OF MY IMAGINKINATION???
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT!!!
(A SAYING FROM POPEYE THE SAILOR MAN)
I am not sure why I have never asked a friend with a grown child if they allow their imaginations to run as wild as I do on this matter:
But...
Every time my son or daughter call me and their voice seems low or I think I hear a sound other than a clear voice on the other end, here is the image I see:
Their vehicle is mangled and in a ditch
They spot their cell phone and manage to reach it and
Punch in my number because it is the first one that comes to their mind
Just as I answer the phone, they can no longer stay conscious enough to talk
And now I am suppose to figure out where they are and go to them
Crazy or what?????
Friday, June 25, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
HALLELUJAH!!
QUESTION: Who can you stand before with tears streaming down your face whining, complaining, begging, pleading, and spilling your heart out to for hours on end and they consider it to be music to their ears?
ANSWER: God
I had a "heart melting" moment this morning on my way to work while listening to this song and realizing how much He loves me!
God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.
The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.
Better than a Hallelujah somtimes.
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.
BETTER THAN A HALLELUJAH SOMETIMES.
ANSWER: God
I had a "heart melting" moment this morning on my way to work while listening to this song and realizing how much He loves me!
God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.
The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.
Better than a Hallelujah somtimes.
We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.
BETTER THAN A HALLELUJAH SOMETIMES.
Friday, June 18, 2010
HERE'S WHAT I MIGHT SAY
I recently wrote this post where I talked about how I am sometimes tempted while out shopping to approach mothers who are not dealing very well with children who are misbehaving.
HERE IS WHAT I MIGHT SAY TO THEM:
-Don't get upset over your child's restlessness. Playing is their favorite pastime, not shopping.
-Don't blame them for asking for toys, candy, etc. When we see something and want it, we buy it. They can't. They have to ask. Besides that, the store designed the toy department especially for their viewing enjoyment.
-Take advantage of having their face in yours. Plant kisses on it.
-Do not take this filled up little buggy seat for granted. One day it will be empty. Well, not entirely empty. It will keep your eggs safe, your purse nearby, and your bread from getting smashed. Trust me when I tell you that eggs and bread will never look into your eyes with all the love this world has to offer.
AND THEN I WOULD SAY...
-Go ahead, buy them a toy.
AND WHILE ON A ROLL, I MIGHT ALSO SAY THIS:
-If you have a child who is independent, be proud, they probably inherited it from you.
-Do not think an independent child does not need you. They do!
-Do not fight it, just learn when and how to gently "reel" them in when necessary.
-Allow them to be the individual that God created them to be.
-If they are asking you for hot pink fingernail polish or fake tattoos, do not be overly concerned. It's ok if they like shiny, glittery things.
-This does not mean they will grow up to become someone you would have to pretend you did not know if you ran into them on a "street corner".
-Chances are their taste in fashion will probably change and eventually become more refined.
-Do not spend your weekend cleaning house, spend it with them.
-Do not let them grow up to only remember that you were a clean freak.
-Give them memories of fun things you did together.
-THEY do not care if the house is clean and chances are no one else does.
-When they grow up and leave home, you will have all the time in the world to clean.
-And guess what? By then YOU will not care anymore.
-Waste no time, and I repeat, no time in trying to prove ANYTHING to yourself or to others.
-Know when it is time to give up something and make necessary changes, even if the changes are major ones.
-Do not despair if they are followers and not leaders.
-Leaders need followers.
-Just pray more.
-Pray they will follow the right ones and into the right direction.
-Do not expect them to mimic your personality.
-They may have needs and desires completely opposite to yours.
-Let them express their personality through clothes and shoes that they get to pick out on occasion.
-Let them decorate their own rooms.
-No one will think any less of your decorating abilities if they chose the latest Disney character as the theme.
-Let them be creative.
-Even if it means using markers, glitter, or play doh in the house.
-And if they have an indescribable love for animals, let them have a pet, a real pet.
-Forget about trying to keep your carpet looking new for a lifetime.
-Never expect them to understand how "good" they have it.
-Give them something to compare their life to.
-Do everything possible to take them on a foreign mission trip.
-Talk less.
