A sincere thanks for those of you who have waited patiently for my return week after week. I didn't say which Monday I would be back after all! Actually, after my retreat, I went on a two week Internet fast--an opportunity to fine tune my prayer life and evaluate my place in this great big cyber world. And then I added things back in as it felt right. My work at Serendipity took the predominant spot in my computer time because it is my family's educational plan as well. Checking in with my Google Reader was next, and then a return to my favorite forum. And then nothing. I kept waiting for inspiration, to have something pressing to say, but I didn't. I coined a motto during this time that I shared with a few friends: "I want to be a woman of conviction, not a woman of opinion." I began to evaluate the things I said and if they were worth saying. I found out a lot of what I said, not only here, but in general, was opinionated, self-serving, and lacked humility. I sought silence over an opportunity to speak and found joy in not constantly tripping over the sins of my tongue.
But this week, as the days rolled by and school kicked into full gear here, I began to miss the opportunity to record these moments for my family. In the summer that has now begun to wear out its welcome, two people in this family learned to ride a bike, one learned to swim, one began to walk, and one potty-trained. Dad began a new job and Quinn participated in his third children's production at the Abbey Players theatre. Those are moments worthy of note. Those are things grandmothers and aunts and cousins like to know. Those are snapshots in our family's scrapbook. And this is where I preserve them.
In addition, moms who pray often learn things that other moms need to hear, not because those moms are any better than anyone else, bu because God is big and great and beautiful and speaks to His people. And moms are often praying about common circumstances, thinking about the same things and asking the same questions. So my revelation may be the one someone else needs today. When God speaks to my heart, His word fills, rises up, and flows over. That overflow can be shared here, and I can, in my own small way, fulfill the Great Commission.
So I have returned to my corner of cyberspace and I hope you will too. I hope you will find this space a little bit more lovely, a little bit more humble, a lot less about me, and a lot more about Him. Thanks for coming back.