Take me somewhere warm, please
Jamie Ronning Photography
Who isn’t dreaming of a big jet plane to take them somewhere warm about now? Winter won’t quit. And I’m over wearing warm layers upon layers. In the northwest right now it feels like “never spring” 2017. I find myself entering online free sweepstakes for a vacation somewhere, anywhere just let it be warm.
When my babies where younger (3 under the age of 3 and a 3rd grader) I lived for vacation. The longing was die-hard. No dishes, no laundry, no constant clean up of messes. No Cheerios in the car seat to look at. No crayon on the walls. Yes, I did keep a container of paint and paint brush in my cleaning supplies for touch up on my children’s favorite canvas, the walls of our home.
At the first when our family would getaway nothing would start for me until I arrived, checked in, and settled. It was an endurance flight for me, along with all the other passengers. They looked terrified as we boarded the plane with 3 car seats and babies on the hip. Poor Justus had to haul one car seat through the entire airport because Jared and I were out of hands.
Upon arrival when the bouts of frustration set in as our luggage was lost it finally struck me.
Enjoy the process.
Dear God how? I began to look for connections on those flights, you know new friends or a fellow overloaded mom. And when Jared dropped Jonah and I off to pick up swimsuits at Old Navy I learned to enjoy that too. I bought them all American flag shorts ridiculously matching for Jared and his three sons. However it turned out a retired Veteran was staying at our hotel and he was blessed by our patriotism. When we left our camera in the rental car but made our flight home, I celebrated the memories shaped by experience rather than a photograph.
I began to see all the turns and shifting plans as part of a complicated beautiful story. A story God was writing without my permission. My meek and humble Savior began teaching me how different His plan can be from mine. Surrendering our desires for things to go a certain way is a REAL challenge. However I realized I was never going to enjoy a vacation if I didn’t start enjoying it, all of it.
Thank God I could say that I had truly enjoyed the journey, because if I had saved all my joy for the destination, I would have missed it. We are all so focused on getting “there,” but you have to be careful. Sometimes, I sense a lot of times, “there” ends up feeling different than you expected. Robin Roberts
So I encourage you, young mom, college student, twenty-something live with the aim to enjoy the story as it unfolds.
We may make a lot of plans, but the Lord will do what He has decided. Proverbs 19:21
Has anyone planted a vineyard and not begun to enjoy it? Let him go home, or he may die in battle and someone else enjoy it. Deuteronomy 20:6
But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity. Psalm 37:11
Photo collaboration with the ever adventurous Jamie Ronning who can be found on an island taking pictures and loving her family and at https://www.instagram.com/jronntakespictures/
