Friday, June 13, 2014
Genealogy and Spiritual Genes;)
The following devotional reading struck a chord...
"We are God’s children and He has given us everything we need to be His hands and feet to those who are suffering around us. We become more like God when we engage our hearts with His, and we begin to care about who He cares about. When we follow in His footsteps, our life could get a little out of the ordinary, but isn’t that what being a Christian is all about?"
No, it was nothing new, but I had a moment of realization in the midst of the familiar. Last night I was doing genealogical research. In the past couple of days new information has been made available in data base search engines that I've been waiting on. I was able to finally take two different branches of the hubby's family tree back around 1075. One branch from his fathers tree, and one from his mother.
I have always felt his lineage had to be extremely easy to trace. The surnames are very Britanic/Germanic. The new information revealed that both lines go back to show many Knights, Sirs, Lords, Barons, Governors, ect. Documented proof of strong leadership abilities on both sides of his family dating back hundreds of years.
When we look at genealogy/heritage we often draw correlation of physical attributes...blue eyes, a strong jaw, ect...but how about a genetic predisposition to lead, direct, organize and inspire?
My husband of course joked at the revelation of familial royalty. But if the truth were told, he doesn't see the family resemblance that the rest of us do. While he is an exceptionally humble man, it is more than that. The wear and tear of life through the years has him believing that he lacks and is deficient in many areas. Our life journey begins to diminish our self image.
Family traits, both physical and those of ability, can be so deeply embedded in our make-up as to carry through generations. And here is where that proverbial chord was struck during my morning devotions. If these familial genetic traits are ingrained in us from the beginning, then how much more so with spiritual heritage?
"The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with HIM."
When I don't feel "enough" for the task, my spiritual genetics say otherwise. As HIS child I have everything I need to be His hands and feet to those around me.
The longer I journey, the more I need this encouragement. Because we walk in mortality, we forget the truth of our spiritual inheritance.
I'm grateful for His patience and love. His love that never gets so tired of me that He ceases to give me fresh revelation and reminding:)
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Moment Trinkets Hanging From My Memory Ribbon
I found myself collecting moments today. I like to envision that each one is like a small charm or trinket that I can affix to a beautiful memory ribbon. When I need the lift, I can pull out my moments and relive them for a good, swift, kick in the pants. You know, we all need a bit of inspiration now and again.
Today’s moments that brought me many smiles, include, yet are not limited to:
The kind elderly Lady...that passed me on laps 1-4 at the park…all 4 ft. of her, in her black knee length skirt, red sports coat, and fuzzy black house slipper boots. Her long silver braids wrapped across the top of her head, wearing large superstar sunglasses, which did in no way hide her smiling eyes. I noted her thick Asian accent as she greeted me each time we passed: 1st lap “It’s a beautiful day!” 2nd lap ”You’re still walking!” 3rd lap ”Good to see you again!” and lap 4 “Will see you tomorrow?”
The small Scottie dog...that tried to follow me as I rushed past on laps 3-4. As I would approach the bench where the dog was waiting, her owner would allow the dog to follow me as far as her leash would stretch, and then I would hear the owner say quietly “No, you can’t go home with her. You already have a home. Stay here with me.”
The Toddler...that upon hearing my approach laps 3-5 (A big THANK YOU to my Cardio Trainer and MP3 player apps, Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons, Sugarland and Sara Bareilles for the tunes) would step out into my path and dance until her Momma would pull her back out of my way. It had me seriously consider joining her in the dance...
The heavy smell of honeysuckle... on laps 1-5 as I passed over the shady bridge…wish reading came with smell. I hope you can all call it into memory right now…so very good:)
Blessings my People!
Today’s moments that brought me many smiles, include, yet are not limited to:
The kind elderly Lady...that passed me on laps 1-4 at the park…all 4 ft. of her, in her black knee length skirt, red sports coat, and fuzzy black house slipper boots. Her long silver braids wrapped across the top of her head, wearing large superstar sunglasses, which did in no way hide her smiling eyes. I noted her thick Asian accent as she greeted me each time we passed: 1st lap “It’s a beautiful day!” 2nd lap ”You’re still walking!” 3rd lap ”Good to see you again!” and lap 4 “Will see you tomorrow?”
The small Scottie dog...that tried to follow me as I rushed past on laps 3-4. As I would approach the bench where the dog was waiting, her owner would allow the dog to follow me as far as her leash would stretch, and then I would hear the owner say quietly “No, you can’t go home with her. You already have a home. Stay here with me.”
