Our time as a family this Thanksgiving was sweet, fun, and memorable.  We were blessed to have another family of boys join us for the long weekend full of manly play.  The boys hiked, fished, did some turkey hunting (really just left a few ticked-off birds in their wake), and went looking for Mountain lion tracks during the day and bats at night.

And as the boys played with their dads, us moms cooked and baked.  And as we did we drank tea, talked, listened to music, took in the beautiful views of the lake, ate another cookie, and talked some more.  It's rare this special lady and I get to go deep in conversation because we're always together with numerous little ones around asking for a juice box, help with a toy, or another push on the swing. But as the dads played laser tag with our five testosterone filled "interruptions", Lyn and I got to, "go deep," as I said.

The thing I love most about this gal is the real, honest and authentic, non-churchy way she pursues her faith.  Now let me clarify, because I love church and so does Lyn, but there's nothing she says that sounds like "the right Christian answer."  She's almost always saying something very true and doctrinally sound, but it comes out hers.  It's been hard earned while pondering her feelings, lifting her prayers, and with consistent Bible Study before she lets you know her thoughts on an intimate matter.  But you have to listen closely because she takes her time getting the words out.  In the quiet of the lakehouse I realized I tend to jump in and talk when she is taking a moment to construct her next spoken thought.  It's possible I've interrupted her as often as I've blamed the boys for interrupting our time together.  So I learned over our weekend together to be slow to speak and quick to listen to this special girl.  For when I listened to her, uninterrupted, I found such lovely depth.  

One day, as the cider was heating on the stovetop, I asked her, "what do you want to be when you grow up?"  I knew it was an open ended question and was curious what her response would be. There was silence for some time as her brow creased thoughtfully; I've come to learn those are two tell-tale signs she is searching her heart and mind for just the right words.

Finally Lyn said, "I used to want to do this or that, and it's not that I don't want to do specific things anymore, but i now know that life changes."  And then there was silence again and I started to speak, trying to clarify and put words in her mouth.  Then I remember I just needed to wait and listen.  "Today I want to be mom, because that's where I am," she said, " and tomorrow when my life is filled with different things I need to be doing, I want to be ready to do those things.  If I make a plan that I'm too attached to I won't be able to do what life is bringing me... what God has for me to do." And she was done.

Later that day as we went on a walk with the children, all bundled up, I watched Lyn walk with her youngest.  He stopped and picked up sticks.  Then the two of them walked a bit and stopped again for more sticks.  Lyn went at his pace and when his burden of sticks was too great for his little gloved hands, she carried the load of kindling.  And I thought, "what if she had a plan as to where she wanted us to go on our walk, and when we should get there or get back home?"  Lyn walked, and stopped, and remained peaceful, when many a chilly Mamas would have complained, pushed, or carried their children back home.  But she walked.

My current favorite Bible verse these days is Ephesians 2:10, which states, "we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

How difficult it is to discover the good works God has prepared for us when we aren't walking with HIm.  How impossible when our hands are already clinched tightly around our expectations.  How tough when we don't walk with empty, available hands.  How difficult to discern the pre-appointed God-works for us each day and each season of our blessed female lives when we are consumed by our plans and dreams about what tomorrow (or today) should look like.

I am blessed with so many thoughtful women in my life who long to know God better and make Him known to their children and grandchildren; women who speak quickly or slowly, but all who desire to live rightly.  God has given me so many ladies who are to me Bible Studies with flesh on.  They are a study of lives surrendered to the Gospel and I am convicted, challenged, and encouraged by their authentic, vulnerable examples.

Thank you if you are one of these women, walking in good works before me today.