It’s Okay to Let Go

I was watching the movie Finding Nemo the other night with my kids, and there is one scene that always hits home for me:

While Dory is helping Marlin find his son (all fish), they end up inside a whale. Neither one knows what is going to happen next when the water begins to lower and they are caught in the flow of water heading to the back of the whale’s throat. Marlin—in his negative mindset—only sees the worst and believes they are about to be swallowed. He holds on to the whale’s tongue with all his might to keep that from happening.

Dory—on the other hand—has a positive outlook and “goes with the flow”.

Marlin catches her. Dory tells him, “He [the whale] says it’s okay. It’s time to let go.”

Marlin asks her, “How do you know!? How do you know something bad isn’t gonna happen!?”

Dory replies, “I don’t.”

And with that, Marlin closes his eyes and decides to let go. Instead of becoming food as he thought, the whale shoots them out of his blowhole in the location they needed to be to find his son. The whale never intended to eat them but only had their good in mind.

There are many times when we don’t know what’s going to happen next… You lose your job and you wonder how you’re going to support your family and keep your house… A loved one is diagnosed with cancer and you wonder if they’ll make it through… You lose a family member unexpectedly and you wonder when you will find peace. These situations can be scary, but knowing you can trust God makes all the difference. He will give us what we need when we need it. We just need to remember that it’s okay to let go of the situation and give it to God.

Reflect the Son

When I was driving to work yesterday morning, I just couldn’t help but notice how bright the moon was shining. A day away from a full moon, the moonlight just spread over the landscape. It was so beautiful! But there are also times when the moon is barely evident… fading in and out of the clouds, a crescent glow, or not visible at all.

We can compare the moon’s reflection of the sun so similarly to our reflection of Christ. May we be like that full moon and fully reflect our God. But how often is it more like the crescent moon, barely making a presence in the scene? Or are there times when we our words and actions don’t reflect Him at all?

I challenge you to stop and think about what you’re really reflecting to others in your life. Do you show God’s love and compassion to everyone around you, or do you pick and choose the recipients? Whether we realize it or not, people notice the way we live.

Charles Spurgeon said, “We are watched; our words are caught; our lives examined–taken to pieces. The eagle-eyed, argus-eyed world observes everything we do, and sharp critics are upon us.” How true that is! I pray that we don’t shy away from living our beliefs but that we shine so brightly for our God that others can’t help but notice. I pray that others are drawn to that light and want to know more about Him.

Silly for a Good Cause

Going to the store with three kids under the age of five on your own is not the easiest thing to do. While one is headed in a different direction, another is trying to hide in the clothing racks, and yet another is sitting in the cart crying as loud as possible. You may be laughing—but it’s because you know it’s true. If you haven’t experience it personally, you’ve seen a mom in a very similar situation. It can be frustrating and very exhausting, both physically and emotionally.

In this case, I’ve enjoyed the small number of quick trips in which I’ve been able to take my oldest daughter to the store for a few items. She recently turned four years old, and she loves any attention she can get.

First of all, as we walk to the store, she always tells—no, make that screams at—oncoming cars to stop so we can cross the parking aisle and get inside.

Once we’re in the store, it never fails that she says, “Hi!” to every single person we pass. Then, after they say hello back, she begins to tell them about what we plan on getting at the store, her little brother and sister, or anything else that comes to mind. (If you know my daughter, you know that can be pretty entertaining.)

As we’re hunting down the items we need, she tells me a story about a princess or horses. If she’s not telling me a story, we sing songs—and not very quietly. If we don’t know the song playing in the store, we pick one we do know. (“Real Gone” by Sheryl Crow and “Life Is a Highway” by Rascal Flatts have been a couple of favorites lately.)

After we finally get everything we needed, we head to the cash register. That’s where she starts the conversation with the cashier, listing the items we bought or what we’re going to do once we get home.

