Shannon Dvorak

At breakfast the other day with a friend, we heard a fussy baby began to wail and cry. It barely registered at first, and certainly didn’t annoy us. But I did say, “I’m so glad those particular days are behind me!” And it’s true. Although I love being a mother, I certainly do not miss those long, long days when my children were very young, and their demands were so great. We chuckled as we both agreed that season of parenting is best suited to those much younger. I found myself quietly saying a prayer for the mother. It’s not an easy task to be a mom.

My friend’s youngest will be leaving for college in a few weeks and then we will both officially be empty nesters. She shared how she had woken up a few days ago to see her child’s shoes on her bedroom floor facing her bed. Her daughter had come into her room for a late night chat as she often did, flopped herself on the bed, and kicked off her shoes. “I’ll miss that,” she said.

It reminded me of a long ago time, pulling into my garage on a hot and humid afternoon. As it often does during Florida summers, it was raining, and I was hurrying to get the groceries into the house and put away. In my attempt to make as few trips as possible, I carried three large paper grocery bags when suddenly my foot struck something on the floor and I tripped, dropping everything in my arms as I fell to my hands and knees. One of my kids had left their tennis shoes just inside the door again, leaving me with bruised knees, broken eggs, and crumbled cookies. How many times had I told him not to leave his shoes in the middle of the floor where someone could trip over them?

The emotions of that day have long faded and the passage of time has brought a new perspective. I realize now that it’s not whether the shoes are constantly underfoot, or are pointed toward our bed. It’s the fact that we have these shoes that aren’t ours, that are in our house, and they won’t always be. Shoes are made for walking. These shoes will one day be facing in a new direction, ready to walk a new path. If we are lucky, their shoes will go back and forth to our house many times. Change is always a difficult process, but it is a regular part of life and so we strive to adjust as it happens. I’ve come to believe that the path of parenting is a wonderful analogy for the Christian life in general. The challenges of loving and living alongside another, being in relationship and seeking to maintain that relationship as you walk through each day, learning when to speak and when to stay silent, practicing humility, patience, self-control – these are the hallmarks of good parenting, and they can find their full expression as we depend on Christ for wisdom and strength.

So Moms, carry this hope in your heart: as we walk each day with Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, we look forward with anticipation to that great Day when we will be with Him face to face. Our children must learn to walk this same path, enjoying the same fellowship and communion with God that we know, and learning the dependence on Him that can only come from separation from us. Take heart! Your job is far from over! They will need you as they begin to navigate this path of adult life for themselves. There is greater joy coming!

And in the meantime, you can go to bed early and have no fear of tripping over shoes. Be thankful for the gifts God has given, even as you look forward to the good that is sure to come!

I spoke recently with a new Mother who had just ended breast-feeding. She was sad as she said, "these chapters are fleeting, and new ones are starting. But, Jesus is the prize." I heard the heart of her struggle. She is grappling with the reality of the blessings of this life, the boundaries of time, and the knowledge that God is good. She is trying to reconcile her sad feelings about things she loves coming to an end, along with hope for the days to come. Every season of motherhood, each Continue Reading

I have a confession to make. When all my kids still lived at home, I often had an agenda when I spoke with them. Meaning, there was something I felt they needed to get done and I wanted to remind them, or I knew there was a simpler way to complete a task and I wanted to tell them. Hear me – this is absolutely necessary when your children are young; frequent reminders are a major part of a young child’s learning. But as they grow into their teenage years, do this as sparingly as possible. Because Continue Reading

We all have it. I don’t know exactly what it is called. This drive, this desire – more than desire – zeal – to learn to walk. I observe it now in my 1st grandchild. As I hold her in my lap she curls forward, straining. We laugh at her serious effort; at one so small attempting the, for now, impossible. She grunts and strains, not uncomfortably, but determined. I watch her eyes take in everything around her. I see her head move toward every noise. My granddaughter yearns to move and eventually Continue Reading

Recently we moved some furniture out of our bedroom, and this morning I was straightening up the space a bit. On a bookshelf I came across the series of Narnia books that has been there since my children were quite young. Because I am easily distractable and hate cleaning, I picked up the one book that had fallen to the floor, The Horse and His Boy. I had never read this particular book in the series and had no idea of the plot or storyline; I still don’t. So, imagine my wonder as I thumbed Continue Reading

