Are you a Sully?

The Internet Cafe welcomes Heidi Plumley all the way from Asia!!

Captain Sullenberger, “Sully,” made headlines and gained international recognition when he guided a 60 ton powerless jet safely into the Hudson River. On one newscast, I heard Sully acknowledge, “It took all the experience the crew and I had to land the aircraft safely and save 155 lives.”The truth is that we are all Sullys. Sometimes it takes all the muscle, inner determination, and experience we have to navigate the crisis in our lives to a safe conclusion.

Last year we adopted a child who has demonstrated behaviors of Reactive Attachment Disorder, which basically means that she has not bonded with us and rejects the affection and attention of her parents and siblings. For nine months we have tried different methods to “start her engine” and keep the family afloat.

It has been a very difficult time for all five of us in our family. Some days I dread getting out of bed, knowing that I am going to face a child that refuses affection, that won’t look me in the eyes, that resists my attempts to teach her something new, something as simple as painting with a paintbrush. I also have to face my own feelings of frustration, helplessness, anger, and impatience.

Welcoming our daughter home has affected us all.

Our family went from being well adjusted and carefree to being in crisis mode. What’s more is that I am the one in the captain’s seat. As the primary caretaker of my children, the challenge of helping my daughter and modeling proper behavior before the other children falls to me.

The safety and health of my family rests on my ability and determination. If I don’t get this right, the family craft and all lives aboard could be destroyed.Sometimes we all find ourselves in the captain’s seat.

Perhaps it is a family situation, a marriage on the brink of disaster, an illness, an economic crisis; regardless of what it is, there are times when we are the one at the controls.

The safety of the lives depending on us rests on our courage, ability, and determination.In a society where we have traditionally been able to buy a solution, pass responsibility to someone else, or take the easy path, it may seem easier to ditch than to stay the course.

But we, like Sully, must rise to the situation that stares us in the face when our feet hit the floor each morning. We must not retreat or ignore the stakes. We must stay engaged, knowing that every second counts.We must exercise all the mental discipline and courage we have to safely navigate our crisis.

Can we do it?

As a follower of Jesus, I believe I can.

I believe that I am not appointed for failure, but for victory. Joshua 1:3 says, “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads, I have given it to you.”

As I go through my day and face rejection, resistance, and the danger of my own negative emotions, I cling to this truth. This ground, this situation, this day, has been given to me. The victory is mine. This place that my foot has come to belongs to me, not the enemy. I was not appointed for stumbling.If I believe from the outset that it is hopeless or that I am incapable of the challenge, then the outcome will reflect my negative beliefs.

But if I believe that there is indeed hope and that I am not appointed for stumbling but that I was in fact specially selected to be the one at the helm for this job, then my courage rises to the task and with it, the ability to man the craft. “Faith is the victory that overcomes…” It is my faith in the promises of God that will bring me and my “passengers” to a safe landing.Because of God’s Word and His precious gifts, my family will survive this crisis. And not only that, but we will each have a richer life to live because of it.

How about you?

Are you up for your challenge?

Do you have a “destined for doom” attitude or a “guaranteed success” mentality?

What promises of God can you stand on to walk the victory path?

“Thank You God, that You always lead me in triumph in Christ (II Cor. 2:14). Thank You for promising an overcoming victory instead of failure (Romans 8:37). Thank You for giving me both the will and the ability to do the right thing and to stay the course (Phil. 2:13). I commit my way to You and I take my stand on Your Word. Lead on, O King Eternal! In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”

In Him,

Heidi Plumley (Stonefox)

Heidi is a wife, mother of three, and missionary in Asia. She is learning about life, love, and victory in Jesus in areas of family and ministry and blogs about what she is learning at www.momsministryandmore.blogspot.com.

image courtsey of Yahoo.com