Menu

alt

Interrupted by God

Joey had a friend who was getting married.
His fiancee had planned his life. He would do this. He would make this much. They would have this many children. They would live here. She had planned out their life.
Joey’s friend wisely broke off the engagement.

Abraham Lincoln’s wife planned to make her husband the president. She had chosen Abraham over another. She pushed him to be president. But made his life miserable.

How much do you control?

Recently on our family viber, we were making plans for our next family get-together—a wedding in June. We’re in charge of one thing—the rehearsal dinner.
Our newest member to viber (and bride in the wedding), said, “Wow! I better get organized. Your family organizes everything!”
Perhaps it depends on who you ask.
My husband has Mexican blood. Men'ana (tomorrow) works for him. 
When we plan trips, he packs the day we leave, whereas I’ve packed and repacked for two weeks.

Is your kitchen so organized your husband can’t put away the dishes for fear it will be wrong?
Is your floors so sacred no dirty shoes will walk on it, even your husband—who pays the mortgage?

We, ladies, like control.
We dictate how we have our houses.
Since we clean (My son does mine. He’s also become a little dictator telling other brothers to take off their muddy boots), we feel we have the right to tell our husbands what he can do.
When my husband works outside, he must walk through the house. He should feel free to walk through with muddy boots. 
It’s HIS house.

He would remind me it’s “OURS.”
That’s one of those gender differences they forget to tell you about….
Women think, “It’s my money.”
Men think, “It’s ours.” Even though he earns it.
She thinks, “It’s my house.”
He thinks, “It’s ours.”

We must, as wives, consciously remind ourselves, “He is the king of this house.” Not relegate him to the man cave in the garage or basement.
That idea permeates our feministic culture.
We must help our men gain back their castle as their domain.
That means, we must give up our control of clean floors because they want to walk on it with dirty boots.
That is giving up control.
That is allowing for interruptions.

How often do people limit how many children they have because children interrupt their career?
Or when they have children, they won’t be interrupted by their child’s question when they are busy on their phones?

Just an interruption here:
Children are extremely good at asking for things while we’re on the phone. 
My rule has been, “if you ask while I’m on the phone, the answer is ‘No.’”
One son became good at phrasing the question, “Do you mind if I….”
I answer, "Wait until I'm off the phone," but because he has interrupted, I don't feel inclined to give consent.

Anyway, interruptions.
Children aren’t interruptions.
They are the reason you stay at home.
They are the reason you have a home.

We all have degrees of control.
I’ve had a few boys who prefer to “wing things.” 
When three of the boys were assigned to build a chicken coop, one wanted to go to Lowes for supplies. The others quickly reminded him they needed to plan first. He thought they could think of everything while they walked through Lowes.

When interruptions hinder our plans, how do we respond?
Are we angry? Upset? 

How many things have gone EXACTLY as you planned?
We go through life trying to plan EVERYTHING.
I’ve been planning for Josh’s graduation celebration. 
I must accommodate wind, rain, cold and heat. 
How do you even have a picnic in Oklahoma?

Planning is important. I must plan enough food for 45 people. But some are children who won’t eat much. 
Yet I don’t want to have too little. 
But I don’t want left-overs.
I can stress over every item.
Do I have enough plates? What about...

If I stress over every item, I won’t enjoy the process or the celebration.

That is how most of us live our lives.
Stressing over the details that never happen.
My thoughts are so consumed with planning, I’ve forgotten my focus should be thanking God for the son who reached graduation.

Know what I’m s-l-o-w-l-y realizing?
By allowing God to work out my plans, those interruptions aren’t interruptions—because God planned them for me.
Those interruptions make me look to God for answers.
They are sent by God to direct our thoughts to Him in ways we didn’t before.
They remind us we aren’t in control of this moment or the next.
It’s that moment by moment living with God we’ve been talking about.

Know what happens when I give those interruptions to God? 
He enables me to complete all my tasks.
In less time.
With less energy.
Sometimes I find I didn’t really need to do those things.
And I have more time to thank and praise Him.


Displaying 1 comment

I can see I'm a bit behind on reading this article, but I am catching up, it's just rather here and there. Really like the article, a great reminder. You know, I sure wish you had been writing these articles when I was raising my kids, they would have been a big help. But I can still pass on your advise so the grandchildren benefit.
I especially liked these words:
"Children aren’t interruptions.
They are the reason you stay at home.
They are the reason you have a home."
I know I too often was so busy at my tasks that the children were an interruption. What's the saying, "Too soon old, too late smart?"
Thanks again, Sonya, love your blog, Anne

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
What Were You Thinking?
Who Are You Watching?
Boundaries for a Better Life
God's Boundaries
Memories of a Hero Mom
The Ripple Effect
How Do We Think Like Jesus
Litany of a Waiting Woman
Ever Cook a Frog?
New Year's Reminders
They Galled Her Gammy
When God Speaks
A Russian Christmas Story
Be Thankful
Be Grateful
Are You Tired of the Same, Old Thing?
  (reprint)
Laughter—Why Laugh?
Mom
Are You Disturbed?
Unity of the Brothers
Encouragements To Declutter
Do You Have Too Much Stuff?
Too Much Stress
Getting Past the Noise—The Value of Silence
Are You Scatterbrained?
How Good Are You?
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
   Underclass

Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?

See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:
alt
under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 
alt
under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of 
   Passover Explained
    

Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
What Is an American Soldier?
Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation

Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2

Author of Biblical fiction, married to my best friend, and challenged by eight sons’ growing pains as I write about what matters.

Receive weekly articles by giving your email address below: