These Days

Where does the time go?
All of a sudden, another baby is added to the growing horde that is my family. Another blessing for my brother and his beautiful wife.
All of a sudden, my nephew turns 6, and that is just hard to understand. It can't be so. He's my oldest sisters brown baby boy. Six is so BIG.
All of a sudden another nephew is walking, too little to be taking those first steps.
All of a sudden my niece is 3. Yesterday she was chubby and fat and had butterflies for eyelashes.
She still has butterflies for eyelashes, but now she's demanding and all knowing.

All of a sudden my one year old is pushing kitchen chairs around and climbing on counter tops, eagerly grabbing potentially dangerous objects.



There is no end, is there?



In all the moving forward, the aging, the adding and sometimes the taking away, I am reminded of one thing.

It is all for God.

All of it.

There is nothing in this life we can actually take credit for. Nothing.

And the most heartening reminder as life spirals in different directions:

Our Heavenly Father does NOT change. He spoke us into existance, He gave his promises, and He extended his unfathomable Grace to a select few. Throughout history man has changed. My family in only a short while has changed. I have changed.

God is firm. He is the Great I Am. He is the foundation that I can build my trust upon.

Whether you're able to barely make ends meet, or wondering how to get a tax break, it doesn't come close to the realization that God will be glorified. God's plan, his will, is being carried out.

How I fit in to his wondrous plan is beyond me. I marvel at the diverse group he's given me by blood, or by a shared faith. I can seek wisdom and encouragement from many. I am thankful.

I pray, that as our lives keep moving forward, that we don't forget the ultimate end that will come. And I pray, that God will continue to peel off those nasty layers, exposing the yucky-ness, and reveal what he sees in me, and in so doing use me to encourage others.

As my wonderful brother-in-law reminds me, it's not about me, and I do need to be reminded, once in a while.