Life is "Crummy"

Today's Toastmasters Speech - 

How do you describe yourself when there isn’t much “self” to describe?

Do you ever head to the kitchen late in the evening, looking for a bite to eat, only to find that all that’s left is crumbs?

“Crumbs” – that’s often how I describe what I have left at the end of the day, too. 

As Erma Bombeck empathized, “The problem with life is it’s so daily.”

And each and every day is spent meeting the needs of those around me.  Everyone seems to need a piece.

There’s the piece for my husband Chad, who actually likes to come home to a somewhat sane wife each afternoon – that man who deserves so much more than I have to offer him day after day; that closest of all earthly relationships that God saw fit to give me over fifteen years ago, which continually encourages and challenges me.

There’s the piece for my children, who require so much of my time and take constant attention (not to mention that they like to have clean clothes to wear on occasion) – those four beautiful, joy-filled daughters who are gifts to me in every way.

There’s the piece for my homeschooled students, who have such varied level of need day in and day out – those treasured moments which challenge and grow me, giving me the opportunity to know my children’s hearts and experience life alongside them each day.

There’s the piece for the diners around my table, who seem to be famished every few hours even if I feed them – those hungry ones whose empty bellies bring them all to a circle where we read together from God’s Word and share stories of each day’s highs and lows.

There’s the piece for my parents, right here in my hometown, always nearby but seldom given time and attention – those family ties which made our move to Arkansas more blessed reunions and fewer painful goodbyes.

There’s the piece for the kids on our neighborhood swim team, all wanting to be heard at once and struggling to wait their turn – those giggling, smiling children who grow right before my eyes as the sense of accomplishment makes them taller at the finish than they seemed as they dove in

There’s the piece for nearby neighbors, needing a meal or a word of encouragement – those who put a spring in my step with their friendly wave and familiar smile.

There’s the piece for the preschoolers at church, finding it impossible to sit still through an eight minute Bible story – those precious three and four year-olds whose eyes light up when they “get it” and whose hugs are worth way more than I could afford to pay.

There’s the piece for relationships at church, mentoring pre-married couples and leading women through the rough places in their marriage and family every Tuesday night – those relationships which remind me of how God has tenderly shepherded me in my own marriage and parenting.

There’s the piece for FamilyLife, hoping to contribute in some small way despite the overwhelming nature of the busyness of my own “family life” – the transcripts I wonder how I’ll fit in the time for each week, then marvel at how God weaves them into the fabric of my days in His perfect timing.

There’s the piece for our partners, always knowing I could and should do more to express my gratitude to them; their needs weighing on my mind as my head hits the pillow – those praying and giving people who have become friends over these years of ministry.

There’s the piece for lifelong friends, with whom I seem to lead parallel lives rarely taking the time to truly connect – those women who have mentored and challenged me throughout the seasons of life, in both joy and sorrow.

When all the pieces are gone, what is left does look like crumbs.

However, Jesus Himself said, “Truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed.  But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24

So, at the end of the day, what remains may seem like “crumbs,” but in reality they are the reminders of a life spent for others, richer and fuller for every single moment.

And the next day, when it is time to begin doling out the pieces yet again, may I remember that:

“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work . . . He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.”  2 Cor. 9:8, 10