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Happy Go Stuckey

Tethering Grace & Togetherness

The Unexpected Ministry of a Four-Year Old

September 30, 2013 by HappyGoStuckey Leave a Comment

It was exactly one week ago at the kitchen sink that I saw it.

Lance’s car pulling into the driveway. Two whole hours early. (Complete with the sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach.) I immediately knew. All those prayers we prayed for God to make our paths straight and clear? He had begun. He just closed a door. He had just made one thing end in order to bring about something else. And as we grappled with different emotions and tried desperately to take deep breaths, PRAY… and we had an audience. They were playing with dolls in the next room.

We put forth every effort to remain upbeat and joyful, so as not to frighten them… the older is SO perceptive.  Especially in those next few hours. At one point, she found me *hiding* in the pantry, questioning the next step. She said, “Mommy. I LUD (love) you. Do you KNOW that I LUD you? I do. I LUD you A LOT.” 

unexpectedministry

That was the first of many instances this week that God artfully used the beautiful, innocent love of our children to pour balm on our exhausted and tentative hearts.

And not just through our children. God has brought encouragement from every. single. corner. of our world. Everyone we have come in contact with has been so kind. So thoughtful. So quick to want to help. So generous. The amount of kindness we have been recipients of has been so much more than a huge blessing. It’s been HUMBLING.

Yes, this causes us to realize what great family and friends we have. But more than that even, we realize (again) how great our God is. Every little thing, keeps saying. “I love you. I’m faithful. And I love you.” Every well-timed song we hear, ministers to us in our season of uncertainty and causes us to stop. And worship the God who saw this coming. He heard our 3 years of frustrated prayers as we prayed for an open door. He heard and He acted FOR us. 

Undoubtedly, we have… moments. Moments when all we see is the sudden turn of events and our complete inability to change things. I was having one of these moments on Friday. Alone for an hour, I tried to fit in a Dr’s appointment. I walked into the reception area to check in, and was directed to a new girl I hadn’t met before. There, plain as day, taped to her computer was a tattered strip of paper, with one verse–

“The Lord will fight for you and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:14 

IMG_1815

YES. Because when you watch your husband faithfully work and strive and struggle and then be let go… You NEED a God who fights battles and gives peace.

Every little thing He uses to comfort us– it stops us dead in our tracks of frustration and causes us to stand awestruck at what He is doing. Because we know HE IS WORKING.

But when we’re in the thick of it, we falter. We see what’s in front of us, which is a little foggy, and we strain to see clearly… until our eyes ache from squinting to see the clarity that just isn’t there. Not yet.

But, Oh He is Faithful! Faithful to keep gently reminding us.

Through His Word.

Through sermons that seem so well-timed, that surely there is a wire-tap on our phones, feeding our pastor his next topic.

Through the generosity of others.

Through the girls.

Yesterday while leaving church, Lucy (in the backseat with her craft– A paper world she colored and taped the day’s Bible verse to.)  Any idea what the verse was? Jeremiah 29:11. And from the back seat, she said, “Mommy? Daddy? God said, For I know the plans I have for you!!!” 

This being after the beautiful sermon on trusting God and surrendering to His will–

We just looked at each other and shrugged while laughing around the joy of knowing we. were. LOVED.

Today, I picked Lucy up from school and pulled over to buckle her in. I opened her folder as I always do, and spotted a post-it note from her sweet director.

“NO Tuition due for October. Payment made by an Anonymous donor.” 

Meanwhile, from the backseat, I hear my little encourager sing–  (and please know, I could not make this up.)

“Oh how He loves you and me…. Oh how He loves you and me…” 

I did NOT hold myself together at that point. It was just too much. Too much love lavished on us by people who want to bless us. Too much grace poured out from our Father. Too much hope in knowing He is at work. Too much anticipation as we watch what He does next.

Too. Much.

DotMom13- Part 1
DotMom- Part Two and a Book Giveaway!!!

Comments

  1. 1

    Kasey says

    September 30, 2013 at 8:36 pm

    This whole post has made me cry! I’m so glad that you are finding God in so many places during this time. “NO Tuition due for October. Payment made by an Anonymous donor.” …that is awesome! Definitely praying for you, friend!

    Reply
  2. 2

    Amanda E. says

    September 30, 2013 at 9:46 pm

    Bawling…He is truly amazing.

