Daddy Dearest

           In the very first days they discovered the safety he provided.  From the very beginning they found a sense of calm when he cradled them in his arms.  As they grew they would smile when they saw him, they would turn their heads to look for him when they heard his voice.  As the years have passed they have cried out to him when they were hurt or yelled for him when they saw a bug that needed to be killed.  He is their dad and he has always provided safety. 

          He works hard for his family.  On days when he is under the weather, on days when their little hands are wrapped around his legs begging "please don't leave", on days when it is gorgeous out and it sure would be nice to skip work; even then he works.  When he comes home from the office his work isn't done.  He mows the lawn, builds pretend forts and throws the kids 'as high as the sky.' His back is tired, he would love nothing more than to sit but the smile they wear when he plays with them means far more than a tired back.  He is their dad and his job is never done. 

         He loves the Lord and more than anything else he wants to show His kids this love.  He wants his children to find that same love for the Lord.  He goes to church, he prays in front of his kids, and he tells them bible stories.  He is involved in ministries at church, he practices what he preaches, and he gives of himself and his possession's to those who have a need.  He is their dad and he shows them Jesus everyday through his very own actions. 

        Dad's you are special! We don't tell you enough just how important you are.  Thank you for the safety, sacrifices and love that you show us! You have such an important job.  Your sons will grow to be just like you, so live life well.  Your daughters will marry someone much like you, so live life well.  Remember the little eyes in your house.  You are their hero and those little eyes are watching not just what you say but how you live life. 

       Happy Father's Day to all the Wonderful dads out there!! This weekend let's take time to tell our dad's that we love them and how much they mean to us.  Let's also take time to pray for them.  Let's pray for them to be strong spiritual leaders!! Thanks be to God for the blessing of DAD'S!!!

My God is So Big!!

             Every Sunday our church has a time where they call all children 2 years through 5th grade up on stage to sing a song before the church and then they are escorted out to "children's church" where they get to have a kid-friendly lesson during the adults sermon.  Today was no different.  Our worship leader told the kids to come on stage and like every other sunday some kids ran onto the stage, some walked at a turtle speed and a few were still reaching for their moms and dads as their parents pushed them onto the stage. 


         The worship leader tells the kids what song they will be singing and a second later it begins.  Some kids belting out the words as if they need people in the parking lot to hear, some kids not singing but exaggerating every hand and arm motion that goes with the words while casually punching the kids beside them, and then the kids that are still upset to be up there; the kids that stare off into space and pretend they don't even know a song is being sung.  Parents are looking on at their kids and are either beaming with pride or are shielding their eyes hoping that the song ends soon. 


        Today, May 31, 2015, was different.  Today, everyone in the sanctuary watched the children sing, heard their words and did not want it to end.  The children sang aloud

     "My God is So Big! So Strong & So Mighty! There's Nothing My God Cannot Do!"

              the children flexing their arms to show their muscles as they sang "so strong & so mighty" and giggling as they waved their fingers "there's nothing my God cannot do"

    "The Mountains are His! The Valleys are His! The Trees are His Handiwork too!"

       Today was different because as the carefree children sang their song the adults in our congregation weren't feeling so carefree.  One of the precious little kids in the very group that sings on that stage has just been diagnosed with a brain tumor.  A perfect, innocent little two year old girl now has a brain tumor.  As the children sang the adults hung onto their every word.  As they sang
    "My God is So Big!"
                       the adults were reminded He is bigger than a tumor.  As they sang
    "So Strong & So Mighty!"
                       the adults were reminded He is stronger than any tumor.  As they sang
   "There's Nothing My God Cannot Do!"
                       the adults were reminded that there is NOTHING that God cannot do. 

     A song that has been sung in our congregation a million times before suddenly had new meaning.  Everyone needed that song, that reminder. Little Ivey has some important appointments ahead of her and her family.  There is a lot of fear and anxiety that goes with her diagnosis but today we were all reminded of the Strong, Mighty God we serve.  We were reminded that there is Nothing that our God cannot do. 

     Tonight I ask that you pray for Ivey and her parents.  I ask that you pray for healing and for a calming peace to blanket her family as they wait upcoming appointments.

The Legacy of June

        She is the kind of woman that never has a hair out of place, the kind of woman that always knows just what to say, the kind of woman that exudes class, the kind of woman that could enjoy crumpets and tea with Queen Elizabeth and later that day be digging in the dirt planting herbs and vegetables in her garden.

     "She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." Proverbs 31:25

        To see her you might think that surely she has never faced any hardships.  Surely that is why she can look so fabulous and always have a smile on her face.  To know her is to know that it could not be further from the truth.  Many a hardships she has faced...single motherhood, breast cancer, the closing of her beloved University where she taught for many years.  The thing that sets her apart in the midst of such trials is that her hope comes from the Lord.  She has witnessed God's faithfulness over and over in her life.  Through trials she is able to smile because she knows that resting her trials at the feet of the Lord is always the best place to lay them. 

