michellesingleton.com // Confessions of the Preacher’s Wife

Rob took the kids up to Dunkin’ Donuts for a donut run …… and his favorite coffee ….. Dunkin’ Donuts original blend.  I failed to keep Rob’s coffee supply replenished and he couldn’t face the morning without his caffeine fix. 

While they were gone, I packed the kids lunches.  And with the house quiet, I began one of my favorite traditions ~ lunchbox love letters.  These are simple little notes that let the kids know I am thinking about them during their school day.

Some notes are very short:  Nathan,  Good luck on your history test.  I am proud of you for giving it your best!  Love, Mom

Some are silly:  Juliana HoolieBoo, guess who really loves you? 

Some are reminders of who they are:  Nathan, you are a strong Christ-Follower.  Your love for the Lord is contagious!  Remember to share Jesus with your friends and your teachers ~ in your words and in your deeds.  I love you, and I’m so happy God picked me to be your Mom. 

Both of my kids enjoy getting my notes, Nathan probably more than Juliana.  They both thank me when they come home from school.  And as I am writing them, I smile just thinking about how I may be impacting their day in a positive way.

I wish I took the time to write them everyday like the mother who gave me the idea.  But my kids usually get lunchbox letters once or twice a week.

I am grateful God has given me His Love Letter: The Bible.  And I can get a sampling of His Love Letter every day by spending time reading and studying His Word.  God is always there for me.

2 Timothy 3:16–17 tells us:  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.  God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

Today, may you get your fill of God’s Love Letter to you,

Michelle

Juliana, our 9 year old daughter, is always moving ~ perpetual motion with maximum energy.  She twirls and leaps, jumps and flips, and turns cartwheels everywhere she goes. 

Last week, as her class was lining up for recess, she could barely contain her excitement.  “I’m so hyper!” she exclaimed. 

Her teacher told her to not to say she was hyper.  “Mom,” she asked, “is hyper a bad word?”

I didn’t think so.  So I asked Juliana what she thought hyper meant.  “Enthusiastic about life!” she boldly proclaimed.

Now that is the way to approach life ~ with unrestrained enthusiasm! 

I want to be hyper for Jesus ~ unrestrained enthusiasm for my Lord and what He has done for me!  Psalm 28:7 (NIV) puts it this way:  

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

May you have a hyper day for Jesus!

Michelle

My daughter names everything: dolls, stuffed animals, chairs, pillows, captured frogs and lizards……everything!  She even named my car, “Little Lily.”  And once you name something, it becomes quite personal and  very difficult to ever let it go.

Coming home from the ballet on Saturday afternoon, my car started acting funny.  Warning lights began flashing on the dashboard and there was a grinding noise coming from underneath my car.  I pulled into a parking lot, took the handy owner’s manual out of the glove box and followed the directions precisely.  No change.  The problem was still there.

Seems Little Lily’s VSA system was malfunctioning.  The bold print read: 

Drive to the dealership immediately for service!

Fortunately there was one nearby.  The servicemen detected the problem, set me up in a rental car and sent us home.   Little Lily would be repaired, washed and ready for pick up Monday after work.

As we drove away from the dealership, Juliana waved at my old car and said, “Mom, it’s like Little Lily is going to a Car Spa.”

The idea of an old, tired, wornout car going to the spa — I like it!  But even more I like the tenderness of my daughter and how much she cares for the people, animals and precious things in her life. 

As compassionate as Juliana is, it’s nothing compared to the depth God’s love for us and His compassionate care and concern for our well-being.

My prayer for each of us today:  

 That we will have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. And that we’ll experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.      EPHESIANS 3: 18–19

Blessings,

Michelle

1. Act with Integrity.  Integrity Defined: Do the right thing even when no one is looking.  (Matthew 5:17-19)

2. Treat others according to the Golden Rule: Do to others whatever you would want them to do to you.  (Matthew 7:12)

3. Resolve conflict in a Christhonoring manner.  (Matthew 18:15-17, 1 Peter 3:9)

4. Seek to be a blessing.  (1 Peter 3:8, Matthew 22:37-40, Matthew 28:19)

5. Live in a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.  (Romans 14:13)

Something to think about!

Just like you, my emails come from a variety of friends going through a variety of experiences in their life journeys. 

One friend emailed me to let me know she landed the perfect job.  Her dream of moving to NYC was finally coming true…..and she was in love with Mr. Right.  I shared her happiness!

My next email was from a friend going through a painful divorce.  Hurt and rejected, she said she cried herself to sleep last night.  My heart ached for her.

Seems like my own life often has both.  Some things going just right, while other things are miserably hard, difficult and nearly impossible.

