.  

As we say yes today to God’s invitation to draw near, remember He delights to see you shimmy up next to Him.  Go ahead and lean in a little closer.

Angie Roehm seeks to encourage others to let the power of God's spirit flow through their everyday lives. Armed with a math degree and a type-A personality, she is learning to look only to God as He directs her to step out in faith with her writing and speaking. Angie and her husband Jason live in the Cincinnati area with their 3 kids, where they enjoy watching their girls dance, tossing the ball with their toddler, and cheering on the Indianapolis Colts. 

Connect with Angie at www.angieroehm.com

Don't You Remember? - by Angie Roehm

The mullet was starting to grow on the back of my almost 2-year-old's head and my own hair was too heavy to hold a curl. My friend and hairdresser had an opening in an hour, so armed with granola bars and raisins, I packed Jack up and decided to brave it. He had been doing well sitting still for meetings and having patience during appointments; I figured he could eat a snack for the 15 minutes it would take for my hair to simply be trimmed.

We all see where the story is going, don't we?  After he had his hair trimmed, the raisins were not enough for Jack to sit still without squirming. All of the times I have trusted him before, didn't matter. He was going to show his age, and act like the toddler he is: busy.

My friend didn't seem to mind and she just kept right on going. As I sat there, I could hear the whispers of the only other customer in the salon. She was echoing the guilt I already felt; I should have waited to come until I could find a babysitter for my son.

For the final few minutes I was in the chair, I could hear the other customer talking about her kids. It sounded like they were probably college-aged.  As I left the salon, it made me wonder, “do you remember what it was like?”

And I asked this question of her in my head, I sense the Lord whispering to me, “Will you remember?  Will you be who you wanted others to be during this time?”

Most importantly, “Right now, are you remembering?”

Matthew 16:5-11

5 The disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake. They had forgotten to take bread. 6 “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

7 The disciples talked about this among themselves. They said, “He must be saying this because we didn’t bring any bread.”

8 Jesus knew what they were saying. So he said, “Your faith is so small! Why are you talking to each other about having no bread? 9 Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the 5,000? Don’t you remember how many baskets of pieces you gathered? 10 Don’t you remember the seven loaves for the 4,000? Don’t you remember how many baskets of pieces you gathered? 11 How can you possibly not understand? I wasn’t talking to you about bread. But watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Jesus reminded the disciples he wasn't talking about the physical bread, but to be mindful of the heart of the Pharisees.  They needed to remember all they had personally witnessed of Jesus.

In the same way, God’s tender whisper to me this morning had little to do with the moment with my toddler, and everything to do with reminding me how He alone has provided for me.

Are we remembering who we used to be without Jesus?  Are we remembering our moments when we believed a lie and fell on our knees for forgiveness?  

As we look around us, are we judging those struggling in the big or small things, or are we bringing encouraging words and the hope of victory in Jesus, the hope we too need?

Remembering is choosing to embrace the empathy to be an encourager.

I want to remember what it was like to have a toddler when I am far past this stage and I want to always be looking for those ahead of me to remind me that this season, too, shall pass.

Let's embrace empathy and encourage those who are climbing a mountain we have crossed over. As someone reaches out a hand to help pull us up our next hill, thank the Lord for the hope we see for ourselves in someone else.

Angie Roehm seeks to encourage others to let the power of God's spirit flow through their everyday lives. Armed with a math degree and a type-A personality, she is learning to look only to God as He directs her to step out in faith with her writing and speaking. Angie and her husband Jason live in the Cincinnati area with their 3 kids, where they enjoy watching their girls dance, tossing the ball with their toddler, and cheering on the Indianapolis Colts. 

Connect with Angie at www.angieroehm.com