The kids spent most of the day between our house and their friend's houses. Several of the kids came in at different times and asked "where is everybody?" There were at least four people in the room, but that wasn't enough. They are used to having a crowd around everywhere we go. BK spent the night at a friend's house and hadn't heard that Mads' medley team broke the school record yesterday. We were driving home from the store and she asked me how Mads did at the meet. I told her the big news, and I could tell she was disappointed that she missed it. Her best friend met a goal and she wasn't there to give her a high five. The funny thing is the other three girls on the team are sisters. Maybe in a few years it will be our girls running a relay together.
It's been a good week. Lots of activity, lots of celebrating, and still a few tears. Jubilee told me some stories from her past that broke my heart. I cried, and she consoled me. It isn't okay for her to have seen the things she has seen. It isn't okay that she has not had someone there to comfort and protect her. I see her depression and I feel so helpless to comfort her. Thank God she responds to prayer. When I find myself frustrated, and see her pulling away, I can come to Jesus with her. We will find her help, and God will heal her, but today it is heartbreaking. She has moments of joy too, it isn't all gloomy. She is making friends and seeing that life may hold something for her.
Life is very full these days. Lots of people need lots of attention, and I still feel inadequate for the task. I am inadequate for the task, but I live by faith not by sight. I'm not in this alone, all of those people around my table are in it with me. They need help, but they also provide help. We pray together, sing together, do homework together and cheer each other on. It is loud sometimes, and disorderly almost always, but it is all very good.
1 comment:
Signe- just wanted you to know the crazy dinner table days will pass. I remember when I dreaded dinner because it was a constant stream of "one bite at a time," "elbows off the table" and (most common in the Littlejohn household) "don't talk with your mouth full!" Some things that helped: "the manners police" and the "talking stick" ( I'll fill you in later) and one day I suddenly realized that we could actually have a reasonably civilized meal- though it is still painful to watch Emily eat spaghetti :-)
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