The shortest month has a way of feeling like the longest. The twenty-eight days of February have a way of wrapping their beginnings and endings around me. The long and the short are just that- long and short, but have you thought about the possibiities each day might bring? February is my favorite. From my birthday at the beginning to the hope of Spring that enters as we near the end, each day is a promise of more to come.
My favorite thing to do is to look at a month of days and remember what I am learning, loving, and leaning into. Keep reading for a look at February.
February around here is gray and cloud-covered most days. But on the days the sun appears, the blue skies highlight the golden beauty. So loving February’s weather is not always easy, but rejoicing on the sunshiny days is a breeze.
I am also loving …
The hint of Spring. Sunshine shows up a little more often and temperatures are not quite so severe.
Books! Here are a few that I hope catch your interest.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis: The Improbable Love Story of Joy Davidman and C. S. Lewis by Patti Callahan. I am in the process of reading this novel and find the storyline intriguing and one that raises some questions about the friendship and evolving relationship between C.S. Lewis and Joy Davidman. You can join an online book club over at Linda Stoll’s place to discuss this book. Here is the first week’s book discussion.
More of God: A Distracted Woman’s Guide to More Meaningful Quiet Times by Betsy de Cruz. Today this practical and insightful book releases on Amazon. Betsy is a woman who understands the challenge of setting aside time to spend with God each day. As a woman who has lived the struggles of busyness, raising kids, and just everyday life, she provides a perfect companion for women to begin their own daily walk with God.
But we can breathe easier because God isn’t looking for perfect church ladies. He’s looking for women who will seek Him despite themselves, women who will return to Him a thousand times when they’ve drifted away. He’s looking for women who will decide that today is the day to open His Word even if she hasn’t read it in two weeks … God is looking for women who want more of Him. He’s looking for a woman like you.
I am learning …
How my identity is constantly being shaped and reframed as I experience life. Just when I think I have it figured out, God reminds me He is still in control.
I am in a season of letting God restore what I know about my identity as His child, as well as continue to teach me what a gift it is to be me. I wrote a bit about this part of my journey in Mountaintop Vistas or Valley Floors. The experience is both humbling and renewing.
To aid me in the process of sitting in a posture of receiving, I began reading Michele Cushatt’s book, I Am: A 60 Day Journey to Knowing Who You Are Because of Who He Is. The book breaks down who we are in daily snippets that feed the soul as well as gently remind us that we are enough. Ms. Cushatt’s words speak and affirm the beautiful identity of being a daughter/son of God.
Finally, I am leaning into …
Restoration, redemption, and God’s story for my life. I have the privilege of watching God working in the lives of my sons. My oldest has walked through a year of big challenges, but has found the redeeming love of God in each one of those struggles.
Nicholas got engaged in February to Alli. He shared part of his story HERE when he wrote a guest post for me. It has been an incredible honor to watch God restore my son’s story for His good. I wish I could adequately describe what it feels like to have a front row seat.
Join me for a look at what I am learning, loving, and leaning into. God's story is always better than we imagine. #februarymusings #TellHisStory Share on XFinal Words
God is a Redeemer. He is a patient Father just waiting for us to take the next step with Him. When our story line becomes blurred, God dares us to bravely turn the page to the next chapter. He delights when we spend time with Him to receive the gifts that a new day brings. Let’s rejoice that God’s story is always better than we could ask or imagine.
Blessings,
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I always enjoy these posts, Mary! Its so exciting and inspiring to read about how God is working! Blessings on your Sabbath!
Good to see you, June! God continues to patiently teach me. Blessings to you too.
Mary, what a joy it is to watch God work out the details of our children’s stories, and to know that He will use the hard things in their lives for good, just as He does for us. I’m thankful with you that you’ve seen this play out in your son’s life. 😊
It is a joy and honor to have that front row seat to how God works in our children’s lives. I pray you see the same in your own children’s lives.
God is indeed a God of redemption! I always love your monthly musings posts!
Thank you, Tara! God is in the business of redemption and it is a gift to witness.
I love your monthly wrap ups. Thanks for sharing with us. laurensparks.net
Thank you, Lauren! Praying you find the month of March to be a blessing!
Dear Mary,
I love your monthly reflections, and all of the snippets from your life that you share with us. Just as I highlighted this sentence, to say that I am learning this too: “How my identity is constantly being shaped and reframed as I experience life. Just when I think I have it figured out, God reminds me He is still in control” I went on to see that I am also reading the same book you are in this process! I am loving Michele Cushatt’s book. Sticky notes and book marks are keeping my place to remember all of the ways that God has been stirring in my heart. Now when I read, I will pray for us both to hear and see God’s blessings in this journey.
I love knowing we are both reading Michele Cushatt’s book. I will pray for you as I read it each morning too. It is such a gift to be reminded of how God patiently teaches us about who we are when we seem to forget. Blessings and hugs!
Mary,
Always enjoy your musings. I do have to get my hands on Betsy’s book….ummm distracted? That’s me. After this past year, I am really leaning into a year of rest and reflection – not more giving God the short end of the stick!! Always good to stop by!
Blessings,
Bev xx
I hope you get a chance to read Betsy’s book. You will love it. I’m praying you continue to find the quiet and lean into the One who provides everything you need. Sending you love and hugs!
Always blessed, instructed and encouragement with your monthly musings! No exception today! Looking forward to reading Betsy’s new book….and enjoying any and all hints of spring, too. No matter how small!
