God in the Mundane.

I get out syringes, two bottles, tubing extension and the morning medications.

Like clockwork, I prepare all the things that keep the girls as comfortable as possible throughout the day.

I could do it blindfolded.

I vent each of their bellies, feeling content if I am able to get a good bit of gas out; feeling concerned if the color of their stomach contents seems to contain any sign of illness.

After feeding the girls and keeping them upright for some time, we get dressed and ready for whatever the day holds.

Sometimes, we have several therapy appointments.

Usually, a doctor’s appointment is thrown in every week.

An exciting day includes a walk with a friend or errands out and about.

“How old are they?”

“It’s about time for a nap, momma. They are almost asleep!”

“Are they identical?”

“They are so good just to sit there.”

Each night, after Hugh gets home and we feed the girls dinner, the sleep battle begins. A good night means sleep comes within the first thirty minutes; a bad night makes for an hour or so of restless tossing and turning and stair running and pacifier giving, with the occasional random vomiting thrown in. Once they finally settle down to sleep, I will stare diligently at the monitor for an hour or so until one of the girls begins to have a seizure. Hugh or myself will quickly make our way to their room, sit beside her bed and let her know we are there until her brain begins to fire normally again. She will smile and fall asleep once again. Hugh and I will spend a few minutes reading, watching t.v., or playing cards; then we will lay down and hope that we are able to sleep for a few consecutive hours.

Tomorrow will begin the same way as today, unless sickness or seizure or a new something rears its head.

“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think…to Him be the glory.”- Ephesians 3:20

We all have those defining moments in our lives. The things that bring trial and suffering or big joys and celebrations. Yet, most of our lives are spent in these middle times, in the mundane. Each one of us has a day-to-day that looks a little different; yet I would say that while we crave a sense of routine, we also despise it a bit. We feel we are meant for more in the moments that feel so plain. We desire for our hearts and lives to be set afire with passion and adventure; yet the reality of responsibility and “normal” living meets us each morning.

“For to this end (godliness) we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God.”- 1 Timothy 4:10

“But godliness with contentment is great gain.”- 1 Timothy 6:6

God is teaching me the beauty of the little moments. We have heard it said by many that we will find ourselves looking back on our lives and realize the small things were the big things. Most particularly when our minds are busy with all the tasks of the day, with the to-do lists, I think the key to contentment is seeing God in those very moments. The truth is, most of us live most of our days in the middle. What I mean is, in between the life-changing, life-breaking events, most of our days are full of the little things. Our minds can race and churn with the busyness of whatever is in front of us until a big thing happens to stop us in our tracks; yet what joy is found when we make the thing in front of us, the person in front of us, the most important thing. God does not desire for you to wait for a crisis to come to realize the importance of a moment; He yearns for you to see the moment’s importance, now. Our God is a God invested in each and every detail. Look at creation. It doesn’t take long in an aquarium or zoo (or, gasp, simply exploring the great outdoors) to realize that He was intricately involved in each and every part of each and every creature. So many different types of birds and flowers and trees; each serving its own purpose that only our Creator knows in full. So many different people knit together in millions of ways. It’s always amazing to me that out of thousands of years, no two human (even identical twins I will point out!) have ever looked exactly the same. If you have breath in your lungs, the very moment in front of you matters and has eternal significance. When we begin to live in light of this truth, the mundane doesn’t feel so mundane anymore. As a Christ-follower, I confess that it is easier for me to see God in the big things. Yet, is He not equally present in one drop of rain or one flake of snow as He is in the storms and blizzards? So it is with us. Friends, this weekend, may we fixate on whatever He has before us. May we not look the the week ahead or even the hour ahead. True joy is found in seeing I Am right here, right now.

“From the ends of the earth will I cry unto Thee; when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”- Psalm 61:2

Oh, might we see that the Rock is in this very moment. He hems in behind and before so that we can embrace whatever He has for us, today, in this small yet meaningful bit of eternity. When we know the God of the universe is living and active and present, we are able to find adventure in each and every bit of the time He has given us on this spinning planet. All is grace. All glory and honor and power and joy to Him now and forevermore.

He is here, beloved. Oh, might we pray for eyes to see.