The Truth Will Set You Free!

Gospel Reading today John 16:12-15
"When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth." John 16:13

Oh, so much to say, so little time! Truth. How many of us truly yearn and search for the truth in our lives? How many of us have close friends who speak the truth? They are few and far between. I have been blessed with a wonderful friend for the past 3 years. She has six children and is truly the most holy woman that I know. She gives her life, literally, to her family. She is so devoted to Christ and lives to please Him, and Him alone. She is not only a dear friend, but a spiritual mentor. We couldn't be more opposite. She lives a very quiet life, doesn't turn to wine when she needs to take a "load off" and her phone hardly ever rings. I, on the other hand, like to be out and about, meet new people, one of my most favorite things is pouring a big glass of Sauvingnon Blanc, and I can be plain nutty and crazy from time to time! We are truly opposites but take the good from each other and implement it into our own lives. She helps me to quieten my life when it starts to get too crazy. She helps to redirect me when I start to get overwhelmed by too much volunteering at the church. She gives me tips on how to tame my very spirited children. (and i wonder where they get their spirit?!).

Yesterday, I stopped by her house, for my little weekly nourishment and asked her about my middle child wanting to wear a sassy swimsuit everyday and is that a problem? The last thing I want to do is promote promiscuity. She thought the swimsuit thing was fine and just a phase however she thought she should tell me something else. A couple of weeks ago her three year old daughter came over to our house for several hours to hang out with us and play. She went on to tell me for a week solid after that, AM was constantly whining and asking for things over and over while E was in the process of getting what she was asking for. She said it took them a week to get AM back to herself. Wow, talk about hearing something you don't want to hear! Taking a big breath and realizing your three year old daughter was a bad influence on another! But, I knew the moment she was telling me this, she was speaking the truth. I tend to get too distracted and let my middle one behave in such a way. I ignore the whines and tend to tune out alot. This is a problem that needs to be addressed and thanks to my truthful friend bringing it to my attention, I am eager and ready to nip this one in the bud.

So ofcourse all day yesterday I was bothered and then lashed out at my four year old son because his scream when he doesn't get a lego put on perfectly is the most annoying thing in the world. It presses a button of mine like no other. I yelled a very profane word (not the "S" word either...a word so horrible that it makes me feel better at the moment but so very terrible afterwards) in front of my 3 year old daughter and then wanted to go crawl in a whole. I beat myself up all day and went on a walk before dinner. I kept asking myself, "who says this word in front of their children?" I felt the Lord told me that none of us are perfect and to not be so hard on myself. And then, God gave me a great gift last night after dinner. I turned on my Johnny Cash Pandora (which by the way plays the best songs!)and sang from the top of my lungs while dancing at the kitchen sink doing dishes. A spark ignited and I heard a whisper in my heart...."see, Kim, this is the person that I created....Not, a quiet and perfectly well manored child, but one with spirit and a fiesty soul". I came back to myself last night at the kitchen sink and was reminded to not take life so dang seriously! To not be so hard on myself and to remember that some people, like my dear friend, will raise very quietly well mannered children because that is who she and her husband are and some will raise more spirited and onry children because that is who Clint and I are. I took a deep breath and felt like a load had been lifted.

So my point is this morning, truth will truly set you free. My dear friend spoke the truth to me yesterday and as hard as it was to hear I am so grateful. Starting today, we are going to work on this behavior problem. She has opened my eyes to ridding myself of distractions that keep me from giving my all to my family. The truth the Lord placed on my heart yesterday evening that He created us all very differently and we are not to change our core being. And also, that none of us are perfect and to remember to be light hearted and to not take life so seriously. I was also taught the lesson yesterday that we are to have friends who are truthful and we are to help each other raise disciples for Christ. I need her help just as much as maybe she needs my help from time to time, bringing different things to each other's attention.

Blessings to you all this Wednesday!