Peace in the Stretching.  By Melinda Skau.

Have you ever watched a chef hand toss a pizza ? He kneads the dough and rolls it and then stretches it in every direction and whirls it around on his hand as it gets wider and thinner. Then he throws it down on a floured board to apply delicious sauce with secret spices and a generous sprinkling of cheese and a variety of veggies to make it colorful and nutritious and tasty.

I feel like a pizza in process right now! I am being kneaded, compressed and stretched to my limits by change. The addition of a beautiful baby boy to our family with all the accompanying emotions of gratitude and joy, the call for perseverance during sleepless stints and disregulated screaming spells. Our Idaho daughter tearfully petitioned me to move closer for support during a stressful time as this doctor daughter works an intense job in a Newborn Intensive Care Unit, studies for board exams and breast feeds a new baby. Our lives are so full and fulfilling in California 12 hours drive away. We love the sunshine and our church family, small groups, walking buddies, neighbors and close friends. I have bonds with my hairdresser, massage expert, nail tech, dentist, so many community tendrils.

I am immersed in a leadership training program, an online marriage and communication development course and online Bible reading. I have a beautiful sisterhood of women who share a ministry and pray for each other. I am in the midst of preparing a devotional talk which is calling me to process all vestiges of pain from my past and present them to my Heavenly Father: leaving my hands free to dance with Him full on!

Where does the tumble of growth and inner thoughts and emotions fit in with the multitude of external relationships and tasks? Where are the healthy boundaries?

As I rock my grandson to sleep for four naps and bedtime, I softly sing in a dark room 1 Corinthians 13 and Psalms 23 and Isaiah 53 and the LORD’s Prayer as well as childhood songs like Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves the Little Ones Like You You You.

God is leading me on this journey. I believe He is the Chef creating me into a tasty pizza. His thoughts and ways are higher than mine.

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  – Deuteronomy 31:6

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”  – John 14:27

He will never leave me nor forsake me. He reminds me not to fear or be dismayed because He is my God and I am His daughter. He firmly tells me not to LET my heart be troubled. I am choosing joy and peace amidst the swirling chaos.