Whispers of Love

Dad is that your blessing sm2Good morning family, friends and world.  There is something I’d like to share with you today.  I’ve been up since about 3:30 am with leg cramps and tendons down my shins pulling; couldn’t sleep.  This morning God shared with me a very poignant reminder of his love for me and another example of what He meant when He said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, . . .” Genesis 1:26.

Some of our children live very near us; some live 16 hours or more away and we long to hear from them and especially our grandchildren (although I don’t think they realize how much).  We long to know how their day has gone, what new and exciting or boring thing they are experiencing, what their hopes and dreams are; we used to know when they were babies and very young.  As they grew older and busier with the things and people that occupy their lives, they found little time to talk and visit with us.  Oh, they know we are always here for them to love on them, listen to their problems and frustrations and share stories of their ancestors and our lives (when they wanted to know more about them), forgive them when they break our hearts, but that sweet innocence of childlike love is crowded out by the daily grind of their worlds.  They somehow think we can’t understand what they are dealing with or that we will be too judgmental  of their actions; forgetting we no longer live under “the law”, but now live under God’s grace and while we may not like the choices they make or behaviors they exhibit . . . we love them unconditionally.

Are you beginning to get the message He whispered in my ear this morning?  In the midst of my tears and questions  . . .

“Why don’t they call me more often, why don’t they know what I’m feeling.  How I miss the sound of their voices and feeling more included in their life.  Don’t they know how much I love them?  Even those who live very near to us are too busy to check in or ask us to pray about a burden they carry alone; some do better than others but mostly they are busy trying to be in control.”

. . . I heard my Abba Father say, “Now you know better how I feel when you don’t spend time with me.  Come let me hold you close and take some rest, while I carry that burden for you my child.  You have so much more to learn about me and I long to show you.”

. . . And I wept softly and said, “thank you Father.  I love you too.”

Do you hear his voice?

 

A Common Bond

Her First Baby Doll

The Challenge?

An “epic” post that will inspire and generate 50 comments on a post!  Digging through the myriad of articles and writings stashed in my creating cabinet, I uncovered things long forgotten that I had made from templates, project instructions or designed all on my own.

There in one such folder was a poem I wrote for my mom and my sisters to celebrate Mother’s Day.  Reading through it, I remembered the many wonderful memories of playtime that came flooding back as I penned the verse and how those memories helped shape the mother and grandmother I would eventually become (until the harsh realities of a troubled life would change the path I longed for).

Although we all come from different backgrounds and families, we are more alike in many areas than we are different.  It is our relationship to motherhood that forms a common bond in women; whether they will or will not ever bear children . . . we all had a mother to give us life.  We played the games little girls play; being ‘mommies’ to our dolls, our pets, our friends, our little brothers even.  Those role playing moments gave real insight to our views of motherhood and eventually role playing would become a therapy module for treating broken lives and likewise preparing young women for the responsibility about to face them in parenthood that soon might be their role.

Everyone has a story to tell; do you have memories that you can share as role play, shaping the woman you are today?  We would love to hear yours.

Reminders of His Love

Written Wednesday, 9/5/2013 about 11:30 pm

I have to share something with you.  Last night before Ray went to bed we joined hands and went before the Lord and, feeling very vulnerable, we laid out our praises first, our gratitude next, and (as the reality of what we would be facing today hit us) we laid our burdens and fears before His throne of mercy and grace.  Yes, we trust God for everything in our spirit but in our flesh we must be honest with our shortcomings.
I specifically asked the Lord to give me special little signs throughout the day to come so I would be reminded of His peace, comfort and nearness; that I would hear His Holy Spirit prompting me in each decision, response and interaction with others.
I won’t share everything (there were many reminders of His love today) but on our way to Nashville about 6am He painted the most amazing sunrise all across the Eastern sky; it took my breath away!  Traffic was light on the route we chose and we arrived early so they took us back to his holding room shortly after we arrived.  Vanderbilt University Hospital is an amazing and wonderful place with incredible specialists and medical teams to care for you.
I positioned myself in the waiting room at the same table where I met my new friend, Trishia Petty back in July.  It wasn’t long before a family joined me in the corner and I made some more friends.  I was surrounded by a feeling of happiness and comfort that may have seemed out of place to onlookers, but I knew God was loving me through this observation of a father and his young teens as talked about their dreams and played card games while they waited on news of their grandmother.
There were more moments, like a special call with my sister Lorrie and unexpected visits from Woody and Bob to sit with me for a while and pray with me.  God is so faithful, He loves showing himself to us in the ordinary things as well as the extra-ordinary ones.  Thank you Lord, for your love.