How My Undergarments Got Me Thinking

In 3rd or 4th grade, we had physicals at school. I'd heard that the nurse would do a spinal check to check for Scoliosis, which meant shirts had to come off for a few minutes. And I'd also heard that all the cool girls wore bras to the exam. So, I did what any other elementary school girl who had not hit puberty yet would do, I asked for a bra anyway. Because of the coolness factor.

My granny came to spend that Christmas with us. She was a Southern woman through and through...spunky and witty with a little bit of naughty. When I got my first bra, she taught me how to put it on. Her instructions were to place the hook in the front so you could get it snapped, scoot it on around the right way, pull the straps on and then bend over and "shake 'em in there real good." We have a great photo of my first lesson in womanhood as she and I are doubled over in laughter. Well, I'm doubled over in trying to shake something non-existent in there and she is having a hoot.

Last week, I was in the locker room at Lifetime and I realized something. Twenty-two or so years later and I am still putting on my bra the same way Granny taught me. Except for the bend over and shake 'em in there real good" part. That was never a necessity for me.

Putting on a bra is part of my daily routine. However, it was only when I was dressing in front of strangers that I suddenly realized that I have been doing it this way for all these years and I have little skill in doing it the way the cool girls in the locker room can do it. I cannot, for the life of me, get the hook connected behind my back! At least not all snappy like they can. It is quite awkward for me.

Anyway, it dawned on me that I have spent a good two thirds of my life doing it this way and yet I never paid much attention to it. It was just how I did things.

Which leads me to Easter.

How is that for a segue?

I've gone to church all my life. For well over two thirds of my life, I've known the Easter story. Except, for a good part of that time, a lot of my worship revolved around the Easter bunny. Yes, I knew what happened in the garden. Yes, I knew that Jesus was severely beaten before He was even nailed to the cross. Yes, I knew that He rose again three days later and left an empty tomb behind. BUT, that Easter basket did come with some pretty sweet treats. And, when you hear the same story over and over, you can begin to lose the fresh outlook and the passion for what really happened.

In my adult life, things have changed. There's no Easter basket waiting for me in the morning and I now realize that Easter represents the greatest event in all of history. Despite knowing this, how do you make something new when you've heard the same story and read the same verses every spring for the majority of your life?

Not to mention, does anyone else feel like life NEVER slows down? Does anyone else collapse into bed each night and peel herself off the mattress in the morning? Truly, do any of us feel like we've just got a bunch of time on our hands to sit and ponder Easter? Time without kids underfoot? Time without appointments, soccer games, piano lessons, etc. to rush to? Can I get an "Amen" when I say that, in the few times I have completely to myself, I leave the radio and t.v. off just to HEAR THE QUIET?!

How does a heart prepare for a new experience? How does a heart see Easter in a new light?

Francis Chan tells a story about how one worship leader always fascinated him. Her worship appeared so fresh and so full of passion each week. He wondered how she was able to worship like that every week, doing something so routine and, yet, making it new. So, Francis asked and her answer was simple. She said that when she has a really powerful time with the Lord one week, she never spends the next week asking God to give her what she experienced the previous week. Instead, she tells Him, "God, You are a creator. Would You create something new in my worship experience? Would You give me a whole new perspective of You when I worship?"

Wow, that is powerful. If I can acknowledge God's creativity in how He has given us in this gorgeous spring day (and, oh, boy, isn't He so creative with His sunshine, comfortable temps and blooming trees?!), why do I not also acknowledge His ability to create something new in how I see Him?

This week, I'm keeping it simple. I am going to ask God to give me fresh perspective. I long to see the power behind what Jesus did on the cross. This week, I will not think of or approach Easter the way I've done in years past, just because I've always done it this way.

Lord, You are my Creator. Create in me fresh eyes and ears. Wipe my heart clean of how I've worshipped during Easter in the past and let me see the love and the passion it took for You to send your Son to the cross. May it shake me and move me, Lord. Amen.

Find the Joy

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice [be joyful] and be glad in it.

Well, it is the time of year when kids return to school, and we are in our "honeymoon period" so to speak. Everything is new, the kids are excited to learn about their teachers, find out what friends are in their classes, and anticipate how the school year will go. The second week of school when the newness is already beginning to wear off, I asked my oldest, "How was your day today?" Well, she then launched into each of her three switch classes, commenting on how this teacher doesn't smile, and that teacher is hard, and she just couldn't find the joy in the third teacher's class! I had to laugh...what an interesting way to describe the third class...I love that!

So, I asked, "How do you think you could find joy in that class?" To which she replied, "I don't know, I prayed for a good year, and now I don't know if it will be!" I said, "What makes you think you won't have a good year, if you prayed about it? Let's pray right now that God will help you find the joy in that teachers' class every day. Even if it is the smallest thing. I want to challenge you to look for the joy!" Well, I am happy to report that she found joy when her teacher made her laugh after discussing a video they watched. She then found joy the next day when she received an assignment to write about a personal experience (she likes to write and was excited about the subject she chose).

This conversation caused me to reflect on whether I take the time to stop every day and intentionally find joy in something! Sometimes I get so wrapped up in the busy-ness of the day, that I just let it suck the joy right out of me! Even on the most hopeless days, there is joy to be found. For example, it is a joy to hear my twin girls talk and play together early in the morning when they wake up. They are so sweet and engaged with each other. The girls share such a special bond that is a joy to observe!

When I was young, and complaining to my mom about feeling down or grumpy, she would suggest that I think of something to do for someone else. That is a proven recipe for joy. It is a built in blessing that God has given us. We cannot let the enemy steal our joy, even while serving others. Gal 6:9 So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.

Another wise word from mom was to always count my blessings. Find the good in everything. I Thessalonians 5:17-18 says "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

So we now have a theme for the school year, to find joy in every day!