Calm In The Cabin

Have you ever said something you wish you had not? I did several times recently. Then I felt guilty, until I did it again and then I felt guiltier! I was swirling down a spiral where I felt out of control. I was critical of my daughter and therefore critical of myself for failing to be positive, uplifting and validating where there was a need. I failed to be mindful of my daughter’s emotions and her needs and of this I had to repent. She recently lost her husband and this vacation was planned when he was alive. So what should have been fun times were filled with moments of heartbreak. I should have listened more intently to her, with the eyes of my heart. Instead I overreacted to her behavior. Makes me sound heartless when I should  have been a source for healing. Let’s revisit how that happened and learn from how it was resolved. 

A beautiful cabin in the Smoky mountains was the destination of our vacation. A five generation getaway to celebrate my daughter’s fiftieth birthday with spectacular scenery, spending time with family, a hot tub, museums, bears and tourist traps. Did I mention tourist traps? Really vacations are not about the money but making memories with those you love. (At least I kept telling myself that.)

I never dreamed I would be part of throwing a wrench into the works of this getaway. How did this happen? What started out as awesome, had some awful moments. I won’t go into how I’m a firstborn from the 1950’s, type A personality who has high expectations for myself and others. Always still striving to please my parents. When you are with 19 people no one has control, it’s compromise all the way! 

We humans are three parts: Spirit, Soul and Body. If one part is affected in the negative or positive, it can result in all of you being effected. Here’s a look at the three parts of you and how each one affects you and your transformation in the journey of life, and should it arise, how to contain conflict:

SPIRIT: If you have a dilapidated house you want to remodel, the moment the Carpenter steps on the premises you have it all. You’re the house and Jesus is the Carpenter. When you accept Him as your Savior and Lord your life-union begins and you have eternal life. There is freedom, life and love when you are born again. You are immediately Christ-like in your spirit, but it is a process to get that to show up into your soul and body, into your emotions.  Strength comes when you pray, meditate and read the Word. I was distracted on vacation and did not make the effort to do this.

SOUL: The mind, will and emotions are the soul and they are in a process to become Christ-like. You may have the Carpenter on the premises but you still need to give  Him full access so He can make repairs. As He remodels, the house may resist the refurbishing or the repairs may be more extensive taking more time to mend. In my case, the physical and the spiritual were depleted so I became more irritable, more resistant to repairs and I ended up adding to the conflict rather than calming it.

BODY: The body may be healed by the Carpenter, but ultimately it will be replaced by a brand new house when He gives you a glorified body. Take care of your body because if you don’t feel good physically,  you will not function fully as God intended in your soul and spirit. I started the trip out exhausted. I should have been more rested. Rest is not just a nap, it’s a lifestyle of peace which brings refreshing and restoration.

We are under transformation and it is a process. I wondered why it could not happen faster, but  the time it takes for each individual is different. The transformation process is talked about in Ephesians 2: 21,22 and the outcome is fantastic. God is transforming us into his dwelling place by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. Seems silly to resist that power! I seemed detained in the disagreeable mood. However, I sought to transform my fatigue and irritability into rest. And this was done because of God’s Grace when He brought restoration, rest and refreshing.

Thank God His love and forgiveness are unconditional. I sought forgiveness of the Heavenly Father and those at the cabin, and even though I messed up, Jesus  changed  the messes into the marvelous.  Fantastic news that our mistakes or failures do not own us, He owns us, validates us and gives victory in any situation or conflict. “But God still loved us with such great love. He is so rich in compassion and mercy… he united us into the very life of Christ and saved us by his wonderful grace!” (Ephesians 2: 4-5 TPT) 

Let’s review briefly how conflict in the cabin turned to calm:

1) Listen with your heart and get to the root of the issue. This is where healing manifests, not just chopping off leaves like I tried to do at first. 

2) Peace is a powerful perspective. As I rested in peace I was able to view the conflict as the culprit that was not welcome in the cabin or our lives. 

3) Forgiveness from God, myself and others was an essential ingredient to restoration.  I meditated on scripture and prayed to my Heavenly Father and Grace abounded in my life and the lives of others. In Ezekiel 36 it talks about the ruined cities being rebuilt. Our relationship was rebuilt, even before it was ruined. God is so good!

So a great time was had by all! And as my teenage grandson wrote in the cabin journal, “the cabin was a delight!” We all echoed this. I sort through the pictures of the vacation and I see a beautiful family that had a wonderful once in a lifetime spectacular and splendid vacation to the mountains, including me!

Love, Debbie