-Listen more.
-Do not be a brick wall.
-Be a sifter.
-Help them to sort through all that life throws at them, teaching them to know what is worth keeping and what needs to be thrown out.
-Be consistent, and be constant.
-Be authoritative, but also be approachable.
-And last but definitely not least , love them like they will grow up and leave you one day.
-Because, guess what? They will.
THIS AND PROBABLY SO MUCH MORE IS WHAT I MIGHT SAY!
HERE IS WHAT I MIGHT SAY TO THEM:
-Don't get upset over your child's restlessness. Playing is their favorite pastime, not shopping.
-Don't blame them for asking for toys, candy, etc. When we see something and want it, we buy it. They can't. They have to ask. Besides that, the store designed the toy department especially for their viewing enjoyment.
-Take advantage of having their face in yours. Plant kisses on it.
-Do not take this filled up little buggy seat for granted. One day it will be empty. Well, not entirely empty. It will keep your eggs safe, your purse nearby, and your bread from getting smashed. Trust me when I tell you that eggs and bread will never look into your eyes with all the love this world has to offer.
AND THEN I WOULD SAY...
-Go ahead, buy them a toy.
AND WHILE ON A ROLL, I MIGHT ALSO SAY THIS:
-If you have a child who is independent, be proud, they probably inherited it from you.
-Do not think an independent child does not need you. They do!
-Do not fight it, just learn when and how to gently "reel" them in when necessary.
-Allow them to be the individual that God created them to be.
-If they are asking you for hot pink fingernail polish or fake tattoos, do not be overly concerned. It's ok if they like shiny, glittery things.
-This does not mean they will grow up to become someone you would have to pretend you did not know if you ran into them on a "street corner".
-Chances are their taste in fashion will probably change and eventually become more refined.
-Do not spend your weekend cleaning house, spend it with them.
-Do not let them grow up to only remember that you were a clean freak.
-Give them memories of fun things you did together.
-THEY do not care if the house is clean and chances are no one else does.
-When they grow up and leave home, you will have all the time in the world to clean.
-And guess what? By then YOU will not care anymore.
-Waste no time, and I repeat, no time in trying to prove ANYTHING to yourself or to others.
-Know when it is time to give up something and make necessary changes, even if the changes are major ones.
-Do not despair if they are followers and not leaders.
-Leaders need followers.
-Just pray more.
-Pray they will follow the right ones and into the right direction.
-Do not expect them to mimic your personality.
-They may have needs and desires completely opposite to yours.
-Let them express their personality through clothes and shoes that they get to pick out on occasion.
-Let them decorate their own rooms.
-No one will think any less of your decorating abilities if they chose the latest Disney character as the theme.
-Let them be creative.
-Even if it means using markers, glitter, or play doh in the house.
-And if they have an indescribable love for animals, let them have a pet, a real pet.
-Forget about trying to keep your carpet looking new for a lifetime.
-Never expect them to understand how "good" they have it.
-Give them something to compare their life to.
-Do everything possible to take them on a foreign mission trip.
-Talk less.
-Listen more.
-Do not be a brick wall.
-Be a sifter.
-Help them to sort through all that life throws at them, teaching them to know what is worth keeping and what needs to be thrown out.
-Be consistent, and be constant.
-Be authoritative, but also be approachable.
-And last but definitely not least , love them like they will grow up and leave you one day.
-Because, guess what? They will.
THIS AND PROBABLY SO MUCH MORE IS WHAT I MIGHT SAY!
MY DAUGHTER: THE DÉBUTANTE QUEEN
Early this morning my daughter shared this dream with me that she had during the night:
She dreamed that I (her own mother) was MAKING her be a contestant in a débutante pageant. She was furious with me because of it. We showed up at this community center event with only thirty minutes to spare. The other girls (the ones in the elegant, long, flowing gowns) were already lined up. She took her place in line, AS A DÉBUTANTE, sporting a red fuzzy vest with a long sleeve black t underneath and black leggings, but not before she touched up the bright orange polish that was chipped on her big toe nails that were sticking out of her black stilettos. (Like anyone would have gotten past the outfit to notice the chipped polish on her toe nails!)
