Share Four Somethings: January 2023

Inside: The blessing of a snow day, encouraging quotes about waiting and prayer, a lesson I keep relearning and a favorite comfort food. Plus a biblical anchor for life’s emotional roller coasters.

In some ways, January was great. In other ways, it was one long exhausting ride on the struggle bus.

(Please tell me I’m not the only one.)

For me, that bouncy ride was accompanied by a near-complete lack of words. I’d sit down to write and all I could think was, “I got nuthin.’ ” Or I’d delve into my book manuscript and all I could hear inside my head was “just delete the whole thing already.” (I rejected that idea, in case you were wondering.)

Feeling Like a Fraud?

Another feature of this unwelcome roller-coaster was the self-inflicted accusation of hypocrisy that comes when you’re facing an anxiety inducing situation and you’re acting like you’ve forgotten every last bit of biblical truth that should be carrying you through it. Or, if you’re not acting like you’ve forgotten it all, you’re at least feeling like it.

There’s an importance difference there, by the way. Feelings are important for many reasons, but they sometimes have more power over us than they should. That’s been the case with me these last few weeks.

I haven’t found the perfect antidote to all the emotional sourness. But I can share a scripture that has anchored me through this and other seasons of unexpected roller-coaster riding: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.” (Psalm 103:13-14)

Thank God

I don’t know about you, but I’m thankful our heavenly Father doesn’t forget that we are frail, finite human beings, even as He gently guides and directs us toward greater trust.

I hope to write more about what I’m learning in this season. For now, though, it’s time for something lighter. Four Somethings, to be specific. The blog linkup has a new hostess this year (Jennifer Goodwin), along with a few different categories. Starting with …

Something I’m Loving

Back when my girls were little, snow days sometimes stretched on for what seemed like years. But now, as we journey through Molly’s last semester of high school, I see them differently.

Last week, our district canceled school on Wednesday. It was a questionable call, at least to me, because we’d only gotten an inch or two of snow and the road in front of our house was practically dry by mid-morning.

Even so, it was lovely to have Molly home. She’s normally so busy with work, robotics after school and church youth group activities. It was fun to let her sleep in, chat at the dining-room table, take her to her favorite store (Hobby Lobby) and then work on projects in adjoining rooms.

Sooner than I care to think, she’ll be off to college. Today, I’m loving the time I get to spend with her.

Something I’m Reading

I’ve been perusing mostly fiction lately, so I don’t have any thought-provoking book excerpts to share this month. These quotes from my 365-day flip calendar caught my eye, though, and I hope you find them encouraging too.

First, some straight talk about waiting:

“Waiting is our destiny. As creatures who cannot by themselves bring about what they hope for, we wait in darkness for a flame we cannot light. We wait in fear for a happy ending we cannot write. We wait for a ‘not yet’ that feels like a ‘not even.” Waiting is the hardest work of hope.” ~ Lewis Smedes in Keeping Hope Alive

Also, some powerful thoughts about prayer, and trusting God’s provision:

“Learning to pray is learning to trust the wisdom, the power, and the love of our Heavenly Father, always so far beyond our dreams. He knows our need and knows ways to meet it that have never entered our heads. Things we feel sure we need for happiness may often lead to our ruin. Things we think will ruin us … if we believe what the Father tells us and surrender ourselves into His strong arms, bring us deliverance and joy.” ~ Elizabeth Elliot in Keep a Quiet Heart

Something I’m Learning

When you’re feeling stuck, or less than motivated, or confused about the big picture, do the next right thing. It’s not a new lesson, but it’s one I am having to practice quite a bit lately.

Something I’m Eating

I’m not really an emotional eater, but certain foods evoke powerful feelings of home in my heart and mind. For example, one whiff of spaghetti sauce simmering on the stove and I’m transported back to the kitchen of my childhood home faster than you can say “my Italian mother.”

These days, it’s apple butter. My mom used to make it from the fruit of the trees in our backyard, and for me, it’s the ultimate comfort food.

• • •

Now it’s your turn. What are you loving, reading, learning or eating these days? Please share in the comments, or, if you prefer, tell us how your January went or what your favorite comfort food is.

♥ Lois

P.S. I’m linking up this week with Share Four Somethings, #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee and Grace & Truth

Mug photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash