No Greater Love

Today is the day we recognize this one man.   A great leader.  A Christ follower. A Son. A Brother.   
"I still believe that love is the most durable power in the world. Over the centuries men have sought to discover the highest good. This has been the chief quest of ethical philosophy. This has been one of the big questions of Greek philosophy. The Epicureans and the Stoics sought to answer it; Plato and Aristotle sought to answer it. What is the summum bonum of life? I think I have discovered the highest good. It is love. This principle stands at the center of the cosmos. As John says, “God is love.” He who loves is a participant in the being of God. He who hates does not know God."

A Father.  A Husband. A Preacher. A Servant to all of Humanity.

"Always be sure that you struggle with Christian methods and Christian weapons. Never succumb to the temptation of becoming bitter. As you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love. Let no man pull you so low as to hate him. Always avoid violence. If you succumb to the temptation of using violence in your struggle, unborn generations will be the recipients of a long and desolate night of bitterness, and your chief legacy to the future will be an endless reign of meaningless chaos."

A Poet. A Philosopher.  A Teacher. A Student. 
A man whose only mission was to promote LOVE.
“There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends.” John 15:13
Because of Hate and Fear  He never got to see his grandchildren. He didn't get to witness the first Black President. He never even saw his 40's. 
Despite his short time here, he was A world changer. His words carry weight because he backed them with the actions that eventually killed him. His voice is still heard today. And hopefully will be heard for many more years to come. 
I'm beyond thankful that I live in a country that recognizes men just like Martin Luther King jr. It is my hope and prayer on this day that we won't silence the voice of love.  That all of us will work together to be love promoters and in doing so become world changers in our own right. 

Goodnight Dear Void

Y a w n...
I haven't been up this early in quite some time. I woke with so much on my mind and you beloved reader were the remedy.
Sometimes it just feels good to put things out there in the void that is known as the internet.
It reminds of me of You've Got Mail when Kathleen Kelly says, "I don't really want an answer... I Just want to send this cosmic question out into the void. So goodnight dear void"  
That was back in the day when inter-webs were so brand new and you literally did put your thoughts out there in the void of the world wide web.
Now we have places, homes,  appropriate social media boxes to put these thoughts or pictures in.
You've got twitter for an ever so brief thought. Instagram for the quick pic on the go of your life. Facebook that's just like one big party 24/7. And of course Blogspot where I have spent a good portion of my life speaking to you beloved reader.  Did you know that my blog will be 10 years old this August? It's true. That's a lot of conversations,story telling, and random thoughts that I've had with you beloved reader.
I bet by now you might be wondering what woke me up around 4a.m.? I'm kind of wondering the same thing myself. It started I think with a bad day at work and then my mind just wouldn't, couldn't shut off.
Do you ever have early mornings like this? Maybe you are having one right now with me. If so thanks for keeping me company.
I have no real point or moral to this story/blog ... just wanted to say that I'm glad you are here, oh and I wanted to share that awesome picture with you.  I took that on my Instagram Shhh.... don't tell Blogspot,  but I tend to spend more time over there now. 
Goodnight... or actually Good Morning dear void. Thanks for listening. 

My Momma, Momma T, and My After Thoughts on Mother's Day

"Her children arise and call her blessed, her husband also and he praises her."

 Proverbs 31:28

This is my momma.

She is the heart and soul of my family. 

Ask anyone who knows her and they will tell you she is a human being unlike any other.

Her heart is above all generous and kind.

She has a love for Christ that is compelling.

And the woman, is funny as all get out!!

She has raised 5 children, myself included.

5 grown children.

3 girls, and 2 boys stand and called her blessed.

Take that in for a moment.

5 grown adults looked to her yesterday with their hearts full of gratitude for all the years of love and devotion she gave us, and we all called her blessed.

But as I was hanging out with my awesome Momma whom I love so much I got to thinking ...

Is that the goal of this thing called motherhood?

That at the end of all the hard work and investment you pour into your children, they will stand (or write,text,sing) and call you blessed, loved, cherished, amazing, wonderful, awesome? 

Maybe, they love you so much they want to get this tattooed on their body just to tell the world how much they really do love you.

Maybe not cause they are only 2 still!

 I dunno?

The point is

That kind of adoration is what we all long for, but I'm not sure that is the goal? 

Sure it's nice to have a day that we get thanked for our hard work, love and devotion, but it shouldn't be the day that defines us as mom's. 

What happens when our children don't stand (or even text) to call us blessed?

Or even worse, our husband doesn't praise us for all the hard work we do?

I feel like mother's day can be quite the set up for unmet expectations.

Would if you didn't get breakfast in bed?

Would if they don't call you at all let alone, to say they love you?

Would if you don't get that perfume you really wanted, just as a fragrant reminder of the sacrifice you make on a daily basis?

Or even worse would if you don't have your momma here to tell these things to anymore?

Would if God forbid,  your children, they aren't even here anymore?

Would if one of your children tragically went home to be with Jesus way too young?

These were some of my questions and thoughts that I pondered yesterday as I had one of THE best Mother's Days a girl could ever hope for.

I remember though, when my kids were little, Mothers Day was just like any other day. I still had to change poopy diapers, I still had to do laundry and clean up 4 lils messes. I remember the discontentment, bitterness, and bitchy, bratty attitude I would have because I thought... THIS IS MY DAY!! 

I shouldn't have to do this chore or wipe that butt.

Rather than thinking, I get to do this as an honor and privilege, I would spend the whole day bemoaning the things that didn't happen, and the stuff that went wrong.

I realize now that I totally missed out on what a blessing that day really was.

  Now that my kids are grown and pretty much did all the cooking and cleaning yesterday and spoiled me so much so, that I didn't even lift a finger... not EVEN a thumb ... ALL DAY... (don't even get me started on the love notes) I can look back and remember what it was like being in the trenches with the littles.

I remember so well, many a Mother's day that I had the wrong heart attitude. 

I was also reminded by so many momma's yesterday that this day might bring some sorrow instead of joy.

 When I went up to one of the mommas at church to say Happy Mothers Day, she told me she had lost her daughter 2 years ago and sat with only her son and I'm sure a HUGE hole in heart where her daughter used to sit.

Then I was reminded by another momma while walking out the door of church that her oldest son didn't even call.

And even still another friend text to say her child had ran away on mothers day.

It broke my heart and at the same time brought a whole lotta perspective to my sometimes selfish outlook on life.

Not all momma's have joy on this day.

Not all children can call their mom at all, or just wouldn't call her because she is THE one person who they blame all of their sadness in life upon.

The joys and sorrows of this life are so strange to me.

It's just such a mystery to me still why some have SO much joy, while others have SO much sadness.

Why some cups are filled to overflowing, while others have never even been given a drop of joy.

And the only thing I can come back to is perspective.

Our heart's attitude in this life is crucial to our well-being. 

For the momma who sat without her daughter, she was happy to have her son there and talked of the relaxing day they would share.

For the momma whose oldest didn't call, she was thankful for the ones that were still there with her celebrating her day. 

And for my friend whose teen ran away she chose to laugh with her other kids and new friends. 

That's an amazing gift, to see the brighter side of life.

For my friend who didn't have his momma here to say Happy Mother's day to, he called or texted the other Momma's in his life.

And for the one's that didn't have their child with them ... well they looked forward to the day when they would be reunited again.

Jesus, help me to keep a good perspective, a humble perspective in regards to this life. Guard my heart from becoming selfish on all the future Mothers Days I have ahead of me. 

SO often I can let little things rob me of my joy, and yesterday I was reminded that in this life there will be joy and sorrow, good days and bad.

THE only anchor I have in the midst of the highs and lows is the love of Christ, and HIS love flowing through me.

