Happy Holidays everyone!
Have you ever walked through something that you knew you needed to walk through, like you had to just see a person or go to a place and you knew you probably were going to face something challenging when you got there but you just had to do it?
Water slides for example, now this isn't necessarily what this is about but water slides I've not always liked, my kids really love them though, they are fast and zippy and they are wet and slippery and fun to go down and then when you land in the pool of water you have fun right? Well I had a not so pleasant experience on a water slide years and years ago like so many years it is ridiculous to even count them (and why I was even keeping track of this is weird, since I have so often said it won't be the same as it was then but there I was thinking about it, so thankful for Grace!), I felt during this trip to a water park that we went to over Christmas, that I'd just face it when my 9 year old daughter (at the time) wanted me to race her down the water slides she had no idea that I had not been on a water slide in a long time, she didn't know I had had a not so great experience the many years ago, and she didn't know I had not been on a water slide since then. But there I was praying and facing this water slide, I got on it, prayed before and sat up the whole way I needed to know when the pool would be coming my way so I could hold my nose in time before water splashed up it! And I saw the light and held in time. Then she wanted to go up and switch slides and do it again. The first time was fun, praying again through the second one and went down the other one when the light was up ahead I plugged my nose in time, yay!! I didn't go on another time after that but a part of me wanted to conquer the 2 water slides in the other part of the facility but they weren't open during that time. They were open another time but I was done swimming and getting wet for the day so I just watched my daughter go on the slides.
The water slides was a thing I didn't even know that I would be conquering that weekend but there I was. It was fun! And what happened all those years ago didn't happen this time, a lot different with God and praying, pretty sure all those years ago I wasn't praying about my time down the water slide. Much different this time around.
Often times we may think that what happened all those years ago will happen the same way again the next time around, but God says that isn't true. We need to put trust in God to know that He can carry us through any situation whether a water slide, another thing you've wanted to do again but didn't because of a previous experience, or even walking through a tough season. Water slides was a thing I had forgotten about, but God had not. Truth is it was a fear, but I walked through the fear and now it is no longer a fear but now I have overcome water slides. And should we go to another water slide park, I may just jump on them again.
We were not given a spirit of fear but of Power, Love and of a Sound Mind, Perfect Love casts out that fear and that Spirit of fear is rebuked in Jesus Christ's name, Amen! 2 Timothy 1:7
Sometimes we are not aware of just even the smallest thing we did not walk through or face yet until we are in a situation where it's like, oh yeah that thing that I thought so long ago, yeah that isn't it like that now. Because BUT GOD and 2 Timothy 1:7 we were not given fear, but we do have Love, Power and a Sound mind, Hallelujah!!!
So how about when we are facing, walking through a storm, who makes a way? Who sees us through? Who protects us when we need to do that thing? God, of course!
Same weekend as the water slides, on Christmas, I had tried to get a hold of my grandmother via the hotel phone and was not able to get a connection to call her through that phone, so I got all our stuff in the car and headed to the arcade for some fun before we left for Vermont. I got in the car and I am thinking I need to see my grandmother, I have not been able to connect with her this whole time but it would be weird not to see her on Christmas. This Christmas was a lot different than past Christmases, VERY different. Usually my grandmother's house is bustling with people they come they open their gifts, eat good food and have conversations, play games and have fun, but this Christmas, no one went to see them, there was no opening of gifts, there was no food being served at the table, they weren't expecting anyone, they were having a quiet Christmas, that's what my mom had said to me in a text message when I had inquired about having Christmas there with them. And she had made a point not to bother my grandmother. But I needed to see her. I wanted to see her, and my mom couldn't keep me from my grandmother. The whole thing sounds weird, because it is weird, my mom isn't usually like this, she doesn't usually act this way, I know that my fight is not against my mom but rather against the principalities, powers, around her. I had to go in. I prayed the whole time over there, praying God would make a way, and He did! I was again facing another thing, not letting someone's words affect how I show up and visit others that I need to. My grandmother she answered the door, she invited me in and the kids, I had walked up to the door without the kids, who wanted to stay in the car. I went out to the car to try to get them to come in and hang out but they didn't want to come in. They didn't want to be around my mom in how she was being and acting towards me, so they decided to stay in the car. I went back in to tell my grandmother that the kids will not be coming in, and to inform her why they weren't. My mom had come downstairs and was still furious that I was there, she was offended I had even come at all. But for whatever reason she wasn't ready to let it go. But God, gave me safe passage to be there, my mom after saying what she had left the room, and went back upstairs to where she lives in the house. I then told my grandmother why the kids didn't want to come in, so my grandmother came out with me to the driveway to visit with them. It was much warmer in Massachusetts around Christmas time, it felt like Spring! Great weather to stand outside and have a conversation before heading to Vermont again. Sometimes I like to think God prepped the weather just for me that day, to have a warm outside space to speak and visit for all involved. He knew the kids wouldn't want to come in, He knew that we would need that driveway for that time, He knows I don't like to be cold. He knows my grandmother is standing outside with no coat on. He knew it before we got there.The visit with my grandmother was short but good. The kids got out of the car and spoke to her and got hugs.
We went anyways, knowing that my mom may not open her door, love was in that space all around, and even tho my mom refused to open the door my grandmother did and that really helps. Continuing to pray for my mom, we certainly didn't want to have a Christmas without her, we (God and I) tried to reach out, we tried to talk to her, we tried to even see her face to face, but if she won't have it then it is her decision and we just keep praying. There will be a moment when it turns around.
I am very thankful God made a way for me to go there and meet with them, and that my grandmother opened her door. There were a lot of smiles and laughter in the driveway that day. On the way through the rest of Massachusetts, I thought about seeing my dad anyways, despite the earlier conversation of his availability and how he was too busy through New Year's to even see us. The strange thing about that conversation, is that the conversation started off really good, he was looking forward to seeing us and then the other part he said he was too busy, but I had asked the kids and they just wanted to go to Vermont, they didn't want to visit with anyone else this holiday, so we just got back on the road and drove to Vermont. It was a good drive to Vermont from there.
I know God will turn it all around and all of this will be in the past and people's hearts will grow, the love will be warmed up again, it's not a lost cause, it's not going to be like that forever, keep praying for them, it will change. Right around this time I was sharing how the Grinch's heart had grown much bigger and he had changed and so will they, in the right timing. I know it's spiritual warfare, and I know it is smoke screens and mirrors, not something to take personally, it really will all blow over.
I thank God for an awesome Christmas no matter what! Our very first Christmas in a hotel at an indoor water park, what a great present to be able to share with the kids, a unique kind of Christmas celebration. A family vacation we really needed. Truly Special.
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