Then, we’re headed back to the car. After stepping outside, we always hold hands and skip together as we cross the parking lot (watching out for traffic, of course).

On our mother-daughter trips, it may look like we’re losing our minds and have no concern for the people around us. I hope it looks more like a mother and daughter who are having fun, regardless of the way it appears to others. She always brings a smile to her worn-out mom and usually to most of the people she stops along the way. And if I can bring a smile to her face by acting a little sillier than I normally would, what’s the harm?

Still Lives On

There’s no doubt about it–our minds are somewhere else today.

You see, today would have been our grandpa’s birthday, but he died in a car accident a little over four years ago.

He influenced so many lives. We looked into the eyes of more than eight hundred people who came to see him one last time. As each one passed, their actions and body language portrayed such sorrow and regret, yet also deep gratitude. Just a simple nod in our direction conveyed a message so powerful, no words could ever compete.

While we deeply miss him, he left behind an example of the lifestyle, service, and relationships we aim to have as well.

He sang with so much passion and adoration. When he led worship at church, he was a model for us to follow. He sang just for his King, and we know that he was truly worshiping his God. And now, after all those decades of singing “How Great Thou Art,” Grandpa is finally seeing Him face to face and truly seeing all of His splendor and majesty.

As we listened to him pray, his conversation with God reflected a relationship with Him so deep and so personal. When he prayed for others, he was genuine in what he asked. He spoke as if he knew Him well, and we have no doubt he did.

His actions served so many people, yet he never once bragged about it. We’ve heard from others how he stepped out and helped them. And he protected their privacy and feelings from the rumors of others.

He was so real… so authentic. In a world of acting and pretending, he refused to play along. Instead, he fought for the best in every situation. He stood up for what he believed, yet listened to make sure he had all the information. His compassion for others was overflowing.

What memories impact us the most?

Kari:

One week as we sat in Sunday school, he came right out and said, “I don’t understand how God could allow that to happen to Job!” It was the first time I had ever heard anyone at church express, not doubt, but a genuine, sincere question about God. He showed me that even mature Christians struggle with comprehending God’s actions. And he commented that when he finally got to Heaven, one of the first debates he would argue with God would regard Job. Well, I’m sure by now he has finished that debate, and he understands what God was doing.

Kristi:

I remember overhearing him and others discussing the tragedy at Columbine High School. He said, “I don’t know what I would do if someone asked me if I believed in God and, if I said yes, they would kill someone else. I would be tempted to say no.” That took me by surprise! Up until that point, I would have thought to say no to save the other person. That would be the right thing, wouldn’t it? But he made me realize that answering no would be denying that I believed in God, and I don’t want to do that. I would pray for the strength and courage to answer yes and have faith that God was in control.

While that car accident may have taken his life, we can say that he still lives on, because he invested in so many people that his spirit will never die. May we learn to express the joy, the sensitivity, and the heart of service that so many found in him.

by Kari Lee and Kristi Green

Sometimes, It Takes the Dark

It was dark. It was cold. It was 4:30 in the morning.

I was trying to get my kids in the car so we could start our day, but all they wanted to do was stand outside and look at the stars.

After several attempts, I finally stopped trying to get them in their car seats and looked up at the stars with them. I realized it had been far too long since I stopped to appreciate their beauty and wonder, and I didn’t notice the dark or cold so much.

Standing there and looking at the stars reminded me that sometimes we can feel like we’re in a dark and cold place. We feel all alone, we’re hurting, and we wonder what good can come from it. But it’s only in the dark that we can truly see the splendor and beauty of the stars, and it’s only in our weakness and trials that we can truly see how great God is and what He is capable of doing.

Welcome!

Welcome! I want to thank all of you for your interest in what’s happening with Moonlight Christian Resources. Unfortunately, I am unable to keep my web site going… so here’s my alternative! I will do my best to keep adding new material for you to read, ponder, and comment on. Any feedback, comments, or discussions are encouraged and appreciated!