Margaret McSweeney's Blog, page 11

The Gas Pedal Test

Real life for me always means making minor adjustments. Sometimes they are adjustments we think about with great diligence. Other times they happen slowly, and we hardly notice them.

It reminds me of the conversation I had with my then-thirteen-year-old son, Nathan. I was driving down the road, and he started asking me about the foot pedals. He wanted to know about the one on the far right, and I told him that it wasn’t really a pedal, just a pad for resting my left foot, while the right one does all the work.

Then he asked if it was hard to adjust my speed.

“No, I’ve been driving for nearly twenty years . . . and I suppose it’s natural now. I do it without thinking. I think ‘slower’ or ‘faster’ as I read speed limit signs or take in the road conditions, but then my foot works without me really thinking about it.”

Then, I told him about the brake pedal. It works the same way; I’m used to the right amount of pressure to slow me down and bring my vehicle to a stop.

Aren’t we the same way in life? We read the signs, take in the conditions, and speed up or slow down. For example, if I notice one of my kids seems “disconnected,” I may suggest a lunch date. Or if an editor approaches me with a project, I may “speed up” my writing goals to fit it in. It’s part of our lives we don’t think about much often.

Coffee time, Prague

The problem comes, though, when we want things to speed up (such as publishing goals, potty training, and adoption paperwork) and it doesn’t. Or when we want things to slow down (such as dirty toilets, kids’ activities, and the ticking clock) and they refuse to comply.

Life, it seems, isn’t as easy to control as a gas pedal on a car.

I was thinking about all of this when I came upon two short verses in Acts: “Then [Paul] began preaching daily at the lecture hall of Tyrannus. This went on for the next two years, so that people throughout the province of Asia–both Jews and Greeks–heard the Lord’s message.” (Acts 19:9-10)

For two years, Paul preached DAILY. That must have been a big challenge. Did he come up with a new sermon every night? Did he feel stuck, wishing he could move to another place and wishing the people’s acceptance would “speed up” so he could move on?

Or maybe Paul wished things could slow down. That he could cut back to three days instead of seven. Did he lament that he didn’t have time to garden or bake like he used to? Or that he didn’t have a day when he could just kick back and do nothing?

I’m sure that both things could have occurred. Paul was human, after all. What we do know is that people throughout the province of Asia heard the Lord’s message.

So, today, what is God speaking to you? Keep the pedal study? Slow down? Speed up? Break? As you seek Him, I trust that You will know. And the more minor adjustments you make, heeding His voice and adjusting the gas pedal, the easier it becomes.

Almost like second nature.

Life isn't as easy to control as a gas pedal on a car! @triciagoyer @grit_grace
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How to be Happy, a Little More Every Day | Susan May Warren

Being a mother of grown children took me by surprise.  One minute, they were on my lap, giving me gooey kisses. The next, driving away, waving, smart, beautiful, capable adults.

I’ve already mentioned how I felt a little duped by the fact that if I grew them up to be responsible children . . . they’d leave me.

Unfair.

But it’s made me rethink the definition of happiness. Not that I didn’t understand it before, but I just never contemplated it.

I always looked out there for happiness. You know, beyond this moment of stress, or sickness, or fatigue, or housework, or dinner (really, why do we need to eat?), past the next deadline, or the next speaking engagement to a moment when…

What? I could stop? Breathe? Because in my life, those moments come far and few between.

And really, do I have to wait to be happy until then?

Me no think so. I’ve decided that “Happy” isn’t a destination, but an attitude.  A moment my moment realization of the good things.

Happy can be found as I stop to watch the sun rise. Or a moment when my daughter texts me just to say hi. Or even just, as I pull out frozen meat for dinner, that I have enough, for today. Enough food, enough warmth, and enough grace to make it through the day.  (Thank you, Lamentations 3:20!)

But I also think cultivating Happiness needs to be intentional. There are three disciplines that I’ve instituted to finding the happy in my daily life.

