sheri carlstrom...slices of an ordinary life

I Wonder What Would Happen If....

...this is the question our church is asking.

In October my brother-in-law was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor in his pancreas. In December he had major, major surgery. As he and my sister and their kids entered this new place, I knew it would take a lot to get them through this territory, and no one person was going to be able to do it all. Enter the village.

What unfolded over the next several weeks was many, many generous people doing what they could:

• One person said they would care for the dogs;  many hours and sometimes days were spent at the hospital.
• Others picked up the kids to drive them to the hospital to see their dad.
• My mother-in-law sent money to buy my sister lunch at the hospital.
• I created an on-line meal plan with the hopes of providing a month of meals - so many did what they could in this area that filling this schedule was easy and yet provided the very nourishment for the body and soul of my sister's family.
• A friend sat in doctors appointments to take notes while the doctor spoke.
• Our other sister & brother-in-law, who live 1,000 miles away, met the need they could - Jeff flew to town when Tracey returned to work and spent a week providing meals and getting Greg out of the house.
• My brother and sister-in-law took them out for meals, visited and spoke hope into them.
• Many, many people provided financial support.
• Countless people lifted this family in prayers.

My point is this, no one person could have done it all, but together we did it all.

Sometimes as we look around, the need is so great that we can almost feel paralyzed, so we do nothing.  But I wonder what would happen if we were generous with what we have, and simply did what we could?

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is within your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back tomorrow and I will give it to you" - when you already have it with you.   Proverbs 3:27-18

And do not forget to do good and to share with others...   Hebrews 13:16

If you have a story about a time when you experienced generosity, please consider sharing it in the comments so we can all be inspired!

• Click herefor the Sonrise Church 40 Days of Wonder Blog to read more stories!
• Click here to read my husband's post (The Science of Wonder) on that blog.
• Click here to read my post (Being Brave Enough to Fear Not) on that blog.
• Click here to check out Take Them a Meal . Com

Running in the Right Direction

 
Cross Country - a sport new to our family this season because of Erin. In sixth and seventh grades she ran the 800 meter in track so that she could run in meets (she wasn't fast enough in the shorter distances), but by her own admission running long distance was not her thing. So imagine my surprise when she chose to join the cross country team this, her 8th grade, year. She ran with the team all summer, displaying a motivation and work ethic that I admired in the early mornings that were sometimes hot and humid.

Her goal the whole season was to improve her time, if even by a few seconds. She did that. At one meet she shaved 30 seconds off of her time, I asked how she did that and she replied that she ran the whole way. Apparently she had been walking some segments of the race, but this time she had run the whole course. Serioulsy, I am so proud of her. Today, at her last meet, she set a new time goal and she met it - to the second!

The way Erin looks at things is inspiring. She wants to be involved, she wants to work to be better, she wants to learn new things. She sets goals, she meets goals, she sets new goals, she is encouraging to others. I'm glad Erin is my daughter, her presence is uplifting and her efforts are inspiring. Good job, baby girl.

Another Ordinary Day...But Set Apart

It was an ordinary day...a Wednesday even, middle of the week, nothing really special at all, in fact I had picked up football carpool and run the youngest to day camp that morning. But it happened to be the day we marked twenty years of marriage. I'm not very big on Valentine's Day or anniversary celebrations, which tends to make things like this easy on my husband.

We did speak months ago about this particular anniversary though, and we acknowledged that it was falling in a very busy and memory making summer. We saw a graduation, a graduation party, lots of out of town family at our home, a 20th Anniversary, 5 summer camps, and a 50th birthday all in the span of about 6 weeks! So although we made some vague plans of a trip to San Francisco, we knew it would not happen on that Wednesday.

With four kids, and it being the middle of an already full week, it would have been easy to just grab some dinner out, exchange a card and come home knowing that later we would mark this milestone. Honestly, this would have been enough for me.

But Kevin made reservations at a very nice restaurant, my girls helped me decide which dress to wear, I wore some borrowed high heel shoes, and off we went. As we drove in his new (used) sports car, I felt a little transformed from "mom" to "date". 

We were greeted with "Happy Anniversary" by the hostess and waiter, and I felt set apart. As we lingered over appetizers, wine, dinner and even dessert, I felt in love. As  I read the letter my husband wrote to me, I felt loved. I wandered in my thoughts back to the beginning our life together as we stood together...apart from, but with family and friends, to say that we were doing this thing called life as one. 

We will get to San Francisco - hopefully this winter, when our daughter is settled in college and football  season is over for our son...although basketball season will be in full swing for our baby girl. I guess there will always be something scheduled in the boxes on the calendar - maybe not big stuff like graduations and milestone birthdays and anniversaries, just ordinary life stuff. But as we took time out for "us" last week, I was reminded that carving time out, and being intentional about nurturing us as a couple is what will grant us these ordinary days we so enjoy. It was a reminder that I needed. Happy Anniversary to the love of my life.

