A Goldilocks Life

JUST ASK

Do you struggle like I do to ask for help when you need it? Maybe I am worn out from doing four loads of laundry, legs aching and feet swollen. Yet I just soldier on, doing the dishes after dinner instead of asking Steve to lend a hand. I know he wouldn’t mind. But still, I don’t ask.

I think that do-it-yourself attitude spills over into my prayer life. There are so many needs out there. I hesitate to ask God for something much less significant than healing of cancer or an end to the war in Ukraine.

In the Bible, as Jesus nears the end of His now-famous Sermon on the Mount, He tells the crowd and us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew Chapter 7. Do you notice that in the English language the initials for ask, seek, and knock spell ASK? What wonderful meaning this brings to the passage for me. It’s an invitation for us to just plain ask.

Ask: Don’t be afraid. Just tell God what you need. He has the power to do something about it. He loves and cares for you more than anyone else.

Seek: Take the time. As I shared in my blog post on Ray’s birthday, when we faced challenging times, I did not hesitate to go to the Lord in prayer. I sought quiet time with Him daily, sometimes many times a day. I’ve seen Him answer in surprising ways.

Knock: Just do it. Have you ever hesitated to knock at someone’s door, perhaps a neighbor you know only casually? Taking concerns to God can be like that. Maybe He’s busy, or my problem is too small for Him. The Lord always listens – that’s why Jesus invites us to ask, no matter how inconsequential we think it might be. If it’s important to us, it’s important to Him.

Is this a promise that every request is answered “yes”? God isn’t a genie. The truth is He has plans, and we have a purpose in them. If we love God, our requests will align with those purposes. Then it’s Yes and Amen.

Our God hears, loves, and answers in His perfect way and time. ASK!

Today is Ray’s birthday!

Today we celebrate my son Ray’s 36th birthday. We’ll spend time with family and take him to The Fireside Theater to see The Sound of Music.

Let me tell you about Ray’s arrival into the world. As a new believer in Jesus, I was on a crash course of finding out just how close a friend He would be when the chips were down. In the hospital ultrasound room, I felt His presence like never before as the doctors told me the news about my baby’s medical condition. “He has hydrocephalus.” My heart pounded as I silently prayed, “Lord, what should I do?” His answer came quietly but firmly. “Thank Me.” That was it.

Really? Okay . . . and my heart weakly responded, “Thank You.”

What happened next profoundly changed my relationship with the Lord Jesus forever. As the doctors and technician finished up their examination, I felt worship and praise fill my soul. Suddenly I could count having a child with special needs as a blessing, a privilege given to those chosen few.

In the ensuing weeks, God brought me carefully through the whirlwind of telling my husband, Kene, the news, a sleepless night, amniocentesis tests, Ray’s birth by scheduled C-section, and spending my maternity leave going between care of our daughter Kellyn, age 4 1/2, and being in the NICU by Ray’s crib.

Since then, we’ve faced many hospitalizations and surgeries. Kene and I separated and reunited, moving to several Western states as a family. Ultimately the marriage ended, and back home the kids and I came. I won’t lie to you, these were trying times. I feared and doubted and made hard decisions. Yet I never waivered in asking for God’s help, and I always received it.

As I look back on where we’ve been since then, God’s plans amaze me. Ray graduated from Shepherds College, a school for men and women with intellectual disabilities. He lives in a supported apartment about 45 minutes north of me and has two jobs. I see him as often as I like. He loves Jesus and goes to church with friends.

Happy birthday, Ray! May the Lord be with you, show you kindness, and grant you His favor. (Genesis 39:21)

Thank Me song by Lynn Lilja and Kathy Enix

Women’s Slopestyle Community

I don’t know about you, but Steve and I are taking in as much of the Beijing Winter Olympics as we can. The other night we watched as the contest for medals swung into full gear in women’s snowboard. It was inspiring and not just because of the prowess of the athletes.

American snowboarder Julia Marino had a great final run in the women’s snowboard slopestyle on February 6, 2022. It looked like victory and a gold medal for her. But the last contender, New Zealand’s Zio Sadowski-Synnott from New Zealand, beat out Marino by just a few points to gain the gold.

The moment Sadowski-Synnott finished her amazing run, Marino broke into a run toward her, jumping on top of her and hugging and celebrating with her. A few minutes later, as the score was announced, Marino congratulated her warmly. To see such community and kindness on display in that a highly competitive circumstance touched our hearts.

How often do we get so focused on our daily errand running or job duties that we are unaware of the people right around us? Do I look for opportunities to give an ‘atta-girl’ or a sympathetic, listening ear as I encounter others throughout my day? We could all use a bit more “Marino Magic” in our self-focused world.

Be kind and compassionate to one another… Ephesians 4:32