Daily Gratefulness.  I start each day by listing three things (different each day) for which I am grateful, and thanking the Lord for them.
Daily Kindness. I pick someone to bless with a word of encouragement every day . . . and in doing that, I am blessed.
Daily Psalm. I took this advice from my father, who told me years ago to start each day with a Psalm.  It’s made all the difference in aligning my heart toward happy each day.

I know life is so very busy, and the older I get, the more time seems to slip through my fingers.  I’m not going to wait for happiness, or let it slip through my fingers.

“Happy” isn’t a destination, but an attitude! @susanmaywarren @grit_grace
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More About Susan May Warren:

Susan May Warren is the bestselling, RITA Award–winning author of more than forty novels whose compelling plots and unforgettable characters have won acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. She served with her husband and four children as a missionary in Russia for eight years before she and her family returned home to the States. She now writes full-time as her husband runs a lodge on Lake Superior in northern Minnesota, where many of her books are set. She and her family enjoy hiking, canoeing, and being involved in their local church. Several of her critically acclaimed novels have been ECPA and CBA bestsellers, were chosen as Top Picks by Romantic Times, and have won the RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice contest and the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year award. Five of her books have been Christy Award finalists. In addition to her writing, Susan loves to teach and speak at women’s events about God’s amazing grace in our lives. She also runs a writing community for authors. Visit MyBookTherapy.com to learn more. For exciting updates on her new releases, previous books, and more, visit her website at www.susanmaywarren.com. 

New from Susan May Warren | It Had to Be You

A Christensen Family Novel.

Eden Christiansen never imagined her role as her younger brother Owen’s cheerleader would keep her on the sidelines of her own life. Sure, it feels good to be needed, but looking after the reckless NHL rookie leaves little time for Eden to focus on her own career. She dreamed of making a name for herself as a reporter, but is stuck writing obits—and starting to fear she doesn’t have the chops to land a major story. If only someone would step up to mentor Owen . . . but she knows better than to expect help from team veteran and bad-boy enforcer Jace Jacobsen.

Jace has built his career on the infamous reputation of his aggressive behavior—on and off the ice. Now at a crossroads about his future in hockey, that reputation has him trapped. And the guilt-trip he’s getting from Eden Christiansen isn’t making things any easier. But when Owen’s carelessness leads to a career-threatening injury and Eden stumbles upon a story that could be her big break, she and Jace are thrown together . . . and begin to wonder if they belong on the same team after all.

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Saturdays with Melissa

The phone rang too early on a Saturday morning. I rolled over in bed and groaned.

“This is your employee. When are you picking me up?”

I chided myself for feeling annoyed. Our friend, Melissa, helped at our video store on Saturdays. She dusted and organized shelves—and she loved popcorn! When I offered her the 50-cent bag, she expressed her gratitude as only Melissa could.

“I’d like the big bag, please.”

I scooped the corn into the grocery-size bag. Melissa closed her eyes and savored each bite. You’d think I’d given her the world.

Melissa had a brain injury at birth that left her a little slower and more child-like for her 30-something years. She longed to drive a car, have her own home, get married, and have children. Most of her dreams wouldn’t come true this side of heaven. I knew that—and I wanted to encourage her and be her friend. But sometimes, being with Melissa could be exhausting.

Lord, I have so many blessings. Please help me be a blessing for Melissa.

God answered my prayers in His unique ways. He showed me how my attitude needed to be refined. He taught me to recognize opportunities to love and be loved often come disguised as inconveniences. 

I began to offer those Saturdays with Melissa as a form of worship. I prayed for grace and strength and patience. My heart melted when I drove to pick her up. She could barely contain her enthusiasm for her “job” at the video store. She always brought sacks of gifts . . . samples of body moisturizer from the local Avon rep, powdered drink mixes, coupons, candy, and even recipes cut from boxes of mac and cheese. I couldn’t help but chuckle.

When it was time to go home, Melissa hugged me. “Thank you, Deb. Thank you sooo much for my paycheck. My husband Randy and I wanted to give her a little something for her work. In typical “Melissa style,” she tucked her check into her purse, then added, “Will I be getting a raise soon?”

