Good Sounds and A Trick

The expression "you can't teach an old dog new tricks"? Well, I don't know about that, cause my dogs only know 2 tricks: they can sit on demand-if they feel like it, and, they take really good naps... But, what I do know is this: "You can teach a 51 year-old woman new tricks-if she's willing". Now that's a good one...

So today I'm liking some sounds. The sounds of Canada Geese flying overhead, just the occasional, distinctive honking heard above the loud whirring of their wings, that's a good sound. The sound of my 2 year-old GrandBoy saying "Hewwo, Bubby", that's a good sound. The fact that I can FINALLY say, "I got my household garbage out on the day before Thanksgiving this year", that's a good sound. That I'll tell Larry "I'm going to Fairhope today", where I'll pick up a ham for lunch tomorrow AND stop in to my favorite Fairhope shops, that's a good sound. That I'll say "my turkey is thawed and ready to roast" today as opposed to having to bathe and baby it on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, that's a good sound.

And I'm liking the sound of someone telling me "What you shared with me was so good. It's changing my life. Thank you. I know it was hard for you to tell me that, but you did anyway", maybe not in those exact words, but something like them.

That's my new trick. Listening and obeying. Even though it may be something I THOUGHT was against my very being. Even though I don't like to tell people what I really think. Even though I think they might not like me very much if I tell them that. Even though I've been chicken.

If you're "stuck", if you're in a rut or funk, perhaps it's because you're not DOING what you heard Him tell you to do. It's not an audible voice that you hear with your physical ears, but down on the inside of you, it's that thing that you know you were to do. Or something you knew you were to share with someone. It's not too late. Ask God to give you the opportunity again. And when that opportunity comes, don't miss it. It won't hurt as much as you thought it would. Because, the thing is, you'll be in that rut until you do what you know to do.

And then you'll say "that's a good sound". Cause, if I can, you can...

Oops...

So. We've been back almost 2 weeks now. I've done the laundry. I've napped with my pups. I've snuggled my GrandBoys and celebrated Ethan's 2nd birthday. I've shopped. I've been with my church family. I've watched Auburn football. I've driven my car. But I've also just gone through the motions...

Cause, I've missed our life in Argentina.

I've missed that great sense of purpose. I've missed that everyday feeling of being in the middle of something bigger than me. I've missed seeing fruit ripen seemingly immediately. I've been irritated that I came back "home" a different person while so many others seemed the same. I've been angry that people more experienced at going didn't tell me that coming back would be so hard. I've gritted my teeth and cried to see people I love making dumb or damaging decisions when the Answer is so simple. Sad. Irritated. Angry. Mopey.

To put it simply, I've been of no good.

Oh! But today I remembered! I'm not the servant of my emotions! My emotions work for me! A mopey me is a disobedient and defeated me. The joy of the Lord is my strength! Literally! His plan for me (and for you!) is so much bigger than what we can feel and see right now.

So, I'm making changes. Again. I'm changing the way I think. Again. I'm changing the way I talk. Again. And I'll continue to make adjustments.

I'm telling you this, you see, cause if I can, you can...

Home?

We're here.

The laundry is done. I've been to the grocery store. I've walked through Target with my mouth agape at the abundance of items to purchase. I played with my pups. I've held my GrandBoys. I've slept in my cozy bed.

But glad to be home? No. My home is Heaven.

We are sitting on "go". Ready to obey at a moment's notice. Content but not satisfied. The only thing that will satisfy is to do what God tells us to do, say what He tells us to say, go where He tells us to go. Nothing more, nothing less...

I refuse and actively resist being sleepy and complacent. I will not shy away from speaking the truth in love. I won't be afraid to do things I've never done before. I consider "comfortable" to be a dirty word. I won't be that.

We didn't return from our time in Argentina the same. We have been forever changed. And we plan to stay that way.

Right now, I'm enjoying my time here. I'm getting reacquainted with my favorite shops. I'm enjoying dog walks. And thinking of Christmas preparations. Maybe I'll clean my house. Maybe I'll watch a good movie.

But home? No, not just yet...