(And for those who want to know that round thing is a moon light. It's really cool. It goes through the phases of the moon for several minutes when I turn it on using its remote. It can also stay in a phase of your choice. Coolest nightlight ever.)
I don't know why I started doing the word thing. I wanted something on his wall that I could change. I drew some pictures but they didn't mean much. So I started with the words. I love words. If I ever got tattoos I'd get words (but I'm not going to get any tattoos -- my husband has enough for both of us). And random words can get a person thinking (try it if you dare -- just write five random words down. Now make a silly poem or story with them. You probably haven't written a silly poem for years).
Our days here at home go pretty fast usually. We read. We eat. I do laundry. Hawk rocks on the ground. I do dishes. Today I mopped. Yesterday I cleaned the bathroom. Hawk rolled around while I did that. We watch a show. Presently our show is Enterprise. We are reading the Bible straight through this year together. We are in Job. That's how we start our reading. Then we normally read a science or history book. We just got done with one called Lab Girl. It's written by Scientist and Author Hope Jahren. It's part memoir, part science -- anyone who loves plant science or trees or just a really good true story would like it. I don't know her spiritual beliefs but a lot of the stuff she writes about plants and trees is so applicable to our own growth. Hawk liked that book.
Hawk is happy. When it's nice out we sit outside and get some sun. We listen to the birds. We look at the grass. We talk to the horses. We take walks. We read outside.
When I bake Hawk gets to be my taste tester. He likes it when I bake cookies!
Then of course there is the daily maintenance of taking care of Hawk that now includes shaving and acne control.
Every once in a while I wonder why. I wonder why Hawk was created the way He was. I think if he was a 16 year old boy who was typical he'd be a sophomore in high school. Probably have a crush on a girl. Maybe play a sport. Be a bit rebellious. Would have a driver's license. Would be telling the world what he plans to do for his future. Instead, he's home with me rolling around and making noises; listening to me read and dealing with seizures daily.
He's a mystery to me. I know God's in control. And I know He created Hawk as He did for a purpose.
One big purpose is that He is a living illustration for anyone who takes the time to hang out with him. He could be an angry teenager. He could lash out and be violent. But he doesn't. He's content. He's content just the way He is. He sees his siblings come and go. I don't know what he thinks but when he wants something he makes his wishes known through noises and a whole lot of patience. I know God talks to him and I know God listens.
When a person is content, there is power in contentment. We can learn how to be content (Paul writes that he learned to be content in all circumstances --in poverty and in wealth, etc, etc). When we are content we are thankful. When we are content we are protecting ourselves from temptation of all sorts. When we are content we are remembering this is our Father's world and He's got it under control. When we are content we remember we aren't the ones who rule the universe and if things go our way it is probably not going our way but the way God intended it to go (we just happen to agree with God on what should happen). When we are content we remember the world doesn't revolve around us (thank Jesus for that) and we can step back and let God run the show.
My husband preached on commitment last Sunday -- carrying our crosses daily whatever those crosses may be. He mentioned that it isn't commitment unless we give it all to Jesus -- even that one thing we normally hold back.
Maybe that one thing we want to control is the very thing God wants us to give up -- it probably is. It is what is standing between Him and us hindering us from following Him wholly. As my husband mentioned -- when a woman marries a man she wouldn't tolerate him keeping his girlfriend. That isn't commitment.
Have a lovely weekend. I'm going to see Alice in Wonderland tonight at the Dupree School. My son Pete is the Mad Hatter and my daughter Megan is the Queen of Hearts. It's put on by Missoula Children's Theatre.