Posted in Mission Stories, Personal Stories

I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles…

A friend bought the girls bubbles a few days ago. They’ve been biting at the bit to blow those bubbles with the babies!  BUT – the last time they did it in the house – the floors were so slippery the babies fell. After much begging and promising to clean up the mess – I let them blow away!

Each of my girls has their own style but I really enjoy watching Malaya. Malaya really admires each bubble she blows.  Each is a different size but they ALL reflect an amazing ray of colors. Some pop quickly while others linger and dance in the air. Some bubbles leave the wand with several friends – while others are little stragglers – all by themselves. Depending on how slow or hard she breathes; she can create a dozen little bubbles or one really large one.

Recently, I received some hard news and found myself teary-eyed. Malaya knows her Mother’s heart and asked me to blow bubbles with her. She told me they would make me feel better! I was eager for my mind to drift away from my circumstances – much like those bubbles. Trying to exhale through my tears, I started thinking, “Even though my breath is important to starting a bubble – I have no idea where it will go or how long it takes to pop. I can only watch and see what happens.” Of course, the bubbles have no life if I can’t keep blowing.

The principles of blowing bubbles seem to apply to so many circumstances in life. “Keep trying. Keep blowing.”  These words are much like 1 Timothy 4:15-16: “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (NIV) Again, the Lord is not looking for me to start out in a roar of wind…he is looking for my endurance in this race.

I am still trying to see the rainbow of colors that Malaya seems to see in her bubbles.  I know God keeps His promises (Gen 9:16) because He loves us with an everlasting love. Through his Everlasting love, I can see that this world is not all black and white and there are beautiful colors to be enjoyed. Through his Everlasting love, I get to notice the uniqueness of each person I meet, each friend I have, and each beautiful child God has given me. And like Malaya’s bubbles, I have no idea where any of these experiences and nuances will end up, but I am grateful to be part of the “dance in the air.”

And, through the mercy and grace of Christ  – when the bubbles of life “pop” – He breathes through me and I start again.