Tag: Christmas Vacation

I thought how fun it
would be to title this Christmas in July until I realized, July is behind us.

 

My kids go back to
school tomorrow. I have a daughter in high school. Do I really even have to ask
you for prayer on that one? I didn’t think so. Thanks for praying for me. And
for her.

 

I’ve been going to
the gym with my maniac husband six days a week. I’m working into my fifth
week–I think (Remember I thought it was July until a few minutes ago). The
other morning, I grabbed my earbuds and the cord was tangled into this
ridiculous knot.

 

My first thought
was, “Got a little knot here, Russ. You work on that.” Did you guess
the movie?

 

Christmas Vacation.
I love those crazy Griswolds.

 

I was on a time
crunch–had to get out the door and to the gym by five a.m. So I started shaking,
tugging, stretching and you know what I did?

 

I made the knot
worse.

 

Which irritated the
snot out of me.

 

 

Knots aren’t always
quick fixes. The bigger and tighter the knot, the harder to unwind it–to make
it straight.

 

It takes several
deep breaths before a close examination.

 

You pick one strand
to work with. And you use that strand to dip under, through and around until
you can break free. Even if a little.

 

It takes a few
minutes of concentration, patience, and endurance.

 

But when the knot is
untangled, you can move on with your day. With your life.

 

You ever get knots
in your life? You neglect it and becomes entangled with other areas of neglect
or dare I say unconfessed sin?

 

You may think,
“I ought to just go for the world record of the largest sin and neglect
knot. I could win the Guinness.”

 

One big knot looks
daunting.

 

But one strand…

 

I thought about
Russ’s father, Clark, leaving him there to untangle that huge knot all by
himself. The look on that boy’s face was utter hopelessness.

 

 

Sometimes He helps
us in a matter of minutes. And sometimes we have to work that one strand for a
period of time.

 

But He never leaves
us or disappoints us. Not like Russ’s dad.

 

Maybe it’s a bundle
of nerves. A knot of despair. A ball of worry. Whatever it is, you can take it
to God and He’ll help you straighten it out.

 

“Disciples so
often get into trouble; still, God is there every time.”

Psalm 34:9 MSG