the goats spared her, not sure why. Maybe they know I love my flowers dearly. Ha! But today when I saw this lone standing August lily blooming in the hard compacted dirt under the shade of an oak– I thought, August already. These lilies remind me that fall is close by every year, school days just around the corner. One of summers’ last blooms here at the big house in the little woods.
So much change on the horizon this month. Some days I have to catch my breath, and remind myself that change is necessary for growth. Life has to move on, and we can choose to keep moving also with joy in our hearts or stubbornly, and bitterly slow our own growth and those around us down.
My oldest son leaves the nest this year with his heart passionately set on a goal he has had a long time (can’t be shared yet), middle daughter will start her last year of high school, baby boy just started driving and enters his next to last year- yikes slow down… is how I feel most days. When you have lived your life for so long making sure they are living theirs – it’s hard to imagine them doing it all on their own… right mommas? But I had this beautiful vision one night while I was crying out to God and weeping over so much changing and a feeling of loss of “control” over my kids honestly – and I saw me walk up really peacefully and place my grown children one at a time in a little Moses like basket and gently push them out into this big beautiful flowing river – trusting God to make sure they arrive wherever He has planned for them, trusting He will make sure they are safe, warm, and loved on this journey. He is the best father, and parents Jesus loves our babies more than we do- crazy to imagine isn’t it? But He does! He is faithful to finish the good work He started in them the moment He formed them in our wombs. Not one thing on earth or in hell can change that. I knew He was saying- trust me!
This truth is what I cling to.
As for Jim and I – we are downsizing our goat farm slowly but drastically and sadly some days, they have really brought so much joy and life lessons to us all but we are preparing for whatever is next – what ever God has for us to do next. It’s an exciting time ( that was more of a reminder for myself than a note to y’all haha!)
As for me, a beautiful dream led me on a mission to India and Nepal. So much beauty wrapped up in that one sentence. But it’s coming, I leave early September for 10 days. So much of what we will do can’t be shared like this, it has to be one on one. For many reasons- one being safety (not mine, theirs)
Pray for India, pray for Nepal. Pray for our world- look past our borders with eyes of love like Jesus commands us to.
Something I’ve learned the last few years. God very much knows where we are in our life, He knows better than we do. He sees what is hard for us on this earth, what we question, even where any unbelief may lie… And while there is time for things like mourning and transition and big change, and dancing – we are capable, equipped and chosen to do what ever He calls us to, when He calls us to it. Hard or easy, if it makes sense to the ones around you or even yourself or not- none of that matters because He is strongest in our weakness. Believe that.
Today on this first day of August 2019- I challenge you to ask yourself this:
What are you intentionally or unintentionally saying no to God about today- get quiet and ask yourself and Him that question- then listen!!
Then take a big brave inhale in and say YES Lord! And go– step out of that comfort zone today. Even if it’s a baby step.
Love requires action.
Love you all, and more about my upcoming journey soon, Shannon❤️
Shannon R. Hess 