Hahaha! You can't make this stuff up!!!
We laughed ourselves silly.
She told me the reason for the dream HAD to be because of a childhood memory; one she cannot keep suppressed; one that involves a hideous homemade cheerleader outfit and a homecoming court. Let me explain. Briefly.
During her early elementary years she attended a private Christian school. The dress code was extremely strict. She was a cheerleader (along with her entire class of 10 or so) for the basketball team. Their outfits were quite pathetic to say the least. Because of the school's strict dress code, everything these poor kids wore looked as if they were four or five sizes too big for them including the cheerleader outfit. They consisted of over sized yellow sweatshirts and royal blue, homemade, as-ugly-as-you-can-get, below-the-knees, baggy culottes.
She and I attended this homecoming game together. The second we entered the gymnasium a staff member "swooped" down on her desperately needing a "favor". It appeared that one of the court members, the homecoming queen possibly (I can't remember) had gotten very ill at the last minute and was not able to attend. Sheasked begged my daughter to fill in. I still remember watching my daughter agonize over the decision. She felt honored that they would ask her (what she did not realize was that the other two class mates who were also NOT a member of the court and who had also come dressed to cheer, had already said NO!!!) (Don't really know if this happened, just guessing!!) She also knew that the "sore thumb" sticking out of the "court" would be her.
Her one and maybe only chance for Cinderella-ism, only without the fairy god-mother, carriage, ball gown, or glass slippers.
Can you imagine a mother allowing her precious little girl who LOVED to dress up in everything fancy to escort a homecoming king dressed in a suit and tie (who evidently could not walk without a girl on his arm) down the court in front ofthousands hundreds OK tens of people dressed in a poorly homemade, over sized, down right UGLY cheerleader suit, tennis shoes, and white socks along side all the other "queens" in their ball gowns?? And did I mention that it was raining cats and dogs that evening. We were both drenched.
Well I can!
And I did!
And have pictures to prove it.
Oh boy, is hind sight not 20-20 or what??
No wonder she is, 16 years later, still having nightmares!
Poor girl!
At least we can still laugh about it.
And laugh we did!!
And laughing with her is a good thing.
A very very good thing!!
She dreamed that I (her own mother) was MAKING her be a contestant in a débutante pageant. She was furious with me because of it. We showed up at this community center event with only thirty minutes to spare. The other girls (the ones in the elegant, long, flowing gowns) were already lined up. She took her place in line, AS A DÉBUTANTE, sporting a red fuzzy vest with a long sleeve black t underneath and black leggings, but not before she touched up the bright orange polish that was chipped on her big toe nails that were sticking out of her black stilettos. (Like anyone would have gotten past the outfit to notice the chipped polish on her toe nails!)
Hahaha! You can't make this stuff up!!!
We laughed ourselves silly.
She told me the reason for the dream HAD to be because of a childhood memory; one she cannot keep suppressed; one that involves a hideous homemade cheerleader outfit and a homecoming court. Let me explain. Briefly.
During her early elementary years she attended a private Christian school. The dress code was extremely strict. She was a cheerleader (along with her entire class of 10 or so) for the basketball team. Their outfits were quite pathetic to say the least. Because of the school's strict dress code, everything these poor kids wore looked as if they were four or five sizes too big for them including the cheerleader outfit. They consisted of over sized yellow sweatshirts and royal blue, homemade, as-ugly-as-you-can-get, below-the-knees, baggy culottes.
She and I attended this homecoming game together. The second we entered the gymnasium a staff member "swooped" down on her desperately needing a "favor". It appeared that one of the court members, the homecoming queen possibly (I can't remember) had gotten very ill at the last minute and was not able to attend. She
Her one and maybe only chance for Cinderella-ism, only without the fairy god-mother, carriage, ball gown, or glass slippers.
Can you imagine a mother allowing her precious little girl who LOVED to dress up in everything fancy to escort a homecoming king dressed in a suit and tie (who evidently could not walk without a girl on his arm) down the court in front of
Well I can!
And I did!
And have pictures to prove it.
Oh boy, is hind sight not 20-20 or what??
No wonder she is, 16 years later, still having nightmares!
