That post about milkshakes

Next to When God Broke My Heart, I get the most comments from people referring to “that post about milkshakes.” It seems that we as women are always bombarded by the needs around us and constantly need wisdom on how to navigate it all. So, for all of us, as we head into the new year and consider who and what will “get straws” in our lives, here is “that post about milkshakes” (updated):

I didn’t mean for it happen, the dates just all fell together. Seven speaking engagements in two weeks.  Sprinkled among these was the preparation for a 3-week roadtrip to visit family, Jeff gone 3 days attending The Resurgence, and then the regular stuff of like, homeschooling and church-planting and breathing and bathing and eating and what not. Oh and then–surprise!–“Julie” is back in our lives (Hooray!!).  And during times like these I always remember a little something … (Or at least I try to remember. When I forget, this whole walking-out-on-my-family thing happens.) I try to remember this:

Something about milkshakes and straws. 

See, my kids love their daddy, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that if we’re all really honest, everyone in the family thrives on Mama’s milkshake.

Everyone’s got a straw and they all want me. 

And you know what? That’s perfect. I am the perfectly flavored milkshake for my family and I love that they all want a taste. I love that I can nourish their souls and care for their bodies. I love that God made me to feed these two little lambs and this one terrific man.

It only gets complicated when I start passing out straws to everyone else. 

Good people. They deserve a straw, right? Maybe …

A friend recently read me this quote, from Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s Gifts from the Sea:

With our pitchers, we attempt sometimes to water a field, not a garden.

God has graciously given us a pitcher that is just the right size for all that He intends us to water.  In truth, some of our pitchers are bigger or smaller than others. My friend with seven children has a bigger pitcher than me.  Her milkshake is just much bigger than mine. But whatever the size of our pitcher, we just have to be careful we’re only watering our garden, not the field next door.

We were made a milkshake just the right size.

Who gets a straw?

We have to use discretion, don’t we? Must hand out those straws with caution that takes courage.  

Whenever we say yes to someone we say no to someone else, right?

Looking back over our busy-season, I don’t doubt that all our commitments were “of God.”  I do believe He called us to each and gave us the strength for each one. But I also believe that part of His purpose was to remind me to be so careful about to whom I hand a straw. 

Who is in your garden, the place you were meant to water?

And you, delicious milkshake that you are, who will get a straw today?

Might I suggest, to you and to myself, to hand them out with the caution that takes courage?

There’s only so much of delicious you to go around.

{Another bit of this truth has something to do with strawberry lemonade. 😉  Enjoy! Thanks for reading.}