I’m writing today as a contributor to the Christian Writers Blog Chain. Our theme for this month is “Celebration.†Christianwriters.com is an excellent place to network if you’re a Christian writer or author.
A wedge of key lime pie is tangy and tart… coming full circle is a reason to celebrate!
Coming full circle… I don’t know about you, but in life whenever there is a loose end it tends to make me wonder. I guess I shouldn’t let this bother me, because I do know that there is a reason and a time for everything, right…
“There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
I’ve also found, in life, there are experiences that occurred that I can’t really “tie back” to anything definite until years later… then, when the “ahhh haaa” moment shows up, I can put the pieces of the puzzle together and everything fits together just right.
My family made me think of this today… we have some stories in our tribe, for sure. My daughter Rachael handed me a Father’s Day card that had mention of an evil twin… the cover… “Dad, I know it seems like I was a lot of trouble growing up,  but it was actually my evil twin”… and inside… “by the way, my evil twin is very sorry.” This really busted me up in laughter as I really had a time of it with her during her teenage years.
We struggled in our relationship for a really long time… but when it finally came together… when everything went full circle… it was good… and I mean really good! The same has been true in every aspect of my life… when I believe and trust in God.
Through all of that Rachael and I found the meaning of free will… true, unconditional love… and mutual respect. I know, I’ve written about this before… but I have a little different angle this time, so please bear with me…
Today, this thought has taken me back to an Andy Stanley sermon that is one of my all-time favs… it has to do with, among other things, having a right standing (or righteousness) with our Heavenly Father… and how when we mess up we come back to Him with our head hung low… apologizing and seeking to make things right… when, in reality, we’ll never be able to earn our right standing, which is why God gave us an out in Jesus, so we can be in His glory.
My point with Rachael is this… she couldn’t mess up her right standing with me or keep me from loving her no matter what she did. She messed up but she can always have a right standing with me… just as we all do with God knowing that Jesus died for our sins so we don’t owe God any more… it feels weird and makes us feel shameful and guilty whenever we make mistakes… but we can’t mess that up because Jesus has taken sin out of the equation… that’s the beauty and majesty of the Gospel!
Coming full circle… the pieces in the pie with Rachael and me fit together easily… it’s pretty easy to see how we gained love and respect directly through a cause and effect relationship between the two of us. Other times in life, the cause may actually have very little to do with the ultimate effect… the outcome. I can see that at work (through God, of course!) in my life today… in a variety of places (yep, including the HB!).
Remember, nothing worthwhile comes easy… a worthy pursuit, for the right reasons, is more precious than gold!
In case you missed it.. the pieces of the pie.. B-I-N-G-O… there’s the wedge!
Coming full circle… yep, there’s reason to celebrate… today and every day… no need to worry or feel uneasy anymore… because when everything comes together in God’s perfect time and way… all is good… and I mean really good  🙂
Note to evil twin: Apology accepted!
Do you have an experience where coming full circle gave you reason to celebrate?
Christian Writers Blog Chain
Chris,
I’m in one of those seasons right now that makes absolutely no sense to me, but I know God will make it clear to me in His time. It is an opportunity for huge growth, I know that much; pain always precedes growth. You know? And celebration.
Wonderful, thought-provoking post! Thank you.
Peace and blessings,
Chris
Yep, been there… done that Chris! I’m so glad that you have joined the group and am really looking forward to hearing more about how our amazing God is at work in your life!
Be Great Chris,
Chris 🙂
excellent! This is similar to my experiences with my kids. We’ve come full circle …
Maybe that’s part of the reason God gave us responsibility for our kids… I’ve really learned a lot from them! Thank you Tracy for stopping by today!
I often wonder if people who don’t have children can really understand the bit about how parents love their children unconditionally even when they’re acting horribly. Can they really “get” it when it relates to how God loves us even though…?
I loved reading this, Chris — and this week’s tie in to the wedge. First cake, now pie. I’ll have to have breakfast soon or I’ll start pulling the cookies out from the back of the pantry where I’ve hidden them (from myself).
lol… thank you Carol… unless I dream up something else tonight that may be the end of “wedge week” … we’ll see what He has in store 🙂
Carol, that statement about people who don’t have children not really understanding unconditional love sort of hurt my heart a little, and I had to say something. I don’t have children, net really through choice, through life circumstances, and trauma…
I did help raise my sister’s children, and through most of their lives up until they moved away, they thought of me as a 2nd Mom. But that’s not the point really. What I mean to say is I’m a child of God. A child the living, risen King. As such, whether I completely FEEL it or always know it, and i will NEVER full comprehend it because who possibly CAN and be truthful about it (who can know the ways of God?)…I am unconditionally loved by Him. So YES, I DO get it.
