photo from doubleyourgains.com

I’ll be up front with ya….I’m about as weak as they come.  When a post is written about strength, I would almost guarantee you that it isn’t being written about me.

Seriously though, I’m a sap….I’m a bawling mess at the end of Toy Story 3…..same for lots of movies.  Back in the states when I could watch commercials, all it would take is seeing sick kids and I was done!

As most of you know, Ria is gone to some training thing for 3 weeks.  I don’t know what it is, but when the pressure is on, I find the strength.  I went through this once when Ria was in basic training and AIT.  I went from sap to super dad.  I don’t think this is any special quality as I imagine when push comes to shove, you either sink or swim….most of us choose to swim.  I don’t have Ria’s strength to depend on so I have to pick up the slack.

Be strong for the kids, missing their Mom

Be strong for Ria, missing the kids

Be strong….knowing if I fall apart, they will too.

And then I remember and old song….

….for I am weak, but HE is strong.

It’s times like these that I pray more and they’re no longer the every day, mundane prayers…..more like conversations with God.  Then, I take credit for His strength.  I’m gonna skip that step today because I know…..I know that I have very little to do with any strength, but it is Christ who strengthens me.

I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ,twho gives me strength.

Do you find this to be true in your life?

Or are you gonna lie to me and say you’re just ALWAYS strong?

Toby, it hurts so bad!

Probably gives me the most hopeless feeling EVER.

Watching your wife give birth is probably the most amazing moment a man can have…..and the worst.

We men like to be the protectors…..the suppliers of every need…..the fixers.  But in these moments, we are truly irrelevant.  There is absolutely NOTHING we can do to make the pain she is feeling go away.

The amount of time has grown shorter with my 3 kids.  With Gabriel, I stood there during 36 hours of labor….BAWLING through most of it…..as she suffered.  With Chaya, it was a mere 12 hours that I was a blubbering idiot…..and with Elijah, it was a little over 90 minutes.

There are two totally opposite sides of the coin in these moments.  Total elation on one hand.  Watching God’s work before my own eyes.  The life that He created 10 months prior is being delivered into this world for us to love and care for.

Then there is the craziness.  Hearing her yell out in pain, looking at me, wanting me to “fix” it.  All I can do is pray, but my mind won’t stop spinning long enough for me to do that.  I like to think I’m pretty decent in pressure moments, but not those.  I’m totally useless…..Sometimes I can manage to count when the pushing begins….I can get a rag wet to try and cool her off….I can set up a camera like no one’s business…..But the whole process cannot possibly be over soon enough.

Yeah, I don’t have any miraculous ways for us to be useful during these times.  This post won’t end with a solution.

All I know is my “respect cup” has overflowed 3 times during our marriage.  I have witnessed, 3 times, pain that I KNOW I couldn’t handle…..Yet, the baby is born and she forgets all about the pain.  I know that I would have to complain about that pain for weeks to come.  Not her!  Not once!  My wife rocks my world!

Face it men, God uses childbirth to put us in check….to show us we’re not nearly as tough as we’d like to think we are…..to show us when it comes to strength, there’s more to it than lifting grocery bags into the house or picking up couches…..there’s an inner strength in every woman that we can only dream about.

Thank God for my wife!!

YOU should thank Him for yours!!

Saving Grace

This morning I’m gettin whooped by Psalm 27. It brought a few things to my mind:

• I MUST stand strong in my faith and reach to Him for strength.

• There WILL be those who want to lead me down the path of misery, cuz, as they say, misery LOVES company.

• No one wants to be alone, especailly the miserable.  But I will not go!

• As a matter of fact, Mr. Misery, I’m going the other way and I’m gonna try to take you with me.

• You, Mr. Misery, aren’t that strong.

• You cannot make me weak, for in the Lord, I find my strength and there is no Greater.  I am saved by the Lord Almighty!  YOU, and I are but grains of sand in His hand.

• You may get to me once in awhile; you may even knock me down, but that’s my fault for taking my eyes off of the Prize.

• I WILL stand back up!  My eyes will, again, seek His face!

• My HEART will forever be filled with His Spirit and I will remain STRONG in and for the Lord!

Psalm 27

Of David.

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, ^[a]
when my enemies and my foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.

3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.

4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.

5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.

7 Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.

8 My heart says of you, “Seek his ^[b] face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.

9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
O God my Savior.

10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.

11 Teach me your way, O LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.

12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.

13 I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

YES!  YES!  YES!