Oh yeah...our kids remembered we were husband and wife as well as mom and dad, and in addition to the roses, this is what we came home to on that Wednesday...  

Hello Mrs. Carlstrom

I walked into the dry cleaners the other day, a place I frequent almost weekly, and was caught off guard by this greeting, "Hello Mrs. Carlstrom". This dry cleaners has had my business for quite awhile but previous to this day no one had ever used my name. I was surprised that this casual greeting could mean so much. (maybe I need to get out more!)

But here is the simple truth, we long to be known.

It feels a little nicer to be known as Mrs. Carlstrom instead of that lady who comes in each week. The nugget from this experience for me is this, greet by name when possible. I am inspired to look at the name tags of anyone who serves me and call them by name. It is a small thing, but it might just make a little difference in the day of someone else.

Happy Mother's Day

Fellow Moms,

So our day is coming to a close, and before it is over I wanted to tell you from one mom to another, Happy Mother's Day, and Thank You.

Thank you for your presence in my life. You lift me to that next better place. You inspire me, walk with me, counsel, laugh, listen, pray for, and with me. Some of you daily, some of you not so daily. Some of you presently, and some from my past reach into my presence and guide me still. Some of you have been walking with me for ages, some of you I met last week.

Being a mom is hard. I believe I could not to it well on my own. I know when I walk into dark places, they would be darker if you were not holding my hand. I know when I walk in sweet places, they are sweeter because we share them together. I know when I walk in victory, it feels more victorious because we raise our hands as one.

Thank you fellow moms, you make this journey less lonely and more fun. I hope you felt as honored and loved as surely as you deserved today.

Love,
Sheri

On Loan

I had a conversation with my sister the other day that has given me a fresh perspective and great inspiration.

She met recently with a new executive officer at her company who brings not only his deep workplace expertise and leadership to his new position, but also his faith. Interesting.

Intrigued by this, my sister asked to meet with him. One of the things he told her is that he views his employment with this company as being on loan from God. Before I go on, think about that, that seems like a big concept to me. Wherever you are putting forth effort right now, you are on loan from God. Whether you are an executive, waitress, stay-at-home mom, engineer, or bus driver, you work for God.

Based on this viewpoint, when this particular executive sits in meetings and walks through his days, he prays and asks for wisdom and words to help make the company successful. He says he is succumbent to God. When things are said in meetings that are not feeling productive, he prays and then interjects what comes to his mind. Things of God, not my own reactions...hmmmmm.

What a wonderful, refreshing perspective and manner of going through the day. I'm not here for me, I'm here for you. I won't be defensive, I will be on your offensive team. I will take my eyes off of me and look at you. I work at a church, this should come naturally, right? But how many times do I think, I don't have time for this? How is this going to impact me? Wow. Yikes...and ouch.

How about this: my life is temporary. I am a temp working for God and my current placement is Communications Director at one of His many churches. What will I do during my time here to make the greatest impact for Him? How will I help our team be most successful...for Him? Good questions from a higher perspective.

Fasting to Turn to God

I have an idol. I don't like to admit it. I'm embarrassed to say it. I'm ashamed when I recognize it - but drift toward it anyway. I'm horrified when I think about standing before God with this sin in front of me.

With Lent upon us, I have been mindful of a recent message at my church about fasting during Lent. Fasting, traditionally from certain foods or entire meals, is meant for self-denial. The time that would have been spent on the meal is instead spent drawing closer to God.

This year I am engaging in a different self-denial, one that will hopefully lead me to smashing the idol that resides with me, thus drawing me into deeper relationship with God.

My idol is my computer. Although quite honestly, its not really the computer itself, it is the addiction to check e-mail and Facebook that has captured me. So the idol resides less with me and more within me. (Easier to hide that idol, harder to get rid of.)

I enjoy feeling connected. After joining Facebook, I understood the sense of community my friends and co-workers would speak of, and I like it. My e-mail keeps me in the loop with the teacher of a particular child of mine, friends who don't "facebook", and more. None of this is bad, but it is when it comes first and foremost in my day...I grab my coffee and check my computer.

But for the past nine days, I have grabbed my coffee and checked in with God. My "sacrifice" for Lent is that I will not check my the computer until I have checked in with my heavenly Father. I need to step around the computer and go to God first.

This was not easy the first few days, I wanted to cheat a little...except there is no cheating God a little. I either cheat Him, or I don't. To cheat Him is to steal from Him, so that would be a whole other commandment to work through.

I am only nine days into Lent and I will report this: It is good. I look forward to my time with God. My days seem to run more smoothly - and I am sure it is because I have ordered my day in an honoring way. My idol is already less attractive, God is more fulfilling. The connection on-line can make me smile, even make me happy, but the connection with my Father is bringing me joy.

