This is my hero! The morning after my last post about my overwhelming emotions and situations, Andrew woke up with 101 fever. In two weeks my sweet little man had fractured his hand, gotten poison ivy all over his face, been to urgent care twice, had watched someone drive by our house and crush his new skateboard (and didn’t stop), had to miss field day due to fractured hand and then woke up with 101 fever on field day which meant he could not go to school for the year-end party afterwards! What a bummer two weeks, but he just kept smiling and cracking jokes.
It was right after we dropped off plates and napkins for the “party” at school that his eyes got a little misty. The reality of missing the fun had hit. So I took his sweet hand in mine and told him how much he had inspired me with his amazing attitude in the midst of all he’d been through. I told him how I’d been struggling with being overwhelmed but how I’d been watching him respond to hard stuff and choose to find something to laugh about. Then I told him I wanted to take his picture so I could tell the world about my hero. He got the biggest grin and then posed for me.
I have had the most amazing past few days since I last posted. Things haven’t gotten much easier. I got poison ivy from a little man who hugged me after scratching his face. I didn’t realize you can get it that way. Then I had an allergic reaction. The first round of prednisone wasn’t enough so I am on round two. But instead of getting overwhelmed and panicking about my preparations and lack of sleep b/c I am itching all night, like I was a week ago, I am intentionally setting my heart and my mind on the promises God gave me last week. Even if I don’t get to prepare as much as I want to for She Speaks, He will be faithful. He will show up and speak through me. He knows what He wants to say. I just need to listen and let Him lead. (Easier to say than do when you have such stinkin’ high expectations of yourself.)
God has continued to rescue me with His love through encouragement from friends like you. Thanks so much for your sweet comments and prayers. He also gave me some down time last weekend while the boys went camping with JJ. I have had little pockets here and there to rest and to review my notes. I am believing that if I give Him what I have in little offerings, He’ll take it and make it what He wants it to be.
I pray that you have a wonderful Monday! Sweet blessings,
My son had poison ivy that moved to his face and we had to go get him on steroids. His eye was almost swollen shut. I’ve never had poison ivy, but I can tell that it makes you really, really MISERABLE!
Can wait to meet you tomorrow, honey!
I am feeling today l like I am standing at the side of the ocean and I can feel a huge wave approaching. I sense the POWER of it!
I know that it’s the Spirit already descending for the SHE SPEAKS conference. I can feel Him, P31 group! He’s waiting for each and every woman to walk through those doors, and P31 ladies,
God is so very PLEASED with each of you!
See you there! I’ll be the introvert wondering around looking for coffee!
I’m glad you were able to find moments of rest. I think God gives moms a special ability to sort of recharge at the drop of a hat because we never know when those moments will come and we need to take advantage when we do.
Andrew sounds like a gem (you can be encouraged that a good part of that comes from what you’ve given him).
May you have a doubly blessed week.
I guess you have to know that God will be the One speaking, and not you, when all sorts of crazy things keep happening. What a great guy you have there to cheer you on too!
OH my goodness friend! What a sweet heart your son has. I love when the kids in our lives show us how God wants us to react to life and the mishaps that come our way. I would have to say that God must bee so pleased as He saw the patience of Job, the brave heart of David and the tenderness of John all wrapped up in your son. Can’t wait to meet you this weekend. Will be praying God meets all your needs.
Blessings & Hugs,
Lelia
I just heard you on the radio this morning and said a prayer for you. Then I checked your site. I loved reading about how God used your son to encourage you. It brought tears to my eyes. Don’t worry about She Speaks. Many times in the Bible God reassures the prophets and servants that He will speak through them. God will put the words in your mouth. He knows what every woman at She Speaks needs to hear. So He will not leave you hanging.
Hey girl!
This has been God’s plan for you all along. You saw the “treasure” that your son offered up these past weeks, and it’s being blessed – just as God will take your offering, and bless His words through you in such a new and amazing way. Keep treking, you’re doing great!
Sounds like Andrew is one special young man.
I have been and will continue to pray for you.
I’m at the bookstore tonight. I enjoy it, but I could use a bit more prep time on my talks!
Oh, there is tomorrow night….
Renee, I’m so glad God has lifted your heart. Your son is an amazing young man, and such an example.
Years and years ago I heard a young group of singers called “The Continentals” sing a song with lyrics that said, “Just like the little lad who gave every thing he had, How the multitudes were fed with some fish and loaves of bread. What we have may not seem much but when we yield it to the touch of the Master’s loving hand, then we will understand, our lives will never be the same.”
What you see as your “little” is “much” to God and He knows your heart. I know He’s going to multiply it to touch hearts for His glory because you surrendered your all to Him.