The Toddler...that upon hearing my approach laps 3-5 (A big THANK YOU to my Cardio Trainer and MP3 player apps, Taylor Swift, Mumford & Sons, Sugarland and Sara Bareilles for the tunes) would step out into my path and dance until her Momma would pull her back out of my way. It had me seriously consider joining her in the dance...
The heavy smell of honeysuckle... on laps 1-5 as I passed over the shady bridge…wish reading came with smell. I hope you can all call it into memory right now…so very good:)
Blessings my People!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Secret Revealed!!!
Okay…so I have a confession. I have been keeping a secret of sorts for a few weeks now. I promised a friend that I would not share said secret. I think the desire to keep the secret was somehow seated in the foundational thought that maybe someone would perhaps stop the actions we were taking. Or, maybe someone might even be hurt that we were being exclusive by not including anyone else in the secret. Whatever the reasoning, I know my friend. Their intent would never be to hurt anyone intentionally. You see, something I am even more sure of after the past several weeks, is that my friend has this amazing heart. And to be totally honest, I don’t feel the need to come clean about the secret, because there isn’t anything to apologize for, or, come clean about. The reason I share, is because bumping up against a heart his size should be shared…and I am so enamored with it that I have to let you all catch a glimpse.
It started roughly five weeks ago. It was a typical Tuesday afternoon. Our home was abuzz with homework, chores, after school practices, giving this one a ride here, dropping that one off there…I hadn’t even begun to think of the dinner menu and time was rushing by. Before I knew it I found myself throwing a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly on the counter. I grabbed the paper plates and a butter knife, set it alongside the loaf, and began to walk away. I had a twinge of conscience, walked back to the refrigerator and grabbed a bag of raw baby carrots and the bottle of ranch dressing to add to the evening meal. “Hey! Everybody! Get down here and make a sandwich right now! We need to leave in twenty minutes.”
Right on schedule we made it out the door and before I knew it arrived at the gym to drop off daughters three and four, along with nephew. They were on time, but just barely. As I put the family transportation into drive and began to pull away I was startled when a voice arose from the back seat saying “Mom, what do you want to do now?” I guess I was so distracted by the pace we were coming and going at, that for one brief moment I forgot I had a lone passenger. As I glanced quickly at my rearview mirror I saw him, his dark hair and eyes, face covered with freckles and looking up at me.
Sometimes I find myself so distracted by everything, that I don’t realize the path I have wandered onto. So was this moment. It was just the handsome short guy in the back seat, and me. It’s not that we haven’t been alone in the past. I mean, it has happened frequently over the past 8 years. But I was struck by this moment, and the realization that the time was changing.
I answered, “Well, I’m not sure. We are kind of alone, aren’t we?”
I saw him glance out the window and say quietly…”Yes. Yes we are.”
Not wanting to force my “to do list” upon him I asked “So is there anything you really wanted to do tonight? Something we can do together, just the two of us…since we are alone?” I was kind of surprised by the silence. I glanced into the rearview mirror again, and I swear I saw the wheels begin to turn. He said “Well, what if we went somewhere and got a treat together. You know, sweets or something?” Now I ask you, who says things like that? He said “sweets or something” and I have to tell you I kind of melted. And that is how the secret started.
We decided that Tuesday evenings would be our time. We wouldn’t tell Daddy or the siblings, after all, he said “We don’t want anyone to feel left out or anything…so we just shouldn’t tell them.” Since that night we have had a total of five rendezvous. Those evenings have included a ginormous cinnamon roll, a piece of chocolate cream pie, a cake pop (iced latte for me) and an oreo cookie ice cream. The cinnamon roll was so much to his liking that he requested to return for another one last night. On the way to this fine establishment the following conversation ensued…
“Mom, do you know which channel on the radio is the 70’s channel?”
“No I do not…” I say, “But feel free to change to whatever you like.” (Yes, he is fond of “70’s” music…God, I so love this boy.)
“So, Mom, were you even alive in the 70’s?” I pause, and state “Why yes I was. I turned six when the 70’s started, and then turned sixteen when the 70’s came to a close.”
He started to fidget in excitement with the realization that I was actually there in the 70’s…that time of his most favorite music. And asked “So, Mom, what do you think the grooviest music was? You know, what years do you think had the most grooviest music of all?” I could feel his eyes upon me and knew that this was a very serious question. He was asking my opinion. It was not the typical life-as-usual business, we were having an exchange. He was engaging me with a topical discussion of the arts, music in particular. I wanted so desperately to release the giggles I was feeling, but didn’t want to derail his focus.
