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...By Any Other Name

When my son was just a few years old, we were outside and noticed a large, slimy slug working its way across the patio. Alex watched it with a sort of disgusted awe and made the comment, "ewwww...I don't 'wike' it." I quickly came back with the same standard my father often used on me when I faced a bowl of Brussel sprouts or some other childhood foe: "But it likes you!" I proceeded to gently tease the smiling toddler with "Aww, look! He wants you to pet him and kiss him!" Alex drew back and grimaced and said, "No way, Jose'!" a phrase he had heard his Papoose use in fun many times. I'm not sure why, but from that point on a slug was no longer called a slug, but was now a "Jose'."
In the same manner, my middle child Raychel wouldn't call a horse anything but a "hee-hee" no matter how we tried to get her to say Horse. We gave up trying and all of us were calling them "hee-hees" before long. Then, my youngest, Meghan saw flying pelicans in a movie and said, "Look! Pterodactyls!" It was really funny to us, and we still on occassion laughingly refer to pelicans as pterodactyls because of that. Looking back, we should've been impressed a small child came up with "pterodactyl" in the first place.

It seems to me that as adults, we do sort of the same thing, but with bigger consequences. We struggle with problems and fail to name them what they really are, even when a beloved friend or the Holy Spirit calls us out on it. How many times have we (have I) sat steaming over the same long-running relationship issue that has plagued us for years? And what do we do? We name it anything but what it really is, putting the blame anywhere besides on ourselves. Sometimes we confide our woes to friends or family, and even have them convinced that the problem is a "Jose," and not a slug....and they perpetuate the misnomer by failing to correct us.

Truthfully, the problem is most often within ourselves. When we pray for clarity and step back and examine the issue through the eyes of Christ, we can see that our own behavior is key to the resolution, and probably has been all along. Now, I know that sometimes people hurt us, and their wrong-doing comes through no fault of our own. Many times, however, if we could change our reaction to the hurt, change our input into the solution, practice true acceptance and forgiveness, the problem doesn't become a long-term issue, but an opportunity for growth and unity. Our perspective softens and we can find peace in knowing we have faced our own errors with resolve to keep a "Christ-like" image before others.

It generally makes us feel good to call a horse a "hee-hee" if it removes us from feeling accountable, however, at some point, we have to grow up and recognize that a horse by any other name is still a horse. And Pelicans do look sort of like Pterodactyls to the untrained eye. Immersing ourselves in God's Word and positive thought trains the hearts eye to see correctly with practice. Regular, honest self-examination is as important as food and water for life. Training to see the truth is a journey, with a King's ransom at the end.

I wish you all well, and pray you walk in God's favor always.

Been losing weight - Before & "midway" pictures

BEFORE and AFTER - 34 pounds down!Nov 10 2009 10:22

I went back and found a picture from when I weighed 256. You know - I was expected to feel disgusted at how I looked...but I don't. Mainly because this is the "me" that my grandson first knew - the "me" that he used to cling to. He still loves me, of course, and now I am able to do more with him since my weight has come down, so I am very happy about that.
But I don't want to forget that even though I was very unhappy with my appearance back then, the people who love me, loved me as much then as they do now.
Pictures posted below.
BEFORE - 256 lbs

Now - 222 lbs and falling.

Christian Heritage

Well, I have finished another class and this one, Christian Heritage was....so different.
My classmates were great. We were a small, but diverse group of twelve, and because of the nature of the class and the nature of our professor, we all got to know each other pretty well. Each special person is at a different place in their "walk with Christ," some babes, some mature in their Spirit, some still questioning where they need to be.
It came as a surprise to me, (although I don't really know why) that on the last day of class, I found that I was lumping myself with the "where am I supposed to be" group. I have known Christ as long as I can remember, with time of great spiritual growth and times of stagnancy as well. I have committed myself to ministry over and over, given my time, my talents,my very being to him again and again. I have felt separated, confessed, repented, journeyed to that spiritual high, stumbled, picked myself up, let Him pick me up, sang, prayed, cheered, praised, cried, wailed, questioned, devoted, fallen prostrate before him, lifted my hands, my heart, interceded and denied.
I am Peter. I am the one who is impetuous and impulsive. I am the unsteady one who is not worthy. Peter was not "the Rock;" IMPORTANT: it was his confession before Christ that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, that is the ROCK upon which Christ would build His Church. I have done nothing good, nothing worthy, nothing vital for His kingdom apart from Him. I fail, I weep, I try, and I let go. And somehow, He uses me.
I am thankful for my Christian Heritage class, which was supposed to be a basic college elective for Liberal Studies, and turned out to be a microscope.

