A Change of Face
“In honor of you getting a hair cut today, I’m trying a new do too. What do you think?” Jerry said as I worked at my computer. I turned around and fixed my eyes on his hair, trying hard to discern a difference. Just as I feared I was about to lose major wife points by not noticing the difference, he pointed to his chin.
My husband had a fu manchu.
After we both contained our laughter, he shaved it down to the Ron Swanson mustache that he had been desperately wanting for some time. Fortunately, we both agreed that the molestache is not his style and off it went. While it is an adjustment for me (Jerry has always had a beard since I’ve known him), I think Jack is having the harder time figuring out who this man is with his father’s voice and a very unfamiliar face.
Thoughts From the Middle of the Night
“Count it all joy…” is Not what I want to be reminded of at 4 am when my son is in one of his “eat every-two hours because I want to be awake when the world is sleeping” phases. I shouldn’t have prayed for God to make me mindful of him in all things. Early this morning, my mental struggle looked something like this:
You are awake again?
Count it all joy.
I more than slightly envy my sleeping husband (note: he frequently gets up and lets me sleep through the middle of the night. This just happened to be my turn).
Count it all joy.
I’ve never been so tired in my life.
Count it all joy.
I’d rather sulk.
Count it all joy.
Ugh.
In What Did You Expect, Tripp says that every passage of scripture that talks about God, humankind, and his grace-filled solution to our sin struggles is a “marriage” passage (not just the ones that mention marriage). The same could be said about having a kid. Unfortunately Jack isn’t old enough to choose to annoy mom by being hungry at inopportune times, so I can’t blame him. As I see my impatience, my weakness, my selfishness, I just see more and more my need for God to refine the seemingly mundane areas of my life.
As frustrating as this is to wrestle with at 4 am, I find that there is some of the “peaceful fruit” of Hebrews 12:11 lingering throughout the day. God’s desire for me to not live in self-pity is one I am thankful for. The alternative is a much more appealing state in which to live (especially for those who have to live around me).