    Reply
  3. 3

    Jade McEwen says

    September 30, 2013 at 10:54 pm

    LOVE LOVE LOVE! And we LOVE you all so much! God is so faithful and I’m so glad to hear how He is taking care of you. : )

    Reply
  4. 4

    Courtney Sexton says

    October 1, 2013 at 11:46 am

    I’m speechless. And overcome with thankfulness that He has been so gracious to you. And what a little minister Lucy is… I’m just in awe. What a way to start the day…

    Love you,

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Speaking Love | Happy Go Stuckey says:
    May 28, 2014 at 10:13 am

    […] the most undeniably amazing thing we learned? God KNEW exactly what we needed to be encouraged. That’s the True Power of Encouragement. That no matter the form the encouragement comes in, […]

    Reply

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Hey There!

I'm Cynthia and I'm so glad you're here. I am an introvert with an extrovert's love of gathering people together. I love good books and capturing moments. Whether you visit me here or on my own front porch, I'll be the one holding the Iced Coffee for us both.

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happygostuckey

Instagram post 2198196080830984318_396980240 There’s a river in the backyard from all the rain but the coffee is hot and the fire is warm. Just send my mail to Cozy-town.🎄✨🔥
Instagram post 2195899403432542383_396980240 “What was intended to tear you apart, God intends it to set you apart. What has torn you, God makes a thin place to see glory. Whatever happens, whatever unfolds, whatever unravels, you can never be undone... If God can transfigure the greatest evil into the greatest Gift, then He intends to turn whatever you’re experiencing now into a gift.” — @annvoskamp , The Greatest Gift

These @joywares ornaments that correspond with our daily Advent readings are one small way we are daily, simply, remembering to prepare Him room. {today we had to catch up a bit, and I’m sure it will happen again.} ✨
Instagram post 2194813906031245214_396980240 No Sunday Scaries here. ✨🎄❤️
Instagram post 2191701631330368631_396980240 This year, the 🍋lemon tree🌿 gave fewer lemons than normal. I asked my Dad and he confirmed, just a slow year.

So we picked (still armfuls,) and I’ll love every one.
If you read #feastingandforaging (have I mentioned I wrote a book? Gosh, that is never not awkward.😅) If you read it, then you know how special this tree is to me.

Again this year, I’m reminded all over again that our sweetest gifts are sometimes cloaked in harder things. Often our ‘unexpected ugh’ makes way for what we truly need.

And I just want you to know that if this December is already more than you wanted or less than you hoped, if you’re sitting at the end of a very long year— take courage.
Take peace.
Take hope and as you pass around the gift of the Advent to those beside you, don’t forget to also take some for yourself.

Don’t forget to remember that the Hope of this season (and every other,) cannot be squelched by sickness, pain, or the general ugh of life in a broken world.

We have this Hope and it is one that won’t be diminished by anything that could land in our laps today.
#prepareHimroom
Instagram post 2191016735687527448_396980240 Sometimes I think I could live in New York but I’m low-key afraid I might eat bagels every day. 🥯🍎☕️ (TB to October when @friar_stuck and I took our Pio Bagels to @devocionusa and pretended we were regulars.) ✨What city would you love to live in if it didn’t mean leaving where you are?✨
Instagram post 2189510127085979732_396980240 Home sweet merry little home.🎄This December will be busier than most for our family, so I’m treasuring every single slow moment we are gifted. Starting today with homemade lattes and little white lights.✨ #merrymerrystuckeys
Instagram post 2187513959237917323_396980240 We can all agree the point of the charcuterie platter is to get as many family members into one room at once, right? The cheese is just a bonus. {yes, second charcuterie pic this week. Because holidays. And family. And the sweet full feeling that comes not from eating too much pie, but seeing almost all of your entire family in one day.} ❤️🦃 Happy Thanksgiving, dear friends. 
#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #f52byyou #allthecheese #gratefulforhome #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #merrymerrystuckeys #almondavenuecrew
Instagram post 2185903851697559572_396980240 🍁Maybe she’s born with it.
Maybe it’s Maple Leaves.🍁 I know that when the clock strikes midnight on Thursday, everyone switches to Christmas— but I’m probably going to be here with leaf spam for just a bit longer... 😏
Instagram post 2183058239117455684_396980240 ✨In a world where you can be anything, be the one who volunteers to bring charcuterie. ✨
🧀🥖🍇🌿
Bonus points if your flannel shirt- wearing husband can hold said charcuterie while you take a million photos of cheese in the golden hour.

#feastingandforaging #charcuterieboard #thanksgivingdinner #onthetable #f52byyou #foodie #savourtheseasonalshift #simplethingsmadebeautiful #chasethelight #bluehousekitchen #merrymerrystuckeys #gratefuldays #cheeseboard #gratefulforhome #iwentlookingforbeauty #ofsimplethings
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