I looked forward to our Saturdays together, especially when Melissa was diagnosed with breast cancer. She still insisted on coming to the video store. As time went on, she sat quietly in a chair watching movies. I reassured her that she was still a great employee.

Two short years later, after a valiant fight, Melissa was with her Lord and Savior. Sometimes when the phone rings on an early Saturday morning, I’ll think Melissa? Then I remember. God in His great mercy took her home where all of her dreams have been fulfilled.

I thought I was the one reaching out in love, but instead, I was the one most blessed because of Melissa.

Your kindness will reward you. Proverbs 11:17a (NLT)

Opportunities to love and be loved often come disguised as inconveniences @Grit_Grace @DebKalmbach
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Hope Hooks | Sharron K. Cosby

Hope. This word is tossed around in everyday conversations, like ping pong balls on a tournament table. Perhaps you’ve said something like:

I hope I get that new job.

Man, I hope I win the lottery. I could sure use the money!

I sure do hope I get a new car. I hate my old clunker.

I hope the weather’s good this weekend since we’re going to the beach.

As believers and followers of Christ, where do we place our hope and trust when troubles and temptations come our way? Do we place our hope in a Twelve Step group, a church, trendy books, best friends, the latest fashions? Or, do we hope as the Psalmist, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.” Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

At the ripe old age of three weeks, my parents took me to church, and I’ve been going ever since. They instilled in me a love for God and taught by example of His faithfulness.  Church and faith have played an integral role in my life.

As an adult, though, my childhood faith was tested when I realized our son’s experimentation with drugs and alcohol was no longer an experiment. At age sixteen, Josh entered his first treatment center and overdosed three months after discharge. From that point forward, my faith was stretched like a rubber band, sometimes to the breaking point. I feared the nightmare would end badly.

On October 8, 2009, around 2:30 a.m., my mind wouldn’t shut off playing its various what-if vignettes. What if Josh gets caught buying pills? What if he overdoses and no one finds him in time? What if he gets caught stealing? What if? What if? What if?

I dragged myself from bed and went into our living room to watch TV and saw my Bible on the couch. I picked it up instead of the remote and opened to Jeremiah 30. Prior to this night, my daughter-in-law posted on Facebook: “Restoration Promised. Jeremiah 30 and 31.” Miraculously, I recalled her post and decided to read the two chapters.

Imagine my surprise when I saw the chapter heading of Jeremiah 30: Restoration is promised. Reading became difficult through the blur of tears as I soaked up verse after verse that filled my heart with hope for the first time in years.

I found hope that morning as I read Jeremiah 31:15-17. A warm blanket of peace draped over my shoulders as God’s Word burrowed its way into my weary heart. Here’s what He told me that morning:

“A voice is heard in Ramah, Riverview, FL

Mourning and great weeping,

Sharron Rachel weeping for her children, Josh,

and refusing to be comforted,

because her children are no more.”

This is what the Lord says:

Sharron,“Restrain your voice from weeping

and your eyes from tears,

for your work will be rewarded,”

declares the Lord.

“They will return from the land of the enemy.

so there is hope for your future,

declares the Lord.”

I personalized the verses by inserting the city where I live, my name and Josh’s name. I prayed these verses back to God, expecting He would fulfill them.

These verses became my Hope Hook. A hope hook is a figurative way of saying you’re hanging a loved one or a concern on the hook of God’s promises and, in faith, anticipating the outcome.

I didn’t know when or how Josh would come back from the land of the enemy—addiction— just that he would. I placed my son on this Hope Hook and waited for God to do what He does best—restore and renew.

On February 18, 2010, Josh entered the Center of Hope in Sarasota. He has been clean and sober since that day. Josh and his beautiful wife remarried on December 15, 2013, three and a half years after their divorce. God is indeed faithful.

Hope is one of my favorite words because it reminds me of God’s unending care in my life. I anticipate that He will fulfill His promises and that instills confidence in the future.

Do you have a loved one you need to place on a Hope Hook? Are there situations in your life over which you have no control that can be hung up for God to handle? “The Lord is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.” Psalm 143:13b (NIV) Dig into His word, find your Hope Hook and place your concern on it. Wait patiently for the God of all hope to act on your behalf.