       "When she speaks, her words are wise, and she gives instructions with kindness." Proverbs 31:26

      She is slow to speak and when she does it is in a manner that honors the Lord and makes those around her feel blessed by hearing her words.  In 2009 she was in New York with my grandmother when they received word that my dad had a stroke.  The prognosis at the time was grim.  June sat at my grandmothers side opened her bible and began reading aloud from Psalms.  My grandmother still speaks of the blessing that moment was to her and the way that June was able to calm her with the reading of God's word. 

        "She extends a helping hand to the poor and opens her arms to the needy." Proverbs 31:20

      Countless times she has gone to the jungles of Panama to offer her services on medical mission trips.  If you have been privileged to go with her you have witnessed her hustle and bustle giving of herself in the service of glorifying the kingdom.  At the end of the day when everyone circles up to pray you look around the circle everyone sweaty from the scorching jungle heat, everyone except June.  There she stands in the circle in a perfectly starched white oxford shirt, a bandana tied around her neck and a smile on her face.  All the Panamanians know and love her for her gentle hands, warm smile and giving spirit. 

    She has impacted everyone that has been blessed to know her.  Whether you have known her from Lambuth, Skyline, Master Gardener's, or just from residing in Jackson; I have no doubt that your life has been blessed. She is a believer of the word of God and she lives out the word of God.  Hearing that she would be moving to Missouri to start a new chapter with her daughter and family most were heart broken for selfish reasons but happy for this new phase for her. 

     While we all miss June, madly, we have all been impacted and inspired to be a better version of ourselves.  Thank you June for living a life that serves the Lord and others.  Thank you June for the legacy that has been laid out for all of us that know you.  June, you truly are more precious than rubies to all that know you!!
      

Like A Sheep

        Have you ever seen a sheep in real life? The sheep that I see in paintings are always so clean and white; so perfect.  Recently, our family took a trip to the zoo and when we came up to the sheep I was a little surprised to see how dirty and hairy they were.  The sheep that I saw had blemishes and were in desperate need of a makeover to look like the perfect one's that are portrayed in so many paintings. 

             Recently, I heard a study on sheep.  The study peaked my interest so I took to the internet to further my research on sheep.  I read that sheep see each others faces, they study each others faces and they remember other sheep for years just by their faces.  They see past the blemishes and imperfect hair that they sometimes have and just see the other sheep's faces.  They know that the hair can be cut and the blemishes refined so they don't focus on any of that and instead focus on the face of the sheep around them.  They study the faces and they know the other sheep by the way their eyes slant, the width of their nose and the shape of their mouths.  I also found that sheep travel in herds and they know each sheep's voice in their herd.  They each have a unique voice and when one sheep from the herd has wandered the others are able to find the sheep and recognize that he is from their herd by the sound of his voice. 

           I couldn't help but think of us as Christian's when I read about the sheep.  So many times we paint these pictures of what the Christian should look like; when in reality most Christian's that I know, especially me, are full of blemishes.  It is so easy to look at people who call themselves Christian's and see their needs for improvement.  The way that sheep see each other's faces should be the way that we look at other Christian's hearts.  We should know each other by our hearts and not focus so much on each other's blemishes.  We should be like the sheep and focus on each others hearts knowing that in Christ, the blemishes and imperfections can be refined and transformed. 

          I think we could learn a lot from sheep.  Less focusing and judging of each other's imperfections and more loving and admiring of each other's hearts.  I just want to be a sheep!

The Single Mom Club

          As a young girl she dreamed of many things.  She would go outside, get a big bouquet of weeds and march down her pretend aisle.  As she marched she sang "dun, dun du-dun" it was hard work being the bride, florist and singer but her pretend weddings were so fun.  Even more fun than her pretend weddings was the daydreaming she would do of her real wedding day.  She would picture the most beautiful wedding dress, the tallest of cakes, she saw the harp and all of her friends and family gathered together laughing and dancing.  Everyone gathered together to watch her marry her prince charming. 


       Today has been a rough one.  Packing lunches, getting breakfast on the table, washing little faces and calming tantrums.  She makes it to work with not a minute to spare.  She sits at her desk and realizes once again she left her lunch at home and has a whopping $7 in her checking account until her next pay day. She can't help but think how different life is from many of her friends. 


     She is in the club that she never thought she would be in...

                                        The Single Mom Club.

     A club that is anything but a club.  It is a place that is often lonely and isolated.  It is very hard to relate to her married friends.  She goes home from an exhausting day at work and there is no one to help with kids homework, or supper or baths.  No one to help support her in discipline.  She is standing over the kitchen sink and zones out on her yester-years.  She sees her childhood self dreaming of her wedding and her perfect life.  She sees just how different life is; how much harder life is.  Sometimes it would be so nice to just talk to an adult or have someone volunteer to take care of bath and bedtime. 