The only glory I can give for my Fab 4 is to their Creator.

And of all the things my momma has given me her love for her Savior was/is the greatest gift because when she is called home someday, and I can't call her up to bless her, Jesus will still be here with me to comfort and help me carry on.

And now to take a cue from Momma T. at the end of the day it isn't all the great things we have done in this life that we will be judged by, it is about the simple sacrifices we make when no one is watching. 

 

Thoughts to Ponder

Happy Friday Beloved Reader! I have a few thoughts for you to ponder this Friday morning, and it might just take you the whole weekend to read, and get back to me cause it's a long lil rant here. I do hope you enjoy my ponderings though, and please, please get back to me with your own ponderings or if you don't ponder at least leave a mark to let me know you were here.  I like to hear what your thinking too ya know ;)
This whole blog started because I read the quote below;
"To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others;  to give one's self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm, and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived... This is to have succeeded." Ralph Waldo Emerson 

The above quote really got to me a few mornings ago. It was from the desk calendar full of quotes, that I have on our bathroom sink. Upon reading it, I thought two things; 
a. this quote for sure needs to be blogged about, so I have had this blog post waiting in the wings. and 2. who the heck is Ralph Waldo Emerson, because whoever he was/is this quote sums up and completely embodies the word success for me?
So I did some digging before I came to have this conversation with you beloved reader, and I found out some things about Ralph. But, before I go any further I just have to say that the name Ralph always makes me think of a very unpleasant bodily function. I do so apologize if your name is Ralph, but there you have it.  
Moving on before we all get a lil queasy ...
The first thing I found out about Ralph is that he was born in Boston, MA. which explains why he's so awesome. Most of my favorite people were born, and raised there and well, I can honestly say, that state has given this world some amazing people. I always say that I feel I was born on the wrong side of the states;) Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the beautiful scene here from North Boston? Remember, to appreciate beauty equates success.  Or so Ralph says ;)

  He also went to H A W VARD(say that with a Bostonian accent) clue number two as to why this man was brilliant. I wonder if he was a baseball fan?  Well, he did say to play and laugh with enthusiasm equals success so I'm pretty sure he would have appreciated the best baseball fans on the planet earth. They ARE certainly the most enthusiastic, I mean come on what other ball club do ya know that bust out singing Neil Diamond songs during the 7th inning stretch?   The most beautiful thing in Boston to me is...

Fenway Park.  Enough said.
Actually, I take that back, the most beautiful thing in Boston to me is my family. All of whom I love dearly, and wish on a regular basis that they didn't live so damn far away. Sheesh... see how easy it is for me to sidetrack when we get talking baseball. But, let's get back to Ralphing shall we? I mean to learning about Ralph.

So then I read that his first wife died after only two years of marriage, which really bummed me out for him. I mean I wasn't totally bummed cause he's dead too now... but ya know I was like... Oh that's so sad. I then went on to read that he was a minister, but was quoted as saying:    "I have sometimes thought that, in order to be a good minister, it was necessary to leave the ministry."

Well, that really stuck out to me, because not only have my husband and I been in formal ministry but we have left it. And I'm not sure we are better ministers now that we aren't paid to do so, but I do know we have come think of ministry totally differently.I've come to believe we are all ministers, or at least we should be. I'm not sure I agree with this above statement, but I wonder what it was that he noticed about the church and ministry of his religious organization that would make him say that?
Maybe it was something like what happened here; You Brought Me a Beer and Took My Picture this is an article about a new bill that was recently passed where it allows business owners and individuals to refuse service to anyone on the grounds of religious freedom. Very interesting article and sadly, how it came to pass is so very disturbing to me.
Whatever your stance on this issue may be, can we all agree these are the type of stories that give religion a bad name.  I'm pretty sure that as Christ followers we are called, commissioned even to love and accept ALL people, not just the ones that are easy and comfortable for us to love.
This issue is one of those social conditions we could redeem, or make a little bit better than the way we've found it.  It's about LOVE people.

