God gives grace in many forms

This is one of my favorite pictures of Cohen sleeping. He gets pretty creative with the positions, especially in this side-sleeping positioner we've been using. We've tried quite a few different positions, soothing techniques, and other various tricks in order to try to get him to go to sleep easier. Sometimes we are successful, but more often than not it takes 45+ minutes of soothing him to get him to sleep. Needless to say, this is exhausting! (I realize that some experienced parents would laugh at my thinking 45 minutes is a long time to sooth a baby, haha, but I'm still adjusting!)
As we've been launched head first into the world of parenting we've learned just how different babies can be. Between talking with friends and reading parents' stories in books and online we've seen quite a spectrum - from the baby that sleeps through the night on night-one to the baby that screams night and day for 9 months. Through hearing these stories, and through our experiences over the past 4 weeks we've been reminded that God's grace is tailor made for each of his children. It's not neither helpful nor honoring to the Lord to wish for the grace that he has given to someone else instead of accepting that grace that he is so kindly offering to you.

For some parents, their grace comes in the form of a baby that sleeps very well. This is a gift from God, and should be treated as such. For parents with colicky babies, God's grace comes in the form of his sustaining presence and comfort from his Word, a friend who drops by to help out just at the right time, parents who come to stay for a few days to do the cooking and cleaning and to help the baby when he cries, and on it goes.

I've struggled in the past with thinking that my life has been too easy, and that that must mean that God knows I don't trust him enough to go through something really hard. Ridiculous, I know. But in that pattern of thinking, I make the fundamental mistake of thinking that anyone has the strength to endure difficulty on their own. God gives all grace and strength, for all good things come from his hand. And for this, He is worthy of our highest praise and adoration.

Thankful for Chik-fil-a

I started my Chik-fil-a training last friday, and today I'll work my first full shift at the grand opening of the new store just down the road. There were 75 people camped out in front of the store by 8:00 yesterday morning to be one of the first 100 in the door - each of whom will get free chik-fil-a for a year (52 meals). It was 34 degrees and raining most of the day!

Most people who hear that I'm working at Chik-fil-a would likely feel sorry for me. After all, I have a degree in mechanical engineering, why should I take orders at a fast food restaurant for 8$ an hour? Well, as a full time student, this is the job that God has blessed me with, and far from feeling sorry for myself, there are many reasons why I am thankful and pleased to have this job. And no, I'm not just seeking for ways to convince myself to be thankful so that I'll feel better. Praise God for making me content in all circumstances! Here are a few reasons why I'm thankful:

1. CFA trains and expects employees to treat customers with honor, dignity, and respect. My boss explicitly says that our goal is service from the heart (He's a christian). I need all of the practice in serving others that I can get!
2. CFA's corporate purpose is to glorify God, and the way they do business is a reflection of this purpose.
3. I work with a lot of other seminary students, which makes for a really encouraging enviorment.
4. A lot of people don't have a job right now, including many people with far more credentials than I. Right now, Meg and I have all that we need, and we trust God to provide for us in the future, according to His wisdom.
5. Free Chik-fil-a 3 times a week.
6. Megan likes the way I look in my uniform :)