     The way she planned out her life is completely different than the reality that she is living.  There are so many burdens but tonight as she stands in the doorway of her daughters room she is overwhelmed with her blessings.  She watches as her daughter sleeps, her little mouth wide open her chest softly rising and falling.  The blessings that these children have brought her far exceed her burdens.  Life is tough but tonight she is full to the brim with joy. 

     To mom's like me, the one's who are blessed to be married, may we all recognize the single mothers in our life.  May we love them hard and support them endlessly.  Remember them and help them.  Take them for coffee dates or take their kids for play dates.  Call them, text them and include them.  Remember that their club can be lonely and tough.  As their friend look for ways to lighten their load.  And always, always pray for your single mom friends!

Undeserved

          Have you ever done something really stupid, really horrible? Something that totally didn't deserve forgiveness; but when you least deserved it and least expected it an olive branch was extended and someone forgave you of your hurtful actions or words. I certainly have. 

         Eight years ago, I was working in Memphis and it had been a really rough day.  You know the kind of day where you find yourself on job search websites thinking surely there is something better out there.  It was a day when payroll was being reduced (again) and the expectations of the job were being increased (again).  I found myself, that day, under the microscope of my boss.  Pressure was being put on him so he, in turn, was putting the hammer down on me. 

       I was angry, tired, bitter and feeling very unappreciated.  I was very happy that day when my boss told me he was leaving early.  As soon as his feet hit the parking lot I went to my office sat down at my computer and began typing an email.  It was a nasty email full of rants about the job but mostly criticism about my boss.  My co-worker was off that day and I needed to fill him in on just how horrible our boss was being and how frustrating the day had been.  After several nasty paragraphs I felt better and I hit send.  I grabbed my things and left for the day. 


        My husband and I had just sat down to dinner when my phone started ringing.  It was my boss, ugh!  I say "hello" he says "we need to talk about this email you sent me." My heart starts racing, my jaw has hit the floor and sweat is beading on my forehead.  I ask "what email" he says "the one about how much you dislike your job and me" I run to the computer pull up my email and check the SENT file. OH MY GOSH!!! I had been thinking about how mad I was at him that I must have typed his name in the address line instead of my coworker.  I was panicked, terrified and sick!! I jump in the car and head to work terrified of what is about to happen. 

       Upon arrival into my boss's office I am greeted with a smile.  I just decide to be as brutally honest as possible.  I tell him that the email was intended for someone else, I tell him that it had been a horrible day and that there was no excuse for the nasty email.  I tell him I am sorry.  His response and reaction were calm.  He grinned big and said that he was glad he got the email.  He said it made him realize he had some things to work on and that he and I needed to work on communication better.  He told me that he forgave me. 

        Eight years later and still I am stunned.  I could have easily lost my job or been reprimanded in some way but instead I was offered forgiveness and grace.  I was humiliated and embarrassed but I walked away knowing what it felt like to be forgiven of something that I didn't deserve forgiveness for.  The experience has caused me to have a heart to forgive often and to love much.  It has also caused me to choose my words a little more wisely and always, always make sure I am sending my email to the right person, ha! Seriously though, we are all undeserved yet we are forgiven.  Today and everyday, remember to forgive those that hurt you even the times when it is really really hard. 

When Will Enough Be Enough?

             While I was still pregnant with my second child I was already devising a plan to get to my goal weight once the baby was born.  As many people told me, losing the weight the second time is a little more difficult.  Not sure if it is because of a second pregnancy or because I was a little older but what people told me was true.  It took me around 9 months the second time and I was strict with my diet and exercise.  I was stuck 3 pounds above my goal weight for about two months.  I remember I would think if I can just hit my goal number I will be so happy. 


            The week that I finally reached my goal weight I was excited! I even took a picture and sent it to my husband.  I think he was excited to not have to hear me complaining about it anymore.  Much to his and my disappointment, I found myself,  not even a day after reaching my goal, wondering if I would be happier if I could lose another 3-5 pounds.  A question comes to my mind

 "when will enough ever be enough?"

           I look at my three year old daughter, watch her as she twirls around in her swimsuit.  She proudly proclaims "look at me! I am on the dancing show!"  She is referring to Dancing With The Stars. She says "mommy put your swimsuit on and dance with me you can be on the dancing show too."  Now I don't know about you but the last time I looked my body is far from looking as tight and amazing as one of the dancers.  In my young girls words there is so much confidence, so much sincerity. 

          She hasn't hit the awkward stage of middle school where you hate your body and the way you look.  She sees all people the same and she doesn't even care about a number on a scale.  She teaches me lessons everyday.  Today the lesson is that joy comes from the love around me and the security in that.  So much to my own surprise I go put on my swimsuit and we dance.  If I am honest I said a prayer or two that the UPS man wouldn't come knock on the door! ha!


          Today may we all choose to love ourselves and our bodies.  If it is hard to do for ourselves than may we do it for our children.  Don't let children think that happiness must come from a number on a scale or a certain size jean.  Today let enough be enough!