Rainy day thoughts

I woke up feeling pretty depressed this morning. After a long night the last things I wanted to see were gray rain clouds, snow on the mountains, or feel cold tile on my bare feet. Heavenly Father, in all of his glorious, eternal majesty and power, must have noticed though, because the next thing I know I'm watching this (try not to cry, I balled like a baby!)

http://youtu.be/3qQApICCALo

and reading this

http://www.womenofchristianity.com/?p=5325

and I got goosebumps when I read this part in particular:

"Christian mothers carry their children in hostile territory. When you are in public with them, you are standing with, and defending, the objects of cultural dislike. You are publicly testifying that you value what God values, and that you refuse to value what the world values. You stand with the defenseless and in front of the needy. You represent everything that our culture hates, because you represent laying down your life for another—and laying down your life for another represents the gospel.

Our culture is simply afraid of death. Laying down your own life, in any way, is terrifying. Strangely, it is that fear that drives the abortion industry: fear that your dreams will die, that your future will die, that your freedom will die—and trying to escape that death by running into the arms of death.

But a Christian should have a different paradigm. We should run to to the cross. To death. So lay down your hopes. Lay down your future. Lay down your petty annoyances. Lay down your desire to be recognized. Lay down your fussiness at your children. Lay down your perfectly clean house. Lay down your grievances about the life you are living. Lay down the imaginary life you could have had by yourself. Let it go."

Because I just knew that HE knew the words I needed to read and the feelings I needed to feel.

And I couldn't stop smiling as I fed the kiddos lunch.

Because, really, could you resist this face?

I feel humbled.