The rooster crows indignant of the stifling heat and humidity that is already billowing in through open windows of the old farm house. He seems to be daring the day into being, his mighty crow a lusty, bring it on dare. I, on the other hand, am not feeling so bold this morning, longing for a reprieve to the stifling, bone roasting heat, coupled with the thick weight of the air makes it hard to breathe deep. Ah, summer.
Those fabulous days by the lake, sunshine and happiness radiant everywhere. Slowing the pace to really soak it all up, take it all in, before winter overtakes us all once again. Creating intentional moments, fire-crackling nights, the faintly musty smell of canvas and sleeping bags hauled up from the basement wrapping us all in familiar tradition. As the garden grows and bursts into bloom, we also get to grow and bloom. The intensity of heat, the fire of our soul, cracks us open creating ash and fertile ground to feed our growth. To help nourish us into the next season.
So I, like that brazen little rooster out there, say a wholeheartedly, bring it on! I am here for the journey, I can take the heat, at least well enough to know that this is what it takes to move forward. This burning in my soul, my heart, embers on fire breaking me open to be more, give more. I stand in the flames, no longer willing to be afraid of the heat. My soul gently smoldering in love. I got this. We got this. This is how you do this parenting thing, you give your heart fully, the weight of the love cracks you open, makes you more, dares you to give more, and the soul gives way to the heat of it all, breaking open charred cracks making room for more love.
With the heat of the day on the horizon, I quiet my blazing heart. I search inward for Jesus, for an example of how to give more, how to be more, how to love more. And the answer is right there, you let the cracks bust wide open, you stand in the fire, you surrender to grace. You lay it all down, the fears, the anxiety, the old patterns, the what ifs, and let it all go up in flames, smoke puffing hard, burning you back to faith, back to big love.
Because that’s what its all about.
Love bigger than all of us. That’s what we need to put out the fire of the moment, a splash of icy cold refreshment washing over the five-alarm bells clanging in my head, bringing peaceful restoration to a parched and heat-worn soul. God of the Universe holds us all in His hands, and His love is big enough to put out every fire.
I lean in, lean on perpetual love. Love that does not end, love that is always there, love that is bigger than me, or any heat tested moment. The grace of heat filled days are never more than we can stand, but it might crack us open, just a little wider so His love can seep in through the cracks.
The Perpetual Jar of Iced Tea
I love this idea, to quench the heat, restoring body, mind, and soul. Iced tea always goes fast in our house, and it’s hard to keep up. This solution solves that problem, by always having a gallon on the go.
The simple solution is this: Cold Brew Tea.
The idea is to always have a jar at the in the fridge. This is brilliant with a house full of thirsty teenage boys, and a parched and smoldering mama.
Directions:
Fill a glass gallon jar with cold water.
Add 4-6 tea bags*, cover with a lid, and place in refrigerator overnight, and in the morning you will have tea.
Remove tea bags add lemon and desired sweetener, or leave unsweetened and allow each to sweeten their own glass to their liking.
*the rule of thumb is approx.. one tea bag per quart of water, but this may vary depending upon how strong you like your tea. Also, the beauty of this simple notion is, you can make as much or as little as you like…so as those teenage boys take flight, you can adjust accordingly, some days, as people flow through the revolving door of this old farm house, a quart of iced tea is just right. 😉
I first saw this fabulous idea on Carmella Rayone, Assortment.
wendy snobl 