Scraping Paint

We spent a lot of time scraping paint this week. We started out our Costa Rica stair project, excited and ready to roll. And that’s exactly what we did. We rolled. And we brushed and we painted our hearts out. And after we were done, we looked at all we had accomplished, and it was good.

Until it wasn’t. Until the paint started bubbling up, all over our hard work. And I didn’t get it. Because we had worked hard. And it didn’t make sense. And it was frustrating to think that we had poured all of our hearts into that project, only to be baffled by the results.

And so we scraped. And scraped. And scraped. And I tried my hardest to find a greater purpose. But I realized, that there wasn’t one. Or, at least there wasn’t one that I could see.

Sometimes, life is hard. Sometimes you do all the right things, but stuff still bubbles up, and you find yourself confused and frustrated. Sometimes, you have to scrape paint, and start over. But I’m realizing that it’s okay. Because life doesn’t always have to make sense. I don’t have to have all the answers, because I know that God already has them. Sometimes, I just have to scrape paint, knowing that it’s okay, because God sees the bigger picture, and that His plan is best.

This trip has been amazing. But there have also been times of struggle. In my heart and in my attitude. It’s not easy leaving my comfortable life. It’s not easy being away from our kids. It’s not always easy, working with teens and a team of 25 different and individual personalities. But I know God is working. I know He has a plan and purpose and that even when I don’t understand, He is still in control.

Just my thoughts on a breezy Costa Rican night. For all of the parents reading this, your kids are all fine. God is working in hearts and doing great things and for that I am truly thankful. Tomorrow we will be relaxing at the hot springs and then on Tuesday, we fly home. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.