Leslie's Little Devotional

(Fall 2011) I know the title of this devotion sounds more like a title for a country song but it’s really more of a theme for the start of my day.   As a mother of five children (ages 22, 18, 13, 11 and 9) my days are full.   I’ve learned to make use of my time, especially time alone, of which there is precious little. I homeschool our three youngest children while our first born is off to her final year of college and our second-born is off to her senior year of high school.   My days begin at 6:30 when my husband of twenty-five years wakes me up after brewing a pot of coffee prepared with freshly ground coffee beans.   I offer up a brief and barely coherent prayer before I get out of bed. Some mornings it is simply, “Lord, please give me the energy to get up and get busy”.   I am not a morning person and I never have been.   However, since days typically begin in the morning, I try to adapt. After the covers are off and my feet hit the fl...

It’s back to school time. Clothing racks at malls everywhere are filled with all the “must have” items for fashion savvy kids. Mothers are running from store to store with children in tow looking for the best deal. Even as a homeschooling mom, I still get caught up in it. Just because school happens at home and online doesn’t mean we wear our pajamas. Every Sunday I educate myself by checking the ads to compare styles and prices. After doing a little shopping today after church I decided a little quiet time with my Bible was in order.   As I was reading, I came to a portion of scripture I had underlined some time ago.   Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (Colossians 3:12) What a timely reminder for me! Sometimes it is so easy to get distracted. This verse served as a great reminder to use great care dressing the inside too. Not just for my children, but for myself...

“Please be still!” I said with exasperation as I tried to apply sunscreen to my nine year son as he squirmed away from me.   When he was sufficiently slathered in UV protection and playing in the pool, I relaxed on the patio and opened to Psalm 46. As I read through the Psalm I arrived at verse ten. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Be still. Those are words any parent is very familiar with. Whether you’re trying to brush a toddler’s hair, keep a wiggle worm still in church, or trying to rock a fretful baby to sleep, you’ve surely said those words.   Over the years I have learned that there are number of reasons it’s difficult for children to keep still. It could be that they are bored and frustrated.   Maybe they are crabby. Perhaps they aren’t feeling well. Sometimes they just lack self-discipline. Whatever the reason, being still and patient doesn’t come naturally. Truth be told, being still ...

There I was, all “frumped out” at the grocery store. It had been a long day and I was in dire need of a shower and a coat of makeup. I was also in need of a few ingredients for dinner.   Against my better judgment, I had run out the door offering a prayer (yes, I know it was a shallow moment) that I wouldn’t bump into anyone I knew.   With my bad hair day head down I quickly navigated the aisles throwing what I needed into the cart. “So far so good,” I thought to myself. Then it happened. Bam! I found myself face to face with someone I hadn’t seen in years. Of course she looked amazing. Her outfit was adorable and she had that “just stepped out of the hairstylists chair” hair going on. As we hugged I noticed that even her perfume was wonderful.   I sent up another quick prayer, “Lord, please don’t let my deodorant fail me now”.   Even smelling like Windex would be better than being stinky. My friend was as kind and didn’t act as if she noticed the mess I was. We...

If motherhood had a uniform I think it could be a referee shirt.   Mediator, arbitrator, umpire, and peacemaker are all listed under duties I perform in this career I’ve chosen. Don’t get me wrong, we are a loving family. However, when seven people live under one roof, there are bound to be disputes. I do my best to work to maintain the peace in my little corner of the world. I have vast experience in peace negotiations of all types.   I have stepped in to settle personal property clashes which have resulted in a tug of war over a stuffed animal. Another one of my specialties is resolution of land disputes stemming from two children sharing a bedroom. Resolution of instances of character defamation due to name calling is also within my skill set. Sometimes I have even resorted to drastic measures to achieve peace, including issuing restraining orders to keep the party of the first part from looking at the party of the second part. My ultimate goal isn’t just to “make the ...

In June my sister and brother-in-law brought our three adorable great nieces to visit with us. We had a wonderful visit. Our three youngest children had never met their cousins before but after a few hours, they all were the best of friends. Gwyneth, Reagan, and Sloane instantly found a place in our hearts that will last forever. We are already trying to work out another Arizona/Wisconsin connection. Our time together created so many memories, laughter, and stories. One of these memories is of Reagan making a heart with her fingers and holding her hands in front of her eyes while saying, “I only see you through the eyes of love”.   Of course I think of them and miss them each and every day. While I was thinking about the girls this morning I thought of Reagan and her “eyes of love” comment.   I began to wonder what our lives and relationships would be like if we chose to only see the ones near and dear to us “through the eyes of love”. How many silly irritations could we ea...

