as long as it is called today, encourage
Seth sent me this picture of his work shoe by the river. He had stopped to sit on a rock on his long way home from trial. He can’t not edge up to the water when he sees it. He wants to be down in it, too, up to his armpits, with a fly rod, a felt hat, and a silence.
Instead, he wears squeaky shoes, a shiny belt, and a part in his hair, and while he’s longing for a day off, I’m longing for him, wearing mustard stains, a baby, and a wop-sided pony tail.
These are the days we wish against the curse and learn the meaning of finding ourselves in the presence of the Father, or at least we get to see our great need for rest and for Him.
One time I posted the following prayer, and this is how I feel like I sound now, too:
“Father you are so good to me; You saved me; You couldn’t be more amazing; did I call Amy back; there are so many dishes in the sink; Get that crayon out of your nose – so help me … excuse me, LORD; oh, yeah, thank You for grace and our food and my husband; my toenails are so tacky; oh look, nobody painted around the top of that ceiling fan …”
Sometimes it’s hard to look at the green in our own back yards and see the bounty. It’s hard when we’re hot and tired, when we keep getting chiggers out there. It’s hard, especially, when we’re separated from the body.
It won’t be long, though, until we’re old and somewhat retired, and all these labor-ridden vegetables have been tilled up. It won’t be long until we’re trying to remember these gorgeous details, longing to give thanks. We’ll be hearing from God. We’ll be rickety old. We’ll hold hands and assure the other: it won’t be long until we see real glory, Adam and Eve finally back to God-manicured garden.
- July 17, 2009
- 18 Comments
- 0
- home, marriage, Prayer, the garden
Adventures In Babywearing
July 17, 2009Gah!
Amber, you bless me with your writing.
Steph
Adventures In Babywearing’s last blog post..In The Rain
jodi
July 17, 2009beautiful - such a great (and much needed) reminder!
jodi’s last blog post..WFMW – Read More
Erin
July 17, 2009I needed this. I love you.
Rachel
July 17, 2009This is a constant reminder. Caring for small children is so draining in so many ways.
Rachel’s last blog post..Breastfeeding Tribute
Tina Carothers
July 17, 2009I love you, your writing brings back the memories so vividly to my heart. The time goes by so quickly and you wonder if you are doing it right. You are, even on those days when you can't remember your name. ' He' is taking care of you and all the other Christian mamas with mustard and wop-sided pony tails.
brittney
July 17, 2009Again, another blessing to my ears. (Eyes?) I guess both.:]
brittney’s last blog post..My (Future!) Mommy Book List
Carrie
July 17, 2009Love your prayer - that is so me. I am definitely ADD. :)
Carrie’s last blog post..Observations From the Day:
Jo@Mylestones
July 17, 2009This is the stage of life when even the bounty can feel burdensome, a harvest so abundant that we can't possibly taste it all before it rots.
And it's good to remember, as you've helped me do today that "It won't be long until we're trying to remember these gorgeous details, longing to give thanks...."
Jo@Mylestones’s last blog post..Peace Out
Amber
July 17, 2009"This is the stage of life when even the bounty can feel burdensome, a harvest so abundant that we can't possibly taste it all before it rots." Joanne, this is so right. What a great way to put it.
Robin ~ PENSIEVE
July 17, 2009You said wop-sided. How could I love you more???
(I wrote a whole post on that being a word, which my family argues against!)
xo to you and Seth!
Robin ~ PENSIEVE’s last blog post..While I'm licking my wounds...
Amber
July 17, 2009Steve DMed me earlier and told me you said that word, too. I just responded and said that it's because you're almost as country as I am. (You never ate your own pet bunnies, though.)
I'm laughing.
Kristen ~ Pajama Mama
July 17, 2009beautiful, Amber.
Kristen ~ Pajama Mama’s last blog post..Felt iPhone Cases
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting
July 17, 2009And this post is one of the many reasons why I adore you, and cannot wait to smother you with lovin'
Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting’s last blog post..Infant Dress Up
deb
July 17, 2009if those words were in the book you wrote and I was reading it by candlelight on my back porch with the crickets, I would clutch all that loving and truth to my heart and cry tears of pain and knowing and prayer
A friend of a friend
July 17, 2009I miss the Friday Funnies
Amber
July 17, 2009I'll Friday Funny just for you, if you tell me who you are.
Jenn Calling Home
July 17, 2009So beautiful. My prayers often go astray, too.
Megan @ Hold it Up to the Light
July 17, 2009....and chiggers. She said chiggers.
My, oh my. I have said a million prayers like that. I even did a drama in worship about the distractions we mothers get when we pray....good thing God is a patient one. Whew!
So blessed to have you back posting more.....thank you!
Megan @ Hold it Up to the Light’s last blog post..Pray for Alan and Jen