“Well, since you are asking what the grooviest music of all is, I would have to say the music from the 70’s was indeed some of the grooviest of all music.”
All of a sudden he jumped in his seat (as much as a buckled seatbelt will allow) clapped his hands loudly, and said with great fervor “YES!!! I knew it!” Might I add there was a very satisfied grin spread from ear to ear.
As we crossed the parking lot he jumped in front of me, wrapping both arms tightly around my waist in an attempt to lift me off the ground…something he has been trying to do periodically over the past few weeks. I guess this is a goal for my manchild…he is practicing for the day when he can actually sweep his Momma off of her feet! While he gave me a good shove I exclaimed “Whoa! You almost did it that time, Buddy!” Once again, that grin lighting up his whole face.
Just short of the door he stopped and said, “You know that cinnamon roll is really big, but by the time I get to the middle of it, it might be a little dry. Do you think we could ask them to bring us a little extra icing?”
“I think that would be a great idea…we will ask.”
Let the kid have the icing, I say. After all, it’s our secret…nobody will ever know.
He’s already chosen where we will go next week…McDonald’s ice cream cones and then to the park to take a walk.
Some secrets are really good.
Don’t tell anybody, okay?
It started roughly five weeks ago. It was a typical Tuesday afternoon. Our home was abuzz with homework, chores, after school practices, giving this one a ride here, dropping that one off there…I hadn’t even begun to think of the dinner menu and time was rushing by. Before I knew it I found myself throwing a loaf of bread, peanut butter and jelly on the counter. I grabbed the paper plates and a butter knife, set it alongside the loaf, and began to walk away. I had a twinge of conscience, walked back to the refrigerator and grabbed a bag of raw baby carrots and the bottle of ranch dressing to add to the evening meal. “Hey! Everybody! Get down here and make a sandwich right now! We need to leave in twenty minutes.”
Right on schedule we made it out the door and before I knew it arrived at the gym to drop off daughters three and four, along with nephew. They were on time, but just barely. As I put the family transportation into drive and began to pull away I was startled when a voice arose from the back seat saying “Mom, what do you want to do now?” I guess I was so distracted by the pace we were coming and going at, that for one brief moment I forgot I had a lone passenger. As I glanced quickly at my rearview mirror I saw him, his dark hair and eyes, face covered with freckles and looking up at me.
Sometimes I find myself so distracted by everything, that I don’t realize the path I have wandered onto. So was this moment. It was just the handsome short guy in the back seat, and me. It’s not that we haven’t been alone in the past. I mean, it has happened frequently over the past 8 years. But I was struck by this moment, and the realization that the time was changing.
I answered, “Well, I’m not sure. We are kind of alone, aren’t we?”
I saw him glance out the window and say quietly…”Yes. Yes we are.”
Not wanting to force my “to do list” upon him I asked “So is there anything you really wanted to do tonight? Something we can do together, just the two of us…since we are alone?” I was kind of surprised by the silence. I glanced into the rearview mirror again, and I swear I saw the wheels begin to turn. He said “Well, what if we went somewhere and got a treat together. You know, sweets or something?” Now I ask you, who says things like that? He said “sweets or something” and I have to tell you I kind of melted. And that is how the secret started.
We decided that Tuesday evenings would be our time. We wouldn’t tell Daddy or the siblings, after all, he said “We don’t want anyone to feel left out or anything…so we just shouldn’t tell them.” Since that night we have had a total of five rendezvous. Those evenings have included a ginormous cinnamon roll, a piece of chocolate cream pie, a cake pop (iced latte for me) and an oreo cookie ice cream. The cinnamon roll was so much to his liking that he requested to return for another one last night. On the way to this fine establishment the following conversation ensued…
“Mom, do you know which channel on the radio is the 70’s channel?”
“No I do not…” I say, “But feel free to change to whatever you like.” (Yes, he is fond of “70’s” music…God, I so love this boy.)
“So, Mom, were you even alive in the 70’s?” I pause, and state “Why yes I was. I turned six when the 70’s started, and then turned sixteen when the 70’s came to a close.”
He started to fidget in excitement with the realization that I was actually there in the 70’s…that time of his most favorite music. And asked “So, Mom, what do you think the grooviest music was? You know, what years do you think had the most grooviest music of all?” I could feel his eyes upon me and knew that this was a very serious question. He was asking my opinion. It was not the typical life-as-usual business, we were having an exchange. He was engaging me with a topical discussion of the arts, music in particular. I wanted so desperately to release the giggles I was feeling, but didn’t want to derail his focus.
