Tim and I have been learning how God created the brain since 2012.  I want to remind you from my last blog that we recently attended a week long training with Thrive Today regarding this topic.  Please read the last blog before reading this one.

After all types of struggles during the week, I started getting sick with a cough that was getting worse.  I wasn’t really surprised because my body was spent.  Our training ended on Friday.  Our original plans were to stay in Michigan until Monday with friends; however, after lunch on Friday I started having major stomach issues.  It didn’t help my anxiety to see news everywhere about the parasite that was found in lettuce in Michigan. I had eaten two salads! “Lord, please don’t let me have this parasite!”

We decided to get an early flight home that evening.  We were DONE physically and emotionally.  And one of the things we were learning is that it is ok to take care of ourselves.  We got to the airport four hours early since we had already checked out of our hotel. The waiting game begins, again.  Then comes the worse news imaginable, our flight was delayed.  We tried to practice what we were learning all week.  Let’s keep our relational circuits on by quieting ourselves, praying, breathing, staying in a mindset of gratitude, and just plain making the best of it.  Oh, can I also give you just a little bit of TMI?  I’ll just say that a cough along WITH stomach issues is not a combination anyone wants!

Our flight gets delayed again. I was experiencing déjà vu and, on the inside, screaming no, no, no! We were flying with an airline we were not super familiar with this time.  I had flown with them before, but it was a few years ago.  We checked one bag and we both had a carry-on bag. The plane finally arrives and once again we will get home after midnight.  I hear the announcement over the intercom that you can only have one carry on and that includes a purse.  “What?  Did I hear that right?”  I go up to the counter to ask about what I thought I heard.  “Yes ma’am, that is correct.”   “What?!?  I have to pay for my purse?!?!”  They said to just try to squeeze your purse into your carry on.  My carry on and Tim’s carry on was packed to the brim.  I was losing it.  It never entered my mind to quiet myself and I sure wasn’t thinking about gratitude!  Now if you know me, you know that I do not normally cause a scene.  I don’t want all eyes on me!  I finally say, “OK, how much is it?”  When they said seventy-five dollars, I shouted seventy-five dollars!!!!  I angrily pulled out my debit card FOR OUR MINISTRY and handed it to her.  (Shoot, I should have given her my personal card. LOL Ya’ll I’m just keeping it real here as I tell this story.)  I’m not proud of this behavior.  Tim was all the way at the end of the waiting area when I turned and yelled to him, “I have to pay $75 to bring my purse!!!”

O.K. now enters the thought to calm down and breathe.  I hope you find this story as amusing as I did LATER.  (I believe Jesus has a sense of humor too.)  Jesus was in me and with me through the entire ordeal.  He never left me or condemned me, but He was sure clearing His throat a lot to get my attention.  🙂 His normal way of dealing with me is to remind me of who I am.  I love my relationship with Jesus.  It took me a few minutes to get my baring’s and remember my behavior was NOT matching my identity.  Now I’m embarrassed.

So, I will be doing these exercises to grow over the next year before I attend Track two.  And let me just say, I have seen God bring healing to people in lots of different ways.  I am more convinced than ever that the Spirit of God can do anything He wants whenever He wants.  People can experience spiritual and emotional growth and healing supernaturally.  God’s Word is inspiring, healing and crucial for growth.  What we are learning changes none of those things.  But honestly, I believe the most important thing right now is Tim and I are growing personally through what we are learning.  We are excited that the things we learned this week are already helping our connection with each other, and we know it will trickle down to our relationships with our kids and grandkids.  This will enhance their relationships with God, themselves, and others throughout their lives.

The day after I rough drafted this blog, I woke up very early with a memory.  When I flew this airline years ago, I had a backpack and a very small purse that I put in my backpack before I got on the plane.  Ugh!  Why do memories have to be so slow in the way they return?  I am now eating humble pie and really wish I could go back and apologize to the airline employee.  I sure am glad my identity is sealed and secure in Christ!  That means I don’t have to beat up on myself.  I can simply own it before God and make restitution when it is possible, and forgive myself.  And when I do, He is smiling.

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