Poor girl!
At least we can still laugh about it.
And laugh we did!!
And laughing with her is a good thing.
A very very good thing!!
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
"I NEED TO GO GET SOME PENCILS"
Her first words as she walked in the door of my office yesterday waving her paperwork in front of me. Needless to say she was excited over having just enrolled in school for the fall semester. It has been her desire for a long time and now it had become a reality.
I had to smile when she made the statement knowing what she meant: The smell! Nothing like the smell of freshly sharpened pencils! Along with all the other school supplies that signify a brand new school year. But for her, they signify so much more:
-A new beginning
-A fresh start
-An opportunity to get some things right, to do better
-Understanding that some things are not permanent
-Mistakes can be erased or forgiven
-A promising future ahead of her
She was unsettled during our visit, mainly due to excitement, but also due to so many uncertainties. Over lunch and during the drive to and from we talked about some of the new challenges about to unfold for her. I encouraged her to take one step at a time allowing God to lead and to try not to worry over all that lies ahead. I know this will be difficult for her. It will be difficult for me as well!
Prayer requests:
-That she will be able to get right back into the groove of school.
-That the part time job she has applied for will become available if it is the right thing for her to do
- Her finances (She has already paid off two of her three credit card debts. I am so proud of her.)
-Good grades (Important for the degree she is pursuing)
There are SO many more and as time goes by, I would like to share specific ones with you.
Today; however; I am going to buy her some pencils!
I had to smile when she made the statement knowing what she meant: The smell! Nothing like the smell of freshly sharpened pencils! Along with all the other school supplies that signify a brand new school year. But for her, they signify so much more:
-A new beginning
-A fresh start
-An opportunity to get some things right, to do better
-Understanding that some things are not permanent
-Mistakes can be erased or forgiven
-A promising future ahead of her
She was unsettled during our visit, mainly due to excitement, but also due to so many uncertainties. Over lunch and during the drive to and from we talked about some of the new challenges about to unfold for her. I encouraged her to take one step at a time allowing God to lead and to try not to worry over all that lies ahead. I know this will be difficult for her. It will be difficult for me as well!
Prayer requests:
-That she will be able to get right back into the groove of school.
-That the part time job she has applied for will become available if it is the right thing for her to do
- Her finances (She has already paid off two of her three credit card debts. I am so proud of her.)
-Good grades (Important for the degree she is pursuing)
There are SO many more and as time goes by, I would like to share specific ones with you.
Today; however; I am going to buy her some pencils!
Monday, June 14, 2010
IN SPITE OF MYSELF
He loves me anyway. And He wanted me to know this. He also wanted me to know that she does too. At 3:14 I posted a prayer:
Help me to trust you even when I cannot reach out to her. Capture her attention. Please, God, give her a gift today. Allow her to become overwhelmed with how much her mother loves her. I do not know how you will accomplish this; I just know you can.
At 4:13 she sent me a text from work: I am going to be over your way tomorrow if you want to go eat lunch.
This may not be profound to anyone else, but it is to me!
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect (made ready) toward him.” II Chronicles 16:9
Thank you, Father, for showing yourself strong in behalf of me today. Thank you, for showing me that she held me in her heart and had me on her mind. Only you knew how important it was for me to know that.
Help me to trust you even when I cannot reach out to her. Capture her attention. Please, God, give her a gift today. Allow her to become overwhelmed with how much her mother loves her. I do not know how you will accomplish this; I just know you can.
At 4:13 she sent me a text from work: I am going to be over your way tomorrow if you want to go eat lunch.
This may not be profound to anyone else, but it is to me!
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect (made ready) toward him.” II Chronicles 16:9
Thank you, Father, for showing yourself strong in behalf of me today. Thank you, for showing me that she held me in her heart and had me on her mind. Only you knew how important it was for me to know that.
"WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?"
My husband and I were in town over the weekend and I saw a mom trying to deal with her two small children who obviously did not want to be riding around in a shopping cart in T.J. Maxx on a Sunday afternoon!! I made this statement to him (one that I have made many times before {usually to myself}, especially when I see the manner in which some mothers deal with their children out in public): "I wish I could do it all over again. I wish they were little again." And then he asked, "What would you do differently?" My answer: ENJOY THEM MORE!!!!
