Longing for the sand

We tried going to the drive-in tonight, but apparently the rest of California had the same idea. We're all about the trendsetting. So instead we attempted a couple u-turns and tried to outsmart the crowds, but only ended up going home. Ikey was in a groichy mood anyway, so it night be better that she got in bed on time.

We've been having a blast this summer, so much so that I'll have no desire to let it out of claws come September. We'll finally, hopefully, have our first beach trip next week and I can't wait. To live in California and not go to the beach in almost a year is pretty close to being a crime. We have been diligent, however, in our pool duties, and I've secured a pretty decent tan, so all is not lost.

We've had a trip to a local waterpark and have played in the fountain at the mall till little toes were pruned. We've sampled every bit of fruit (no vegetables) at the Farmer's Market and have brand-new butterflies on our table. Yes, I think our summer has been a success.

And God-willing, many sandy, wind-blown days and road trips await us.

I'm praying for you.

I want to update about our family and our summer, but this was weighing on my mind. In fact I've been wanting to write about it for quite a few months, but as I sat down skimming through my friends' Facebook updates, something struck me and I couldn't put it off anymore.

If you have a pulse, you've had someone tell you "I'm praying for you." At times that brings us comfort. Some may even pray right then and there with us (oh how I treasure those friends!). But am I the only one that hears those words once in a while and just thinks yeah right? I hate to sound bitter [and maybe I am], but it just seems like it can be such a cop-out. I guess it all depends on the person saying it. We all have those friends that are true prayer warriors and will drop on their knees the second you ask for prayer. The ones we know will lift us up when we're all prayed out, can't find the words, or just need to know someone has our back.

But then are those that toss around the words like breath.

Well what ever happened to being the hands and feet of God? Now I'm not saying we aren't to pray for one another. I think ALL of us are called to be prayer warriors. But where in the Bible does it say to pray for each other, and then wash your hands of it? Is that really loving our brothers?

A few minutes ago on Facebook, I read the status update of a friend telling about a fundraiser for a family that had just lost a child. Someone replied with something along the lines of not wanting to buy what the fundraiser was selling, but that the family definitely needed prayer. Now it didn't seem to bother anyone else so maybe I'm reading too much into that, but why are we so unwilling to just give a little of ourselves? When a friend is hurting and has no money for gas, why does I'll pray for you jump off our lips so quickly, but we never think of how God might want to use us in that instance? Do our words mean anything to that homeless man with nothing to eat?

I don't know, maybe these things don't even go hand in hand. My original issue was with the lack of prayer behind the words. Today though, it morphed into not just an irritation with the empty words, but with our ability to stand, hands tied behind our back with that invisible string, "helpless" to reach out to those that need us.

When do we unbound ourselves from that string we put on ourselves, and really truly get out there and walk the walk? When does the word Christian start to mean laying down our lives for our brothers and sisters, and not just someone with a busy Sunday morning?