My brain is going to explode

Well, that's a pleasant title, eh?

But, it IS how I feel. I'm learning so much right now {and all at once}... about faith, God's provision, theology and sound doctrine, how to be a wife, how to mother a daughter, roles and responsibilities... the list goes on and on.

This last week I was bowled over with two specific acts of kindness and generosity. Just completely left with head spinning and overwhelmed. And, maybe I shouldn't be... because these things DO happen all the time - but, they just especially touched my heart and left me challenged.

See this gathering of shoes....
Ava was in a big need of shoes. We had a pair or two of sandals for this summer...but, I could NOT find affordable black dress shoes or "get dirty" tennis shoes anywhere. {why exactly are baby shoes $13-15 dollars, again?!} Anyway, a friend sent this bag o' baby girl shoes home with Brad one day last week. I had only mentioned my frustration of shoe shopping in passing... but she took it and ran with it. I was completely overwhelmed with her generosity and thoughtfulness! Ava's shoe collection has been filled. Another need met. Praise the Lord! The humbling part of it is... I had this little secret half fear/half stress in the back of my heart of this need for my girl, but, I hadn't even gotten to start praying about it yet. And... as always... my God provides!

Story #2 - I'm a pastors wife. Pastors wives, generally, and their children arrive at church separately from the pastor. And in our case... this is true. Brad leaves for church about 30 minutes before we do. So that leaves me the glorious responsibility of not only getting myself fed, clothed and readied...but, a little Ava girl, too. Not to mention that before both of those things we fed, clothed and readied pastor daddy ;) Anyway, sometimes {ahem...many times} Sunday mornings become SUPER stressful as the crunch is on to get everyone ready and to church ON TIME. I usually end up arriving right at 9 as church is seconds from starting... managing a diaper bag, purse, bible, coffee mug, child and endless amounts of other things belonging to her - and in the winter this is combined with HUGE winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, and the whole 9 yards. Needless to say - it's tough. I'm getting better at it, but, still tough.

Yesterday as I pulled into the church parking lot (5 minutes EARLY) I was followed by another couple from the church. I don't know them very well, yet, but we have chatted a few times and they are super friendly, love the Lord...and their grandkids. :) I parked the car and began the "Great unloading" process. Set all of my bags, bibles and mug on the back of the car and then went to retrieve Ava. Upon popping my head back out - I noticed that the wife of this couple was walking towards us. She grabbed my stuff and began to tell me that she knows what its like... to be a mule. ;) How cute is that?! So I was just blessed beyond what I could express to her, for this help! And she carried my stuff all the way inside and even to the nursery. The family of God, when behaving as they should, is a wonderful thing. :) This woman, just like my friend with the bag o' shoes, saw a need and filled it how they could. Isn't that so challenging? It is to me!

"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ³⁸ When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ³⁹ Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ " Matt. 25