As we round out the school year, I am faced with endings.
We have a lot of endings happening in our house right now. The girls are ending school and test taking is immediately upon us. Ashlyn's Sophomore year and Addi's 4th grade year are coming to an end. Our stay in this home comes to an end in June. David's present job is nearing its ending...that event occurs in July. Our stay in the wonderful state of Georgia will also be ending in July.
A lot of endings.
However, in an odd sort of way, the endings rush in a beginning. As we say "farewell" to 4th and 10th grade, we say "greetings" to 5th and 11th grade. As we pack up our belongings and bid this house and Georgia "adieu" we say "hello" to Kentucky and the new experience of "on-post" living. As David says, "off the net" to his Battalion, he will say "good morning" to an office full of more "civilians" than "green suiters."
The endings really become mile markers...something that has been accomplished, yet something we are passing by. It seems as though just as the anxiety is building up toward the ending, you blink, it passes, and another event of life and in life begins.
.
So a proverbial question....which is it? Is it an ending or a beginning?
Surely we are to mark the events in our lives. Surely they are accomplishments in some form or fashion.
Is there relief that is brought on by the ending?
An exhale...
Or is more anxiety and excitement marked by the ending because it rushes in a new beginning?
Take a deep breath...
Some may say it is determined by the actual ending or beginning. But is it really?
Should all endings and beginnings be viewed equally?
I know there are defining moments in our lives that we all have along this road we trod. Standing Stones, the Israelites called them. Markers in the road of life that we can look upon, reflect, learn, and teach. God actually commanded the Israelites to erect these Standing Stones so that they could look back upon them and say, "Ah yes! That was accomplished ~by the Mighty hand of GOD and for His kingdom!"
Yet, as they stood on the banks of the Jordan River at flood stage, did the rush of their anxiety match the raging river before them? Did they comprehend the "beginning" that was soon to be upon them? There are times we stand on the very edge of our own Jordan River, almost paralyzed by the next step, because it in fact, marks a new beginning. And that beginning brings about a moment of shear terror of what the FOLLOWING moments may bring. There really is no fear in taking that STEP of faith of a new beginning. The fear is not in the STEP. The fear lies in our question of what FOUNDATION will it land upon.
So how to approach life?
As one marked with endings...
As one marked with beginnings....
As one marked as a journey....
The Israelites did not stop at the Jordan River. They may have camped and contemplated for a while, but eventually, the priests dipped a big toe into that raging river and GOD performed a miracle right before their eyes ~ through them ~ for His Glory and Kingdom purposes. Nor did they hang out with their Standing Stones once the river was forged. In fact, they moved on, leaving the stones erect for all to come upon and exclaim, "God did a great and wonderous thing here through His people and for His Glory!"
The journey continued...
Someone once said, your life is not marked by your beginning birth certificate or your ending death certificate, but how you lived the ~ dash ~ in between. I hope I'm living my life relishing the endings and anticipating the beginnings all in a bold, italicized, and an underlined
~ dash ~
Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God" Luke 9:62
The list continues...
188. Grace ~All is ~ Grace
189. Spring Break
190. Early morning car rides
191. Sleeping children in cars
192. Car trips that yield conversations between husband and wife
193. Cracker Barrel restaurants
194. Coffee!!
195. The sound of...screws in tires (yes, heard before tire blows out) Thankful we were at a slow speed!
196. Walmart tire repair center
197. Playing in the toy department of Walmart~entertaining my teenagers and small child for 2 hours!
198. Thor Helmets!
199. Noodle Wars!
200. Ugly noise-making stuffed animals!
201. Laughter!
202. Fixed tires
203. Beautiful landscapes
204. FLARP!
205. Grumpiness turned to happiness all because of silliness
206. Cozy cabins
207. Restful nights
208. Seeing friends again that never leave the heart
209. Talking at 100mph, understanding every word, trying to make the most of every moment of very limited time
210. Annapolis, MD
211. Water~eases the mind, peace to the soul, calms the heart
212. Sailboats
213. Quaint towns, so much history-not all of it pretty
214. U.S. Naval Academy
215. Steak dinners and yummy breakfasts!
216. Granma Stolz!
217. Arlington National Cemetery
218. The honor bestowed to fallen comrades
219. The changing of the guard and the wreath laying ceremony~ such small humble acknowledgments for those who humbly and sacrificially gave all
220. The true price of freedom
221. The playing of taps
222. Cherry Blossoms
224. Humble graves
225. Beauty in a solemn place
226. Twenty-one gun salute
227. Children who understand the cost of freedom
228. Children from lands afar who merrily skip along paths, oblivious to those around~oblivious that they can~ all because of freedom
