I LOVE having everyone together. The week days are always so busy with school, work, evening activities like ballet, karate, gymnastics, band, napping (just kidding {kinda})
But, oh my soul, come the weekends, we transform into "Guardians of the Galaxy" protective about sharing time outside the circle of family. Making any family work takes constant effort. Making a blended family work, takes a unique skill set that I've found to be both rewarding and maddening.
To my friends who stuck the landing on their one and only marriage - God bless you. For those of us who've fallen off the beam a time or two - God bless you too.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." ~ Jeremiah 29:11
When that old serpent tries to bring me down by suggesting I stop promoting post about family and second chances at a loving relationship because we're a blended family, I shut him down in Christ's name.
I'm not going to be quiet. I spent the majority of my life focused on career, and solving everyone else's problems while my own almost destroyed me. I'd surrendered at one point to the reality of living alone because I assumed I was too broken to be of any value to anyone else beyond wearing a badge.
But God has a great sense of humor and an impeccable timing. When He first whispered I'd marry; I laughed. There was no one in my life, so who in this world would marry me? He planted that seed a few years into the season of waiting so it would begin to bud into a full bloom desire once I met Leah.
God doesn't want us to fail. We fail because the sin we commit and refuse to confess, separates Him from us. It's in that state of being apart that consequences for our actions cause us to stumble. All we have to do is accept His free gift of salvation.
He's got a plan for our life, but it's up to us to claim the prize that He's already won. He's got great news in Jeremiah!!!
Do Good,