Blessings and hope for today.

Wait patiently for the God of all hope to act on your behalf @Grit_Grace @SharronCosby
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About Sharron K. Cosby:

Sharron Cosby is married to Dan, a Certified Addiction Professional, and together they have three adult children and five grandchildren. She works for an international charity by day and writes by night. Her passion is to share God’s message of hope, strength, and encouragement with families living in the shadow of addiction.

Learn more at erecoverychurch.com.

 

 

New from Sharron:

Watching someone you love self-destruct hurts.

Praying for Your Addicted Loved One: 90 in 90 tugs at the reader’s heart in 90 days of candid devotions aimed at offering strength, hope, and encouragement to families in the throes of living with an addicted family member. Families get left behind in the recovery process, but their support is crucial. Realizing you are not alone in your family’s struggles brings comfort and confidence to face day-by-day challenges. Reflection prompts and spaces for journaling encourage the reader to pen their thoughts on the verses and devotions. Each day’s entry ends with a prayer.

 

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A Blessed Blessing

“Dear Jesus, Thank you for LIFE!”

I am still reflecting on this blessing pronounced over our family dinner. Our 4-year-old grandson Jude asked if he could pray for my made-from-scratch-spaghetti-and-meatballs that I had lovingly prepared for our table of six. We were astonished when he confidently announced these few words with such profundity!

Momma, Daddy, Grammy, and Grampy: our faces lit up like fireflies around the table. Even little Isaac, just two years old, was wide-eyed with wonder. Our mouths poured forth praise for this perfect prayer. Yet, before we even responded, Jude seemed totally aware that his prayer was a special one. His face was bright, his eyes shining, as though he was about to deliver the most precious gift.

“Well, that pretty much covers it all!” I recall one of us responding.

Which leaves me wondering: How often do we truly appreciate and acknowledge the simplest, yet most profound gift that God has given? I know how easy it is to grumble and complain when life isn’t going the way we expected. When death creeps in our door, we feel cheated because a loved one is lost. But how often do we celebrate all our yesterdays, and our tomorrows? How often do we simply praise and thank God for LIFE–no matter what that looks like for us–TODAY?

“For God So loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

LIFE! That pretty much says it all!

Abba Father,

Thank you for this gift of Jesus. His birth, His death, both intent on one purpose: to give us LIFE!

Forgive us for taking LIFE for granted. Forgive us for being unsatisfied with our lives, for coveting the lives of others. No matter what comes our way, we pray that you will continually remind us that LIFE itself is a precious gift that was given to us at the expense of the death of Jesus Christ.

We praise you for the gift of LIFE here and LIFE everlasting. We appreciate the sacrifice you made so that we could truly live! We can’t imagine living life without you, d ear Jesus. Thank you for LIFE!

Amen.

How often do we simply praise & thank God for LIFE? @Cindy Stiverson @Grit_Grace
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She Who Lives A Blessed Life

 

She is the stunning woman on the street who walks in perfect stride with fine clothing shaping her thin silhouette. People stop to look and imagine what it would be like to be her. They imagine what it would be like to be blessed. Certainly she doesn’t have the problems they do as she is far too beautiful and wealthy. However, what looks like a blessed life on the outside may be hiding insecurities, strife, or pain on the inside. Just because something comes in a beautiful package doesn’t mean that what is found inside is pretty.

As they say, the grass is always greener on the other side. The problem is that you really don’t know what someone else is going through. You don’t know the day, week, or years that they have been living. You make assumptions based on what you see on the outside when you have no idea what is going on inside.

This past week I was lucky enough to spend some time in a lovely London spa. It was a place where many might say that the grass is very green for all within its walls. As I sat in the steam room, I noticed some beautiful women next to me. They were talking about their weekends in the Swiss Alps and their busy schedules of manicures and lunch meetings. You would expect them to be happy as they are seemingly blessed with both beauty and wealth. However, as their conversations continued, they began to complain about nuisances in their lives and they sounded very unhappy. One woman complained to the other that she wasn’t sure how she was going to get all of her luggage to Switzerland. The other went on about how annoyed she was that she couldn’t get into her hair stylist. I smirked thinking that they sounded ridiculous and honestly, they did. I wonder how often I have sounded this way. What ridiculous things do I complain about lately?