We are all called to leave the world a little bit better than the way we found it, that's what I call ministry to the human race.
As I continued to read about Ralph's life story, I was really inspired by the way he came to view it.  Honestly, his life story is a beautiful one. He became an adamant spokes person to abolish slavery, and came to have an understanding of God and all things spiritual that I think is beautiful.
We all will have a life story, what will yours read like?
At the end of my little history lesson about this man named Ralph, who by the way later decided to go by his middle name Waldo (see even he didn't really care for his name) I realized once again why I love words so very much.
I would have never known of this Ralph Waldo Emerson if it weren't for the words he had spoken about what true success is. And that made me wonder, what is your take on what true success is? Whose words influence you the most? What words will you speak that will forever change the world ?
The words I hope and pray I live by come from a man who also happened to be God, some 2000 years ago... they go something like this;
 “Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” Jesus WORDS From the gospel of John  chapter 13:34-35  Message  translation
I want to be recognized as one who LOVES because Christ first loved me.  I want to leave a legacy of LOVE even when it isn't easy to do so. And I want to speak out using words only when necessary. I want my actions of LOVE to be louder than my words.  That is the life I hope to live and that to me would be success. 

God Is Good

I've got one hour to snuggle up with you, Beloved reader. I've got my cup of coffee in a cute little birdy cup that I found at the Salvation Army yesterday, and my brain is full of topics to talk about, and in the end I think we should have a toast. Be thinking about what it is we should toast with our drinks in hand. Yours might be wine by the time you read this or it might be a smoothie tomorrow morning, but I feel a toast coming on. 

Let's start this conversation off with this quote;
"God is great in minuteness as He is in Magnitude."
This is an anonymous quote. The first time I read this I giggled out loud aka GOL'd.  Get it?   Instead of LOL'd I GOL'd.  Ok that wasn't funny. Moving on. I GOL'd because I read the word minuteness wrong. I thought the writer made up a a new word like minute to minute, hour by hour, minute-ness.  Then I realized when I read it again that I just don't know how to read apparently, which made me LOL.
After GOL-ing and LOL-ing this quote also made me remember going to Foursquare church camps where at the end or beginning of most church services someone would say; "GOD IS GOOD" and then the kids would reply "ALL THE TIME" and back and forth the chant would go. 
It made me thankful that I have this perspective about God, because I know some people don't think He is good. But He really is so good, and wanting to be so involved in our everyday lives.   In the minuteness of them. And the Magnitude of them. In the good times and the bad. In our quiet moments  and the loud excited ones too.
This really hit home yesterday, when I was doing some shopping at said thrift store, where I found that little cute mug up there, I realized once again how very true this quote is.
You see even in shopping God meets me in the minuteness of finding a coffee mug so cute, and so unique, and so on sale ... that I know it was intended just for me.   Do you know that even when I'm shopping I feel there are special bargains that I find only because God is looking out for me? That might seem silly to some of you who are thinking more that God should be paying attention to all the worlds tragedies and not finding bargains for his kids, but that's just where you are wrong. Somehow, God is able to do it all.  That's what the above quote speaks to me. 
I know He cares about the fact that I'm trying to raise a family on a limited budget and still be resourceful, and shop at second hand stores. Quite often the very thing I need to be shopping for will end up being on sale. Like yesterday the color at the thrift store that I go to was Grey. Now, anyone who has shopped Savers or Value Village knows those colors are important. They make it so that what ever color it is that day will be 50% off. That's quite the savings on something that is already cheaper because it's used. So Grey was the color and I kid you not everything I picked up was tagged with a Grey tag.  How cool is that?  It was a reminder to me that even in little things God cares and is moving in my life, if only I have eyes and ears to see and hear.  It's not just finding cute coffee mugs on sale that God is so good for. In the moments of this life where I just don't understand the pain and suffering, the sickness and sadness, the despair and darkness that can sometimes cloud over this world... HE IS THERE. He reminds me that this world is passing away and someday HE will answer every question and wipe away every tear from every eye.  HE right NOW is preparing that place. And in the meantime, only HE can provide some heaven on earth for me, and I'm beyond blessed to have Him in every moment of my life.

