God is Good To Me

My dining room table is piled with all the unfinished jobs, projects, 

and summers starts & stops from around the house. 

A wooden box to be returned to a friend.
The Summer school projects left to be finished.

Unread Reader's Digest.
A gathering basket of a dear Sister's design project...textiles, samples, drapes....
Robots that need  building
Games we have played and quickly picked up to make room in another space.

Junk mail that I want to read and sort.
A dry erase board with last months scriptures that have faded.

Papers with little pictures that little hands have made.
Hanging flower lights that came from  the outdoors to the indoors and landed on this table.
"Gift Wrapping-Greeting Cards" A book I was given over 10 years ago and still have not opened it. I pulled it out to read while dinner was cooking one evening, and little faces needed me more.

A cookie sheet to return to a friend.   Does she miss it?
Swimming goggles that broke and need cleaning.
Wedding invitations that need sorting and gifts to be purchased.
A wine case, with a bottle of wine and two glasses. David won at a golf tournament....weeks ago.
Lego bits and pieces,
Summer reading books that have been finished by the boys.
Markers with the caps off.

I have a very large dining table. One that gets used all year long for big dinners, guests, and family affairs.  This summer it's collecting everything.  When company comes we do a drive by on the bottom floor and pick and toss odds and ends onto the Dining Table.  Yesterday my laptop found it's way down here, my Bible, and a hot cup of coffee sits next to me too.

There is no fuss or muss over all this stuff. It's just stuff.  Instead of tidying I have done things these summer weeks that have greater importance. Spending time with people. Hanging out at the Willamette River while boys swim, catch pollywogs, and have deep conversatiosn with my daughter. Spending the next day at the beach with my sister, her son, and my boys playing and burying themselves in the warm sand. Spending another full day at the Evergreen Museum of Flight.Late night conversations with my husband. And the weeks before, spending a vacation with my husband, one on one time with kids, mama dates.  Dates with young women who want to process their hearts. Camp Counselor... Whew!!!!!  Then Book Club, and Young Life Bible Study, and BBQ's and more sunshine on my sun kissed skin. Late night chats with my own kids too.

Today in my quiet time, the boys are off playing.  Reconnecting with the Legos, the flight simulator, and each other.  No one needs me and I sit and ponder the things that are important.; reading from God's word those things He would speak to me about.  Not even the list of distractions on my dining room table will pull me away from my time with God.  As a mother of a larger family I have learned to just let it all be. Time will soon allow to clean, put away, and have that tidy neat organization.  My life, and my heart are not dictated by these things, nor is my identity.

It's the Words that jump off the page and into my heart that give me the confidence in who I am today.
Galatians6:7-10
"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.  Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

My heart smiles as I read this. To some it may seem like I am over booked, too busy and not available.  But to those who know me deeply. Know that my coffee pot is always ready.  Cups poured and conversations of our hearts ready.  Enough food to add another around my table. The blessing of a car, not real fancy to take more kids and friends along.  My markers may dry up, but there is always another color to draw side by side with a sweet child.  My dining room table may not house, the larger dinners, but guess what I have another table to share those savory bbq's my husband puts out.  I do not grow weary.  A good nights sleep takes care of that.  God is so good to me. Giving me that confidence in walking with Him, seeking Him, and knowing that truly I do not grow weary in doing good.  Good is what makes me smile and brings me joy.  Good is a dining room table reminding me of all the things we have done, and the things we get to do. 

May you find the good in doing good for those whom God brings into your life.  Blessings, elizabeth