Life As A Fire Wife

Well, what a rainy and raw day in New England today. It feels more like April than May. As much as I would love for the sun to come out today, it is actually quite nice to have a down day. Instead of a walk with my pup, I got a pedicure with a girlfriend, how great is that?

Today is International Firefighters Day. It is also Star Wars Day, which is pretty exciting, but that’s not going to be my focus here, so, “May the 4th be with you.” Back to firefighters as my blog is about this crazy fire life we live. This past month has been hectic. My hubby has been taking a class to further his fire education, a class that he’s wanted to take for a long time, so that’s great. Being a firefighter isn’t just about firefighting. There is so much more involved and there are so many opportunities to further your knowledge, training, and education.

In our fire life, adding anything is chaos. Mostly for me. As I treat the calendar like a budget, trying to figure out how to manage time or manipulate it really. Sometimes I go down these rabbit trails trying to figure out how to get everyone where they need to be which leads to panic, stress, and anxiety. I had this happen to me just the other day as I was mentally preparing myself for the week. I got to the point where it was all I could think about and for about 18 hours, it was all consuming. And then, something beautiful happened, a little change in the schedule, and just like that, the stress was gone. I stopped in my tracks, and I said out loud, “God, why do I ever doubt you?” Because for 18 hours, while I worried, He already knew the plan, and He was already working out the details. He sees me. He sees me in all the glorious moments, and He sees me in all the hot mess moments. And best of all, He loves me and takes care of me. So, while the change in the schedule was ever so slight and might not have seemed like a big deal to anyone else, it was a huge deal to me. And even though I don’t walk around questioning God all day and declaring that I don’t trust him, my inability to rely on Him to work out the details and to instead rely on myself to figure everything out, shows doubt and a lack of trust. That was my Sunday/Monday. Now on this rainy Wednesday, I am appreciating the Lord’s good gifts, for instance, a rainy day, track meet cancelled, basketball carpool, a warm blanket while I write… It’s true I can’t always count on my firefighter to help with the schedule as he often just adds to it, but bless his heart, he feels bad that he can’t help. And that counts for something.

So this week I am working on less stress, more rest, totally blessed. The calendar has a lot on it, but I don’t need to stress about it. I need to rest in God that He works out all the details and that I am living a life of love and obedience that He has called me to while I wait for Him. Sometimes we need the sunshine to see and feel our blessings. Sometimes we need a cloudy day to remind us that the sun will shine again and I need only look around me, physically, mentally, and emotionally, to see how totally blessed I am.

What is going on in your life this week? Is May filled to the brim for you too? How are you handling it? I would love to hear about it in the comments below. Below I have listed some bible verses in reference to worry, rest and blessings. I’ve also included a link to one of my new favorite songs. Hope you take a listen and enjoy it!

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:25-27

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25

Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean no on your own understanding. Proverbs 3:5

Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you. Psalms 84:12

Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding. Proverbs 3:13

Abraham was very old, and the Lord blessed him in every way. Genesis 24:1

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Psalms 32:1

May you be blessed by the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth. Psalms 115:15

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him. Psalms 128:1