Corner Time...

I've been a bit quiet this summer on my blog, but not for lack of things to talk about, but more for lack of  adequate words to express what our family has gone through.  July 2015 was a month filled with lots of heartache and transitions for our family. We've cried and prayed and grieved more than almost any other time in our lives. However, we have also chosen to trust in our Heavenly Father, knowing He's seen every tear that has fallen, heard every prayer that has been uttered, and held us with His perfect strength as we've walked a very difficult road.  I've seen my husband (my music minister) and my dear friends (my pastor and his family) be treated in a way that none has deserved, but I've also witnessed them rise up to show the integrity they have. Their love for the Lord and their desire to please Him has been evident in not only their actions but also in their reactions. August 2nd was both of our families' last day serving at our church, and we now embark upon a new journey of transitioning to what God has for our families next. It is scary, it is sad, and it is stressful, but it is also an opportunity to trust our God in a new way as we eagerly anticipate what He has in store for us.

In an effort to get some much-needed rest and relaxation and time to regroup, our pastor's family decided to take a beach vacation a few weeks ago, and they graciously invited us along with them. What an amazing week it was! The house they rented was right on the beach, so we literally would walk out the front door to this amazing view:

 
The skies were blue and sunny, the wind was cool and breezy, and the company was healing to our weary souls. Traveling with small children can often be anything but relaxing, and we certainly experienced some "moments" with exhausted and over-stimulated kiddos, but for the most part, the week was so very refreshing, which is exactly what we were all hoping for.
 And while getting to sit on a quiet deck with the waves crashing in front of me and the fresh air blowing in my face proved to be an amazing spot for my morning quiet time, and taking morning jogs along the beautiful shoreline was an incredible time of worship, I think it's what God taught me through my children that week that has stuck out to me the most...

If you're a parent of small children, I'm sure you're very familiar with time-outs. Dealing with two 7 year olds, one 4 year old, one 3 year old, and one 15 month old this week,
 time-outs have been a regular part of our vacation agenda!  But what is the purpose of a time out? We most often use them as opportunities for our kids to reflect on the decisions that they've made, to take a deep breath and get a grasp on the reality of the situation we're dealing with, and to realize how they can choose to respond differently in the future.  
Typically, a "time-out" is a form of punishment, but I realized this past week that time-outs can also be a form of healing. Our beach vacation was exactly that: a time out. A break from our usual routine, a time of separation from our "world" to be able to reflect on the past and properly assess the future, and the ability to just step away and breathe without all of the daily "noise" we so often deal with.
Let me tell you, friends, that when your soul is weary and your emotions are raw, there is something powerful about taking a time-out! Instead of sticking my head in a corner, I pushed myself out the front door to gorgeous runs on the beach,

 and instead of sulking at the table, I found myself soaking in the refreshing sea air,

and instead of feeling beaten down by the cruel actions of others, I felt the powerful waves crash against me and carry me safely to the shore.

 No, we can't run away from reality, but sometimes, we can keep it at a standstill for a little while.  The hurt was still there when we came home, the consequences from the actions of others was still found, and the uncertainty of our future continued to await us, but for a few days, we were able to gain some perspective that only distance could grant...a time to reflect, a time to heal, a time to "selah" (pause and reflect) as the psalmist so often wrote.  Sometimes, you just need to get away. Sometimes, you just need a time-out, and I'm so thankful for one with dear brothers and sisters in Christ, traveling on this same journey through the unknown "corners" of this life...