….I want to be a green beret! I really really really want to be a green beret! Today at church, our pastor offered up a summer reading plan, similar to one a library or school would give you. They are listed as follows:
Green Beret: Read the whole Bible in 90 days-12 pages a day.
Grey Beret: Read the New Testament in 90 days-4 pages a day.
Camouflage Beret: Read 1& 2 Samuel in 2 months-a chapter a day.
Pink Beret: 1 Psalm a week (hot pink if you read two Psalms a week).

Even before the service officially began I was thinking about how I could rearrange my schedule to ensure I achieved Green Beret status! I could cut something out here and wake up extra early there and maybe read during my lunch break. I WANT TO BE A GREEN BERET. You see, I want to be the best that I can at everything. And I mean everything. I pick only the best; I do not compromise. The thing is, I’m already getting up pretty early so I can complete homework for my Tuesday night Bible study, we are busy a few nights a week (at least three) and we teach Sunday School every week. Is the eternal salvation of a third grader less important than my need to fulfill my own desire to be the best (in my eyes)? Hm. The Lord and I wrestled with this one a bit. Then I realized it’s okay if I’m a pink beret this summer. It’s only my own measurement of success to become a green beret and maybe, just maybe the Lord doesn’t want me to be prideful about my accomplishments. Oh, and maybe He wants Jonathan and I to stay married. I don’t think that if I maniacally chased my own desire of things we’d have a great marriage. I like being married. I will be a pink beret and I will be thankful that the Lord has so far given me a great life to enjoy. I’m not putting things off, but I’ll allow myself some time to relax. To celebrate, I put the clean sheets on the bed tonight without ironing them first. (If you’ve never had ironed sheets, you think this is normal. I promise, once you iron them it’s hard to go back.)

And while I’m thinking of it, we may just trim down those activities. If you don’t see us much, it’s okay to call or swing by. Maybe I’ll be doing something like reading a book for fun or just hanging out at home. That’s a really nice idea.