Too much money equals problems just as too little can. The women in the spa, with all of their material wealth, were seemingly slaves to it. They didn’t have the care-free spirit of someone who is full of joy. Instead they seemed competitive with one another and just pain unhappy. As I have heard before, “You don’t own material items, they own you.” I love this saying and I find such truth in it. I am a huge believer that wealth can often be more of a hindarance than a blessing. I have met beautiful and wealthy individuals who are lonely and upset. They feel used and have a hard time feeling wanted for who they truly are instead of what they offer.

We all have our own problems and we also all  have our blessings. Some are just harder to see than others. I urge you to keep a journal and every day write down at least one blessing in your life. It  is an exercise that will likely surprise you and encourage you all the more as you find the grass to be plenty green where you stand.

Too much money equals problems just as too little can! @Grit_Grace @swauterlek
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OUR “WILD KINGDOM” ADVENTURE | Joyce K. Ellis

Martha gets lost easily. That’s a characteristic I know all too well. But whenever Martha’s young children asked her why it was taking so long to get to their destination, she replied, “Oh, we’re just having an adventure.” They soon caught on. Whenever the kids suspected she didn’t have a clue where she was going, they asked, “Are we on an adventure, Mom?”

Personally, I’ve just returned from a three-week missions “adventure” in Central America, and I’m all the more convinced that we, as women, can become confident adventurers, wherever we are, following His path in His kingdom—a sure purpose that pulls together all our roles into one meaningful whole.

One of my favorite restaurants is Rainforest Cafe. Designed to look like a tropical rainforest, the restaurant features huge gnarly trees, a customer-misting waterfall with accompanying rainbow, and live macaws and cockatoos. Exotic tropical fish frolic in the aquarium arch entryway, and stuffed gorillas beat their chests while emitting masculine grunts. Every few minutes the lights flicker, and cracks of thunder challenge conversation.

When they first opened here in Minneapolis at the Mall of America, a host assigned your group a name, such as the Rhinoceros party or the Ocelot party. When your table was ready, the host would call out something like this: “Ocelot party of five, your adventure is about to begin.”

In a way, that’s how I would characterize my journey with Christ. It’s as though the day I put my faith in Him, all the heavenly hosts called out, “Joyce, party of one (someday party of five), your adventure is about to begin.” What an adventure it has been!

Have you ever seen safari adventurers with their khaki shirts and shorts and that essential matching headgear, the sturdy pith helmet? I often teased my dad about the one he brought home after World War II—from all the heavy fighting he did—in Southern Missouri!

But consider the pith helmet’s advantages: First, it creates your own personal shade. And, second, it protects you from the elements, underbrush, enemy fire, and maybe even the swipe of a ferocious predator’s paw.

When we commit ourselves to following God’s ways, we not only begin an adventure, we enter red-hot battle zones—battles on the home front, battles in the office, battles in the schools, and battles in the community. But God offers us heavy-duty armor, including the (pith) helmet of salvation (Ephesians 6:10-17). With this hat snugly fitted, we can take the heat of all our responsibilities more confidently.

God promises. “The Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you…. he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121:5–8, emphasis mine).

In all our rushing around—coming and going—the Lord has promised to stay right with us, sheltering us from anything we can’t handle and equipping us to deal with the things we only think we can’t handle. (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.)

Then, as a pith helmet protects adventurers from surrounding dangers, God’s helmet of salvation protects our minds. As we trek through our earthly adventure with Him, we need to watch out for attacks from a fierce natural enemy named Satan, who paces back and forth looking for someone he can have for dinner (1 Peter 5:8).

My grandfather used to say, “I steadily refuse to gratify the devil by being discouraged.” What a great perspective! Two of the most vulnerable areas to the Enemy’s attacks are our minds and our emotional makeup. That’s why certainty of our relationship with God and a good knowledge of His Word are so important.