“For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances” Paul’s words rang through my ears as I sorted through what felt like a mountain of laundry.   I thought of an old song by Tennessee Ernie Ford called “16 Tons” and began composing my own version that went something like this: You wash 16 loads and what do you get? Some forgotten towels all nasty and wet!             Girlfriends don’t you call me cuz I can’t go!             I spend my days like a laundry room troll! Never let it be said that I don’t have a flair for the dramatic!   As I sorted clothes and hummed my mournful little tune, Paul’s words about contentment keep going through my mind.   I stopped humming and thought about it some more.   Paul had endured a great deal more than a mountain of dirty laundry. Even in its sorry state, my laundry room would look like the Hilton co...

I interrupt this devotional blog to bring you a public service announcement drawn from something I experienced a few years ago. There I was, just minding my own business and trying to balance a toddler on my hip while filling a juice cup when it happened.   I reached into the fridge to grab the juice pitcher and it wouldn’t budge. Still half asleep and not sufficiently caffeinated, I tried again; still to no avail.   I slid Jacob off my hip and as soon as his little feet hit the floor he scampered off, no doubt headed upstairs to wake his big sisters. Bending down, I peered into the fridge and found the pitcher was adhered to the shelf in a mound of caramel sauce.   Upon further inspection I could see that everything on the shelf was stuck atop a river of caramel.   The offending jar of sauce was at the back, on its side with the lid a few inches away. “Really? “I said out loud.   My day had started out so well and now this happens? My plans for the day did...

Last year our son, Matthew, and I read Number the Stars by Lois Lowry together.   It is fictitious story about the Jewish Holocaust during World War II.   The book’s title comes from Psalm 147:4: “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name” At one point in the story, as the Jews are about to escape to Sweden one of the characters reads Psalm 147.   In that moment, a young girl tries to grasp the greatness of a God who can number the stars. Like the young girl in the story, I am trying to grasp the greatness of a God who numbers and knows the stars by name. Some of the most brilliant minds on Earth have spent decades trying to number the stars. It has been said that trying to count the starts is like trying to count the grains of sand on a beach. Scientists can make estimates or educated guesses, but they cannot precisely number the stars. I am not a scientist and I don’t have any formulas to make even an uneducated guess. There have been m...

A couple of weeks ago, I attended a Bible study that focused on the story of Hagar, which is found in Genesis 16.   I’ve read the account many times but this time I saw it from another perspective, that being Hagar’s. Imagine poor Hagar, sitting alone in the desert.   She probably had never felt more alone in her life.   Hagar, a devoted servant to Sarah, had agreed to have a child for Abraham and Sarah.   That’s devotion. However, as we know, things changed.   Instead of a deep appreciation, Sarah began to resent Hagar and the child she conceived with Abraham.   In her emotional turmoil Hagar fled to the desert. There she was, pregnant and feeling utterly alone.   At that moment, the only touch she probably felt was the scorching hot sun on her clothing. I wonder what thoughts were going through her mind? How hopeless her situation must have felt! Have you ever been there? Maybe not in the desert, but have you ever retreated to a solitary place...

I was trying to quietly make my way through the room and not wake anyone. It was very dark and I don’t claim to have the best night vision. With arms outstretched and timid steps I moved forward.   The next thing I knew, I stepped on a Lego, jumped forward only to get the gun of a green army guy between my toes and hit my hip on the doorknob.   Honestly, if it was happening to someone else, I would have been laughing hysterically. Somehow the kids slept through it all. Since my hip had already located the doorknob, turned it and limped out.   Silently I wondered why I didn’t turn on a light in the next room and crack the door a little so I could have avoided Lego landmines guarded by the army guys.   The next day I sarcastically remarked that I needed a map clearly marking the landmines so I could safely navigate my way through the boy’s room.   As I applied Neosporin to my bayonet wound I thought about it all. Like a wounded warrior, I hobbled to the sofa ...

When evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." 36 They left the crowd behind. And they took him along in a boat, just as he was. There were also other boats with him.   A wild storm came up. Waves crashed over the boat. It was about to sink. Jesus was in the back, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him up. They said, "Teacher! Don't you care if we drown?" He got up and ordered the wind to stop. He said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down. And it was completely calm.   He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Don't you have any faith at all yet?" They were terrified. They asked each other, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:35-41 NIRV)   A few nights ago some major thunderstorms came through Muskego.   Our weather radio went off five times.   Our home was lit by an amazing lightening show and shook by loud thunder...