“Well, since you are asking what the grooviest music of all is, I would have to say the music from the 70’s was indeed some of the grooviest of all music.”
All of a sudden he jumped in his seat (as much as a buckled seatbelt will allow) clapped his hands loudly, and said with great fervor “YES!!! I knew it!” Might I add there was a very satisfied grin spread from ear to ear.
As we crossed the parking lot he jumped in front of me, wrapping both arms tightly around my waist in an attempt to lift me off the ground…something he has been trying to do periodically over the past few weeks. I guess this is a goal for my manchild…he is practicing for the day when he can actually sweep his Momma off of her feet! While he gave me a good shove I exclaimed “Whoa! You almost did it that time, Buddy!” Once again, that grin lighting up his whole face.
Just short of the door he stopped and said, “You know that cinnamon roll is really big, but by the time I get to the middle of it, it might be a little dry. Do you think we could ask them to bring us a little extra icing?”
“I think that would be a great idea…we will ask.”
Let the kid have the icing, I say. After all, it’s our secret…nobody will ever know.
He’s already chosen where we will go next week…McDonald’s ice cream cones and then to the park to take a walk.
Some secrets are really good.
Don’t tell anybody, okay?
Golden Moments Blocked
There are moments that are full, overflowing with peace, joy and contentment. In the midst of them I have learned to free fall. I turn up the volume on my ears, eyes, and heart, capturing the details to pull from later…knowing that the tides can turn with only a few words or actions. I am not so certain why those places of fullness have to be so delicate…So fragile that they can spiral into an extreme oppositional place when difficulty comes, but more times than not, they are. So I ask the one that knows my heart the most intimately to speak to me as only He can.
“ The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in Him!” Lamentations 2:22-24
As I struggle with how quickly my own heart can be turned from one extreme to the other, I do recognize that I have choices. I can go to my personal dark place…the emotional fetal position is not attractive;) I can be consumed by the immediate feelings of hurt, fear, or disappointment. Admittedly I am capable of letting things steal my peace. I don’t know of anyone that truly escapes disappointment and hurt. It’s a surety. More important than when, or, even how it will hit, is what we do with it when it does. How will we get over, go around or struggle through it? Will I, or, will I not, put on my big girl panties when life strikes?
“Consider it a gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4
“Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put thru this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of His victory. You never saw Him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him-with laughter and singing. Because you keep believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.” 1 Peter 1:7-9
Yep. Sometimes life hurts and we feel the sting of it. And when it does, as we reel from how quickly the moments do change, I will choose to draw from those full and overflowing moments. Pretty sure I can surround myself with how golden they are.
“ The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore I will hope in Him!” Lamentations 2:22-24
As I struggle with how quickly my own heart can be turned from one extreme to the other, I do recognize that I have choices. I can go to my personal dark place…the emotional fetal position is not attractive;) I can be consumed by the immediate feelings of hurt, fear, or disappointment. Admittedly I am capable of letting things steal my peace. I don’t know of anyone that truly escapes disappointment and hurt. It’s a surety. More important than when, or, even how it will hit, is what we do with it when it does. How will we get over, go around or struggle through it? Will I, or, will I not, put on my big girl panties when life strikes?
“Consider it a gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-4
“Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put thru this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of His victory. You never saw Him, yet you love him. You still don’t see him, yet you trust him-with laughter and singing. Because you keep believing, you’ll get what you’re looking forward to: total salvation.” 1 Peter 1:7-9
Yep. Sometimes life hurts and we feel the sting of it. And when it does, as we reel from how quickly the moments do change, I will choose to draw from those full and overflowing moments. Pretty sure I can surround myself with how golden they are.
Friday, February 10, 2012
A Mother's Heart Uncensored...Baby Steps
My baby is growing up. Yes, they all do, but some of these growth spurts are harder than others. You watch the baby steps as the days pass, and for the most part those steps bring joy into the process as they accomplish new things. Today is different.
Today my baby isn’t six months old tasting her first bite of solid food…turning the texture over on her tongue and gagging over the graininess of finely pureed food. She isn’t nine months old and shocking us with her first steps, bottle dangling from her teeth as she tries to become mobile and NOT let go of her favorite apple juice. She isn’t even five and braving her first day of class, thirteen and crying over mean girls in middle school, or, sixteen and dressed like a princess for her first dance…all very memorable moments that do bring a smile to my face.
