how the light gets in

by Andrea Smithberger
how the light gets in
  • November 1: Honoring
  • Day 2: Signaling
  • Day 3: Revealing
  • DAY 4: Reminding
  • Day 5: Reflecting
  • Day 6: Changing
  • Day 7: Surrounding
  • Day 8: Healing
  • Day 9: Filtering
  • Day 10: Spreading
  • Day 11: Unveiling
  • Day 12: Distinguishing
  • Day 13: Challenging
  • Day 14: Nourishing
  • Day 15: Unassuming
  • Day 16: Leading
  • Day 17: Delighting
  • Day 18: Reaching
  • Day 19: Shining
  • Day 20: Reviving
  • Day 21: Growing
  • Day 22: Comforting
  • Day 23: Holding Space
  • Day 24: Beckoning
  • Day 25: Stunning
  • Day 26: Igniting
  • Day 28: Introducing
  • November 2020
  • Category: SEPTEMBER 2017

    • Mettle and Metal

      Posted at 11:30 am by How the Light Gets In, on September 20, 2017

      Luci just asked me about Homonyms; words that sound the same but have different meanings.   I was looking down at my bracelets, one copper, one gold, one silver, and said “Metal, Mettle and Medal!”  I wrote them down and pulled out my phone to write the definitions… Heart started thumping.

      According to Webster’s Dictionary, Mettle is “a person’s ability to cope well with difficulties or to face a demanding situation in a spirited or resilient way.”  These past few years have tested my flipping mettle.  This person, ME, is TRYING to cope well with lots of difficulties.  And it sure has been in a spirited way!IMG_8609

      Do you see what’s written on my metal?

       “For this child I prayed: Lauren, John, Luci, Joseph and Lily” that comes from 1 Samuel 1:27.  What a sweet reminder, from a sweet friend, that these children of mine are answered prayers.

      “For such a time as this” is from Esther 4:14.  Another gift from an awesome friend, reminding me this is my story and He is right beside me.

      And my “Infinite love” band from yet another beautiful friend. (I have friends who know how to gift!!!). The box it came in says, “Love is strength that can move mountains.  Let this bracelet be a reminder that you are loved wholly, truly, infinitely.”

      And of course, my Pandora from Jason, each intentional bead representing a page in my story.

      Looking back at the definition of “mettle” and looking down at my bracelets, I see a bold difference in definitions.  While I have been able to face some demanding situations, my spirit, my mettle, has been made stronger with reminders like the ones on my wrist.

      I am not alone.  I have purpose.  And I am loved.

      When your mettle is tested, remember, You are not alone.  You have purpose. YOU ARE LOVED.

      That is more precious than any metal.

      Posted in SEPTEMBER 2017 | 3 Comments | Tagged Esther 4:14, Homonyms, mettle, Pandora bracelet, Samuel 1:27
    • Here’s My Heart

      Posted at 10:48 am by How the Light Gets In, on September 12, 2017

      “The creator of the heavens.

      The one who stretches them out.

      Who spreads out the Earth with all that springs from it.

      Who gives breath to it’s people

      and life to those who walk on it.”  Isaiah 42:5

      Yes, that God… My God is doing a little happy dance with us today.  Our God is high-fiveing and celebrating right along side us.

      The hospital called.

      The neurologist listed it all off, like a grocery list; “MS-no, Lesions-gone, Cancer-no, Not even a history of Lymes, No more cranial swelling, No more enhancement of the cranial nerves.  Yep, he looks good.”  She asked if I was still on the line but I was too busy crying in absolute shock to answer.  Did you exhale?

      Deuteronomy 4:9 says “don’t forget the things your eyes have seen… don’t let them fade from your heart as long as you live.”

      I can’t forget Joseph in the hospital; pale, weak, skinny, sad.  I can’t forget how he woke up so angry from anesthesia realizing he had a line put in his chest.  I can’t forget when he was waiting to blow out the candles on his birthday cake but was working so hard to pull his eyes together.  I can’t forget driving down Charles street to one appointment after another week after week. I can’t forget phone calls to any and every doctor, “Can you help me?  My son is sick and I need help.”

      “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight.

      What is whispered in your ear, PROCLAIM IT FROM THE ROOFS!”   Matthew 10:27

      This is my “roof” and I am shouting it friends!  There has been a lot of dark but the whispers of “I will hold your hand” from Isaiah or “Be strong and courageous” from James and “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” from Genesis… Come on!  That’s what we’ve been holding onto, breathing in!!!  And the exhale is a snot-nosed, red-eyed, blubbering ME, ready to hug everyone and dance all day!