In my personal Bible study time, I am in the book of Exodus.  As I read through Chapter 1, I was reminded that life is filled with both times of blessing and times of difficulty.  The Bible makes it clear that God is present during both so that He might comfort, strengthen, and bless those who seek Him.

Here is a practical exercise (suggested in my devotional) that I enjoyed:

Are you in a time of life that is filled with blessings?

Then make a list of things you can thank God for.

Are you in a time of hardship or suffering?

Then make a list of how God is strengthening, comforting and blessing you in the midst of the hard times.

I had 2 lists.  And it became very clear that God was right there in the middle of everything going on in my life. 

How comforting to know He is always there!

This week I hurt a friend.  Not directly.  Not intentionally.  I never mentioned my friend’s name or made any reference to her.  But someone overheard me say something they thought I was directing towards my friend — and they told her.

So my friend e-mailed me and stated how much she was hurt by my words.  I couldn’t believe it!  I read her email several times.  Hurting my friend  never entered my mind.  I felt bad — awful.  My heart was heavy.  I was sick to my stomach.  I couldn’t imagine ever intentionally hurting my friend. 

Many feelings flooded my head.  Had I been framed?  Set up to look like I hurt someone I like very much?  I was angry.  And I was hurt myself.  But I knew what I had to do.

I called my friend and apologized, “I’m sorry.” 

At times, my kids ask me, “But why do I have to apologize?  I didn’t do anything ~ not on purpose.”

And like I tell my kids.  That doesn’t matter.  What matters is people.  People are important.  And my friend was hurt.  Apologies are given when people are hurt.  We talked through the whole situation and by the time we got off the phone, we were laughing ~ forever friends!

I’m sorry.  It’s still, a good lesson to learn.  Wonder how many friendships could be strengthened by those two words?

Seems like this year my scheduling is a bit off.  I have 3 days where I have to sit for 45–60 minutes waiting for kids to finish their sports.  It kills me to just sit…..I can’t go home and accomplish anything in that time so I am following some wise advice. 

Kay Warren told me several years ago, when my children were much younger, that a great way for a mother to make good use of her time is to keep a Bible in the car.  Then, when mothers are waiting in the carpool line, or waiting on dance or soccer practice to finish up or just waiting on anything, they can pull out their Bible for an instant Bible study.

It is working for me.  And I’m getting a couple of extra hours in God’s Word each week.  I can’t believe how many times the kids will get in the car and start telling me something about their day that directly relates to what I just finished reading about in God’s Word.  It amazes me!

Sometimes Nathan and Juliana struggle in dealing with mean kids.  Other times they’re the mean kids.  They will worry about their friend’s dad who lost his job.  Or a lie or other sin that they’ve heard or seen…… But always, I find guidance to share with my children in the Bible. 

I thank God for His Living Word and that it is so helpful for everything we encounter each day.  Never leave home without it!

Every fall, I love to hit a county fair.  It had been a couple of years since our family ventured out for fair fun so Friday night, we drove to Concord for the Cabarrus County Fair.

It was a night full of country music, fun houses, carnival rides, livestock shows, funnel cakes and cotton candy……….and the games that nearly broke us.  Apparently we are an easy sale! 

Rob’s favorite ride was the Vortex….although he later called it the vomit machine.  And he said what he enjoyed the most was making out in the Haunted House.  Kissing Rob is always nice.

But my very favorite event was Robinson’s Racing Pigs.  Have you seen them?

Four pigs raced for an Oreo cookie.  I loved their names: Hillary RodHAM Clinton, Brittany SPAREribs, SPAMela Anderson, HAMmy Wynette.

There were 2 races. One running and one swimming. Three pigs weren’t too keen about going in the water.  But the other pig took the plunge with vigor. And the others competitively followed.  I didn’t know pigs could swim so fast, but then, there was that much-anticipated Oreo at the end of the race.

One piggy decided not to race, so they let her go back into the trailer,

“We won’t force any pig to do something they don’t want to do. Because if we did, they’d squeal on us.”

Corny?  Well maybe, but it was great family fun for us Singletons!  

September Blessings,

Michelle

Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. 

And if you have a friend who makes you laugh , spend lots and lots of time with her. 

Wishing you a terrific weekend!

One of my mentors shared this definition of Humility:

Being happy in other people’s success

Using this definition, are you humble?  How do you react when:

• Your co-worker lands the “big” account.
• Your friend moves in to a beautiful new home
• Your neighbor gets a new car
• Your brother’s kid gets a full scholarship to the university of his choice
• Your best friend gets her dream job
• Your friend’s writing is pursued by a publisher instead of yours
• Your friend loses 15 unwanted pounds
• Your buddy at the gym sets a personal best on the mile run and the bench press ~ all in the same week
• Your best friend looks terrific in her new dress

The list could go on and on……..but the question remains, by this definition, are you humble?

Something to think about.