Broken...

This post comes as I have been reading and studying as part of a bible study I have joined this fall.  I have to admit that my heart was a little (read - a lot) hard as I began this study as I miss the sweetness of my old bible study in Columbia so dearly, even 1 1/2 years later.  But...the Lord has been faithful in teaching me through His word, even when I am stubborn...:)

A few weeks ago, we spent some time in Psalm 23.  It's a psalm that I have read/learned/memorized a thousand times, but this time a section of verse 4 really jumped out at me...

"your rod and your staff, they comfort me"  Psalm 23:4b

Sounds good, right?  I have read this so many times, but I don't think I ever took the time to really think about what that verse means in my life.  The psalmist in this passage is reminding us that the Lord is our shepherd and we are his sheep.  So...what does the shepherd use his rod and staff for?  Correction and discipline.  In fact, as I read more about shepherds, I found that they often broke the legs of the small lambs to keep them from straying....yikes!  However, they then carried them on their shoulders for safe-keeping until the lambs were able to keep up with the rest of the flock.  

So, as I still chew on this passage, a lot comes to mind.  Do I really find comfort in the correction and discipline of the Lord?  Do I desire to be "broken" so that He can carry me for safe-keeping?  When is the last time I have really been broken before the Lord?

I so desire this for my life and for the reflection of Christ that I want to be for my sweet girls and the world around me.  What a sweet picture of the Lord in Psalm 23 - desiring to break us so that he can carry us for safe-keeping.  Oh...that I would find comfort in that! 

Way to go, Ed!

So, I wanted to take a few minutes to brag on my sweet hubbie who raced in Ironman 70.3 Augusta last weekend.  Those of you who know me well know that I am no triathelete, but I happened to marry a pretty good one and am proud of his race last weekend!

The race was crazy long...by my standards anyway....1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, and 13.1 mile run (can you even imagine?!?).  There were also over 3200 racers....crazy, but fun that it was basically in our own backyard.  Ed had trained pretty well for it (and could I add that he usually trained in the early mornings before work so as not to take up too much family time...thanks, babe!) and he did just great!

Race day was really rainy and overcast, and as the girls were both sick, I left them home with my niece, Logan, so that I could greet him at the finish line.  I had guessed that the race would take him about 5 1/2 hours to complete, so I timed my arrival at the finish line based on that.  Well...imagine my surprise when he greeted me at the finish....I had missed him!  It was okay, though...it meant he had finished the race almost 30 minutes sooner than we thought...5:04:40!  Hooray!

Here he is at the finish...

And here he is getting his post-race massage...

There is one more race this season, Hickory Knob, which is one of his favorites and also one that will bring some of our great friends into town.  We are looking forward to it, and as for the Ironman...way to go, babe!