bare white

bare white

5.09.2018

(Dreaming of) Moving to the Country...Snakes and Ticks and Tall Boots

We went for a stroll the other day on a gorgeous piece of property surrounded by trees and tall grass and a large pond. This property is for sale and on it sits a large, vacant home. We dreamed while looking in the many windows.
We dreamed of what it would be like to live there. My oldest dreamed of what it would be like to write books there with an endless amount of inspiration at her fingertips, literally. My boys dreamed of fishing on the small beach and exploring every ounce of the many acres. My toad-lover girl knew right away there were many new toad-friends to be found.
I could go on and on about all of the reasons it would be good for us to live there. Reasons like peace and quiet, a bigger home, a football field of a yard, nature, room to breath, a pond no less - the list in my dreaming mind could go on and on. I may have even tried to persuade my husband with a reason like, "it would save us money with weddings because all of our kids would be married on our land." To which I received an eye roll and a, "seriously?"

During the dreaming, we were interrupted by a blonde-hair boy saying,
"Hey! Look mom, there's a snake in the pond."
I looked and sure enough, as my dream shattered a tiny bit, there was a very real, alive snake popping his head above water to say hi.
As we were packing up the kids like sardines to leave, I looked down on my leg and there was a very real, alive tick crawling on my bare leg. My dream might have shattered a bit more.

I know these creatures are just a part of life. I get it. But it was also a very abrupt reminder that the snakes and ticks of this world are real and alive and they don't always surface in our dreaming, but they are still there. In my mind, as I stood on the bank of that pond, surely no snakes live in it - it is just too beautiful. And in my dreaming, while standing in that tall grass, I envisioned our kids running and playing in the acres and acres of openness. Surely no ticks would crawl up our legs. It is just too gorgeous.


The same goes for my dreams for my kids in their lives. The dreams I have are big and bold where no snakes or ticks are welcome. Dreams of them being so strong in their faith they are unshakeable, willing to go and do anything and everything for the Lord. No trials in these dreams because trials hurt and trials leave scars and trials are scary. And yet, trials are exactly what produces this faith. Trials build spiritual muscle with roots that go so deep. A braveness is built only when a fear is faced and instead of paralyzing us we overcome it. That is bravery!

My trial-less dreams are not reality, I know. Nor are they supported by Scripture at all.
My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties, see it as an opportunity to experience the greatest joy you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. (James 1:2-3 TPT)
My beautiful dreams point me to Eternity and produce a deep longing for heaven.
My desire to protect my kids forever from snakes and ticks must be turned into a training and preparation so they know how to fight those very real, alive snakes and ticks because we are called to live in a world that is full of them. They are disguised or hidden in beautiful ponds and tall grasses, but, oh! they are there. And when we face them, even our deepest, most paralyzing fears, His power is made strong.
(addressing Paul's thorn) But He answered me, "My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness." So I will celebrate my weaknesses for when I am weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. So I am not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment - when I'm surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ - I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God's power. (2 Cor. 12:9-10 TPT)

Yes, I still think it would amazing to live there...
I would just go in a little more prepared...and wearing tall boots!