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I don’t know about you, but I can be so stubborn. In my mind, life would have been so much nicer if we had avoided that whole issue. I’d go back in time and fix that sump pump prior to our Disney trip and save us the trouble. But if I’d done that, who knows what I would have missed out on? I sing, Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, but when He stretches me, do I thank him? I can quote James about rejoicing in perseverance, yet when adversity comes, do I rejoice? Easier said than done. Those rising waters weren’t something I asked for, and they weren’t something I’d wish on anyone. The strongest rains and winds won’t washthe blessings away. Of course, that was long before we lived there. I remember watching coverage about Hurricane Katrina on the news. It was our first year of marriage, when we were living in Boston. I remember feeling sympathy and wishing I could help. When our little basement flooded, I realized it was nothing compared to a loss of that magnitude. There’s a beautiful resilience that can come from dealing with loss. 
It's My Life
As a mother and a wife, I spend a lot of time making sure my family has what they need. I’m the designated shopper and chooser. I want to hold everything with open hands. Some irreplaceable things in the basement couldn’t be saved, like photos and mementos from when the children were babies. It made me sad to lose those things forever. When it came to replaceable things that had to be thrown out, my priorities were clearer than ever. Did we really need this toy or game? It’s okay to have things. What’s not okay is for things to have you. There’s nothing wrong with having nice things. I just want to guard my heart and make sure things aren’t owning me. That’s one way the flood offered a reality check for me. It forced me to evaluate how much we’re invested in our stuff. Come Go With Me
I didn’t want anyone outside our family to know. When I’m dealing with stress, I have a tendency to minimize whatever I’m going through. My brain tells me, It isn’t a big deal. Plenty of people are dealing with so much worse. I just need to suck it up. Benjamin doesn’t suffer from this problem. He told everyone he talked to about our flooded basement. Lots of people wanted to help! One friend offered fans to dry out the basement. Other people offered names of contractors who’d helped them with similar problems. Once the cat was out of the bag, I began to talk about it too. When we risk being vulnerable and sharing our story, it creates a bond of understanding that connects us with other people. We pray differently for other people when we know what they’re going through. Too Many People
Our connections run deeper and make our prayers that much more specific and fervent. The enemy would do everything in his power to make sure we don’t share our struggles. He wants to divide us, and one of his most common strategies is to isolate us. If we go it alone, we’re more vulnerable to his lies. But experience is teaching me that it’s worth the risk. They were more concerned about us and spending time together than in the stuff they’d lost. This made my momma heart so happy. Do you know what my kids did? They walked past the small pile of toys and started a game of tag. They loved all the open space! My youngest girl came over to me and asked, Mommy, is this all that was saved from the flood? Yes, Baby, that’s it! She looked around and said, At least Levi and Asher have their trucks! I nodded and smiled as she ran off to join her siblings in their game of tag. I want to lift my eyes and try to see the long view. One surefire way to train our minds to see the long view is to consistently stay in the Word. I mean, these were His chosen ones, and they endured so much. As I read all this with the benefit of hindsight, I want to go back in time and say, You guys, it’s going to be worth it! I’m living with the blessing of being on the other side. When I think about my life and how I feel at any given moment, it can be hard because so many things are hidden. Because of that, it can feel like I’m moving through thick mud. What if He is, even now, doing a new thing? When you face a difficult situation, do you tend to share about it or keep it to yourself? Have you ever shared a private pain with someone and unexpectedly uncovered a positive upside? What did that experience teach you? I’m the designated reservations maker for date nights with my husband. I pore over menus, read reviews, and scroll through pictures taken by my fellow foodies. By the time we’re seated, I usually know more about the place than our server! Benjamin, on the other hand, doesn’t care much about food. He’s not opposed to eating a nice meal, but he’d just as soon eat tuna fish right out of the can. That’s not how I roll. My passion for food extends to the way I cook for and feed my family. Nothing pleases me more than creating a meal that looks and tastes amazing for the people I love most. If it was up to Benjamin, our kids would eat cereal. I used to try to persuade him to enjoy food and cooking as much as I do. While I realized that it’s my thing, not his. Though Asher and Levi have nearly identical genetic makeups, and though they’re growing up in the same environment, eating the same foods, and experiencing the same daily routines, they have such different personalities.