Blood and Seasons

As blood gushed out of my son's head, "Not again!" I cried. We had friends over to celebrate my 35th birthday and I was about to cut and enjoy my delectable birthday cake. Everyone sang happy birthday to me, as I quickly cut the chocolate cake, but no leisurely enjoying. Instead off to Urgent Care we raced.

It all began on a beautiful sunny day in late October. My future lawn mowers were only 3 and 5 years old, so I was the one mowing our large yard. (As an exercise physiologist by trade, no riding lawn mower, only embracing all the functional exercise while pushing the mower.) I had only one quick section to finish before we were heading in for F.O.B.-"flat on your bunk" napping or reading or whatever as long as you were quiet and on your bed. Suddenly the boys started screaming. I said a quick prayer, "Lord, just one more short row to finish. Please help the boys stop fighting."  As I turned to shush the boys' battle, I freaked out. Markus had a huge gash with blood flowing freely from his forehead. "Oh no! My child is going to be brain damaged!" I thought, as I saw deep into his head. Quickly I grabbed a handful of towels for for him to hold on his wound, whoosed the boys into the van, and rushed to Urgent Care. (My memory is that on the way I called my doctor husband to get our surgeon neighbor who worked down the hall to meet us in U.C, but since that was before cell phone, maybe I just called from our home phone before leaving?!) 

Even though they put in several layers of stitches, thankfully the wound was not all the way into his brain as I imagined, and the doctors assured me there was no brain damage. My poor son, who was just trying to help by moving our pool off the lawn, was hurting big time. (He had picked up our plastic baby pool to move it off the grass, but it was too heavy for him to control and his forehead slammed into the cement half wall on the edge of our patio as he was pulled down.)

Jump forward several weeks to my birthday. my son had his stitches removed in the morning. Towards the end of my birthday dinner, the boys had been excused from the table to go play until we were ready for birthday cake. Once again, I heard the boys scream and turned to look as my five year old came toward me with a huge gash and blood flowing freely from his forehead. Yikes! "Boys, what happened?" My son indignantly replied that his brother would not give him a hug so he head bonked him.

Through the years, with four sons I had four lawn mowers, who had more than their fair share of blood and broken bones. They would outbid each other to get the job of mowing the lawn. (Lawn mowing was a paid chore in our household.) The boys all took great pride in keeping the yard looking good. Lawn art became a thing at our house- mowing into the grass graduation years and initials in May, a big cross at confirmation, olympic rings, "welcome back", etc.

Now my boys are off. I am back to mowing the lawn and every time, I cry...I remember the season of raising boys with great joy, but also with sadness that those days are over. Although my husband and I are on to a new season of life that also brings great joys, sometimes I just have to cry.  (Now my sweet husband often mows the lawn to get his exercise.)

For all of you parents in the season of children at home, remember this is a season...maybe blood and broken bones, hugs and kisses, sleepless nights, cheering, angst, laughter, training your children, and so many things. Enjoy-this is just a season, that may seem long, but flies by quickly. Ask for help-empty nesters understand the intensity of child rearing and would love to be extra hands and support for you.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 talks about seasons. "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under Heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."

As I was writing this blog post, thinking about the title, it reminded me of Lent, the current season of the church year. I cry with sadness and great joy! This season we think of Jesus, the son of God, who came to fulfill the law and be the perfect sacrifice to pay the price of all our wrongs, by dying on the cross after a bloody beating.  With great joy, I thank Jesus that He paid the price of my sins on the cross and look forward to Easter when Jesus arose conquering death. All believers in Jesus will get to live in Heaven-a perfect place where "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall be mourning nor crying
, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4. Wow, what a season of no blood and great joy!

As we celebrate this season of Lent and Easter, sadness and great joy, I encourage you to be in church to worship and be strengthened by God's Word and a community of believers-Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday. If you do not have a church home, please reach out to me and I will help you find a church home. I want to see you in Heaven some day. Jesus is the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.

I Just Want to Go Home

"I just want to go home!" cried not only the Murdy family, but also the children of Israel, hurricane victims, refugees, and maybe you?!

Why DID the children of Israel of the Old Testament want to go back to slavery? I always wondered. Suddenly I understood! They just wanted to go HOME, back to familiar territory. As I house hunt and try to adjust to life in a new city, struggling to deal with my own feelings about home, I think about those children of Israel, who left their homes. What did God have for them? “And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart before the people.” (Exodus 13:21-22) God does not depart from us either. In incredible ways, God has also been and continues guiding my family, by open doors (and closed ones, too), by words of trusted Christian family and friends, by our Bible readings and devotions, by messages from sermons and songs. God has brought us to this new place and we trust that He has a new home for us.

To the children of Israel and throughout the Bible, God reminds His people not to worry or be afraid. “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you: He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8) Almost every day I need to read this verse. What a sense of peace we have, knowing that God IS with us.

One of the many blessings of this new place is the people of Concordia High School. Last week at a Concordia  girls’ Bible study, Allie read this verse: ”For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city to come.” (Hebrews 13:14) Wow. Exactly what I needed - to be reminded that we have no lasting city or home on this temporary earth, but we seek our permanent home in the city to come in heaven.  

What about you? Are you in a place of just wanting to go home? I would love to hear your story. Feel free to email me at ksmurdy@gmail.com.

Where is home? Of course home encompasses so much more than a physical home. My husband, children, and I have been discussing home frequently these past few weeks and months. How easy it is to be connected to our earthly homes.  But God has prepared the best home for us in heaven. Let us all keep a perspective, not becoming too attached to this earthly place, but keeping our eyes on our perfect home awaiting us in the city to come, heaven.

Best of Times, Worst of Times

As my family travels we like to sing along with Jimmy Buffet, “These changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, Nothing remains quite the same…” This time of year is filled with graduations, weddings, and new babies, Changes…”Nothing remains quite the same.”

Personally my family is about to experience a major change. (More on that in a later blog!!) Changes are often both the best of times and the worst of times.

I invite you to read a blog post I wrote for WLI:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” So begins “A Tale of Two Cities”. Since my high schooler was reading this classic story, I decided to read it, too. I love the way Charles Dickens masterfully creates contrasts.

“It was the best of times…” It was Christmas Eve. “It was the worst of times.” It was Grandma Barbara’s last breaths on earth. My son, along with his new bride, Leah...continue reading here http://wlicuw.org/the-best-of-times-the-worst-of-times/

When I think of change, a few lines from a verse of one of Dad’s favorite hymns, “Abide with Me” comes to my mind:

“Change and decay in all around I see;

O Thou who changest not, abide with me.”

As we go through changes, we cling to our Savior, who does not change. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrew 13:8

If you are looking for a speaker for your group, please contact me; I love to talk! Check out the link to my page on WLI Speaker’s Bureau http://wlicuw.org/profile/speaker-karen-sue-hinz-murdy/

The Women’s Leadership Institute educates, encourages, and equips women for Christian leadership in the home, church, workplace and the world. WLI’s vision is to develop capable and confident women who serve Christ, embrace their gifts in service and leadership, and mentor others to do the same. http://wlicuw.org/