I’m looking for hints of spring as to is snowing today. I hope you are finding some where you are. Thank you for you kind words today. Blessings!
I always love your monthly musings of what you’re loving, learning, and leaning into, Mary. February has been extremely cold here, but I keep telling myself spring will come soon. A belated Happy Birthday to you! Your final words really touch my heart. Love and blessings to you!
Thank you, dear Trudy! What a blessing to have you as a member of this community. Your encouragement and heart for others blesses me. Praying you have had a wonderful week.
I always love your Monthly Musings posts, Mary. Happy belated birthday! I especially loved this: “God dares us to bravely turn the page to the next chapter”.God does want us to be brave. His story is better than any we could imagine.
I learned a lot about Brave Faith a few years ago and realize that it is something you never reach completely until you are with God forever. He does challenge us tone brave in our everyday, but promises to always be by our sides as we step out. Praying you see the goodness of God’s story in your own life.
We’ve had a lot of sunny days compared to your grey days in February. However, generally the sunnier, the colder. 🙂 “How my identity is constantly being shaped and reframed as I experience life. Just when I think I have it figured out, God reminds me He is still in control.” I love how you put those words together! I think that is our on-going leaning into and doing life with God.
I would gladly prefer more sunny days even if it was cold. I am a sunshine lover. And doing life with God is certainly a constant reframing for me, but on the other side, there is such abundance. Blessed to have you here as always.
Wow! You are so right… This month is short but it has also seemed to go on forever! I’m learning through these days, too. God is teaching me to trust Him no matter what and to also live today! Though we are going through a difficult time, I am learning how to relax, stay positive and how to focus on what is good. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings, Jo
(aka Joan – I’ve decided to relax and be less formal and go by my nickname on my blog now)
God is so sweet to show us and teach us especially through the challenges. I love how you are leaning into God through it all. And I love that you are wanting to be called Jo! 🙂
I love meeting you here at month’s end to review all the thoughts and the reading and the way God is at work. Thanks for your community-building heart.
I love that you share your time with me and read my offerings. It is an honor to share my hart and how God is working. Blessings and hugs, friend!
Thanks for giving us a glimpse into you life/heart and how you are taking the good gifts February offers. I used to not enjoy the first three months of the year due to the gray cloudy days and many rainy days, but I have grown to appreciate them for what they are. They give me more opportunities to reflect and quiet my heart than on the sunniest and warmest of days when I am flitting about delighting in the weather, but rarely taking time to pause as long to appreciate the One who made the weather. I think age has taught me that each season in Ohio or life has its own gifts and wonders.
Such a great perspective. I imagine we are seeing the same gray skies that stretch across Ohio. And I agree that just being exposed to the four seasons has its own merits. Blessings, my friend!
Thanks so much for featuring my book today, Mary! I appreciate you, friend. Michele Cushatt’s book sounds excellent! I will have to check that out.
You are so welcome! I’m honored to share it and that I had the chance to be part of your launch team. I hope you get a chance to dig into Michele Cushatt’s book. It is truly life changing.
I love these monthly recaps, Mary! And congratulations to your son. I love how God can restore and redeem even when it looks unlikely to us! And we’ve been reading the same books this month. I loved Betsy’s book and I’m just getting into Becoming Mrs Lewis and looking forward to joining in the discussion at Linda’s. Love and blessings to you!
Me too! Looking back helps me to move forward. My son’s story has been amazing to watch unfold. It seems we connect through similar books often. It shows we have great taste! Thanks for being here.
Good morning! I love these end-of-the-month round-ups, Mary! Please feel free to link yours up over in the comment section at my place this week … I’m offering readers yet another opportunity to get their stories and their sites out to new friends.
And yes, thanks for spreading the word about Becoming Mrs. Lewis – we’ve had some deep and vulnerable conversations crop up already. It looks to be a thought-provoking read. I’m so grateful …
I love the reflections because it grounds me in where I have been and where I am going. The chance to chart growth no matter how small provides a new perspective on how good God is. Thanks for being here.
Ahhhh, Mary. This post is a breath of fresh air. I always enjoy your end-of-month posts. The books you’ve read all sound great.
And this . . . “Restoration, redemption, and God’s story for my life. I have the privilege of watching God working in the lives of my sons.”
reminds me that on my hard days with our teen boys, God is still working. He’s giving me a front row seat to see what He’s preparing in their lives. It reminds me that they won’t always be in the (sometimes) obstinate places they are right now. 🙂
Your words—all of them—are hope-infusing.
It is a privilege to have the front row seat in the lives of our loved ones. You have that privilege with your own sons and even though it is hard to watch at times, it also is their story and how God is working through them. Love having you here and love that you share your heart so openly.
Belated happy birthday! I love February for its shortness, for Valentie’s Day (which we always celebrate as a family), for my d-i-l’s birthday. And I don’t think I ever thought of it quite this way, but I love the fact you pointed out that it brings us closer to spring! Though it’s still cold, we do see more daylight and signs of spring in bulbs pushing shoots up from the soil.
I’m reading the book about Joy Davidman as well. I am glad to know of Betsy’s book!
What sweet news to hear of God’s working in your son’s life.
Thank you for sharing your reasons to love February. I admit, I like that it is a short month. I hope you will share how you like Becoming Mrs. Lewis and you should consider getting a copy of Betsy’s book. Here’s to the coming of spring and God’s stories of restoration.