"I look behind me and you're there, then up ahead and you're there, too- your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful - I can't take it all in! " Psalm 139:5-6
With that being said, I think it's only right that we Toast to the God of the universe ... Who's with me? Raise your glass... To Yahweh  Who is always, always, always Good. Who never fails. Never gives up. Never slumbers nor sleeps on the job.   HE is worth all our glasses raised don't ya think?
Cha Ching!!!

Hope

“Hope is not pretending that troubles don't exist. It is the hope that they won't last forever. That hurts will be healed and difficulties overcome. That we will be led out of the darkness and into the sunshine.”

I love this anonymous quote for several reasons. The main reason
I love it so much is because it's content is so very true. There is something in this quote that reminds me that this world is not my home. No matter what the trouble is it won't last forever because nothing ever does last forever. The only one who lasts forever and who is worthy of all our hope and trust is Jesus. He said he would never leave us or forsake us, and that is something that gives me a tremendous amount of hope. I suppose the funny thing is that when I am going through hard times I seem to forget all those promises and good things. I forget that my Heavenly Father is right there willing and waiting to help me through. Hard times have a way of making you feel like it will last forever, but it never really does.
The other reason I love this quote is because it uses a word that I love so very much;
H O P E.
I have hung out, lingered long, and truly studied the word hope. Most of you know that I am a words person and one of my all time favorite words is hope.  I am also a very hopeful person in nature. The eternal optimist that is what I have self proclaimed myself to be. I suppose that is why I love the word hope.  But through the years I have come to understand this word so very differently.  My own journey views about hope were confirmed recently in an anointed lady who spoke at church a few weeks back. She shared the message of Hope and what that looks like for a child of God.  Our hope is different than the way the world hopes. The world knows hope as a word that has a lot of meaning. Kind of like how Love is used so flippantly in the English language, Hope is used in the same way. We hope for a raise, we hope for a new car, we hope to fall in love, all these things and so many more we put our hopes in.  Hope in God is so very different though.  It doesn't change with circumstance.  It remains through the dark nights of winter. It is the candle in the window that brings us home on a dark night.  Hope in God reminds us that we have nothing to fear. The bible says that perfect LOVE casts out all fear and I believe HOPE comes right behind that perfect LOVE and makes that casting out process stick kind of like glue.  Hope is the glue that keeps up going. And hope doesnt' have time for fear.

In recent talks with friends and family I am realizing something that seems to be a current theme in conversations regarding our country and the world at large, and that is fear. WE are afraid of the future instead of hopeful because we seem to be placing our hope and our trust in something that is temporal.  As big changes are coming for this country we are afraid of the unknown and how it will affect our everyday lives. It makes sense that we would become fearful when we look around. To really see the world all around us and take in what is happening I think  you would have to be a robot to not be afraid or at least keenly aware that very bad things are happening. It's also easy to become fearful when bad things have already happened to you and your own.  But OH beloved reader, we cannot remain in that place of fear because it means we've placed our hopes in something that isn't long for this world. 
There is only ONE eternal HOPE in this life. He is the lover of your soul.  He keeps reminding me to NOT be afraid.  To look to Him for all things and to not give up hoping for a better tomorrow.  Isn't that the gospel?  The good news?   That someone loves you, every part of you, and wants to give you a lasting HOPE. That there is someone we can place ALL our hope in and HE won't disappoint.  He knows exactly what we need and knows exactly when we need it. 
"Fear NOT, for I am with you; Be NOT dismayed, for I am your God, I will strengthen you, Yes I will help you, I will uphold you with  my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
That is balm to my anxious, tired, weary heart.   No matter what you may be going through, I think those words right there bring such comfort.  Who at this present moment in life doesn't need strength, help, and support to be upheld in all of life's ups and downs? He promises to wipe every tear dry, heal my wounds, help me in difficulties and lead me from the darkness and into the light. 
Can I get an Amen?

