The Little Things

This morning was one of our crazy ones.  Open your eyes and realize you're late.  Jump up and throw on the first thing you can reach.  Run through the house like a raving lunatic, "Everybody Up!! We are late!"  Tell the kids to dress first then see if there's time for breakfast.  Sign folders, make lunches...all in fast forward.  The kids and I had to be out the door 15 minutes earlier than usual to drop my daughter, Alyssa, off for band practice.  (First concert tonight) :)  After a successful and on-time drop off of all the kiddos, and as I breathe a sigh of relief, I look over to the passenger seat and realize Alyssa has forgotten her ID badge.  In the hectic pace of the morning, I'm sure it just didn't cross her mind.  I steer my car toward her school thinking she will be so proud that I saw it and she didn't even have to call me.  And then it hits me...what am I wearing???  Pajama pants, tank top, jacket, no make up, hair in a ponytail...dear lord.  I know this isn't an issue for some people and God bless 'em.  But, for me, it is.  Driving down the road is one thing.  Maybe even a quick stop for gas or milk, no big deal.  But, to walk into Alyssa's school looking like this would have left me embarrassed and Alyssa...mortified.  I pull around to the band hall entrance and look in the window.  The entire band is facing the door.  I laugh to myself.  Which is better?  No ID and lunch detention? Or Mom in her pjs???   Just as I'm about to step away and get back in the car, one of Alyssa's friends steps out of a room right next to the door.  With stealthy ninja moves and just a whisper, drawing no attention to myself from anyone other than the friend, I crack the door and say, "Pssst, will you give this to Alyssa?"  I know a lot of people would say this is luck or coincidence.  But, I don't believe that for one second.  I know that my God loves me and my daughter enough to put that friend in the right place to help us out of that one, petty as it seems.  I, as a mom, wanted to protect Alyssa from that situation.  In the same way He, as a Father, wanted to protect us.  And if He watches over us in things as small as not wanting to embarrass ourselves, then how much more will He protect us from the big stuff?  It's an easy time of year to stress out and lose focus.  But, be encouraged, God's got your back.

So, which is it?

I've been called a lot of things in my life.

Some I've really appreciated hearing:

smart

cute

fun

pretty

sweet

loving

And some have hurt:

sarcastic

mean

weak-minded

rejected

fat

uncaring

insecure

incapable

ugly

But then there are those that really matter:

Chosen (John 15:16)

Justified (Romans 3:24)

Free (Galatians 5:1)

Accepted (Romans 15:7)

New (2 Cor. 5:17)

Blessed (Ephesians 1:3)

Complete (Colossians 2:10)

Powerful (2 Tim. 1:7)

Bold (Hebrews 4:16)

Loved (1 John 3:1)

So, throw whatever words you'd like my way.  Try to put your labels on me.  The truth is whatever I choose to believe.  And I am not wavering in that.

Don't You Dare Stop

We all go through things in life.  ALL of us. No one is immune to life's changes and challenges.  We all go through them.  Great things and tough things.  I am a firm believer that life is full of seasons.  Some of these we go through because they are a part of life. And some based on decisions we have made.  But, in all these things, I am convinced of 2 things...

1.  Each and every one of these 'seasons' offers us something that will make us better.  Not only is life always changing but so are we.  And we have the choice, given every miracle or obstacle we face, to take something from it.  To learn something about ourselves.  To make 'me' a better person.  It really is up to you.

And

2.  We are going THROUGH them.  Keep moving.  If it's wonderful, love every second of it.  Be intent to remember.  If it's difficult or uncomfortable, keep going.  You may even have to move faster and push harder just to get through that tough spot.  But, don't you dare stop.  No one is coming to your pity party.  If your friends see you fighting, they are sure to get behind and push or go ahead of you and pull.  That's what real friends do.  You are never alone in this because WE ALL GO THROUGH THINGS.  And a lot of the time that hard season gives way to something very bright and shiny. 

Where ever you are today, embrace it...but get up and get on with it.

Just a reminder!

I have to admit something. This may come as a shock to you. Brace yourself. This is heavy...I don't always like what I see in the mirror. Really, there are some days I hardly recognize myself. Don't get me wrong. I don't hate myself or think I'm hideous or anything like that. But I definitely could use improvement. Which is why I am always working on me.

And I'm not just talking about the exterior. Yeah, the age thing is going to happen. There's really no fighting that. Yesterday at the dermatologist's office I saw several people actively fighting it. That alone is not a pretty picture. And the hair...my hair has a different personality every day and I really only like 2 or 3 of them. So, I color. I straighten. I grow. I cut. I do what I have to do. Then there's the body...ugh. For the good majority of us, the older we get the rounder we get. And, our body parts are drawn closer and closer to the ground (thank you, gravity). In order to prevent this, we must cut out all the yummy junk food and exercise. Yippee...

But there's more to it. There's also stuff on the inside. There are those ideas of who I should be; where I should be; what I should have accomplished in my life 'by now'. There are the doubts about things I've done. And there are questions about things ahead. And so I work on these things as well. Keeping my focus where it should be, thinking on the right things, always being aware of the potential distractions. This is a constant battle for me.

But, I am reminded today as I look in the mirror at this aging, crazy-haired, overweight, self-doubting creature that God loves me right where I am. He knows every thought. He knows every hair. And He loves me. Sure, He wants me to keep striving for the better me. Only because He knows that will make me happy. But none of that will change a bit of what's in His heart for me. NOTHING ever will...