All Things New (Except My Socks)
What should a very first blog post on a brand new blog be about? Is there a rule for that sort of thing? A special formula that only the most amazing and eye catching blogs get in on? That's the question that had me pondering, daydreaming and forgetting boiling pots of water and burning pans of peas on the stove (Who burns peas???? I'll tell you about my horrific cooking journeys another time) while stream of consciousness brainstorming over the last couple weeks. Do I start it off with a funny story about my less-than glamorous life as a single mom of three girls and three pets who sometimes forgets the deodorant stage of getting ready for work in the mornings, and flies out the door with mug of coffee splashing all over shirt/purse/floors/car door handle while wearing trouser socks with holes because I hate to throw socks away? Or do I post my favorite scriptures with a serious discussion about some of my more painful moments in life like my divorce or death of someone I loved? Just kind of dive on into hard-core, plain old life stuff?
Then I thought about Easter-the Jesus being crucified and rising from the dead three days later to bring us all new life version, not the fancy dresses, bunny and eggs filled with candy version. Although bunnies are definitely precious, and let me be transparent about the fact that I have enjoyed many a mini-candy bar stealthily swiped from my three daughters' Easter basket candy hauls over the years. The chocolate-loving mom candy capers I have pulled off during the Easter season have proved more challenging as my daughters have gotten older, and there have been some uncomfortable conversations between said daughters and me, most of which have gone something like this:
Daughter 1: "Mom, quit taking our Easter candy!"
Me: "Why would I take your Easter candy? That's just silly. Pshhhh. I can buy my own candy. But I don't because I try to stay away from candy."
Daughter 2: "We know you stole it because we each have 10 less pieces than when we last counted!" (I've always been fair by stealing equally from each of the three baskets.)
Daughter 3: "Plus we heard you in your closet opening candy wrappers."
I've got nothin.
But I digress. My thoughts about Easter as the holiday approached were set on the beauty of new life, beginnings, second chances. This blog. After having writing dreams since I was a little girl, yet facing the obstacle course of just LIFE, I suddenly found myself a 30-something, busy working single mom with microscopic slivers of "free time" and not a whole lot of motivation. But I know I have a story that needs to get out and touch people.
We hear the adages "all things new", "new and improved" and "new beginnings", but what does that really mean? I can tell you that for me it means God's mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). Every day that I feel the weight of the world from quickly approaching work deadlines, endless loads of laundry to wash, my bad attitudes, no spouse to help me get through the second part of the day after work to cook dinner, help kids with homework for like 10 hours (what's up with this new-fangled math, people?!!), clean up dishes, get kids to bed, etc etc, and my own personal trials and growth journeys, I KNOW that I KNOW that I KNOW that God gives me strength and fresh perspective to face each new day.
This Easter season, let's remind ourselves that because of Jesus' gift of himself, we have the awesome opportunity to let go of the old things and clothe ourselves with the everyday newness of His mercy, grace, wisdom, strength, compassion and love-for ourselves and others. We don't have to be tough on our own-this is one I battle with, being a self-proclaimed "strong, independent woman". Yes, every day there are the screw ups and less than desirable moments, the times when we want to throw a shoe and say ok, that's it! Adulting is too hard! I want my mommy and a nap! But through all the ugly cries and too many eaten mini-candy bars, Jesus is right there, gently reassuring us that tomorrow is new. Heck, the next moment is new. Put on that garment of praise and let the disappointments and self-condemnation fall away! Just don't ask me to buy new socks.