Today my baby is 22 years of age. And I can’t smile over this baby step. I have known this day was coming for a very long time. It is a moment I tried to avoid thinking about, because it has been painful to envision her experiencing it. You see, today my baby came face to face with death. My baby as a nursing student was called to assist on her first code and death in the ICU ward she is working...IS working. The moment is so fresh that I can’t seem to function without stopping to process how she must feel. She was there, did all she knew to do, and when the immediacy of the moment passed she had to leave the room and text us…because she simply needed us to know. It doesn’t matter how old they are when they take the baby step, they still need us in their corner. They don’t necessarily need us to do anything, rush to their aid, or, step in. She just needed us to know.
So what did I do next? I began to pray, I turned to all that love her and I enough to pray right now.
And I want her to know these things…Just as it is a privilege to be present when a life takes its first breath, so it is to be present for its last. I am grateful to the one that made her in His image. Because of his great compassion and kindness, she is a mirror of His reflection. I want her to know that her great big beautiful heart and ability to show grief in moments like this, will speak loudly of HIS loving nature. I admire her ability to say yes to a life of serving and caring for others, even when it hurts.
Mostly, I want her to know how very proud I am that she came from me.
I love you, HSB.
Today my baby isn’t six months old tasting her first bite of solid food…turning the texture over on her tongue and gagging over the graininess of finely pureed food. She isn’t nine months old and shocking us with her first steps, bottle dangling from her teeth as she tries to become mobile and NOT let go of her favorite apple juice. She isn’t even five and braving her first day of class, thirteen and crying over mean girls in middle school, or, sixteen and dressed like a princess for her first dance…all very memorable moments that do bring a smile to my face.
Today my baby is 22 years of age. And I can’t smile over this baby step. I have known this day was coming for a very long time. It is a moment I tried to avoid thinking about, because it has been painful to envision her experiencing it. You see, today my baby came face to face with death. My baby as a nursing student was called to assist on her first code and death in the ICU ward she is working...IS working. The moment is so fresh that I can’t seem to function without stopping to process how she must feel. She was there, did all she knew to do, and when the immediacy of the moment passed she had to leave the room and text us…because she simply needed us to know. It doesn’t matter how old they are when they take the baby step, they still need us in their corner. They don’t necessarily need us to do anything, rush to their aid, or, step in. She just needed us to know.
So what did I do next? I began to pray, I turned to all that love her and I enough to pray right now.
And I want her to know these things…Just as it is a privilege to be present when a life takes its first breath, so it is to be present for its last. I am grateful to the one that made her in His image. Because of his great compassion and kindness, she is a mirror of His reflection. I want her to know that her great big beautiful heart and ability to show grief in moments like this, will speak loudly of HIS loving nature. I admire her ability to say yes to a life of serving and caring for others, even when it hurts.
Mostly, I want her to know how very proud I am that she came from me.
I love you, HSB.
My 180…
What is my motivation for change? Why do we do, what we do? On the never ending path of self discovery, I am learning new things about myself. The past few years have been full of surprises, to say the least. There have been moments, people and places that have made my heart rich. There have been moments I doubted I would survive successfully, fearing I would stay in brokenness. Such extreme experiences, each useful in carving away the rough stuff, and refining the details of who I am. Bottom line, I want to reflect a purpose much bigger than me. Larger than what appears to be the outcome of devastation. Greater than what may look like accomplishment. That’s the motivation for my 180.
We are all different, and I do realize that change can be a bit of a dirty word to some. But to me, well, it kind of makes me tick. Something about the potential of “what if” makes me very happy. I start to formulate lists of possibilities. I throw thoughts around my mind until they become so deafening internally that I have to let them out. Yes, there are fears and insecurities. If honest, we all have them. But I guess the “what if” is becoming weightier than the fear, with every moment.
What if…I give without expectation, choose to dwell on goodness, own my shortcomings without blaming…I forgive as quickly as I am offended, speak the truth in love, and laugh over the spilt milk in life…I look for the silver lining, believe and hope for the best, be the first to respond when there is a need…l look for the value in others, extend a helping hand, offer what I have & not expect return…I treat others without thought of where it may get me, I approached situations as if “NO” wasn’t an option, and learned to turn my fears of failure into adventures… I build up, make beautiful, spur on…I look in your eyes when I speak to you, giving you my ear & focus because I want you to know that I find worth in you. You matter. Your very existence has meaning and purpose.
