"Trey Tuesday" - August 29, 2017

Flood Victims

Our heads and hearts are heavy with grief for the flood victims of Texas.  Their fear and loss are unimaginable!

Most of us have never experienced a physical flood like Hurricane Harvey has produced, but we all have suffered similar feelings in life:

- the flood of mourning

- the flood of stress

- the flood of illness/diagnosis

- the flood of un/underemployment

- the flood of fear

- the flood of loneliness

- the flood of exhaustion

- the flood of unworthiness

- the flood of betrayal

Maybe your life hasn't been filled with huge tragedies like floods or storms, but you live with a constant drizzle, chronic cloudiness, or perpetual fog.  They can be just as devastating!

How did Jay and Rachel weather the journey of Trey's diagnosis?
With faith in something bigger, stronger, and more stable than the doctors or any present circumstance!

Right now - right where you are - read over Psalm 18.  Read it.  Pray it.

Believe it!

"I love you, Lord, my Strength.

  The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer;

my God is my Rock, in Whom I take refuge,

my Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, my Stronghold."

Psalm 18:1,2

"Trey Tuesday" - August 22, 2017

Separation Anxiety

Do you still have your security blanket?  Or a favorite ball hat?  Or first license plate? Why?  Why do you hold on to something worthless like that? Because it isn't worthless!  :)  You don't want to experience separation anxiety from giving something up!

What you don't want to give up is not really the physical item, is it?  I mean, is that stuffed animal from your first boy/girlfriend realllllllly that cute?  Will you ever ever ever wear that rock band tshirt again?!?  Is that painting your preschooler made worthy of that frame you bought without a coupon?!

I still keep in my car a towel that Trey carried the day before he died.  He held on to it just in case he got sick while he was shopping at Five Below.  It's a plain old yellow towel.  Worth about 10 cents.  To anyone else.  To me?  It is priceless!

Holding that towel instantly takes me back to that day.  That place.  That precious, precious moment with Trey.  It's not about the towel.  It's about Trey.

God has also provided many physical items branded with His message, His comfort, His love: a newborn baby, thunderstorms, corn fields, an eclipse, seasons, puppies, friends, and much, much more!

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."  2 Corinthians 1:3,4

"Trey Tuesday" - August 15, 2017

I'm exhausted!

My brother, Jay Mitlo: How to Meet Emotional Needs, will be so proud of me when I tell him about my day!  :)  I was able to spend some time with a long lost friend, catching up on life.  We laughed.  We cried.  We cried some more.  And then some more.  She had a lot of recent hurts to tell me about.  I rode the virtual roller coaster of life with her, all while sitting in a local coffee shop.

No, I don't have a counseling degree.  (farrrrrrrrrrrr from it!)  :)
No, I wasn't paid to listen to her.

No, I didn't try and fix her.

And no, I don't have so much free time in my life that I can just sip coffee with friends all day.  God simply united us at this time with His wisdom and strength and love.

Anyone can be a friend.  Any one.  Listen and learn from those who make you feel loved.  Cling closely to the Author and Creator of Love and Relationships.  

He's ready and waiting to love you up close and personal so you can then sit with friends, walk with them, laugh, cry, carry burdens, and share life.

"love one another deeply, from the heart."  I Peter 1:22

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"Trey Tuesday" - August 8, 2017

A lot

Our lives are filled with A LOT lately.  We live in a country and culture filled with lots of stuff - and lots to do - and lots of technology - and lots of noise - and lots and lots of interruptions!  It can be overwhelming!  How do we get off the hamster wheel?  How can we invest time in cleaning, resting, praying, dieting, exercising, bonding, and balancing a budget without losing our minds?!?! 

Jay and Rachel learned how priorities need to be rearranged quickly.  Major life changes do that.  They grab our attention and can hold us hostage....but we don't have to surrender to them.  God can redeem those times for your good and His glory!

Get off the merry go round regularly.  Take a walk.  Go ahead - use the fine china.  Let a close friend in.  Give yourself some grace.  And space.  And time.  And rest.  And prayer.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13

"Trey Tuesday" - August 1, 2017

Treasure Hunting

Have you ever seen beachcombers scanning the shoreline, metal detectors in tow, seeking something/anything of value?

Or children prancing at the shore's edge thinking they want to find a crab, yet in reality they would scream if they ever succeeded?  :)

Or perhaps collectors searching for the perfect, unbroken shell?

What about you?  What are you hunting?  What is your treasure?  How do you invest your time and talents?

Jay and Rachel and Joe and Bella knew they needed to treasure every moment with Trey since his diagnosis.  Sure there were hard times, but there were also fun times.  Every day was a gift.  Every memory is a cherished treasure.

You may not be under doctor's care, banker's warning, or lawyer's counsel.  Maybe you are.

You may appreciate different kinds and sizes of treasures.  Some are temporary.  Few are eternal.  Spend your time wisely.  And make some awesome memories!  :)

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matthew 6:19-21