Just thinking...

Just thinking about a lot of things tonight.  We're about to move and end over eight months of being in transition.  My, it's been hard on our family!  I hate to admit that I have not handled it with nearly as much grace as I should have.  I feel like I had a chance to show my family how to "rejoice in all circumstances" and failed.  However, I am not going to dwell on that, but file it for future use.  It will be difficult to live in a hotel in Hawaii for at least a month and I'm sure I'll have lots of more chances to show my good attitude when things are less than perfect.  One thing that we did do right was stick together.  The navy life means so many separations.  We could have stayed in Cincinnati for these past eight months.  It was tempting!  I could have stayed in our nice, big, organized house, been close to our dear friends and church and avoided a lot of the stress we've come across.  But Dan and I vowed that we would stay together whenever possible and God has always paved the way for us...from our rental house in Colonial Beach to our house with a bridge view in Newport.  He has been so good.  I have not been thankful enough to Him. 
We "home churched" this morning.  The van has been shipped and we don't have enough seats in Dan's car to fit everyone and make it to church.  We read this...

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows.  The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who 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.  
Galatians 6:18

It reminded me so much of what is important.  How I tend to look short term at things and forget that I'm sowing for ETERNITY.  Lately I've been so frustrated with homeschooling and feeling like I can't keep things clean or get anything done and it all pales when I look at the big picture.  So what if we're moving around or don't have a perfect home set up right now...it does not give me an excuse to sow to please my sinful nature!  Instead I need to take this very opportunity to do good to all people (my family, too) and not become weary in doing good. 

And we read this:
Love must be sincere.  Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.  Honor one another above yourselves.  Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 
Romans 12:9-12
I sure need some work in the zeal department!!  When Dan read "patient in affliction" it felt like a kick in the gut.  And it's even worse considering my "affliction" is having to walk up two flights of stairs to get my girls socks and not having a couch to sit on when I want to relax.  Talk about humbling!  I have not been thankful for the overwhelming flow of blessings God gives me each day.  He owes me nothing.  I do NOT deserve to anything.  Yet I've been so blessed.  I am continuing to pray that I will be devoted to my family and husband, be full of joy, be patient in our trials and be faithful in prayer.  And that I will do this all out of love for my Savior, my redeemer, Jesus Christ.