229. Pappy and Grand Bay
230. Addi completing her family by seeing her grandparents and seeing that importance through her eyes
231. Hearts shared
232. Grocery stores that are plentiful
233. Ping Pong!
234. Kite flying
235. Putt-Putt
236. A competitive spirit
237. As hard as it is to be grateful when bad news is delivered, thankfulness to a husband who dutifully serves his country
238. Words from a teenager that remind the heart and mind and usher in perspective
239. The comment of perspective ~ "He is a soldier. And soldiering is 24/7/365. He is always on call for his country."
240. Making the most of difficult situations
241. Hotels that offer dinner and breakfast for a low price
242. Playing a board game instead of watching tv
243. Waiting for daddy ~ thankful we can!
244. Children who will read while waiting
245. Crossword puzzles
246. The road that leads home
247. Commitments of teenagers when they are stuck between a rock and a hard place
248. Two teens who will put up 55+ signs all over a town for a lost dog that is not their own
249. Sleep
250. Playing a board game with family because it is what they would rather do than anything else.
251. Recognizing that they are "choosing" to spend time with you and "initiating" the time
252. Reading the Facebook status of your daughter that claims, "Best Spring Break ever because I got to spend it with people I love!"
253. Beautiful girls preparing for Prom
254. Pretty jewelry that makes a girl's eyes sparkle because she is the recipient of the gift
255. Manicures and Pedicures for a special event
256. Daddy's who enjoy the above mentioned treatments in a chair right next to the daughter
257. Boyfriends who decline above mentioned treatment
258. Time with the boyfriend to chat about life and history and bow ties that don't fit
259. Flowers for special occasions
260. "Doing Hair"-my favorite activity that I seldom get the opportunity to share
261. Having the privilege and honor to style Ashlyn's hair ~ such an intimate time of trust
262. Beautiful dress ~ even more beautiful daughter!
263. Daughter who "Wows" her boyfriend and brings tears to her father's eyes
264. A proud daddy who can't stop taking pictures of His Girl!
265. Sisters who bring handkerchiefs to tuxedos to the rescue
266. The folding of the handkerchief by a daddy for the boyfriend
267. Little girls learning
268. Exceptionally wonderful spring days
269. Being able to celebrate Mother's Day
269. Daughters~ one born of me, one born in my heart
270. Yellow Goldfinches-brilliant gold
271. Realizing that anxiety is no longer a menace when my husband travels-this is HUGE!
272. Discovering and enjoying CHILL frozen yogurt
273. Buffalo Wild Wings! I love spending time here with my family!
274. The song of a purple martin
275. Laughter with my oldest
276. The thoughts and comments from my youngest
277. The question, "What is God's favorite number?"
278, The answers, "Oh yeah-Three-because of the Trinity" and God's possible answer from a certain young girl, "Hush child! Just praise ME!"
279. Chocolate Mocha Brownie Cookies- Gluten Free
280. The beginning of EOCT's-the ending of stress
281. Tender hearts of teenagers rescuing baby birds and bunny rabbits from "her" cat
282. The first hummingbird
283. The goldfinch now dressed in neon yellow
284. Test prep booklets that help alleviate test jitters
285. Quiet mornings
286. Crisp air
287. Bird melodies that serenade as I take out the trash
288. Count down to summers
289. Shopping trips with oldest daughter
290. The feeling of accomplishment when a job is well done
291. "The smallest task well done, brings in a moment of more satisfaction than failure knows in a lifetime."-Eileen Gray
292. Organizing
293. Cleaning
294. Stuff is just stuff and I need less of it
295. Creating memories is the best gift one can give
296. Booking a Christmas, Birthday, New Years cruise with family
297. Dancing sunlight
298. Billowing clouds
299. Color
300. Safety in a storm
301. Casting my burdens/fears upon the LORD and knowing that He will catch them
302. Long conversations with a dear friend
303. Little girls who love to learn and who are graced with intelligent minds
304. Exhaling
305. AWANA Awards Night
306. Date night with my husband
307. Exceptional meal, exceptional service, exceptional company with the man I love
308. The gift of being one
309. Enjoying the same interests with my soul mate
310. Rainy nights
311. Sleeping in Saturdays
312. Last days of school
313. Testing the minds of children
314. Seeing results
315. The end product of cleaning
316. Miracle sponges that performs miracles
317. Reminders from Addi-"Hush child! Just praise Me!'
318. Letting go of worry- or attempting to do so
319. Peace in the moment
320. Once again, GRACE ~ All is Grace!