Hot Water

Somewhere between learning to walk and graduating High school, we create a set of expectations. 

As 4 and 5 year olds, we are asked, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" - and we start expecting.

As 6-9 year olds,  we play with Barbies  and toys that help us pretend to be in our adult life. Barbie meets Ken and they have a sweet convertible. Wait?! They got a travel camper too?!  We get baby dolls and play house for hours. - and we start expecting.

As 10-14 year olds, we hear, "You can change the world!" -and we start expecting.

As 15-18 year olds, we start to make steps to achieve the adult life we have always expected. Making good grades, playing sports and doing community service are all part of the plan to get us to a future place. - and we start expecting. 

As college students, you move in, blink and then it's over.  Now we're ready for all our expectations to be fulfilled. 

We are ready for our expected career, expected spouse, expected house and expected kids. 

But what happens when it isn't what we expected? 

In exactly one week, I will turn 28. 

Naturally, birthdays get you thinking about your past and your future. 

While I was washing my hair this morning, I kept thinking, "When I was a kid, I thought I would be a mommy by 28."  This part of my life is not what I expected. It didn't look like this in my head.

Then I heard from the Wonderful Counselor, "think of the expectations The Lord has fulfilled. Your dream job, in which you change the world one child at a time. Your dream Husband, even though he doesn't have the red convertible, looks pretty nice in a 04 Toyota Avalon. Your precious home, that God provided at just the right time. At the least, be grateful for the hot water hitting your face right now. You have so much to be grateful for, even if it's just hot water." 

Sometimes we are cheated by our own expectations. Sometimes I think we expect them as a whole and aren't happy if they are independent of each other.  

Which made me think, my expectations are a luxury.  

There are so many people around the world who don't expect these dreams but they pray to survive. They pray to have clean water, they pray to have enough food and they pray to keep their children safe. 

And all the while- they are grateful. 

So to answer the question above, what happens when it isn't what we expected? 

Be grateful even if it's just for hot water. 

Dear Lord Jesus, Mother's Day and Lucille

When I lived in Miami, I went to church with a saintly woman. Her name is Mrs. Lucille Patrick.  Lucille would greet me every Sunday morning with a hug and say, "Bless you, my darling" in her sweet Jamaican accent.  When I was in high school, she would give me a Bible track with $20 hidden in it and smile.  My Father and I presented her with a new Bible one year after hers was tattered and torn, 10 years later she is still using the Bible we gave her.   My high school years had some bumps but she was always there every Sunday with a smile and a hug. She would pray over me often in the midst of our hugs.

Through the years I haven't kept up with her as I should have, but she has kept up with me.  She has my picture in her house. My mother was visiting her a few weeks ago and Lucille said she has been praying for us to have a child in our home for a year. Lucille is 86 and told my mom that she was only still on the Earth to pray for other people.  A few days after that she wrote a letter to the Lord on our behalf and sent it to my mom for me.  Above is the letter. Here is what she prayed:

Dear Lord Jesus, 
I come boldly to you, seeking your face for Melissa your daughter. Asking you Lord to intercede for Melissa having a baby. Lord, we don't have the answers for that but you do. So we asked for your divine touch upon Melissa that she would have a baby so her and her husband will be happy together. We thank you Lord and we call it done for Melissa and her husband. 
     From your daughter Lucille, Interceding for your daughter Melissa. 

I will treasure that letter as long as I live.

On friday,  sweet Lucille's son was found murdered in his home. He was a Miami Police Office for 25 years and had served tours in Afghanistan. He loved Lucille dearly. He would grocery shop for her and take her to all her doctor's appointments. Every Mother's Day, he would bring her a dozen roses. This was a family tradition for them.  

Yesterday typically would have been a day where I was focused on what I didn't have. All I could focus on was my prayers for Lucille.

It was my turn to intercede for her.  

Would you take a moment and intercede for her as well? Pray that God is near to her in this time. Pray that they find answers to this horrible situation.

Dear Lord Jesus, 
I come boldly to you, seeking your face for Lucille your daughter. Asking you Lord to bring her peace. Lord, we don't have the answers but you do. So we asked for your divine presence to be with Lucille so that she can rest in you.  We thank you Lord for Lucille. We know that you are near to the broken-hearted. 
From your daughter Melissa, Interceding for your daughter Lucille.