Adventures in Adulthood

The Tale of the Never-ending Dishes

I've learnt a lot about being an adult in these past few months, probably more than I'd like to to be perfectly honest.

Tinkerbell, we can be kids forever right? Right??

In my numerous house-sitting adventures (well.. two) I have learnt to appreciate just how much work goes into managing a house, and this is just with one person! *shudders at the thought of mess multiplied by children.*

Question: Do dishes secretly breed when you're not looking? Next time I'm going to conduct an experiment to test this hypothesis.

But seriously though, how do you do it? I saw house-sitting as one big holiday, with heaps of free time and getting to do whatever I want... NOPE! I mean, it was a lot of fun and I did have a fair bit of free time. But in between cleaning, gardening and pet care my best friends were Mrs Couch and Miss Bed.

My parents laughed at me, oh how they laughed. But on a more serious note I was able to tell them how much I appreciate everything they do for me, often without me realising. Apparently laundry doesn't just magically appear folded in your bedroom, who knew? (In my defence I do do my own laundry. . . sometimes).

Cleaning jokes aside, I also realised just how much I rely on my family for emotional support. I am blessed to be part of a very close family. I didn't realise this until friends came round when I was younger and they'd be shocked to find out that we actually, you know, interacted with one another beyond, "what's for dinner?" I guess a lot of families do have some kind of "family time" but perhaps it's a bit more habitual and integrated into my family's everyday living. I'm not sure but I am grateful.

In all of this I could see how God has provided for me throughout my life, and continues to do so. Sometimes it was little things, like emails from my mum inviting me to family events while I was away. At other times He reached out to me when I was "in the miry clay" (Psalm 40: 2) and, foolishly, not seeking the shelter of His wings to keep me safe (Psalm 91: 4).

I remember one evening I'd had a particularly upsetting phone call  (see: other adulthood adventures in the merry land of dating) and was well and truly in the pit. I sought comfort in earthly things: a hot cup of tea and Netflix (see: hot chocolate vs the love of God). As I wallowed in self-pity and emotional pain one of the kittens I was taking care of came bounding up, jumped under my arm WHICH WAS CURRENTLY HOLDING A BOILING CUP OF TEA and landed neatly in my lap (phew!), complete with her favourite toy.

Usually she'd scamper away again to play with her brother but she curled up, purring all the while, and fell asleep in my lap. This nearly bought a fresh wave of tears as I knew just how much God loved me. He was there, holding my hand, occasionally dragging me kicking and screaming, but loving me through and through.

So, dear reader, adulthood is mildly terrifying but I am well and truly thankful that in God's eyes I am still a little sheep, bleating madly and in need of a Shepherd. He has provided us with earthly shepherds too, whether that is a parent, friend, pastor or whoever that person is in your life who is helping you to navigate the Adventures in Adulthood.

If you look closely you can spot her toy :)

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Image credits:
(1) Image by Kristina-Henderson via Deviant Art. Used under CC licence.
(2) Image by Mysid via Wiki Commons. Public domain.
(3) Image by MB, featuring Evie and Jackson.
(4) Image by MB, featuring Abby.

God first, then chocolate

Hello internet friends! I apologise for my lengthy absence. It has been a very busy semester but I am back (for the moment) so yay!

Hands up if you love chocolate? If you don't (madness!) I imagine there are other indulgences in your life, be it Netflix, coffee, gardening or particularly scrumptious crumpets with butter and jam (I could really go for some of those right now).



And it's not bad to enjoy these things!

But we must acknowledge that they do not solve the problem. Yes, despite what the television tells you chocolate will not make everything better. Nor will delicious crumpets (*sigh*).



It's not even necessarily bad to have these things when you're feeling bad. My dad's go to "cheer-up-crying-daughter" solution is hot chocolate. But lately he started praying for me first and then administering the delicious brew.

His reasoning was this: Yes, hot chocolate cheers you up but what you really want is not the actual beverage but the feeling of love and care when I make it for you. That's fine but what you really need is God's love. So I'm still going to make you hot chocolate but I want to pray for you first.

An interesting effect of this is that I have since stopped wanting hot chocolate as much. I still enjoy it and get all the warm fuzzies when someone makes it for me but I don't crave it in the same way.

To me this indicates that dad was right and what I was really craving was the love of God.

It is not unusual for me to turn to food or other sources of comfort when I am sad or stressed. But before long I will find that it does not satisfy and the negative feeling is not displaced. This is especially true when I am feeling particularly depressed and having a bad mental health day. I will drain people dry trying to fill up the emptiness and hurt inside but it never works.

I thought this was a beautiful quote from Nick Vujicic.

Lately I have been disciplining myself to turn to God first, and then chocolate. Within reason it's okay to have the chocolate:

"All things are lawful but not everything is profitable."

Corinthians 10: 23a

But chocolate will not solve my problems, it will not love me and it certainly will not save me. So, let us turn to the one who gives us rest for our souls (Matthew 11: 29) before we take another bite of that Hershey bar.

I was inspired, in part, by this great post by Eva Bridges who is a Christian missionary in Israel. I've referred to this post before, and it continues to have an impact on me! I encourage you to give it a read.

God bless and have a wonderful week.

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Photo credit:
(1) Image by condesign. Public domain.
(2) Image by Church Iglesia. Used under CC license.
(3) Image by jubileelewis. Used under CC license.

Welcome to adulthood!

"It's not that you're bleugh, it's just that you feel bleugh. . . Because the situation is bleugh. You know?"

Hands up if that makes sense? No? Honestly, it's like you need context or something.

Dating.

Oh yes, the dreaded 'D' word.

I am beyond the age of simple and sweet high school crushes:

So do you like, like him?? 

Weeeell, I like him but I don't know if I like, like him.

I don't think things are much clearer now. Sure, my vocabulary and syntax are a little more sophisticated but it's still terrifying, uncertain and messy.

Add in my delightful baggage and you've got yourself a gen-u-ine adult relationship!

Attempting to navigate these waters is little like a "blind man in a dark room looking for a black cat that isn't there" (thanks John Waller). I must constantly come back to God and entrust myself to Him or I am liable to go insane. I need Him to remind me again and again how valuable I am and that rejection does not mean I am "unlovable."

"Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." 

(Luke 12: 7)

To any young women reading this: You are valuable. You are precious to the Most High God and nothing and no one can take that away from you (Romans 8: 38-39).

And don't forget Gloria Gaynor ;)

What advice can you offer on the dreaded D word? Any good lesson learnt along the way?

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Photo credit:
(1) Image by whology. Used under CC license.