Sucked In, Washed Up and Blown Over
“Chippie the Parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over. The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said “hello” when “sssopp” Chippie got sucked in. The bird owner gasped, put down the phone, turned off the vacuum, and opened the bag. There was Chippie - still alive, but stunned. Since the bird was covered with dust and soot, she grabbed him and raced to the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and held Chippie under the running water. Then, realizing that Chippie was soaked and shivering, she did what any compassionate bird owner would do…she reached for the hair dryer and blasted the pet with hot air. Poor Chippie never knew what hit him. A few days after the trauma, the reporter who’d initially written about the event contacted Chippie’s owner to see how the bird was recovering. ‘Well,’ she replied, ‘Chippie doesn’t sing much anymore - he just sits and stares.’”
When I read that for the first time, I sat there with tears running down my face crying and laughing at the same time. That was me, I was Chippie! We were living in Connecticut, planting a church with 4 young kids, Dean had a second job and I also worked. Life was taking it’s toll and I was so overwhelmed. I had no idea how this book: “In The Eye Of The Storm” by Max Lucado got mailed to us, but I needed it!
Have you ever felt like Chippie? I have, as a mom. Being a mom is home to my greatest joys and the scene of some of my biggest failures. Talk about on-the-job training!
Maybe you feel like Chippie because…
* You are reluctant and unsure about being a mom
* You never thought you’d be alone raising your kids
* Your reality and dream of mommy-ing are complete opposites
* You feel isolated and alone in this journey
* Your kids are grown, you’ve poured your whole life into them and you feel lost in this new season
* Your dream of being a mom isn’t happening
* You lost your mom
God sees you. God cares for you. He understands the love and loss we face. He sees when you are crying in the bathroom or celebrating a milestone. He knows the heartache of having an estranged child…us. He knows the challenges of navigating that chronic illness or disability with your child, how you mourn what could be and the toll it takes on you.
We all feel sucked in, washed up and blown over sometimes in life. We all need a place to rest and restore. Jesus knows exactly how that feels. He had to find a quiet place. He may not have had a closet or bathroom to hide in, but He did escape the pull and pressure of the crowds.
One of the things I miss about when my kids were young is when they would stick their fingers under the bathroom door. All they wanted was to be with me. When the day was hard, that always made me smile and take a deep breath.
“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10
Your Abba says He wants to be with you and walk this life with you.
HE LOVES YOU!
HE LOVES YOU MORE!
HE LOVES YOU MOST!
Have an amazing day because of Who loves you, not what is or is not happening in your life!
All my love ~
Jodi Beth xoxo
Feel free to share this with someone you think will be encouraged by it.
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