A cup of giggles

We've sort of been on lock-down dealing with what we have believed to have been intestinal parasites. (please don't ask and I'll spare you the gritty details) Yesterday was a beautiful day and the kids and I were able to get out and spend some time with my brother and sister. (Just a funny side note, there was a time when all 5 of us were unemployed! We thought it was rather comical, I don't remember if Mom ever laughed or not, hm.) I'm somewhat of a self-declared nap-nazi, but we were a bit tardy in coming home. We rolled up at roughly 3:00.

Now, I love motherhood. I spend my days enjoying my children, but there is one thing that I absolutely DETEST about this stage in my life. Do you know what that is? Some of you may roll your eyes, others will groan in agreement. I DETEST getting my children in and out of the car!!! How lame is that??? We have an older van and I used to think how ridiculous it was that people had van doors that closed by themselves. Seriously, can't you shut the door manually? Yes, you can...but WHY if that is ONE thing that you don't have to do. So, if you see me out, don't let me see you push a button to shut your door, it hurts my feelings. So, I'm getting the kids out of the car and giving them the, "No, you brought it out of the house and you need to take it back in. No, we're not blowing bubbles right now, you need to rest. No, not until Daddy gets home. Well, then go potty. Where are your shoes? What is on your face?" You get the picture. So, I'm in that temporarily cranky mode because I'm not choosing joy when all of a sudden I hear a familiar voice coming from down the street. Could it be? I think it is, it's REBA MCINTYRE!!! This gave me the strength to make it to my house.

My neighbors two doors down are having a new roof put on. So, the roofers have been here for about two days. Now, I do not want to paint a picture and people think I'm being stereotypical and what-not. I just never really imagine roofers being like, "Oh, man it's REBA! Turn it up!" She's not exactly "Freedom Rock" if you know what I mean. So then I pictured the scene on the roof. (For those of you who are wondering, I'm making this part up in order to enjoy the scene and avoid the fact that everyone is STILL in the van) I pictured two things. The first one is the men being trapped up there with Reba blaring from their delapidated van and not being able to do a thing about it. I imagine one guy is commenting on how "Sally" insisted they listen to this station and would glad if he never shows up again. Now, I'm in the south where Reba is a favorite no matter who you are. I think they may be saying, "Oh, I love Reba! One time, 'bout 15 years ago, me and my girl saw her at the Civic Center..." Maybe one man has tears streaming down his face pretending they are beads of sweat because he is remembering "The greatest man he never knew" which is the song that was playing. I had this whole scenario playing out in my head and just giggled.

I have NO idea what station they were listening to, or if someone lost a bet and the whole lot of them had to listen to the foreman's "Reba's Greatest Hits." Maybe they all voted, or maybe God wanted to remind me of how good it feels to giggle and to be reminded that everyone wants to know their Father. Whether we have had an amazing relationship with our Dad, or one that has been non-existant or strained at best, God's word has great news for us. Romans 8:15 states, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." I LOVE this verse. The fact that the maker of heaven and earth is my Daddy! That is how we cry out to him! The end of the song that the roofers were (willingly or unwillingly) listening to says, "He never said he loved me, guess he thought I knew." That makes me cry EVERYTIME! I'm sure that there are people who have experienced that kind of heartbreak and rejection. It has to be true, or let's face it, Reba wouldn't have sung about it! In any event, God's word tells us over and over of His great love for us.

I could start today and never finish finding all of the places where God utters his unwavering, unstopping, unshaking, uncondtional, AMAZING love for His children. I pray that's refreshing for you. Maybe you are having a fat day, maybe you never heard someone say "I love you." Maybe they said it and they misused you and those words. I am deeply sorry for that, but today you can make a decision to believe the words of God himself when He said, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." Isaiah 43:1b. This He spoke to the clans of Israel, they are remembering His words in Jeremiah 31:3b, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt..." It goes on and you should read it. However, my point has been made. God is not the man in Reba's song that sits down the hall with his nose in the paper neglecting those that he loves. God is the Abba Father that will stop at nothing to redeem His children to himself. Drawing them into a loving relationship with Himself. I can't wait to meet with Him today and talk to Him about the things I love and I'm fearful of. I pray you feel the same way.

So, I better get going there is a "campsite" being assembled in my house with my pantry items and there is laundry and...and...there is always something. I'll tell you what, if the roof ever needs replacing I'm calling those Reba Roofers...I sure as heck love me some Reba!!!