When our minds become confused by difficulties we don’t understand or when emotions fly out of control (whether from overwhelming circumstances or a PMS attack), we can remind ourselves of the tremendous inheritance we enjoy already because we are trusting in Christ.

It’s a jungle out there—it’s true. And perhaps your “wild kingdom adventure” includes befriending the woman who works in the next cubicle. Maybe it’s the neighbor who needs a bag of groceries to “tide her over.” Perhaps it’s the little “fish” who swim in your bathtub on Saturday night. “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed,” Paul writes, “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17).

Knowing He is with us no matter where we go and what problems we face, we can commit ourselves to enjoying life’s adventure, confident there’s no challenge we can’t handle with Christ by our side.

To be God’s adventurer, we don’t have to do “great things” for God. But God can use anything we do for Him in great ways.

*Parts of this blog are taken from my book The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman. All Scripture quotations are from the NIV.

God can use anything we do for Him in great ways! Joyce K. Ellis @Grit_Grace
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About Joyce:

Joyce K. Ellis, award-winning author of more than a dozen books, speaks for women’s groups and retreats across the country and internationally. She and her husband enjoy reading by lakes and rivers and oceans, and spending time with their grown children and delightful, too-quickly-growing grandchildren. They live in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

 

 

New from Joyce:

Strength for Today’s Demanding Roles

In The 500 Hats of a Modern-Day Woman you’ll find strength, purpose, and perspective to balance your many roles—and gain insight into the roles of women around you. With honesty, humor, and practicality, Joyce Ellis helps you see how your roles can fit together to make a difference in your world. Questions for reflection or discussion at the end of each chapter make this book suitable for book clubs and small-group Bible studies as well.

 

 

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What Do You Do With A Blessing?

I’m a list person. Lists are a must. How else will I keep up with what I need to do? In reflecting on how I always need to record my “to dos”, I thought, “What do you do with a blessing?” I know it’s a crazy question, but that’s the way my mind works sometimes. After a while I thought of these eight actions as a blessing “to do” list.

Be thankful

You have been given a gift. Sometimes it is unexpected and others, it was anticipated. But either way it is something to be thankful for.

Lament no more

Are any of you like me when it comes to those blessings you prayed for? Sometimes after I get it, I keep looking back on how long I waited, how difficult it was, or how my faith wasn’t as strong as I had hoped it would be. Lamenting instead of focusing on the blessing is craziness. Let it go. Lament no more.

Enjoy it

I know this seems like a “duh” kind of thing, but it isn’t. It’s not that hard to get caught up in worrying about the next thing or just saying a quick thanks and getting caught up in day to day life. But really, stop and enjoy it. No matter haw many blessings we get or how often, they are all special and need to be fully enjoyed and appreciated.

Share it with others

It encourages others when we share the good things that happen to us. If it is a response to prayer, it gives them hope for their own prayers. Even better, it allows them to rejoice with us. That’s good for everyone.

Strengthen your faith

Were you surprised at your good fortune? Had you been asking for a turn of events? Either way, when the blessing comes, use it to strengthen your faith. If you prayed and patiently waited, now you have a trust experience to draw upon. What if you struggled through it not so nicely? Then you can reflect on your learning patience and trust lesson. If it came as a surprise, now you know God has the power to bless in ways you’d never imagine. All are good reference points and strengthen your faith.

Ink to Paper

It’s easy to forget all the many things that occur in a day, a week, a year. When you are having a hard time or a rough spot, it’s nice to be able to look back and see all the good that has happened. One way to do that is to write it down. Keep a blessings journal. Even if all you do is record a date and a brief description of the blessings you received, it will speak volumes more to you later. Trust me, you will cherish those memories that help you remember God is good and faithful.

New perspective

I’d be remiss to not say that some blessings come in ugly packages. It’s good to get a new perspective on some of the ugly in our lives. Some events are actually blessings, though they can feel like anything but that. Think about what good can come from the situation. Or start keeping track of how God sees you through it. Ugly “wrappers” shouldn’t discredit the contents of the package.