I want to run up to these mothers and plead with them, "There are no second chances. They have only one childhood and you have only one time to get it right. Don't mess it up!!!" I don't of course, but I have been tempted more times than I care to mention.
On this journey, I never know what memories, emotions, or thoughts, I may face from day to day. Today for some reason I have shed tears filled with longings.
I miss her! She declined my invitation to meet us for church and lunch yesterday.
When things are not the way they should be between my daughter and myself I want to fix it. But I want to go back and fix the root of it. Satan begins to unveil ALL the mistakes I made as a mother. I know better than to listen, but sometimes the thoughts are too loud to drown out and the hurt is too deep to go away.
Please don't get me wrong. I was not a terrible mom! But, I also know I made mistakes along the way. I could make a list of them for you, but I will spare you. Besides, it would not benefit me or her or anyone else whatsoever. I truly believe this is not from God.
He does NOT want me to dwell on the "what ifs" or regrets; nor does He want me "stuck" in the past. But rather, He would have me "moving" ahead, not repeating the same mistakes, but learning from them. And this is what I strive to do most of the time, honestly I do. But on occasion "guilt" comes a-knocking and I foolishly let it in.
God, please clear my thoughts. I do not want them given over to anything that would harm me. The hours and minutes of THIS day are ticking away. I want to enjoy them more!! Help me to listen to my heart, the place where You dwell and He does not. Help me to be better today than I was yesterday and to not make the same mistakes that I made yesterday. Help me tomorrow that I will not regret today.
Help me to trust you even when I cannot reach out to her. Capture her attention. Please, God, give her a gift today. Allow her to become overwhelmed with how much her mother loves her. I do not know how you will accomplish this; I just know you can.
God, my past is just what it is: my past. Help me to not be sad over it. Help me to be glad in what I can accomplish, through you, in the days ahead of me. Help me as I strive to ENJOY THEM (my husband, son, daughter, mom, dad, brother, other family members, friends, job, house, talents, abilities, and every other aspect of my life) MORE.
Amen
I want to run up to these mothers and plead with them, "There are no second chances. They have only one childhood and you have only one time to get it right. Don't mess it up!!!" I don't of course, but I have been tempted more times than I care to mention.
On this journey, I never know what memories, emotions, or thoughts, I may face from day to day. Today for some reason I have shed tears filled with longings.
I miss her! She declined my invitation to meet us for church and lunch yesterday.
When things are not the way they should be between my daughter and myself I want to fix it. But I want to go back and fix the root of it. Satan begins to unveil ALL the mistakes I made as a mother. I know better than to listen, but sometimes the thoughts are too loud to drown out and the hurt is too deep to go away.
Please don't get me wrong. I was not a terrible mom! But, I also know I made mistakes along the way. I could make a list of them for you, but I will spare you. Besides, it would not benefit me or her or anyone else whatsoever. I truly believe this is not from God.
He does NOT want me to dwell on the "what ifs" or regrets; nor does He want me "stuck" in the past. But rather, He would have me "moving" ahead, not repeating the same mistakes, but learning from them. And this is what I strive to do most of the time, honestly I do. But on occasion "guilt" comes a-knocking and I foolishly let it in.
God, please clear my thoughts. I do not want them given over to anything that would harm me. The hours and minutes of THIS day are ticking away. I want to enjoy them more!! Help me to listen to my heart, the place where You dwell and He does not. Help me to be better today than I was yesterday and to not make the same mistakes that I made yesterday. Help me tomorrow that I will not regret today.
Help me to trust you even when I cannot reach out to her. Capture her attention. Please, God, give her a gift today. Allow her to become overwhelmed with how much her mother loves her. I do not know how you will accomplish this; I just know you can.
God, my past is just what it is: my past. Help me to not be sad over it. Help me to be glad in what I can accomplish, through you, in the days ahead of me. Help me as I strive to ENJOY THEM (my husband, son, daughter, mom, dad, brother, other family members, friends, job, house, talents, abilities, and every other aspect of my life) MORE.
Amen
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