“Your lives are like a letter from Christ. He did not write his letter with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. He did not write it on stone but deep inside living human people” 2 Cor. 3:3
Just imagine it. If I were to live my life as a letter from God, openly read. If my transparency were to show the turn I’ve made…if somehow in the reading of my life, others would encounter the Spirit of the living God, their Designer and Creator. And in that introduction, they too would come upon a turn in their own paths of purpose, greater than they could have imagined. Pretty sure we would see the world turned upside down.
What if…
What is my motivation for change? Why do we do, what we do? On the never ending path of self discovery, I am learning new things about myself. The past few years have been full of surprises, to say the least. There have been moments, people and places that have made my heart rich. There have been moments I doubted I would survive successfully, fearing I would stay in brokenness. Such extreme experiences, each useful in carving away the rough stuff, and refining the details of who I am. Bottom line, I want to reflect a purpose much bigger than me. Larger than what appears to be the outcome of devastation. Greater than what may look like accomplishment. That’s the motivation for my 180.
We are all different, and I do realize that change can be a bit of a dirty word to some. But to me, well, it kind of makes me tick. Something about the potential of “what if” makes me very happy. I start to formulate lists of possibilities. I throw thoughts around my mind until they become so deafening internally that I have to let them out. Yes, there are fears and insecurities. If honest, we all have them. But I guess the “what if” is becoming weightier than the fear, with every moment.
What if…I give without expectation, choose to dwell on goodness, own my shortcomings without blaming…I forgive as quickly as I am offended, speak the truth in love, and laugh over the spilt milk in life…I look for the silver lining, believe and hope for the best, be the first to respond when there is a need…l look for the value in others, extend a helping hand, offer what I have & not expect return…I treat others without thought of where it may get me, I approached situations as if “NO” wasn’t an option, and learned to turn my fears of failure into adventures… I build up, make beautiful, spur on…I look in your eyes when I speak to you, giving you my ear & focus because I want you to know that I find worth in you. You matter. Your very existence has meaning and purpose.
“Your lives are like a letter from Christ. He did not write his letter with ink but with the Spirit of the living God. He did not write it on stone but deep inside living human people” 2 Cor. 3:3
Just imagine it. If I were to live my life as a letter from God, openly read. If my transparency were to show the turn I’ve made…if somehow in the reading of my life, others would encounter the Spirit of the living God, their Designer and Creator. And in that introduction, they too would come upon a turn in their own paths of purpose, greater than they could have imagined. Pretty sure we would see the world turned upside down.
What if…
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
A Mother's Heart Uncensored...
The greatest desire I have for my children is that they will experience love, and live a life of actively loving. Not just the kind that tickles their ears with the things that they want to hear. Not the kind that strokes their ego or tells them what they think they need. I am asking for real Love, in its purest form.
The kind of love that spoke the worlds into order, the love that hung each star in its place turning night to day, and back into night, yet again. I want them to live in the fullness of the love that looked forward into eternity, and designed every aspect of their character and physical form, with purpose and destiny.
The hard part for me is to let them find their way. I can point the direction, showing them by my actions what it is, and is not, but ultimately they must experience the Author of Love for themselves. I must not get in their way as they walk the learning path. I require much wisdom, so that I don’t act prematurely, jumping onto the path and actually derailing them. I need the Author Himself to temper my Mommy-Heart.
I pray that, as gravity keeps them on the earth, so will the desire to be in the presence of Love…as it is the greatest motivational force of our lives. Like gravity it will affix their feet. As our feet have no choice but be drawn back down with every step, so will their spirits be pulled back in toward Love.
*Pray for me, that I will live in the fullness that the Author intends for me...this Mommy-Heart can't get in the way:)
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
The kind of love that spoke the worlds into order, the love that hung each star in its place turning night to day, and back into night, yet again. I want them to live in the fullness of the love that looked forward into eternity, and designed every aspect of their character and physical form, with purpose and destiny.
The hard part for me is to let them find their way. I can point the direction, showing them by my actions what it is, and is not, but ultimately they must experience the Author of Love for themselves. I must not get in their way as they walk the learning path. I require much wisdom, so that I don’t act prematurely, jumping onto the path and actually derailing them. I need the Author Himself to temper my Mommy-Heart.
I pray that, as gravity keeps them on the earth, so will the desire to be in the presence of Love…as it is the greatest motivational force of our lives. Like gravity it will affix their feet. As our feet have no choice but be drawn back down with every step, so will their spirits be pulled back in toward Love.
*Pray for me, that I will live in the fullness that the Author intends for me...this Mommy-Heart can't get in the way:)
1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
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