Last night my husband and I watched the final installment on ESPN of the fascinating, at least to us, Michael Jordan story, The Last Dance. Then, this morning, waiting for online church to begin, I watched a videoclip of a young woman on America’s Got Talent. Her testimony of how she’d been bullied as a Middle School student, was even more impactful than her singing talent. In both instances, there were numerous times that the camera turned to the audience, the coaches, or the judges, and Continue Reading

If you are reading this blog, then it is no great secret that I enjoy writing. Actually, I love it. I love words; I love how they can be arranged in ways that make us think, make us feel, make us laugh, and maybe even inspire us to live differently. They can also hurt, discourage, shame, cause us to cry - this too, might cause readers to live differently. Words have power to influence. Therefore, those who speak them or write them exert a certain power, the extent of which is determined by the Continue Reading

     Recently I wrote several posts about a time in my life when I desperately needed God’s healing, forgiveness, and direction. It is good to look back and recall God’s faithfulness to me in the past, when my present-day realities seem tedious, unchanging, or hard to bear. I’m encouraged to persevere, as I recall His trustworthiness.      There have been times in my life when I've been discouraged at the slowness of change, or healing, or growth. In my foolish estimations, I think that God Continue Reading

     One night not too long after this, some friends were deciding where to go eat after the Friday night meeting, and Doug asked if I was going with the group. When I replied that I wasn’t sure, he asked, “Well, would you come if I saved you a seat?” My heart pounding, I turned to look at him fully. It was only a brief second, but I saw as we looked at each other, something I’d not seen in him before. A vulnerability. I noticed his pulse beating in his neck, and although his face remained Continue Reading

    Well, anyway, none of that mattered now. I was learning to love Jesus and had just finished earning my college degree. I felt hopeful and even joyful about my future, when I once thought I would never experience anything but emptiness. I was so grateful to God for how He had filled my life with good things!      And, that is why I agreed to share my story on that Friday night. I was thankful for all God was doing in my life and I wanted to tell Continue Reading

Eventually, I graduated college with my degree in education. I looked forward to teaching - I had the degree – ‘proof’ that I knew what I was doing – but I felt unsure and wary of the responsibility that comes with shepherding young lives. Instinctively, I felt teaching was a commitment to them; to be faithful and steady and kind. I was a bit afraid of commitment, not wanting to fail either my students or myself, by not living up to what would be required.      Around Continue Reading

     As the days passed, I realized that my perspective was changing. Slowly, I began to lift my head from my own wounds and look around a bit. Light began to seep back into my mind, my heart, and my eyes. What had seemed dark and hopeless and futile, now held a promise of hope for the days to come. I met a new friend who invited me to come with her to church one Friday evening to a meeting of single adults at my church. I never knew this group existed. There was a Continue Reading

In times of uncertainty, remembering the goodness of God strengthens our resolve and bolsters our faith. Humans are generally forgetful by nature and easily influenced by whatever is in front of our eyes at any given moment. I think that’s why there are so many instances in scripture of God telling us to remember, to call to mind, etc. These recollections are like a shot in our arm of whatever it is we need to face our current situation. There is a verse in Lamentations that reminds us His Continue Reading

With a bit of added margin in my schedule, I've found time to exercise again and it's been a great stress reliever. Regular physical activity is one of the first things to go when my work schedule heats up and I didn't realize how beneficial it had been until I went without it and then re-started. Obviously, there is physical value in my daily, sometimes twice a day, long walks. But, the most treasured thing for me is mental - allowing myself time to think, without distraction, focusing on Continue Reading

Tonight I had a disagreement with a dear friend of mine – the kind of friend who is more like a sister - the kind that you sometimes say really bad words in front of. At one point, in desperation, I threw my hands up and said, “Who do you think I am - Jesus?!” There was a super awkward, approximately 120 seconds, where we just stared at each other and I knew she was thinking, “Geez, I should say yes,” and I was thinking “Geez, she’s gonna say no.” And then she quietly said, “Well, Continue Reading

I recently wrote a Facebook post that garnered so much attention and positive comment that I thought I should address it further here briefly. The topic of my post was high praise for my husband of nearly 27 years and I meant every word. (If you are on FB, you can view my post here.) However, some comments I received seemed to indicate that folks were left with the impression that: 1) we have been unusually blessed in our marriage, or that 2) my husband is a saint, or that 3) I am gifted Continue Reading