So thankful for my friends and family, two gifts I really don't always deserve.
My son is moving to Wyoming in a few weeks. I will miss him terribly, especially with Gamecock football coming up, and he's the biggest fan I know (next to myself). But I am terribly excited for him, for the new adventures he will have; for a chance to spread his wings and fly in another place.
It is a blessing to live in a country where, still, at this point at least, we are free to move around at will and choose where and how we will live. We still have the opportunity to do what we want to do with our time...and though we face consequences good or bad for every action we choose, we are ultimately largely in control of our own lives. I pray it will stay that way forever in this life on this planet.

Praise You in this Storm

Today is difficult. Still, I am thankful that I have a place to come home to, that I have work for my hands, and that my life is full of family and friends.
What makes a person remarkable? What make a life remarkable? It seems that it is relative. I mean, what is remarkable to one may be mundane and unimportant to another. So I believe that it is our best interest to be remarkable in the eyes of the ones we love, and no one else.
God thinks each of us is remarkable, that is a given. And I know we cannot be eveything to everyone. But maybe I can be amazing for a time in the eyes of one of my children, my husband, or my grandson. Maybe I could even impress myself...but that is a slippery slope.
If you want to live a remarkable life, start with the circle right around you. Maybe it works like this...maybe you drop a pebble of kindness or brilliance or courage or insight and it works its way outward with a rippling effect. So, will find my pebble and drop it gently and see what happens.

Silent Joy

Today I am thankful for freedom to worship as I see fit.
I am thankful for those quiet moments with my grandson - wherein no matter what is happening in life; financial trouble, relationship issues, work stress, political madness; there is peace. I find loveliness in his sleeping face, the texture and smell of his hair, the soft breaths he takes. I often wonder what it must be like to sleep like that - with no cares or concerns, he is secure and loved and safe. Maybe we don't sleep like a three-year-old because we don't play hard like a three-year old. It's a thought.
I am immediately thankful for spaghetti with italian sausage and lots of Parmesan cheese...and a full stomach. How blessed am I? :)

Gratitude

I have decided that I am going to make a concentrated effort every day not only to thank God in my prayers, but to list three or more things (big or small) I am thankful for. I figure that in this day, and in these times of uncertainty and repetitive disappointment, it will be a good way to remember that there is always something to be glad about. This will be an exercise in faith and, hopefully, will make for a cheerful thought or two for all of us. I invite you to join me in daily expressions of gratitude.
So...today...right this moment...I am thankful for coffee, for all the great walking paths around downtown Columbia, and my husband's companionship.

Your turn!

Sleepless in Seattle

Sleepless in Seattle on tv means I am going to be sleepless in Columbia tonight.
Sam Baldwin: Well, how long is your program? Well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were suppose to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known... I was just taking her hand to help her out of a car and I knew. It was like... magic.

www.myspace.com/connersvine

Okay, I have fallen in love with Connersvine and their new song "Hero." Not only is the song musically impressive, the words and meaning behind the music just blows me away. Is it coincidence that this song about a father's passion for his young son has come to my attention just after Father's Day and after the devastating news from our SC Governor - his broken family is suffering so much. His four beautiful sons need a hero right now.
I have to admit, I have let my children down when they were younger...what parent hasn't fallen short? There is beauty in recovery, though. I know it. We need to all face our demons and put things out of our lives that we know will be bound to destroy the faith and innocence of the ones we love the most. This revelation from the weary Governor is really a humbling wake up call for all of us. How many of us are teetering on such a disaster...and maybe don't even recognize it? I realize that he (and his family) will face consequences untold for his malfunction...and his future is unclear; but we all need to put aside our anger, humiliation and thoughts of revenge and replace it with thoughtfullness, self-examination and humility. sometimes you have to pick your collective character up by the bootstraps and keep moving forward. Recovery is the result of love and forgiveness and restoration (within an appropriate time frame), not bitterness.

Animal abusers make me sick...

What kind of a coward must you be to think it's a good idea to inflict pain on a helpless animal? I can't bear the thought of how many animals are suffering horrific treatment every minute of the day around the world. Some cultures around the world don't see a problem with it, but you would think that here in this country we would have a sense of conscience about such things. Penalties are not harsh enough. Please find a way to join your local humane cause and support them with you time and contributions. God help us if we don't act.
http://animalcare-sc.blogspot.com/