God in the Unexpected....

I entitled my blog, "Gracious Interruptions" because I started to see how the interrupted times can be the really great times of our lives. When something or someone breaks through our all-so-important daily agendas or the mundane of our lives or our preplanned ideas to bless us with something wonderful....these are the things and the people and the moments we always remember. And I wanted to always remember so I began writing them down.

I had one just a few minutes ago.

It had been one of the busiest seasons in our lives as a family. We began the school year with me assigned to an all consuming new work project, all three of my kids were in school, and my parents were returning from Chicago. My oldest Cosette during the second week of school displayed an unprecedented school anxiety and it was a very difficult first month with daily tears and stomach aches. Matt was doing a side job for some friends each weekend for about 5 full weekends and we didn't see him much and then he headed for some much needed rest on his hunting trip. So it felt very fast and very full.

Well, I finished my project with work about halfway through the month of October and Cosette was showing much greater confidence and peace about school. But we have still remained a very active family. I haven't really felt the pace decrease significantly.
This past weekend we celebrated my dad's 80th birthday and in the midst of all the preparations, we still had soccer and homework etc. Halloween soon followed and the kids were off for several days.

So today, I finally got to take a shower at the end of the day when Matt came home. While I was in the shower, as it often happens, I sighed. I said out loud to no one, "I'm tired." I was coming down from a lot of activity and I was tired. It feels good to say those words every once in a while, like a confession, "Hi, my name is Mary, and I'm tired."

Not knowing what the solution to my tiredness would be, besides a long nap and a week's vacation to some beach, somewhere, Cole came into my room as I was finishing up. And to be truthful, I wanted just a few more minutes of aloneness. Just a few more minutes before someone would start their sentence "Mom, can I.....? Mom, can you.....? Honey, what's for dinner?" But he came in and he said, "Mom, do you want a taste? Boompa got some cookies for his birthday. Do you want to try one?"

I smiled and took the cookie and he ran off and I just smiled and then teared. I went back into my bathroom and just sighed again.

In my tiredness, my son came and brought me a cookie.

And I felt the love of God again. :-)

I am convinced that God shows up in the unexpected with the unexpected and meets us there. He hasn't lifted all the demands of my life as wife, mother, daughter and friend. He hasn't removed the pressures of bills and laundry and homework and my husband's dusty boots. He hasn't said I will remove all the stress of your life. But He has and has always and will continue to show up in the love of a 7 year old son with a cookie in his hand for his mom.

And He shows up in an unexpected phone call from a dear friend who always fills me up.

And in the kindness of a stranger in the grocery store.

And in the words of a greatly led worship song.

And in the laughter of a baby.

And in the forgiveness of a spouse.

And on and on and on and on.

These days, when I have often asked the question, "God where are You? I cannot see or feel Your presence and I am worried and so tired and not strong. Show Yourself because I just need to see You... here... now." When I have uttered those words to my Faithful Savior, He again reveals Himself and graciously gives me the eyes to see it.

Tonight, it was in the form of a boy with a cookie in his hand.
So tonight. Eat a cookie and feel the love of the Father for you.......