My Husband's Super Powers...

 

I woke up in the middle of the night and suddenly realized I had discovered my husband’s superpowers!

Okay, stay with me for a minute.

For those who know me and my husband, you may be thinking you know some of his ‘superpowers’ already, and you might be right.  He is quite the talented man with many gifts.  However, I discovered yet one more of those gifts last night in a crisis.

These past few weeks have been a little stressful for our home.  Burning the candle at both ends would be an understatement.  Clinging to our God and the prayers of those around us has brought us through it all.  We are completely grateful for those who stand in the gap!

So back to my story!

Christmas is normally an event that starts mid-year with an excel spreadsheet and a game plan for me.  However, this year there was no game plan.  In fact, there was no plan.  There was no spreadsheet.  There was only a mad rush to the post office.

This week I was scurrying around the house like an elf on Christmas Eve attempting to get all the cards completed, gifts purchased and staged to be wrapped, then mailed out in time for Christmas.  Time was not my friend this year. 

Last night after a long day at work my husband came home and asked what he could do to help.  I grabbed him and escorted him into the bedroom.  What happened next was not what he expected or planned.

He walked into the bedroom to what could only be explained as a landmine of gifts and boxes stacked all over the bed with my laptop in the middle.  I was in the final stages of wrapping.  Each box had its set of gifts to be wrapped in a section ready to go.  Wrapping paper was poised with tape and scissors in que.  Cards, pens, name tags, and confetti ready to go. 

Yes, confetti for the cards.  Another story for another time.

I asked Carl to assist with the wrapping process so I could get the boxes mailed out in the morning. Without hesitation or complaint, my husband asked me about the process and then proceeded to request tools for his task.  His own scissors and tape.  I agreed but thought it would be easier if we shared.  “How fast would this be?” I thought.  Meh, either way I would do whatever it took to get the job done.

I handed him the first box to wrap and started to organize my space to wrap as well.  Before I could get my personal space set up - Carl handed me his wrapped gift.

WHAT?

I took the gift and proceeded to hand him another to wrap while I put the tag on the wrapped gift and organized the box it would go into.  Before I had a chance to complete my task he handed me the second gift, wrapped.

Seriously?

Now I was starting to get curious. 

I handed him another gift and just watched this time.

In stealth-like fashion, Carl picked up the box, turned it around a few times, cut up a piece of new wrapping paper like it was butter and immediately wrapped the gift like he was at Macy’s wrapping center.  Not only did he wrap it, but it was better than I would have done.

I decided to test him.

I handed him a mug - without a box.  Okay, sir, wrap this!

He did! And he put a bow on the top.

I didn’t have time to wrap even one.  I couldn’t keep up with his wrapping.

So, I decided not to fight the system.

I handed him each gift one by one and organized the boxes.

Systematically he wrapped each gift like a ninja as I barely had time to write the names on the tags and place them carefully in the correct boxes to be mailed.  The next thing I knew, all five boxes were completed and sealed ready to go.  What a BLESSING!

And all these years I have been doing this by myself.  And not well at that because I am not a wrapper...

Carl normally doesn’t have time to assist with this process, but this year has been different.  The business has been slower.  My normally executed plans were thrown in the water with all the pitfalls that came our way this year.  But I would have never discovered my husband’s hidden superpower if all of these things hadn’t occurred.

My husband has never experienced what I do each year for the family.  He just hears about the infamous ‘boxes’ that must be sent out in time for Christmas.  He has never seen the process or been a part of the action.  This year he was.  It was a blessing for him as well.

And now you know his superpowers too…

And next year is going to be different… 😊

 

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

 

Matthew 18:20

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

                                           Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

What I learned from fasting

 

I know this is a strange topic after Thanksgiving and going into the Christmas season but hang with me for a minute.  In less than 30 days we are looking at a new year, 2024.  Time is flying by faster than we can watch the second hand on a clock.  And as I have aged, I notice the seasons are like a quick movie at the theater.  Wasn’t it just Spring?  Didn’t we just turn the calendar over to 2023?  How is it going to be 2024 so soon?

So maybe it is time, no pun intended, to sit for a moment and take stock of 2023 and see where God wants us in 2024.

Hence, one of my reasons to fast.

Everyone looks at fasting differently.  Some fast for a meal.  Some for a day.  Some for a week or more.  There are many examples in scripture of those who fasted and how God granted supernatural revelation through that practice.  Whichever way you choose to fast, research scripture, pray, and let God’s Spirit lead you each step of the way.  Take fasting seriously and with reverence.  It can be an extraordinary time with Holy God.   You don’t miss out on the blessing.

I fasted for different reasons over the years.  Often to get closer to my God and seek HIS will in a situation.  I recently walked into fasting with a list of requests.  I knew it was time, and there were so many reasons I needed this moment with my Lord.  I asked a friend to pray as I stepped into the moment.  I took my list of concerns to the Throne and closed the door behind me.  I wanted answers.  I wanted clarity.  I wanted time alone.

I fasted each day until dinner.

The first day I didn’t know what to expect.  I just came to my God and said here I am with my list.  After a bit I realized my list wasn’t as important as HIS will.  He listened to me and my fancy list as any father would.  Then He just quietly guided me to HIS will. 

That first day He gave me one simple task.  Nothing earth shattering.  Just one task.  Not an overwhelming task.  In fact, it was so menial that I can barely remember it right now.  All I remember is that I said, “Ok Lord, that is easy I can do that.” And I did it. And I didn’t stress about all the other things on my list.  I just went to bed that night knowing He had them in HIS hands.   

Each day it became easier to hear HIS will.

Each day I would see an answer.  Not to what I asked for, but what I needed.

Each day was a new blessing.

Each day was a new answer.

I came out of fasting different than I walked into it.  I expected to have my list checked off and neatly completed.  Instead, I was changed, once again, to HIS will.  My focus was realigned. My heart was tuned to HIS.  My list was now HIS.  We were now on the same page.  What a concept?

Breaking the fast.

What surprised me the most was my feelings of sadness by the thoughts of breaking my fast.  I didn’t expect those feelings.  Honestly, I expected more feelings of excitement to get back into my normal eating schedule but what happened was the eating desires had dulled and were pushed back by my overwhelming desire to spend more time with my Lord.  The sad feeling was like getting ready to leave an amazing vacation and getting ready to go back to work.  There was work involved in fasting and praying, don’t get me wrong, but there was a sweetness and closeness that spending time with my heavenly Father couldn’t compare to any banquet.

What my heavenly Father left me with before I broke my fast was – “I am always here” “You can come to me anytime just like this” “You don’t need to fast to be this close to Me” “You just need to step away from the distractions.”

Distractions…

Another blog for another time… 😊

Merry Christmas!

 

Click here for some bible verses about fasting:

https://www.biblestudytools.com/topical-verses/bible-verses-about-fasting/#:~:text=Matthew%206%3A16%2D18&text=17%20But%20when%20you%20fast,in%20secret%2C%20will%20reward%20you.

                                           Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.