Lauren Sparks

Originally published on April 25, 2013

Most of you probably know that Shelby is not potty trained.  She is only 21 months old developmentally, so maybe you can picture what it would be like to get a less-than-2 year old trained – and expect no accidents.  Since she has not grown in developmental age since she was 6, this is one of our challenges.  She has made great strides in this area in the past year.  For this we are proud.  She can stay dry for long periods of time and go potty on a schedule, but it’s not perfect.  So we still occationally have to deal with some “issues” that come from a 12 year old having to sit in her own stuff.  We are dealing with those issues today.  She has a little rash and infection (what?  too much information?).  We went to the doctor this afteroon and one of the things she suggested was putting Shelby in a warm, shallow bath with baking soda.  So that’s just what we did.  

Shelby has a handicapped accessible shower with a chair to make it easier for us to bathe her, so it was a big treat for her to get in my big tub and splash around.  She had a ball!  We threw a few toys in and I’m sure it felt like old times for her.  When the water started to cool, we helped her out, administered medication (we will just leave it at that), and put on her monkey pj’s.  Then as she scampered off to play, I started dinner preparations while Chuck sat down to relax.  In about 15 minutes, we started to hear Shelby whine.  The whine quickly became a cry.  Chuck, Allie and I jumped and ran at the same time to my bathroom.  Where we found her back in the tub – in her pj’s  And she had managed to turn the water back on, HOT.  She sat there and played until the water got uncomfortable and finally burned her skin.  It now looks like the lower half of her body spent the day in the sun.  What was a good thing with supervision and the wise care of her mom and dad, because dangerous when left to her own devices.  Shelby sat helpless in scorching water, realizing that it hurt, but unable to get herself out.  And when we did get her out, she was shaking from the shock.  

I am reading through the chronogical Bible this year with my church (yes, it’s related).  Shelby’s actions tonight reminded me of an account of King David’s in a reading from last week.  In 2 Samuel 24, David decides to take a census of Israel.  The passage actually tells us that Satan rose up and incited David to do it.  David numbered his army.  Is this a sin?  Not in and of itself.  God had even commanded it on two prior occasions.  The problem lied in the fact that God was not in it.  Whatever David’s motives were, they were not God pleasing.  And when we strike out on our own, without God, results will inevitably be either disappointing or even disastrous.  In David’s case, it lead to the death of 70,000 men.  For Shelby, a bath was healthy and healing.  Until she decided to do it on her own; then it became dangerous and painful.  NOTHING is good without God in it.  Without His direction and guidance, we will evenually find ourselves in hot water.  

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.  Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”  Psalm 127:1

Originally published on April 18, 2013

Heavy – that’s how I feel today.  And for once, this body weight obsessed fitness instructor is not talking about how my clothes fit or what the number on the scale shows.  It’s my heart that’s heavy.  I can hardly wrap my mind – much less my heart – around the events in the news this week.  Bombs exploding on unsuspecting athletes and spectators at one of our country’s most renowned competitions.  Poisoned letters sent to the President and other politicians in DC.  A pregnant woman shot and killed before the perpetrator lead the police on a high speed chase.  And now a devastating explosion in the town of West, Texas.  And this one hits close to home.  Literally.  I grew up in Elm Mott.  Unless you grew up with me, you haven’t heard of it – unless you went to Baylor.  Then you know it as the home office of the Noze Brotherhood.  If you blink on your drive down I-35, you will miss Elm Mott, but it is just a few minutes in the car from West.  I had many friends who lived in West.  I had many crushes who lived in West and would cruise the drag there with my best friend hoping for a glimpe of my current infatuation.  We never saw too much action, but it was great time to talk as we slowly drove down through that small, quiet town.  

I am so sad for this tight-knit community, so steeped in tradition.  And I grieve with those of Boston.  A day that was supposed to be a celebration of athleticism and acheivement turned tragic and ugly.  “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  Eph. 6:12  There is so much wickedness around us, and it is so hard for us to understand because even though it is IN the world, it is not OF the world.  Which leads many people to ask questions about God.  So many of us don’t even think of God until something bad happens.  But thankfully, graciously, lovingly, He is still there when we finally do turn to Him.  But where is “there” (meaning where is God) in these horrific events?  Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those wo love God to those who are called according to His purpose.”  That can be a difficult verse to hear when you are hurting.  When you don’t understand.  When you wonder why bad things happen to good people.  What good can possibly come from terrorist activity and mass destruction?  I was reminded this week that the word “TOGETHER” is a pretty important one in this popular verse.  The Bible doesn’t promise that good will come out of every single thing that happens to you.  He promises to knit the happenings in your life – the good, the bad, and the ugly – TOGETHER to make something beautiful.  While we may only see the chaos and feel the pain of what has just happened, God can see the big picture.  He knows how it will strengthen you, inspire you or change you.  He knows how the story ends.  And He lets us in on some of it in His word.  I don’t know what tomorrow holds.  And if you are suffering, I can’t tell you how it is that you will continue to put one foot in front of the other.  But here is what I do know “Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”  2 Corinthians 4:16  And I know that when all is said and done, death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:54).  The dark forces will be defeated – unable to touch us any longer.  And, “for everyone born of God overcomes the world.  This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”  So today may be a sad day, but I already see good coming from tragedy.  I see neighbors lending aid.  I see unselfishness and compassion.  I see determination to move forward.  These are the rays of God’s love that are already piercing through this darkness by way of His people.  I’m praying for Boston.  And I’m praying for West – that although we mourn through this season of night, joy will come in the morning