Peace and Blessings,
Chris
This is so true what you said about “ahhh haaa†moment showing up, maybe years later where it all falls together
It was pretty strange the first time it happened to me… now I see clues or signs for so many things in life that tie together… very thankful!
Interesting post…I think. After I saw that Key Lime Pie everything else sorta faded into the background. Truthfully, you’ve got an amazing daughter. Our oldest is 39 and we’re still waiting for some acknowledgement about those teenage antics that she’s convienently forgotten.
Peace and Blessings to you both.
lol… ahhh yes, the selective memory trick… 😉
Hey Chris, I almost forgot. You’re not going to eat that whole pie all by yourself are you?? ;o)
“Love your neighbor as yourself” right E.G.? I’m not the selfish type 🙂
Good stuff Chris.
Thank you Joe for stopping by today!
Chris, your post is most timely! Some crazy teenage “antics” in our house this week. But also some incredible moments of dependence on God (and a fair dose of humility as parent of one of those teens publicly called out). So interesting to watch God at work in ways I could not have imagined and would never have chosen. But He is God — ways far above mine (Oh, thank you, God!), plans far beyond my own, love deeper, richer, purer, stronger than I can begin to imagine or understand — in a word, perfect. How blessed to be His children, called out, set apart for His great glory through the precious gift of His Son.
Oooo…and I’ll share a bite of that Key Lime pie if you’re sharing!
Sounds like one of those weeks that will inspire more of your excellent poetry Cindee!
Chris,
I work with teenagers all day so I don’t see the change I just work with them, but when my son moved into the teen years I got a greater appreciation of how much a child can change in that phase of life. It’s so cool that your daughter had that light bulb moment. I know a lot of parents of young adults who are still waiting for that to happen.
I love your blog for what you share and learn from that daily experience Mike!
Good post Chris – it’s a great and humbling thought that we can’t mess it up totally with Christ.
Thank you Bill, man I am so grateful for what Jesus did for me… I want to keep on doing my best every single day to please God!
Thanks Chris. An encouraging read for anybody going through “something” in their life.
My two young children are being a bit difficult lately. I just had to keep trusting God to help me become a better parent so that I can teach them what they need to know to become responsible people.
Oh boy, it seems like just when everything settles down and we get into the groove in life something else pops up, doesn’t it?
Thank you for sharing here today Adam!!
Great post, Chris. I feel I’ve come full circle with my parents too. My childhood, especially the teenage years, was rough – pragmatic mama and drama queen daughter. We were constantly butting heads over something. As we’ve learned to relate as adults, the relationship has improved immensely. It’s been a real blessing.
That’s an inspiring story Traci, thank you for sharing!!
Chris, I love this post. I read it last week, but wanted to think about my comment. My sister, Patrice, often reminds me that God doesn’t waste anything in the life of a believer. I love your thoughts about coming full circle. One important thing for us to keep in mind is that God IS working in our lives. He is “behind the scenes” working, honing, shaping, loving. Trust is something I have had to work hard to understand and to live. It has not come easy for me. Yet, trust is exactly what our Lord deserves as He capably, wisely, and lovingly cleanses, shapes, and guides our hearts and the whole course of each of our lives. Thank you Chris. Blessings, my Brother.
Oh wow, Sandi I am honored that you would put so much thought into your comments! I am very excited about the plans He has for us and how he works in our lives, absolutely amazing.
… and Oh Boy to trust… I know I can trust in God to deliver and follow through with His promises… thankful 🙂
I’m thinkin’ this post brought tears to my eyes, to be reminded once again of the love of a Father. Isn’t if funny how things come back around like this? We may not understand why at the time, but God brings it all together in the end. Thanks for touching my heart today. (Sorry I’m so late this month.)
Glad you stopped by Deborah and thank you for your touching comments!
Excellent Post as always, and now I need to find some Key Lime Pie:) Peace and Blessings!!
Thank you Terrie, I really appreciate that! This was a fun one and I will be sad to see it (and the Key Lime Pie) scroll off my front page on Monday 🙁