Believer

I am a true believer.  I am one who absolutely believes that things can come true.  I believe because of who I am.  Who I was created to be.  I believe because of what I have seen in my lifetime.  No desire is too big.  No hope out of reach.  Not if it's REAL.  Not from someone else.  But yours.  In the very depths of your heart.  Because God made us like Him.  With vision.  And, the Bible says that a people without a vision perish.  We are CREATED to hope.  To believe.  To see what isn't yet.  To be creators within our lives.
I believe deeply.  For myself.  For others.  I see the potential when others only see the impossibility.  I am not naive.  Well, on some fronts, maybe....but, I know how hard and how painful and how unlikely things can seem.  But I believe in pushing for what is huge and wonderful and would take a miracle to achieve.  Because......I believe in miracles.  In things that can't be explained away.  That happen when they shouldn't.
I believe that living involves more than simply showing up and falling into a rut.  That's existing.  Living is looking inward and finding that unique piece inside and doing everything in the world to let it shine.  To give that unique piece of yourself to the world.
I am a believer in getting back up.  Some people say things are impossible.  And they are.  If you stay down when you fall.  If you give up when you get hurt.  If you think that a challenge means the end.  If you forget that playing is part of the work.  If you lose sight of how to laugh.
I believe that failure is impossible for people who live fully and full out.  Not because they will achieve all of their goals, but because while pursuing their GOALS, they will totally achieve their PURPOSE.   
I believe that each person has a purpose.  Their very own.  To help.  To grow.  To test.  To love.  To challenge.  Whatever it is, the world is not complete without it.
I believe that too many people are trying to fit into too many other peoples clothes....and they look stupid.  Because they were meant for their own outfits, own style.  They spend an entire lifetime not living their own lives but trying to fit their desires into other peoples plans, goals, desires, hopes.
I believe that YOU have a unique, personal and very important purpose on this earth.  And I believe that you may never even find out what it was.  However, I also believe that if you live your life pursuing good and doing that which brings you absolute joy......then it will be accomplished.  Even if you never saw what it was.
We are so destination oriented as a culture that we have forgotten the beauty and necessity of the journey.  Our journey IS our story.  It is the only legacy that we leave.
blessings.

Newness

I am thankful for the ability to be made new.  I know, it sounds like simply a spiritual thing.  And, it is that too.  But, I found that I was becoming a woman that I didn't admire.  That I had allowed myself to be influenced and shaped by things that I shouldn't have.  I found that I didn't admire the woman that I was allowing to grow....so, I had to make new decisions.  I had to look at who I used to be.  Look at who I want to be.  See who I was created to be.  Because, I was not made to be a facade.  I was not made to make everyone happy.  I was made to bring glory to the Father.  But, the only way that can be done is to be the woman He created.  The one He loves without reserve.  It's easy to get sidetracked.  It's so tempting to think that making others comfortable and happy is always the way to go.  But, in this newness, I am learning that He has an ability to make things right and good for ALL of us at the same time.  And that doing and being who I am supposed to be is the way that I bring Him glory.  The way that I ultimately praise and thank Him for my life.
I am walking in newness.  Not just inside....all of me.  Each and every day.  Made for a purpose.  Created with care.  Not to be taken forgranted.  To be nurtured.  Treasured.  If I don't....nobody else will either.  I am learning.  It's all kinds of newness.
blessings.

Dear One

Sweet Man Child,
Do you remember those days of clarity of mind?  When you remembered how good it was to be told the truth?  To be challenged?  Do you yet remember those times when your mind was not numbed by chemicals, your soul and spirit muted?  Do you ever think about those wonderful days when you chose to live free of those things that stimulate or depress?  When you actually realized that you weren't in control.  But that indeed, those chemicals were in control.  Your body dependent in order to function.  To feel.  To stop feeling.  To go to sleep.  To wake up.
Do you remember when you realized how deeply your family loved you?  How after everything, they held you dear in their hearts.  When you lied.  When you stole.  When you screamed.  When you ran away.  When you lashed out.  When you ignored them.  When you threatened their peace and safety.  When you worried them.  Yet, do you remember how they stood with you?   Beside you?  Praying.  Uplifting.  Encouraging.  But, telling the truth.  Not lying to you as those others did.
Do you remember the ones who would have left you for dead from alcohol poisoning in order to save themselves from trouble?  Who spewed horrible things about you and the ones who love you when you began to recover?  Do you remember how little they cared?  How they ran away?  Do you see how you love the ones who are simply using you?  And use the ones who really love you?
Oh why does it seem that you have forgotten all of the good that you were going to do?  The way you longed to help your mama.  The promises you made to your siblings.  Why have you chosen to follow the path of the chemically dependent?  Don't you remember how empty it left you?  With only rebellion and anger to hold onto?  Why must you battle with all who actually care?  Why do you push away those who long to look up to you?  Why do you choose defiance and deceit over peace and kindness?
The truth is that I don't know.  And I'm not sure that you know.  But I will remember for you who you want to be.  I will hold onto your dreams and treasure them until you are ready to pick them up again and nurture them along.
Oh, live your life with care.  Think through your choices.  For I do not want your dreams to be all I have left of you.  I love you.  You are dear.  You are precious.  But I will never settle for allowing you to live a life that makes a mockery of the commitments you have made.  I won't bow to trying to be popular with you or your supposed friends.  Because you were made for so much more.  A mind full of ideas.  Abilities to think and draw and create.  A strong body.  A strong spirit.  No, I won't settle.  I love you now.  In this moment.  But I love the one I know.  Not the one you pretend to be in your effort of self assertion.  Of defiance.  Of  rebellion.  Getting to choose, getting to be a grown up doesn't mean that you have to prove it by making the BAD choices.  It means that you get to choose what is good and decent for you.
I miss you, dear one.  I look forward to your return.
blessings.

