A Good Punch in the Face

Image courtesy of num_skyman/www.freedigitalphotos.net

I've never punched anyone in the face...

Let's get that clear right now.  

But I've wanted to.  In those very "Ally McBeal" moments when you picture yourself following through on your basic animal instincts to lash out at anyone near you when you are injured or threatened...oh, yes...I have wanted to punch many people in the face.

the 8th grade classmate who said, "Tammie, the only reason you get good grades is because you don't have any friends".

the 8th grade classmate who wrote me a note saying that she wanted to become popular that year, and that meant she couldn't be friends with me anymore.  (yeah, 8th grade sucked).

the people who typed the anonymous letters from graduate schools and turned me down because of my GRE scores (although I'm glad you did because I never would have started dating my husband had you accepted me at THOSE schools).

everyone who worked at the Gerber Grow-Up plan because I got a letter from you in December 2004 saying that our daughter couldn't get life insurance through you...(hmmm...a rare disease does that, I guess...hence, why you were forthwith known as the Gerber THROW UP plan).

a couple of Wisconsin's 'civil servants' whose names appeared on letters declining Evie for some county services.  That was unfortunate...but, the courts overturned your decision. :P

the parents who shush their children when they ask me very logical and appropriate "children type" questions about Evie.  Your SHUSH communicates shame...and there is no shame about my daughter.  Your SHUSH is what makes her question what IS SO wrong.

the lady at McDonald's who approached me as we frantically were trying to usher Evie out of the restaurant during a wicked meltdown after a long day of traveling....you approach me and all you do is suggest fish oil for my child's behaviors?  Open the friggin' door for us and help us OUT!

the old man who told me I should have folded up Evie's white cane BEFORE boarding the plane because it was a nuisance for him.  Clearly you don't understand WHY we use a white cane...it's HOW we GET on the plane.

the eye doctors who have treated Evie as if she has no intelligence and that we shouldn't even be in your office...well, guess what...we aren't in your office anymore.  It's actually worth flying back to Wisconsin to see our eye doctor THERE, 1,800 miles from home; than drive two hours and waste our time on you.

I didn't have to, and don't have to, punch any of these people in the face.  They are of no consequence to us.  

This is a great big world, and we serve a GREAT BIG GOD and because of His victory WE have victory.

Today.

No punching required.

Written in response to writing prompt 182 on thewriteprompts.com 

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Life ~ Guest Blogging Day

Evie in the Hospital following her Wilms Tumor diagnosis in 2005

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, 

“Put out into deep water, 

and let down the nets for a catch.”

Simon answered, 

“Master, we’ve worked hard all night 

and haven’t caught anything. 

But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

Luke 5: 4-6 NIV

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a conference in Redding, CA called GrowU.  One of the "top billed" speakers of the event was Chris Brown, who is one of my favorite storytellers because he has a tremendous gift for bringing scripture to life.  

On Saturday night he retold the story of Jesus choosing his first disciples.  And, when Mr. Brown re-tells this story, you suddenly realize how God chooses us today in the very same way as He chose people back in biblical times.  

When you read Luke 5, you read about some fishermen who are cleaning their nets and Jesus asks Simon to take him out in his boat so he can speak to a crowd who has gathered on the shore.  Now, fishermen fish at night, which means, if Simon was in and cleaning his nets, he had just been out fishing all night long.  

Working hard.  

He was exhausted. 

And Jesus comes along and says, "Hey, can you take me out in your boat?"

Ugh.

Continue reading on Comfort in the Midst of Chaos...

"Come on, God! Let me Worship in Peace!" ~ Guest Blogging Day

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” John 4:24 NIV 

I found myself in unfamiliar waters on Saturday of last week.  We had tickets to see Chris Tomlin's Worship Night in America here in Reno and we had been looking forward to it for MONTHS!

However, after a sleepless night with one of my elderly cats who was having...eh-hem...intestinal issues, and a long day of watching BOTH my cats refuse food; my husband also wound up on crutches with a chronic foot injury, and I was looking at my jam-packed schedule trying to determine when I'd carve out time to get my cats to the vet (hoping it would NOT be to put a cat to sleep!).

I was pretty ticked off with the whole world...

Continue reading on Comfort in the Midst of Chaos...