      I want the pain, the beauty, the victory to leave it’s imprint on my heart and yours.  We’ve learned too much, right?  And life being life, there will be more.  So, let’s carry these lessons together.

      Also, the neurologist said she has “no explanation for why Joseph was so sick or for why he is fine now.

      Whateve’s Science, Spirit’s got this… If I see you, I’m hugging you!

       

      Posted in SEPTEMBER 2017 | 2 Comments | Tagged Deuteronomy 4:9, How the Light Gets In, Isaiah 42:5, Matthew 10:27, Miracle
    • Breathing and Believing

      Posted at 9:37 am by How the Light Gets In, on September 7, 2017

      Today is DAY 10 of waiting for Joseph’s test results from CHOP.  Ten whole days of testing ME — my patience, my steadfastness, my Faith.   Before I get into what these past days have looked like, here’s what I think FAITH looks like:

      Faith is NOT a label you wear.  Faith is NOT a statement you throw around.  Faith is NOT a destination.  Faith is a human being putting trust in an unseen God.

      Just before going into this 10 Day Test, I listened to a Jen Hatmaker podcast with guest, Brene Brown.  Among a million amazing things, Brown stopped me with this, “Don’t be scary when you’re scared.”  If my heart had hands and a highlighter, it circled that statement over and over.   So, I promised myself to hold onto that.  She also said, “Science and Spirit are all from the same source.”  Hmmmm… heart hands, highlight that too.

      This is where I have seen how Science & Spirit go hand in hand in Faith.  I just learned how to breathe.  Literally.  I have been doing it wrong all along.  Took 42 years to teach this human how to BREATHE.  Is God rolling his eyes at me? My physiotherapist instructed me to inhale deep and fill up my tummy.  And then, on the exhale, to imagine pulling two points on my hips together.  Want to know what I was doing so wrong?  I wasn’t breathing. I was holding my breath.  Anytime I was in the midst of something scary or hard (or just wanted to look thinner), I would hold my breath.  She said I was suppressing and holding onto the bad instead of experiencing it and letting it go.  Science and Spirit, baby.

      My physical body was stopping the very thing it needs for life, breathing, to numb a bad experience.  And as weird as it sounds, inhaling and exhaling correctly force me to be IN the moment, the good and the bad.  My homework these past two weeks, has been to breathe.  The timing of that science for the testing of this faith is divine, don’t you think?  “Breathing Homework” examples:  we were so excited to find a new trail at Loch Raven.  We explored it deep until we felt like we were all alone.  In THAT moment, with all 5 kids, on a beautiful day, overlooking the water, I inhaled sweetness and exhaled gratitude.  On the other hand, following a conversation with someone who meant well but scared the crap outta me; I inhaled slow fear and exhaled it OUTTA me.

      There are several scriptures about Faith that give it good visual.  Words like anchor, shield, etc.  We, as humans, need the visual sometimes for our unseen God.   There is, however, the person who gives us a visual to the unseen God, Jesus.  And He is my model.  God gave us his son to show us how to get it done!  God put flesh and blood to his divine power and gave us this… person.  The ULTIMATE combination of Science and Spirit.

      And you know what is so cool about Jesus?  He didn’t float around making people bow down.  Jesus walked, taught, cried from grief, lost his cool, took a break from the noise, asked for a pass, and he was always talking to God.   Jesus shows us FAITH is a LIFE FILLED WITH action, emotion, it’s a journey; side by side with God.    What I am trying to say is just because I have faith doesn’t mean these past 10 days have been me saying “God is good” with a numb smile.  I have cried, smiled, freaked out, prayed, called CHOP, prayed a bunch more; breathing in and out the whole time.  While I have been trying so hard to be steady, I have stumbled.  And you know what?  That is okay because “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning…”  Lamentations 3:22-23.

      God may be invisible but His love is not.  Reading the Bible, getting texts from you all, being healthy enough to see all of my kids off to school, the timing of hearing Brene Brown’s wisdom; all evidence of God and how he weaves His spirit into my everyday.  Pray for me as I wait on the science.

      inhale

      exhale

       

       

       

      Posted in SEPTEMBER 2017 | 1 Comment | Tagged Brene Brown, CHOP, Don't be scary when you're scared, Faith, How the Light Gets In, Jen Hatmaker, Lamentations 3:22-23

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