Aaron

Every Moses can really use an Aaron.  Because though Moses had everything he needed to accomplish the task, he needed an encourager.  Someone to believe in him.  Someone to help him see things through.  Not to boss him around.  Not to be his slave.  To be his equal but not need to be the center of the event.
It's called a best friend.  God brings them.  Jonathan and David.  Paul and Timothy.  Jesus and John.  It's a fact.  A Biblical truth.  But, what we often don't see is how the best of friends are an Aaron to one another!  That each is called to be a Moses in some way in her life.  And, there is that person who stands beside, voices her words, gives validity to her dreams.  John was there for Jesus, but Jesus gave John exactly what he needed as well.  Paul mentored Timothy, but Timothy gave Paul someone to trust and love.
I am an Aaron.  And, I am a Moses.  In some venues, I am simply there as the one to stand beside...or behind.  In others, I am doing what I need to do while a friend stands by...making me braver than I would be alone.  Making me step forward when I want to step back.  It's a beautiful thing.  Life changing.
blessings.

Consistency

When parenting, it is often said that consistency is the key.  It seems like the mantra of every parenting book.  And, consistency about what the rules are IS important.  What to do for consequences?  Not so much.  You see, kids are a bit like having a bacterial infection.  Nice image, huh?  But, just like an infection, after a couple of rounds of the same antibiotic, it's time to switch things up because the infection has become immune to that particular antibiotic.  Kids are the same way.  They build up a resistance to the consequences that are used if they are used continually.  They become ineffective.
Parents have to change it up.  Use different things.  Think outside the box.  Do something unexpected.  Appropriate to the circumstance and to the age, but not what is expected.  Sometimes.  Not every time.  But, if kids build up a resistance to what you are doing then it just becomes a battle of wills.  Not a fun place to be.
So, have consistently high expectations of your children.  But, when there needs to be an adjustment of behavior....be creative.
blessings.

Competition

We live in an age and a country that thrive on competition.  From advertising to workplace positions.  From sports to singing.  Nothing seems to be done to just be done well.  It's to be judged.  To be deemed "the best" by some entity somewhere.  The message is that everyone needs to get on board and be the best.  No matter what she is.  The best driver.  The best short order cook.  The best meal planner.  The best gardener.  The best artist.  The best.  Pleasure has gotten put aside.  Our things once done as hobbies and entertainment are now places to compete.  The things once done to relax also fall in the competing category....what kind of vacation you take, how well you do your art, your rughooking, your golf.
Unfortunately, the mindset has permeated our relationships. Wonder how?  Think about the best mom you know.  Yep, she came right to your mind, didn't she?  What was the criteria?  It's that lady that runs every bake sale and is involved in all of the school activities while keeping such a clean house AND a clean car.  I know, a clean CAR.  Amazing.  I didn't even realize that was a possibility with a houseful/carful of kids.  But, apparently it is.
My daughter was talking about a mom the other day that had done some things for the school.  I apologized that I hadn't.  She said, "that's ok, you're not that kind of mom."  And I wondered what that meant, so of course, I asked.  She told me that I"m not the mom that has to run every event of be wherever their kids are.  And...guess what?  She likes that.  She likes me.
And then, within a day or two, driving with my son, when we were talking, the same kind of thing came up.  He was talking about moms who have to do everything and be there all of the time.  I said that it's like they all feel pressured to be the best....to do the best job....to excel.  And he said, "it's not a competition."
It's not a competition.  Hate to tell you, but being a mom is NOT a competition.  We were all given our own set of kids with their own set of needs and we do with that what we can.  In our own unique way.  Creating our own unique environment.  Some meticulous.  Some messy.  Some hovering.  Some hands off.  It's not a competition.  Kids can know that they are loved in a variety of different ways.  It's not about doing everything.  Or being everything.  And it's certainly not about trying to be better than "what's her name".  The one thing that it has to be is about being who YOU are.  Teaching your kids how to live and be successful by being who they are.  Using your gifts.  So that they learn how to use their gifts.  Not trying to be like all of the other moms.  So that they don't try to be like all of the other kids.
In our uniqueness is where our strength lies in raising our children.  I know people who make their own clothes and cook their food straight from their land.  I know others that do Wendy's and Pizza Hut.  I know moms with cars that you can see the vacuum marks on the floors and moms that you can't see the floor of the car.  The thing is that those things don't define what a mom is.  Each mom in her own way lives and gives and learns and tries again and again.....and makes her own definition for her own set of kids of what makes a good mom.
Unless she makes it a competition.  Then all they see is that life is about being "better" than someone else.  Looking better.  Doing better.  The thing is this...competition doesn't really work in some things.  Sometimes it's simply a matter of opinion of the people that really count....those you care about most.  If it's the mom review that has your attention, then you will be trying to please them all of your life.  But, if it's your own kids then you will be able to relax.  Figure out your own path.  Your own way.  With them.
It's not a competition.  It's a day by day adventure.
blessings