Tag: Encouragement

Snack Attack

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Our family is in a season of “hurry up and wait” right now.

We’ve done our part. We’ve put the leg work in. We’ve prayed about it. Now we’re just waiting…waiting on a big break…waiting on prayers to be answered.

And the longer we wait…the more doubt and fear creep in…trying to fill in the spaces where faith and trust belong.

Whenever we’re in a season like this, I always find myself questioning. I know God hears our prayers, but will He answer them the way we hope?

I think that little voice of doubt comes from the fact that I know God has NOT always answered my prayers the way I’ve wanted Him to in the past.

But the thing is…that’s not the way God works.

God is not some spiritual vending machine in the sky that we just drop a quarter into and out pop blessings like a bag of Fritos.

Yet, how many times do I treat Him that way?

How many times do I find myself standing there in front of that proverbial snack machine, down to my last quarter, pressing “A7” over and over again…only to watch that spiritual “bag of Fritos” get stuck?

And how many times do I resort to kicking and shaking the machine — trying to FORCE it to come out on my own terms??

Kind of reminds me of all those times back in middle school, when we’d stay after school for practice and then head to the vending machines for sustenance.

Some days my chips did get stuck. And though my hunger was real and it was warranted, I would have no other choice but to wait ‘til I got home to eat something.

But you know what?? When I finally did get home, 9 times out of 10, my mother would already be in the kitchen fixing my dinner before I even had a chance to ask — and a bag of Fritos ain’t got nothin’ on a home-cooked meal. ❤️

Our Heavenly Father is a lot like that too.

Blessings may not always pop out left and right like vending machine treats (even when we’ve honestly put in the time, money, and effort to receive them) — but keep the faith, because He’s already promised that He’s got something much better waiting for us at “Home.” ❤️

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” – John 14:3

While we’re busy focusing on a lousy bag of Fritos — He’s already whipped up a four course meal and saved a place for us at His table:

“…Blessed is the one who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 14:15)

Trust God to answer your prayers in His way, and in His time — Because if we’re being honest…those vending machine snacks don’t hold any nutritional value anyway.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

Until next time…

-PWAP

Unleash the Beest

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Hands down, the 2020-2021 school year was the toughest school year we’ve ever faced as a family. Due to the pandemic, we weighed the options and decided to have our boys learn virtually. My oldest was a third grader at the time and my youngest was just starting kindergarten.

The younger one lasted no more than one week before I was down at the principal’s office unenrolling him from virtual kindergarten — I shouldn’t have been surprised this was where things were headed when about half way through his first day of virtual learning, he turned to me and said: “Ummm…how much longer is this?!? I’m like wasting my whole day…” 😂😂😂 —Believe me, it takes a special kind of kid to earn the title “Kindergarten Drop-Out.”

Thankfully, the older one had a little more perseverance than that. Though it was difficult to say the least, I was proud of him for sticking it out. ❤️

If you forced me to look on the bright side of the whole traumatizing experience, I would confess that one perk of having my son learn from home was the opportunity to hear him interact with his teacher and classmates — I was surprised at how mature, confident, and professional he sounded as he independently navigated the Zoom app.

That is, except one time when his teacher said, “Class, you can use this time for catch-up work…” To which I overheard him reply, “Ok, should we do our mustard work also?” 🤦‍♀️😂😂🤣 Thankfully, his mic was miraculously still on mute…🤭😳😂

By the end of the year, I had come to the conclusion that I would never wish virtual learning on my worst enemy. And though I still have PTSD (and a newfound appreciation for teachers) from it, I will say that I also learned a few other things from the whole experience. Things about my son…things about myself…and surprisingly enough, even things about wildebeests.

One particular week, my oldest was given a reading comprehension assignment that included a passage about migratory animals. Oddly enough, as I was checking over his work, something about the passage on wildebeests struck a chord in me. I never thought I would find myself relating to a wildebeest ( no comments from the peanut gallery, please 😒🤣)…but I suppose stranger things have happened.

According to the passage, these “beests” have to cross a river teeming with crocodiles 😳 in order to get to the fresh grass on the other side, a crucial resource needed for survival. They know not all of their herd will make it across alive, but they have to take the chance and cross anyway…they have to keep moving forward or they will all die.

