Just normal

Never have I been so deeply grateful for “normal.” Normal breakfast. Normal go-to-work. A normal walk in the woods. Normal go-to-school. Normal homework. Just…normal. 

This year has been anything but normal. But gradually, with school in full swing and Joel starting a new job, things are settling into normal once again. And I can’t get over it. 

What a precious thing normal is when the normal you once knew dissolved. 

The other day we were eating breakfast with various levels of grouchiness or enthusiasm when Maddie commented, “I like just normal home.”

And I paused and realized, yes. Thank you God for “just normal home.” Where we eat and play and love and argue and make a mess and clean it up. Where clutter piles and garbage backs up and the toilets are never clean. Where laundry is waiting and sunshine is streaming in and conflict is wrought and resolved. Where people grow and work and rest and live and worry and find peace. And love. Where we thrive. Normal home. 

Because home isn’t always normal, is it? Sometimes it’s hard and barren and strained. Sometimes things change — suddenly or gradually. And one thing is sure — they will. There is no constant here on earth. 

As the seasons change outside our windows, the seasons change inside our windows too. Maybe, expecting that, letting that just be, helps. 

We don’t have to have external “normal” in our lives to have peace in our souls. Jesus reminded us gently, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). We will have winter in our lives. It will come. And we can’t hold it back anymore than we can hold back the seasons. But we can have peace. Because this, whatever it is, is not forever. 

We can have the freedom to enjoy and be grateful for our blessings when we have them, and we can have peace and comfort in our sufferings when we have those too. Because He has overcome. We can learn that the secret to being in need and to having abundance is leaning on Him. 

Wherever you are today, Momma, in need or in trouble, in normal or in transition, whatever your season, take heart. He has overcome. 

He will walk with you in the valleys and thrill with you on the mountain tops. You are not alone. He is gentle and lowly and full of grace towards you. He knows that you fear and you forget and you don’t have good habits. In fact, that’s why He calls you a sheep. Because He knows you need tending — always. 

You are usually the one tending — making that “just normal” home you work so hard to keep running. But today, dear mom, let yourself be tended to.

Your enemies may be all around. Your questions like laundry and your troubles like clutter. Your children grow and the troubles multiply. But He sets up your table in the middle of it all. He spreads it with food and laughs at the time to come. He lights the candles and hangs up the banner — and it doesn’t say “Happy Birthday.” No, it says “Beloved.” And He starts to sing. Can you hear Him?  

Because He’s already overcome. He’s already won. And you’re already His. 

So drink the cup of joy or sorrow and lean into Him. And find rest for your soul — He is the “normal” that transcends your circumstances. 

“Fear not, O Zion;
    let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness;
    He will quiet you by His love;
He will exult over you with loud singing (Zeph 3:16-17).