Muddy Shoes

I didn’t want to tell this story. It seems a little cliche to write about how God showed up in a traumatic event. It’s like when a message is given at church and then we sing that perfect tear-jerker song after that message. It just all seems so choreographed.

But, I just can’t let this one go. And, the Word tells us to talk about all-the-things God related all-the-time (Deuteronomy 6:8-10). So here goes.

I was driving home from the gym in the early morning. I was praying to God because I was frustrated with my kids. I was a tired worn-out mama and needed God to step in BIG TIME in order for me to parent these kids that day. I needed a supernatural presence.  Little did I know what I was praying for.

I got home and made my shake wanting to sit down for a hot second. The moment I sat on that couch, the boys started begging me to take them to the lake. It had frozen over and they wanted to check it out. I complied knowing we all needed some fresh air even though all I wanted to do was stay parked on the couch.

We got down to the lake and I instantly felt better. I am an outside girl, so nature and breathing in the cold winter air brought life back to my soul. Other than a couple of Instastories, I stayed off my phone. I intentionally put it in my pocket and zipped it shut. I knew I needed to be totally present so that I could enjoy this moment with my boys. I desperately needed to enjoy them.

They had fun gathering sticks, logs, and rocks trying to break up the ice so they could pick up the pieces tossing them on the frozen lake and seeing how far they slid. I even threw a few pieces beating those boys in distance. That felt good!

I sat down at the end of the dock taking in the scene listening to their “Oooos” and “Ahhhs”. That’s when I heard it.

SPLASH

It took me a second to register that it was a kid that made that sound and not a log that was thrown. I immediately jumped up and ran when I realized it was my son.

His best friend was there holding his arm. We tried with all our might to get him up on that dock but he was too heavy and too slippery. I decided I needed to get in the lake and try to reach him.

I ran to the shore and started making my way in, only I couldn’t move. I got up to my knees but the mud was too thick pulling me down. I decided me going in to him was a bad idea. So, with his friend by his side on the dock, I coached him to walk his hands along the dock getting himself to the cord that was anchoring the it to the shore.

I don’t remember what I said, but somehow I got him to that cord. Once there, I told him to look at me and just move one hand over the other. With pure panic in his eyes, he did what I said and finally got himself out.

Never once did I panic.

Never once did I scream.

Never once did I lose my cool.

All I remember is going into action and assessing the situation trying to figure out the best and quickest way to get my son out of that cold water. Some may say this is the power of a mom: mama bear swings into action when one of her cubs is in danger. I say, it was God.

When we got home from the hospital, I gathered our muddy shoes and clothes from the porch and realized in that moment that God had answered my prayer from that morning.

I asked God to give me a supernatural power to parent that day and he absolutely did. While I don’t believe that God causes bad things to happen, I do believe he makes space for those incidents in order for us to see him more clearly in our lives. Could he have given me supernatural patience or an over abundance of energy to parent my boys in a regular day? Of course he could. But I am not sure I would have recognized his supernatural presence if it showed itself this way.

I thought I need supernatural power to parent these kids with patience and grace. God needed to show me that the supernatural power is ALWAYS in me no matter how big or small the situation. That when I try to do things on my own, I flounder just like my son did in that water. Too often, I take the reigns instead of giving him control.

God was on that dock and in the lake that day. He gave my son courage to trust me in order to get out. And yes, God was very much with me in that moment calming me in the storm.

I believe God more today because of this incident. I trust him more with my boys. They have always been his, but I try to take control of their lives instead of trusting God with them far too often. It was time I handed them over to their Creator.

Every time I put on those running shoes, I will remember how muddy they once were and I will rest in God and the supernatural power he has placed within me every day and in every moment. I only need to remember and believe.

Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 (emphasis mine)

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us Ephesians 3:20

Love & Blessings,

Meg