I knew this guy one time that wrote an essay on "What is love." He hit pretty close, but really, Love defies human comprehension....at least the kind of love that makes a difference. I often look at myself and wonder if I am even close. God's love for me is an agape love, a love that is completely independent of me, completely unconditional. I find in most of my relationships, love is anything but unconditional. Not only do I expect something from other people, their demands on me are at times stifling.
I was reading in this little booklet this morning by Gary Smalley, I Promise. It is a covenant book for married couples or those about to be married. My hubbie ordered it not too long ago. He has already read through it, and I am working on it (along with the other dozen or so books I am reading at this moment). One idea really caught my idea today. This idea of "focus."
We can choose what we focus on in other people. We are all composed of good and bad qualities. For every positive, there is a negative. All we have to do is look. (I am paraphrasing Dr. Smalley). In a relationship, we choose what to focus on. I have certainly been on both sides of that issue. There have been lots of times in my marriage when my husband wasn't what I thought I needed. My heart attitude turned negative, and I had to get a grip. I am sure he would say the same thing about me. Not only is that true in our marriage, but as parents, with our children's spouses, and with our extended family and friend relationships. I could list lots of negatives in my own life, my children's lives, my in-laws, out-laws, and everyone in between, but...if love is independent of that, then I have to choose to love anyway and I do.
I choose to love my kids and their spouses regardless of anything that has been said or done on their ends. I choose to love my siblings and parents despite the neglect, abuses, and pain suffered at their hand. (I called both my mom and dad this week) I choose to love the sweet people God has blessed us with, even though they have glaring faults (just like I do). Only God changes people. It is God which is at work in my life to conform me into his image. It is God who is at work all around me. It is God who places us in the family of His choosing, and it is God who knows why. I am trusting. I am choosing to focus on what is good, not on what is not. Love? I don't know that I really know how, but I am learning.
Lord, bless my children today. Guide their hearts and their relationships down the roads that lead completely to you. Give them victory in their marriages, in their on going relationships, at school and at work. Give them favor with every life they touch. Reveal to them how much you love them and are at work in their lives. Remind them today that their very names are written on the palms of your hands. I know you will finish what you have begun in all of our lives and am trusting you to do just that. Thank you that your love for us is so individual and so complete and not a tear is shed that you don't see. Thank you for giving us life and life abundantly. Thank you that not a word of yours returns void and that every situation that ever has been, is currently, or shall be is not hid from you. You know our downsitting and our rising. You have known us before we were formed. You remember that we are but dust but love us anyway. Lord, thank you for placing me into my birth family, the family I married into, and the Spiritual family I was reborn into. Lord thank you for giving me the children you gave me for the time that you did. Thank you for providing life long mates for them. Lord, it is all Yours...it is all Yours!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
To Be Engaged
It finally happened. My baby is engaged to be married. I knew it was coming...not really suprised by it at all. I was quite nervous when Jon sat us down to ask us, and not sure why I was except that he was!
I am really excited for the both of them. I have been praying for Jon for over a year now, that God would provide for him a Christian wife. He has been such a sweetheart, and we have enjoyed him. A few months back, when Katherine broke up with Todd, I was talking to Jon about coming over for Christmas dinner. I text him and asked him to pray for Katherine, because she had some stuff in her life. He really didn't know her except in passing. He said he would pray. I then began to pray for the both of them, asking God for His will and to possibly knit their hearts together. I really had no idea what God would do.
We had bunches of people over here for Christmas, including Jon, Taylor, Chris, and Shawna. Chris was back in pursuit of Katherine. He had started calling her again, popping in to work with lunch or starbucks. I wondered if maybe God had done something in Chris. Well, the real Chris showed up at Christmas. He behaved badly...was incredibly jealous of Taylor, didn't join us for dinner, but instead pouted in his car for hours. To top the evening off...he left an engagement ring on her dresser. She found it and came unglued. That was that, and she sent him packing.
During the course of the day, Kat and Jon had a few minutes to talk and get aquainted. Next thing I knew, they were on the phone incessantly. Next, they were here together. It went faster than I could have imagined. I knew Jon was serious from the get go. I knew he wasn't looking for a fleeting girlfriend relationship, and I knew he would make up his mind quickly. Even knowing all of that...wow...not quite prepared for the reality of it.
So here we are....in the midst of rebuilding a house which we must finish...and now we are planning a wedding.
By the way...Congratulations to my daughter and soon to be son-in-law!
I am really excited for the both of them. I have been praying for Jon for over a year now, that God would provide for him a Christian wife. He has been such a sweetheart, and we have enjoyed him. A few months back, when Katherine broke up with Todd, I was talking to Jon about coming over for Christmas dinner. I text him and asked him to pray for Katherine, because she had some stuff in her life. He really didn't know her except in passing. He said he would pray. I then began to pray for the both of them, asking God for His will and to possibly knit their hearts together. I really had no idea what God would do.
We had bunches of people over here for Christmas, including Jon, Taylor, Chris, and Shawna. Chris was back in pursuit of Katherine. He had started calling her again, popping in to work with lunch or starbucks. I wondered if maybe God had done something in Chris. Well, the real Chris showed up at Christmas. He behaved badly...was incredibly jealous of Taylor, didn't join us for dinner, but instead pouted in his car for hours. To top the evening off...he left an engagement ring on her dresser. She found it and came unglued. That was that, and she sent him packing.
During the course of the day, Kat and Jon had a few minutes to talk and get aquainted. Next thing I knew, they were on the phone incessantly. Next, they were here together. It went faster than I could have imagined. I knew Jon was serious from the get go. I knew he wasn't looking for a fleeting girlfriend relationship, and I knew he would make up his mind quickly. Even knowing all of that...wow...not quite prepared for the reality of it.