Have you sacrificed something for Lent? If you have, comment below and tell us what you have given up and how it is affecting you. I'll start you off with a link to a friends blog, she sacrificed in an inspiring way - click here to read.

A Holy Moment

This morning, while worshiping in church, there was a holy moment that captured me. Today was summer camp kick-off at our church and the youth worship band was leading worship. I love when this happens, youth who are leaders anywhere in the church excite me.

My fifteen year old son leads kindergarten and first graders every other month in Sunday school; I love that little kids get to see a teen boy leading. It is quite possible his presence will inspire one of these little ones someday. The other thing that excites me is that as our kids become active members, the potential for their faith, community and connection grows. Hopefully this also creates more positive experiences so that as they go off to college or move away, they know the one place to get involved right away is a local church.

But, back to what happened this morning. My two daughters were on vocals and as we worshiped God through the song "How Great is Our God", I opened my eyes at a  moment when both the girls had their hands in the air and eyes closed, singing straight into the heart of God.

It was a holy moment. As a parent I could feel myself step back. This was a place that I pray about. This is the place I can let go. This is the place where I know its all OK.

There are moments and places where I want to walk as closely with my kids as I can, places where sometimes I am afraid, times when I don't think I can let go. But when I saw my girls move into the surrender of worship, I backed up, I teared up, I let go. As a parent, my deepest longing for my children is that they will develop a strong and enduring relationship with God. If they walk within the boundaries, love, mercy and forgiveness of God, I know the letting go (which begins to happen as they grow closer and closer to leaving this nest of ours) will be easier.

When they were very little, they raised their little hands to me and I picked them up with love. Watching them raise their hands to their heavenly Father, well...I am assured He will pick them up with a greater love than even I.

The $1 Difference

It is the season for the Red Kettles, sponsored by the Salvation Army. They are everywhere it seems, and I believe at some point or another, we've all done this...walked in the other door to avoid the kettle.

Sometimes we don't want to give not one more dollar. Sometimes we don't have even have one dollar to give.

Last year our pastor encouraged something that changed my spirit and my direction for this year. He suggested getting a bunch of $1 bills and dropping one in every time we pass a Red Kettle. Giving perspective, he said even if you cross 50 kettles in the season, its $50. So a few weeks ago, I went to the bank and got one dollar bills. (I keep them in a specific place in my purse so I don't spend them at Starbucks.)

The difference in me has been noticeable; I am excited to hear the bells ringing now. In fact, last week we were in New York City and instead of feeling grateful for the crowd that gave me the excuse to move away from the Kettle, I had fun navigating the crush of people to get to the many Kettles.

If you can, I challenge each of you who read this to get your one dollar bills and post back your thoughts and responses!

'Tis the season to Spend Less. Give More. Worship Fully. Love All. (That's our current message series at my church. It seemed to fit into this post. If you want to listen to the first message, given 11.29.09, click here.)

Right there the Whole Time

A few weeks ago, on a staff retreat, we received the gift of fifteen minutes of silence. We were told to go find a place to walk or sit and simply be with God. The trees were still very full of leaves, but were coming down like snow that day due to the wind. I found a bench under a tree that was covered with leaves, I brushed them off and sat down.

I had not been feeling very close to God for some time, and so I started out by reminding myself that God is not a feeling; whether I felt He was close or not had no bearing on where He actually was. As the leaves continued to pour down from the trees, I said to God, "Could I have a leaf, right here in my lap, as a sign that you are near?"

I immediately thought of Gideon who asked God to give him a sign by making his fleece wet while the threshing floor remained dry. When God did that, Gideon then asked the next day that the fleece be dry while the floor was wet. (Judges 6:36-40)

Then I thought about the verse"Do not test the LORD your God..." I was reminded of the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. They knew God was faithful whether they burned up in the furnace or not. (Daniel 3:16)

"OK," I said to God,  "it doesn't really matter if I feel you or not, it doesn't matter if you give me a leaf or not, I will trust that you are near." And I went on to pray and worship Him. When it was time to head to lunch, I dropped my hands out of my lap to stand up, and there it was...a leaf...in my lap.

I don't know when or how it got there, my eyes were open the whole time as I sat there on the bench. I watched leaves go to the left and to the right of my legs, I never saw the leaf drop into my lap. I laughed out loud - and thought, This is so like God. I didn't see or feel the leaf (or Him) show up, but I suddenly knew He (and possibly the leaf) had been here the whole time.

The other thing about the leaf was this - it was smallish and brown. I laughed at that too, I pictured a big, beautiful red leaf in my ask...God gave me a small brown one. As I chuckled, here's what I heard in my head, My grace is sufficient for you.

I walked to lunch and I tucked that leaf into my pocket as a reminder of God's faithfulness, presence and grace in my life; whether I feel it or not.