Long Wednesday - PM Post

I just got home from bible study, and I am really tired but I need some "me" time. That is what the study was about, sort of. We are studying the fruit of the spirit, the characteristics of God that we hope to be by following the Word and ultimately changing. We just did our 8th week... but we have only covered 5 out of the 9; Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, and Goodness. Each week I seem to be getting a "test" on the study we are covering. I have been really challenged... which you know if you have been reading my posts. Love I have been tested... Joy... Peace (where I have had to learn to keep my mouth shut and be patient)... and now tonight it is that Goodness comes by doing. Isaiah 58th is full of a "to do" list of how we are to go outside of ourselves and "do" for God to show Goodness. It wasn't really about "me" time as it was more about "giving of me" time.

What I like about this study is that we are not picky about the homework and getting it all done. After all, most of us are working women and we drag ourselves in there after working all day. The last thing we need is to feel guilty over not having all the homework done perfectly and being called on. We go over it and share with each other, then we watch the DVD that is also a part of the teaching. Beth Moore is the real teacher, I just am a leader (keeping everyone on track). It isn't easy keeping people on track when you feel "derailed" yourself. Just today Kari was sick at home and couldn't watch the boys tonight. Dave is out of town. And so what to do with the boys when there isn't child care at church for this study? I found a friend to watch Brady at the last minute and brought Riley with me. If I had let each week's situations and issues defeat me, I would have only been able to lead half of the eight nights so far... and that wouldn't have been very good. This is where my being "stubborn" or "tenacious" comes in handy. Hopefully the last three nights of this study will be not so challenging.

The women's retreat is this weekend. That is going to be interesting too. Hopefully Kari will be better and Dave will be home. I am trying to make sure that one doesn't have the boys for the whole time I am at the retreat, but that there are "shifts". I think I have Aaron on board too taking a shift.

I was so happy to see my friend Derek the other evening after so many years. If I have done the math, I think 15 years went by since I last saw him, but it didn't seem like he had been gone that long... only a few years maybe. You know someone is really in your life when they come back around, and you pick up where you were. It was a short visit but very meaningful. He is truely a good friend... "closer than a brother" kind of friend. Once I heard that he and I were "alike"... "cut of the same cloth" so to say... if that is so, I consider that comment one of the highest compliments I have received. I hope to live up to it.

Time to get to bed... let's see if that sunrise will bring a new day with less on my plate. I can hope can't I?