In spirit of the NASCAR Chase season, I give my "burn out" to those who climb in those cars each weekend.
Last year I had the chance to experience the full view in driving a real race car! This had been a life long dream from my childhood days of being a true Race Girl! Growing up, I would spend many nights with my Dad, out and about in the local race team's shop. I remembered the rumble of the engines as they would roar throughout the area as they cranked for the first time after being built by this crew of proud engineers!
I remember watching the race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway for the first time with my Dad and dreaming of what it would be like to go that fast.
Here is a little recap of my experience!
- I listened intensely to every detail the trainer taught me.
- I bought the extra insurance so I wouldn't have to give the track the cash in my hands if I hit something or someone.
- I needed 2 cushions to boost me close enough to the pedals. (I'm vertically limited!)
- I was scared to pieces.
- I had to listen to my spotter.
- I finished my laps and smiled the biggest smiles possible.
The whole time during our training course, the instructor kept saying - "Listen to your spotter!" This hit me hard as I climbed in the car, the head devices restricting me from seeing fully around me, no mirrors to help me. Headphones on. Mic check. Sound check. The spotter was ready.
You see - this spotter is located high above the track and his main role is to watch for anything that would put me in danger or to tell me when I'm putting others in danger. He's positioned up above and has a view or perspective that I can't see. I had to depend on this spotter to help me out. He was my only way of living through this experience. Cars going 180mph all around me, I had to listen to all he told me to do, and not do. My life depended on it. My wimpy 115mph experience had nothing on the pro's.
That is much like living life as a leader. I have to depend on the Holy Spirit to guide me, show me, correct me, warn me, train me, watch out for me. My listening to the "spotter" and the Holy Spirit both involve my actions bringing harm or health to so many people around me - my family included. Hitting a wall at high speeds brings the same result as not listening to his warning when a situation needs His presence.
Throughout this high speed adventure and dream come true, I was gently reminded - I must allow my "spotter" to help me. I can't do this alone. Too much is at stake! No insurance coverage can take care of that.
I'm thankful for the Holy Spirit and how he gently directs me each day. Watching every detail.
What are way's God is showing His presence with you?
Are you allowing Him the chance to be your "spotter"?
I hate to break the news to you, but I don't wear the "Super Mom" wardrobe under my normal attire, nor do I have the "Wonder Woman" boots in my closet to pull up on any given day. I do happen to own a very well worn "Super Woman" t-shirt that has met my best 5K running days. Other than that, No super powers here. Just a lot of grace, loads of laughs and tons of failures to hop over.
I am not entitled to wonderful super powers or potions to help me maneuver my kids to the car in time to get out the door to an appointment or class, nor do I have cryptonite on hand to squelch the radical "eye rolling" replies when I ask the kids to clean their room. Surely I do not hold super powers that help me interrupt, referee or suddenly stop those sibling squabbles that we have had the luxury to experience.
I'm a normal wired Mom. I'm a protective Mom. I'm a working Mom. I'm a non-stop Mom. Just like many of you!
Over the last few months, I have had a few people ask, "How do you do all you do?" ... here is the answer. It's really simple. When God asks you to do something, He provides the grace to do it, He provides the wisdom to complete it and He gives you the strength to complete it.
I pray.
Without His wisdom and direction, I fail. I need His grace. I want His presence. When I have spent time with Him, all can tell - especially my family. I want them to know of His faithful love, not just mine. I want to know His heart. When I have spent time with Him, I can do anything ... including taking on the most ferocious villains.
I prepare & plan.
Time is made up of moments, and moments are manageable. This means managing & preparing every thing I can to care for our family well. This means menu planning, school lessons, cooking days for the week ahead and reading every resource I can to stay alert to seasons our children are in developmentally & spiritually. We have to grow ourselves as parents to be ready for the seasons approaching for our kids. I want to grow our kids greater than anything we have been or could be. I want them to know how to enter into their world with confidence! I want to grow them well. This takes preparing & planing well!
I protect.
When you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else. Don’t let it be your family. We don't say "yes" to everything - we can't! Unfortunately, we will occasionally have to say "no" to events & gracious invitations, in order to savor the quiet moments for the Haas' sanity. I have also learned the importance of "detaching and engaging" so I can be solely focused on seeing their smiles. I protect their hearts and mine when we make this simple commitment. I protect by sometimes saying no to them too. It's ok. They are ok. They survive our "No's". They haven't melted into green slime by our "No's". I may not get the "Cool Mom" vibe or return eyes, and it's ok.
I play.
I make time to play. When I play, I wanna play free & exhaustively hard. I like play time. I like having times with my husband on dates where we get to keep our romance kindled. I cherish the time with my "girls" who I keep accountable with laughter and grace! I love to play with my kids, taking them on adventures and watching their eyes intensely in the quiet moments too. I make time for play time now like never before. It keeps me healthy. It keeps me smiling. It does wonders for Super Powers!
As you obey what God has asked you to do, in parenting, your job or school - whatever He has asked - He will give the grace to you to do it. Super Powers Unite!
Now, I'm off to fight the villains once again!
Fight On!