So here we are....in the midst of rebuilding a house which we must finish...and now we are planning a wedding.
By the way...Congratulations to my daughter and soon to be son-in-law!
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
MAT in sight
Finally...after all my hem hawing around...nervous about stepping out and trying to balance something else...I am on track!
Went to Tech yesterday to meet with a counselor and finish up my admission requirements. She went over the program with me, what classes were offered when and what I would need to do. It is definitely different that a bachelors...lots of extra work to do besides the classes themselves. I am quite nervous about the change, about going into the schools here and watching the classrooms at work, but know it will give me an opportunity to grow as a teacher.
Sylvan has really allowed me to teach different ages in different ways. It has been such a learning experience for me....to see how they suggest a concept is presented, what tools to use to teach a skill...Much more valuable than any book knowledge could be.
Now it is time to move forward again. I start my first class in March, and according to my plan of study, will be down to just a few classes by fall of next year. By then, I will know where my heart is in teaching....what age and grade, and what to do next!
Went to Tech yesterday to meet with a counselor and finish up my admission requirements. She went over the program with me, what classes were offered when and what I would need to do. It is definitely different that a bachelors...lots of extra work to do besides the classes themselves. I am quite nervous about the change, about going into the schools here and watching the classrooms at work, but know it will give me an opportunity to grow as a teacher.
Sylvan has really allowed me to teach different ages in different ways. It has been such a learning experience for me....to see how they suggest a concept is presented, what tools to use to teach a skill...Much more valuable than any book knowledge could be.
Now it is time to move forward again. I start my first class in March, and according to my plan of study, will be down to just a few classes by fall of next year. By then, I will know where my heart is in teaching....what age and grade, and what to do next!
Monday, February 16, 2009
Valentine's Day
How many years have I spent with my hubbie as my valentine? Hmmm...I met him when I was 12 years old which seems incredible to me right at this moment. I have known him for over 30 years. The last few months have been so stressful in our lives which is causing us to really sit down and reevaluate where we are and where do we want to go? So much of our life has stood still because we have allowed other things to be a greater priority. Life itself, the needs of other people in our life, work obligations, our children, and now extended family and the reconstruction of our house...all stand in the way of time we desperately need together.
We keep saying we need to make changes, and we are doing that but not fast enough! Our time and resources go everywhere but into us. I love Valentine's Day-always have. I love being able to do something special for our children and now our grandchild to remind them that we love them. I don't see Valentines as just a day for lovers. Speaking of lovers, my husband and I have been married long enough now that being creative is getting a little tough! This year we decided we were going to get matching jammies. we looked and looked and finally settled on ones from Old Navy. That was so much fun....to parade around in our matching jammies! [smile]
We started out our valentine day discussing our day. We had lost too much time the week before and stuff in the house just had to be done. While debating our schedule, we ate chocolate covered cherries (I love those!). Then I was off to take Kat's car in, and meet Shawna fand Shelly for breakfast. We had breakfast at Ihop and played valentine bingo while we waited. That promped an awful lot of playing with the conversation hearts. We made sentences for Kat who saved them to give to Jon...ok...so breakfast ended up being like 2 hours! LOL. Left there, ran an errand and came home.
Steve was already at work when I got here. I joined in, between cooking and getting ready for our evening. I made chocolate covered cherries and strawberries, and boiled shrimp. After hours of work on the house, Jon came in to surprise Kat with a candelight dinner of subway. Then they left. After they left, we took a shower and sat down to eat our shrimp, cheese and crackers, and strawberries. We had ordered Fireproof which came in earlier in the day. We watched that while we ate. It was such a strong movie, and we talked about doing the Love Dare together. We haven't been married too long to always be working on ways to improve our relationship.
It wasn't a day like I would of planned it to be, but it was such a good day. We spent it together working together, laughing together, and just being together. We had another opportunity to share our life and our love. Love isn't expressed just in quality of time, but in quantity of time. That I am very thankful for!
We keep saying we need to make changes, and we are doing that but not fast enough! Our time and resources go everywhere but into us. I love Valentine's Day-always have. I love being able to do something special for our children and now our grandchild to remind them that we love them. I don't see Valentines as just a day for lovers. Speaking of lovers, my husband and I have been married long enough now that being creative is getting a little tough! This year we decided we were going to get matching jammies. we looked and looked and finally settled on ones from Old Navy. That was so much fun....to parade around in our matching jammies! [smile]
We started out our valentine day discussing our day. We had lost too much time the week before and stuff in the house just had to be done. While debating our schedule, we ate chocolate covered cherries (I love those!). Then I was off to take Kat's car in, and meet Shawna fand Shelly for breakfast. We had breakfast at Ihop and played valentine bingo while we waited. That promped an awful lot of playing with the conversation hearts. We made sentences for Kat who saved them to give to Jon...ok...so breakfast ended up being like 2 hours! LOL. Left there, ran an errand and came home.
Steve was already at work when I got here. I joined in, between cooking and getting ready for our evening. I made chocolate covered cherries and strawberries, and boiled shrimp. After hours of work on the house, Jon came in to surprise Kat with a candelight dinner of subway. Then they left. After they left, we took a shower and sat down to eat our shrimp, cheese and crackers, and strawberries. We had ordered Fireproof which came in earlier in the day. We watched that while we ate. It was such a strong movie, and we talked about doing the Love Dare together. We haven't been married too long to always be working on ways to improve our relationship.
It wasn't a day like I would of planned it to be, but it was such a good day. We spent it together working together, laughing together, and just being together. We had another opportunity to share our life and our love. Love isn't expressed just in quality of time, but in quantity of time. That I am very thankful for!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