I then I thought…isn’t that just like our lives? Especially over the past couple of years…what other choice do we have, but to move forward to survive…yes, it’s scary, yes there are risks, but if the wildebeests can find the courage and the strength to keep pressing forward despite the challenges and possible perils, then so can we. ❤️

So, if I could take one virtual lesson that I learned and share it with you today…it would be to go out there and unleash your inner beest today — choose to face whatever it is that is challenging you with the same courage and willpower of those brave animals, because you know what? The grass may literally be greener on the other side, just as it was for these wildebeests. ❤️

I’m praying that it is for you today. 🙏

Until next time…

-PWAP

Chicken Soup for the Soul

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I know a lot of you are used to seeing the stuff I post on Facebook and are probably reading this blog so far and thinking…will you please quit rambling on and just start sharing some more funny stuff about the kids already!?!! Lol! 😂Patience Iago, patience…🤣. Don’t worry, these kids are unfortunately supplying me with plenty of material on a daily — make that hourly basis over here, so don’t worry I’ll be writing about them again soon.

So as many of you know, recently I’ve shared some blog-type posts on my personal Facebook page. But if you’ve spent any amount of time on Facebook lately, you’ve probably come to the same conclusion I have — Facebook is like the fast food of the internet…it’s just scroll-thru instead of drive-thru 😂. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love a Big Mac just as much as the next red-blooded American, but sometimes don’t you want something…more? Millions of us log into Facebook daily looking for a quick bite…a nugget of information if you will — a news headline, a funny meme, a pretty picture, an inspirational quote, etc. But it still seems like it’s never quite filling…and we end coming back for more.

Never being one to just “cut to the chase,” I realize some of my lengthier posts aren’t exactly bite-sized enough for Facebook anymore. Like my college composition professor once told me, “Your papers are too wordy…” His words rang shrilly in my ears as I faked a pleasant smile and nodded. On the outside I was calm and diplomatic, but on the inside I was Stephanie Judith Tanner in every episode of Full House— “How Rude!” 😤😂

His words may have been a hard pill to swallow for me at the time, but I’m at the point in my life now where I’m ready to actually own my quirks and my flaws: Hey, you may call it being “too wordy”…but I just call it having just a little more to chew on. So, take that, Professor. 🤭

About 20 years ago, you may remember there were a series of books called “Chicken Soup for the Soul” that were pretty popular. In fact, I think at the time, their cult following was rivaled only by that of Beanie Babies…😂. To be quite honest, I had quite a few of those books (and Beanies 🤣) myself. I’m guessing if you’re over the age of 35, you probably did too.

Each of the books in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series contained a collection of heart warming stories that either made you laugh, made you cry, or made you think. Isn’t that the point of all good writing? 

Personally, I’ve always liked to share stories too…but my writing style is probably a little more… “Soup, Salad, and Breadsticks for the Soul” than just plain chicken soup 🤣— what can I say, I love my carbs!?! 🥖 And the best part is that, unlike Olive Garden, here the calories don’t count…and better yet, you don’t have to figure out how much to tip your waiter. 😊

As a Christian, one of the main ingredients of this blog will always be my faith in Jesus. So, I realize some of the posts I’m “cooking up” might not suit everyone’s taste buds, and that’s fine.

In contrast, if you are someone who is currently hungering and thirsting after righteousness, this blog is a great place to start, but it’s definitely not meant to be the sole source of anyone’s spiritual nutrition. If you’re looking for the “meat and potatoes” of the Word so-to-speak, I encourage you to open up your Bible or attend a local worship service. Dig into it a little bit for yourself. The book of Matthew is a great place to start. (And if you need suggestions for further study or places to meet with fellow Christians, always feel free to message me.)

I’m certainly no Bible scholar and I don’t have all the answers…but I can tell you that Jesus has prepared a place for you at his spiritual table, where a feast is waiting, one that can truly satisfy the craving of our souls. More than a Facebook post, more than a blog, and more than anything material we have on this earth. While I did nothing to help prepare the feast (kind of like my Dad at Thanksgiving 🤣), I’m thankful to freely share in the meal and invite others in as well.

Until next time…

-PWAP