Give God praise

God is the giver of all blessings so we should praise Him for it. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17 NIV)

What do you do with a blessing?

What do you do with a blessing? @RaleighGirl @Grit_Grace
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Nothing Wasted: Even God Knows How to Pick a Chicken

Growing up, my mom used to bake a whole chicken at least once every week. I guess you could get a whole chicken pretty cheap, and our family was pretty big. A six-pound chicken could feed a lot of people. I always thought a plump little chicken was kind of cute–sort of like a newborn baby, but kind of creepy without a head. And definitely gross. Back then, I wouldn’t have been caught dead handling a raw chicken. But my mom made an actual sport of it. She could be quite rough–spraying it inside and out with the hose from the sink and yanking out the innards. With both hands, she rubbed it all over with butter and then just sprinkled the top with a little salt and pepper. Nothing fancy, and always served with a side of mashed potatoes and peas. You had to stir those two things together and eat them with a spoon.

But what I remember most about that dinner was that she cooked all the inside stuff from the chicken, too–the gizzard and the liver and anything else that was stuck inside. My brothers actually used to fight over who got to eat those parts. Then, after she sliced up everything, she would drain off the liquid left in the bottom of the baking dish–the chicken stock. That part would either get turned into gravy for the mashed potatoes or Mom would save it and make some kind of soup. After we had all eaten as much as we wanted, my mother would sit at the table and pick the leftover chicken from the bones. If she was lucky, my dad would do it for her. I guess she had had enough of the chicken by that point.

Nothing wasted.

I recently attended a conference with a lot of other social entrepreneurs. We spent an intense three days together. One of the exercises we did was to identify three challenges in our life, the choices that resulted, and the values we learned.

Here is what I discovered:  

There are lots of things I can do, but only some things I am made to do. (Even though I like chicken, I’ll never be able to pick a chicken as clean as my mom.)


Perspective matters. If I’m always looking for the potential in the problem, I’ll discover a world of possibility.  


All the work I’ve ever done has not been in vain. God can (and will) use it. Nothing wasted.

The exercise was important because it really helped me crystallize what is important to me.

Of the three, I latched on hardest to Nothing wasted.

At this working conference, I labored among visionaries from a wide variety of fields of expertise. Everyone there understood the blood, sweat, and tears necessary for building a great brand. As one of the oldest in the room, I could have easily felt intimidated by the sharp-witted, twenty-somethings embarking on adventures to change the world—young women who have started successful businesses from scratch, others who had been on mission trips and been broken by what they experienced, all of them dreamy—like me.

But unlike me, I felt like God had given them a skill set they were using with more depth and dexterity than anything I had ever attempted. They rallied friends and family to begin nonprofits that bring both awareness and funds to worthy causes. They launched websites and built platforms with enormous reach. They cultivated communities of radical compassion.

I was awestruck.

At their age, I was just trying to decide what I was going to do on the weekend. I felt like a superstar if I went for a hike rather than to the mall.

I had to remember that I, too, am uniquely created for something. And in God’s great kitchen in the sky, nothing is ever wasted.

God is good—all the time.

It’s one of those overused phrases of Christian-ese. I hear people say it when they’ve prayed for a miracle and God answers favorably. I rarely hear it said on the heels of sadness, loss, and pain. Yet if we believe it’s true—that God really is good all the time—how would it change both the way we view our past and our future?

When I’m thankful for what God has done, it gives me the courage to look forward to my future.

When I’m thankful for how he has used people to do amazing things, I have confidence to partner with others who want to serve him.

When I’m thankful for why God brought me to place, I regard the days I have left with the stewardship they deserve.

When I’m thankful for where I am—at the particular moment in history, in this particular part of the world—I am compelled to act in accordance with the resources I’m allocated.

When I’m thankful for who God is, I am aware of who I am not. And thank the Lord that he directs my path.

All I have to do is think of my mom working in her tiny kitchen to feed her big family. The chicken might not have been pretty, but it was delicious. We ate it.

Nothing wasted.

Your work is not in vain. God doesn't waste anything. @chanlynnadams @Grit_Grace
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