I am just about done reading a fantastic book: "Couldn’t We Just Kill ‘me and Tell God They Died? Overcoming Difficult Relationships With Your Family and Friends," by Cathy Lechner.



This book is Christian based. I found the book highly informative and it helped me with some things I have been struggling with.

One thing that comes through very clearly in this book, is that Cathy is an adoptive mom. She and her husband, Randi, have adopted 6 children, and some are trans-racial adoptions. I don’t know if they were special needs adoptions or not, but you just know she’s been through some “adventures” with her kids.

One of the sections I just read, I feel is something that we need to think about, even from a non-religious point of view.

The portion I’m talking about is in Chapter 13 “Crackers- or a Five-Course Meal?” and it’s talking about the covenant of peace. Here is a short quote:

“I believe there are some of you reading these words who are desperately in need of the covenant of peace. Your mind races in a million directions. You go to bed, and immediately thought begin to pour into your mind: Did I mail the electric payment? Did I let the cat back in the house this afternoon? All the things you should have done but had no time to accomplish rush through your mind.”

Oh, can I relate. That’s actually how most of my day goes, and the past few weeks, where my mind goes during church as well. I’ve got too many things on my mind, and I’m not feeling peace. So, what do you do about it? Cathy lists the solution a few paragraphs later.

“It is in those times you must stop and say. “’Father, I step into your covenant of peace right now.’ All these things are temporary. In the light of eternity, not one soul will care if you had several unidentifiable food particles in your silverware drawer.”

Asking for peace? What a concept. As foster and adoptive parents, we advocate for services for our kids, but what about ourselves? When do we ask for someone to help us as parents? Do we tell our friends that we need some time out? Do we call a cleaning service to take care of some chores for us? Do we ask our pastors for prayers for our family? Do we make our marriages or relationships a priority?

I am horrible about asking for help. My relationship in my family has been with me as the independent one. I’m the one who gets things done, and does things on my own. I don’t tell people I’m stressed, I get through it on my own. In some respects, a bit of a control freak. Giving up that control is hard.

There is one more portion of this chapter that I’d like to share with you:

“A woman of God once shared a dream in which the Lord had come to her in heaven. Jesus took her to a room filled to capacity with beautifully wrapped gifts of all sizes. She asked Jesus, “Are these my rewards?” “No,” He sadly replied. “These were all the blessings and answers to prayers and gifts that I had for you when you were on earth, but you never asked for them.”

Take some time today to ask for peace, and ask for help where and when you need it.

Matthew 7:7 (New International Version)

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

And don't forget to ask for this book.

Bible Gateway