Continuing in prayer,
Joy
Renee,
What an awesome young man you have raised. I think it is so important to point out when our children show us that they are more than conquers. I must share with you about my boys. I have three of them 19, 16 and almost 15. The first of April my husband of 22 years declared he wanted a divorce and moved into our game room. Within three days he had set the proceeding in motion and I could no longer hide it from my boys. The last couple months has been so hard for all of us. My heart is so heavy for my sons to know they must go through this. Last week I had a really rough day and could not stop crying. That evening they all went to the mall to hang out. It was late when they came home and I was in bed reading. They called my dog, Susie, into the kitchen. She reappeared in my room with a beautiful pink ribbon around her neck. Then each one of my boys came in my room, with a long stem red rose hanging out of their mouth. They each gave me their rose, hugged me and told me it was going to be ok. Then the oldest one’s girlfriend came in and had a pink carnation and basket of things. As I looked at the treasures each son told me why he picked out the specific lotions and shower gels. The girlfriend gave me a gift certificate to get new make up and a new journal. I was reaminded by my children how much God really loves me. The very foundation that they have know had been ripped apart. Yet their unwaivering faith is a blessing to me.
Our children learn what they live. We must be doing something right to have God’s love reflect from our children so much.
I am praying for you and your family as you prepare for She Speaks. I am so excited and will see you there.
Blessings,
Diane
Renee,
I’m so glad the fog has lifted for you. I will continue to intercede for you and the team. Thanks for visiting my blog. Can’t wait to meet all of you in FIVE DAYS!!!
Love,
Tracey
For the Girls International
So glad to see you back, Renee. It sounds like God is putting you in a place that you have no choice but to rely on His strength instead of your own. How awesome to be used for His glory. Take care!
Debbie G.
Oh Renee, I feel so bad for you. I have spent many years with poison ivy. I think I am severely allergic to it. As a child if I was sweating and the breeze was blowing near a poison ivy plant, I would get it. I definitely will be praying! One thing that I found is helpful in alleviating the itch is to take an extremely hot shower – as hot as you can stand it. It will make you feel itchy during the shower but afterwards you get several hours of relief from the itch. It does something with the antihistamines. Perhaps it could give you relief if you do it at night right before bed so you can at least get some sleep.
I also will be praying for healing for your son as well. What a trooper he is.
May you feel God’s presence in a special way this week as you prepare for She Speaks. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Blessings,
Jodie
“Pearls”
God is good, Renee! He has certainly lifted you up during the past few weeks! Despite the obstacles, He has proven faithful. Praise God for that!
I’m glad to hear from you. May this week be fruitful as you continue to prepare for She Speaks.
Prayers and Blessings!
Rebecca
Renee – I am praying for you and the whole P31 team. You are right that God will direct your path, maybe a different path than you even thought of taking! But he will. And what a sweet sweet trooper your son is. And I know it is because he is the fruit of your efforts, raising him. So when you see his attitude, know it is from YOUR job well done.
See you at She Speaks!
Renee, as you know ‘when we are weak, He will be our strength. I lead a Sunday School class. One Sunday I was not really prepared for my class due to lots of stuff going on. I have to tell you that the class was so good and powerful that we just stopped in our lesson and broke out in prayer and praise to God. He was blowing us all away with what HE was doing in the room. He used that to remind me that it is HIS touch that counts. I know I still need to prepare, but my best is nothing without HIS anointing. I pray that God shows up and knocks YOUR socks of at She Speaks. May Renee’s talk usher in the Holy Presence of You Lord. Jesus, we thank you that you rescued Renee a long time ago and that you will show yourself strong through her. She is your girl and your right hand will hold her up. May she look expectantly toward you and see your smile for her today! Seize Today…things are turning for you! Yea God! Thank you for your great love for all of us.
She Speaks…I can’t wait!
In God’s Glory,
Barbara K.
Hang in there Renee. I know we want to fast forward through the tough times. I once was caught off guard in what should have been a time of celebration. I went through a deep depression after we moved into our new home a few years ago. It was our dream home and I thought the adjustment should be easy since it was only 2 miles away but I felt overwhelmed and wondered if we had made a mistake. I really learned to lean on God and not my own understanding. What a great hero you’ve got there. My son came through for me during one of my dark days he wrote me this note: I hope you know I love you and I hope you have a wonderful life in this house. I have it framed on my desk as a reminder of how God helped me overcome. God bless you and your family and your ministry.
I’m glad God is ministering to your spirit through that of your son! What a sweet thing to read about! I’m sure God is going to do a great thing at She Speaks.
God bless you!
Marilyn in MS