If you have recently called me and I haven’t returned your call, forgive me. I often feel like the woman in the above cartoon (and its cynicism is not lost on me). So in the spirit of unreturned calls, I’ll say that I only have a few minutes to write…to tell you that I have no time to write! Life frequently feels like someone is holding their finger down on the fast forward button. I rush to and from preschool, to my Biblical Marriage class, next door to work on some interior design issues, and then on to teaching Introduction to Psychology. It is frenetic and fun but sometimes time consuming and tiring!
- MARRIAGE What couple in the Bible would be a great example of a “biblical marriage”? Adam & Eve? Abraham & Sarah? David & Bathsheba??? How much of what we deem “biblical” about marriage is really biblical? How much of it is forced from our own socio-cultural ideals? Much of what we’re currently discussing in my Biblical Marriage class is not new information. It is the same message I have heard since birth. But the reality of the message is that it doesn’t easily fit my own marriage. Matt possesses so many more of the “feminine” qualities, and I possess many of the “masculine” qualities. I certainly acknowledge that God created male and female unique and in a way that reflects the beauty of His own image. But our temperaments and our culture do not make the interpretation easy. For example, today we reviewed “Top Things Men Fear and Need” and I could identify strongly with each and every one. We also hear that “men’s greatest need is to be respected and women’s greatest need is to be loved”; Ephesians 5 is typically used as the basis for this claim. But how do we really separate love from respect? They are so interdependent. I’ll complete my thoughts on this in another entry sometime in the near future….hopefully!
- KIDS Asher has been incredibly “off” lately, and I would love your prayers. He has been moody and anxious with frequent tantrums and few coping skills. He seems to enjoy preschool, but I am beginning to wonder if it is just too much for him. I was ready to pull the plug on the whole deal, but Matt disagreed. Matt reminded me that Asher seems to go through waves of ups-and-downs and we are currently experiencing a long stretch of downs. Having children with special needs and special diets is draining. It’s not something I often talk about because it is our normal. Every parent questions themselves and is in a constant state of evaluating decisions, but kiddos with special needs put this natural tendency into hyper-drive (i.e. Could Asher be reacting to the milk he drank? Did we give him his fish oil today? Could he be acting out from the animal video he watched? Is he sleeping okay at night? Is there too much sensory stimulation in his environment at preschool?). Please pray for Asher as he deals with a brain that processes information differently from us neuro-typicals. Please pray for me as I try to have patience and unconditional love as we navigate his challenges.
- LIFE Most of you know that Matt has yet to complete his dissertation and this places a barrier to receiving most jobs in higher education. Most of you also know that Matt’s job at Messiah is not completely funded by the college. He is required to raise a large percentage of his income (like a missionary). In spite of many generous donations from many of you, support raising was not going well last year. So this year Matt took on an adjunct teaching position, in addition to his full-time job, in order to make ends meet. We are making it work but it comes at a cost. Matt is very tired much of the time and puts in 12-15 hour days. Of course the Lord, in His awesome provision, also provided my adjunct position (which nicely covers our recent and unexpected $300/mth tax increase). Everyone is facing financial fears right now and we are no exception. Matt’s position is not stable and our future is uncertain. I’m not worried, that has never gotten me anywhere in the past. But it is an added burden to an already heavy load. Again…prayers wanted!
Okay, off to Messiah to give some nervous students their test! Blog more later.
Melanie S says
I’m so sorry I’ve been missing in action lately. My mom has been in town helping me get ready to move, and it’s been, you know how it is. It sounds like your life has been crazy too! I hope that you are doing well, and you will be in my prayers. All of you. Love you!!