More than Enough

If you have seen any of my Instagram or Facebook Reels, you may have picked up on our little jolly jaunt to Spain. All the kids, one girlfriend, one fiance, and two daughters in law. Back to where we went nine years ago. The nostalgic expectation was high! 

When we arrived, it felt nice that the supermarket was the same. The crisps were the same. The Sangria was still 3 Euros! My cup was full. However, it was very clear that El Delfin Verde had had some major upgrades since our last visit. The caravans were all bigger than before, which is a positive if everyone you bring with you is also bigger than they were.This time we needed two caravans, which were decked underneath, unfortunately meaning you couldn't look for geckos under the caravans! Maybe there had been feedback about a family nine years ago. The swimming pool had been majorly developed, which was wonderful and weird and sad. The kids used to stand on the eye of the dolphin and jump in. Whereas the eye of the dolphin is now a mini forest. The slides were fairly similar, although realising you go faster if you have someone heavier or taller at the front of the inflatable, meant some strategic pairing. The pirate ship was the same but they were all too big to go on that now. The mini disco was huge, not so mini. When a familiar song came on, it was just warming to watch them all and it was amusing to look around at other holiday folk watching us have a lot of fun. All of us singing along. All twelve of us. The ones we raised and the ones they have chosen to add to this glorious chaos. Gosh my heart was full. 

Then there were moments when smaller groupings happened. For starters, we had a whole afternoon to ourselves, reading in the pool and then dinner out together, just the two of us. That was never able to happen before. Quality time, is always a heart-filler.  A coffee and a walk for one of my girls and their newly acquired older sisters. A brother hanging with a brother's partner. Me and one son enjoying an Aperol Spritz together. (Adult kids can buy you cocktails in the pool, that's a new win!) A couple of couples inviting a little sister to the lake. Cups of tea and books for the early risers. Various late night shenanigans for the ones who stay up too late. And I found myself the new matriach of six beautiful girlies. How times have changed! Joy overflowing. 

Aqua dance was on every day, as it always had been. Nine years ago, this was time to myself, while the husband watched the little ones. I say time to myself: the older boys would chase each other by swiming inbetween the legs of all the ladies doing the Aquadance. We had to establish really quickly on this holiday, that that same game was now wildly inappropriate due to their sizes and ages! Time to myself was instead replaced with various family members joining me. The husband even joined in for a couple of hip sashays, although he was also the much needed cameraman to capture this epic activity. 

Holidaying with more people, potentially means more people to have little run-ins with as well. Misread comments or too many opinions. Couples around families. Siblings and parents. Morning people, evening people, sun-bathing people, people who like walks, people who are made to eat Pesto Pasta and people with their own cash, active people, sleepy people, chill people and energetic people. I guess that's what makes a family, and everyone has to adapt, leaning in to each other as we have hopefully taught them over the years. 

One of my favourite verses in the Bible, is John 10v10, (the second half more than the first) "The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come to bring life and life in abundance". My heart was full on this holiday; all the wins, all the joys, all the fun, all the singing, all the dancing, all the Spanish ham in croissants, all the people, all the combinations. I think I have a fairly good idea of what abundance feels like, what overflowing means and I am so grateful.

I learned a little something which blew my mind at the Think conference this year. We were studying the Bible book of Luke written by wordsmith Luke himself. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap". All fantastic words with imagery like dropping Mentos into a bottle of Coke. The last part of the verse, "for the measure you use, it will be measured to you", it will be measured to you, in the Greek, is the longest word in that sentance. I loved finding that out. The structure of the words tie in beautifully with the truth of that statement. 

I wonder if I don't actually have a good idea of what abundance feels like. I reckon it is so much more than I could ever imagine. God is the God of the more, the full, the running -over, the extra, the never-ending, the full blessing, the abundance. And this means that even when they've all gone back to their own lives and my cups of tea in the morning are just for one, Jesus is still the king of abundance. Even when the kids are not getting along, He is still the king of life, life in all its fullness. Even when the kids are facing their own doubts and battles, it doesn't change who Jesus is and what He has done for them. Even when it seems like the enemy is stealing from you or from them, it does not change the Victory that we get to live in. Thank God that He never changes. He wasn't any different nine years ago. He wont have changed the next time I meet with Him. He's the same God in Spain as He is in England. His overflowing love, His steadfast faithfulness and His ever-reaching mercy will always be more than enough, more than I deserve, more than I can fathom. His goodness knows no bounds.