Funny Southern Sayings and What Nots

Well Hello There Beloved Reader  " I ain't seen you in a month of Sundays!" or as I would normally say that, it has been a busy, busy month.  We are having our own kind of Octoberfest over here, and it's involved a lotta baseball, and crafting, and dinner dates, and crafting, and Italian festival, and crafting, and visitors from out of town, and crafting.

I am so tired or as they like to say in the South,  "I feel like I've been rode hard and hung up to dry!!" Not to go off on too much of a tangent but I LOVE ME some Southern sayings.

Let me clarify before ya'll start to thinkin I've done gone and lost it; I love southern sayings not so much the south. And That one up there is truly how I feel. 

Here's another one that works well for my post about being busy and tired; "I was busier than a cat burying shit on a marble floor!!" Bah ha ha, isn't that one so funny?

Ok Moving on... This past weekend was the first craft show of the season that I was signed up for and I'm already feeling whelmed, and pooped, and every other word in the english language and Southern language, that means, flat out TIRED. " I been busier than a Cat on a Hot tin roof!!" I'm thinking that a cat on a hot tin roof would be pretty busy not so much from the hot, but more from the tin. I'll tell you what keeps me busy like that Cat with some tin, LAUNDRY!! It never ends PEOPLE!!  In between all the other kinds of busy there is always the laundry and dishes kind of busy. Again just to be sure you are getting the idea, I'm tired, and I'm busy.  Earth shattering news, I know !

Well, all that being said,  even though I'm tired I have to say it's a good kind of tired, as opposed to a bad tired which would be like from being sick or hurting yourself.  I'm having fun crafting and making some extra Christmas money. And of course looking up funny southern sayings. What have you been up to ?  Or how they would say it in the South; "How ya'll doin?"

Today YOU are YOU

Let me introduce you to

Chloe Nashelle....

She is the Punky Brewster of fashion in this family and we 

adore her for it.

Does this look like an Honor Student to you?

Well, believe it  or don't, last night I was at my daughter Chloe's Jr. Honor Society ceremony, and one of the speakers shared this quote from Dr. Suess ;
“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.”
It got me thinking about how much I adore Dr. Suess.  The simple words he puts in poetic motion really do cut right down to the heart of the matter.
(Enter song- "I've been trying to get down to the heart of the matter, but my will gets weak and my thoughts seem to scatter.. but I think it's about  Forgiveness, Forgiveness " )  Boy do my thoughts ever seem to scatter these days.
Sorry random song interruption there.
Where were we? Oh right, Dr Suess... well I thought about that quote up there, and then I thought what an important message for young people to hear. Heck, that's an important message for Old People such as myself to hear!
Not just to hear it, but to know, really KNOW, that without a doubt there is a special thumbprint given to each and everyone of us.    I thought about another quote  "Comparison is the killer of Creativity" I think that was Einstein who said that. ( ?) He was another smart man. 
Then my thoughts traveled back to earlier in the day when all my kids were home and my daughter Em had a friend over and we got talking about the job of being a model and how difficult it would be to have that as a career because you are constantly being compared to others and judged for your looks.
What a shame that we don't have this message that Dr. Suess preached, ingrained, imbedded  in our hearts as well as our heads.
Think of how different our world would be if we all really understood, really grasped the concept of how truly unique each person was made. Created to be an individual. 
"Why fit in when you were born to stand out?”
So  This is me... Telling you...  go on now, get your groove thing on. Find a Rhythm. Your rhythm. And sing it out loud and proud. 
ROCK ON!!
Oh and know that you are LOVED beyond measure...
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:18-19
Like I said ROCK ON!!