Mom, I’m sitting in a favorite restaurant of mine and wishing I could share another meal and conversation with you. I miss your laugh, I miss your appetite for life while sitting around a table with good food, friends and family. I miss your strength and courage you shared with me without saying a word. I miss getting messages from you on my phone simply stating, “this is your mother, call me…” I would love to hear your voice one more time and feel your arms hugging me once more. Nothing compares to a mothers love. I have so many things I want to share with you, I hope I am finally settling into being the woman you always thought I would be. Not based upon social positioning or accolades that last only a short while but for the things that showcase truth, peace, acceptance, responsibility, confidence, courage and above all love. You were a strong, brave and courageous woman who never complained that life was too hard, never ran away from a challenge and never sacrificed someone else’s happiness in order to get ahead in life. You loved your family, some were close while others were miles away…made no difference you loved us all. I don’t have a specific reason for missing you today, you’re part of my daily existence, I’m here because of you and though you are not physically with me, the essence of you still surround and comfort me. ~I love you and miss you Mom!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 ESV “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.”

~Blessings and Peace~

Who’s in the driver’s seat? Do you know where your life is taking you? I read a couple of stories today that I wanted to share with you. I can tell you that where my life is right now was not in any of my plans. God knows what is best for all His children, often we are stubborn and think we know best. I read this quote by C.S.Lewis today, “I think all Christians would agree with me if I said that though Christianity seems at first to be all about morality, all about duties and rules and guilt and virtue, yet it leads you on, out of all that, into something beyond. One has a glimpse of a country where they do not talk of those things, except perhaps as a joke. Everyone there is filled full with what we should call goodness as a mirror is filled with light. But they do not call it goodness. They do not call it anything. They are not thinking of it. They are too busy looking at the source from which it comes. But this is near the stage where the road passes over the rim of our world. No one’s eyes can see very far beyond that: lots of people’s eyes can see further than mine.
~Mere Christianity,” Lewis’ ability to share his faith with his readers as well as pull his readers into his stories and visions is simply remarkable. As I read the quote above, I was able to imagine being “in” the story, actively living the moments in my mind. Being a Christian is more than rules and virtues, there’s so much more to the story and God has so much more to share with us, this earth is not our home. Our Heavenly Father, like our parents only wants the very best for us. And sometimes, because our parents love us we are scolded, grounded, and even disciplined. I remember a few incidents from my childhood when I was disciplined by my parents, at the time I was angry at them, I felt like life was not fair…oddly, I look back on those incidents and I am thankful for the lessons my parents taught me, I rarely repeat the same mistakes again and it’s all because they loved me enough to do the right thing. The Bible tells a similar thing in Proverbs 3:11-12, “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.” Similar to Hebrews 12:4-12, “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son. Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

As I mentioned, I am pleasantly surprised at where I am in life. I’m on a road I never imagined and experiencing things I only dreamed of, I have no idea what my future holds but I am open to its possibilities. It’s fun, it’s scary, it’s new, it’s fulfilling and I’m feeling happiness. I have noticed that it is easy to get caught up in the newness and freshness of my life at the moment, I need to remind myself that this is only possible because God loves me and I know there’s learns to be learned. I want to be authentic and share all the goodness God created in me with others, most especially the amazing people currently in my life. Are you in the driver’s seat? Perhaps asking God to drive and lead you and your life would allow you the freedom to learn the lessons He desires to teach you. I have no idea what lies before me, I know I love God and I very much want His acceptance and approval in all I say and do. I am truly blessed to be discovering life with the individuals God has brought into my life. No matter where you are in your life journey, it’s never too late to ask God to sit in the driver’s seat, be open to possibilities.
~Blessings and Peace~

Jesus Take the Wheel~Lyrics
Check out this video on YouTube:

What does marriage mean to you? What images formulate in your mind? Is marriage a universal picture or is it possible that marriage is merely an adjective used to describe the depths and intricacies of our feelings for another person. Many people give reverence and esteem value to the word marriage and disregard the steps to keep it sacred in a very real sense. Is your marriage more valuable than the attention of a stranger when you are feeling lonely and under appreciated? What about spending the mortgage payment at the track, do you tell yourself…if I just hit the jackpot it will be worth it, really? Gambling your home is worth selling yourself and your marriage vows? I know there’s someone reading this and thinking, I would never be so foolish…really? Everyone of us makes decisions big and small everyday without giving much thought to the ramifications they start. You may not gamble per se, but I’m confident in saying you take chances giving no thought to …. What if? Things done in secret rarely stay secret, your friends, your spouse, your family may not know what you do but God our Father knows all. The single most important being in the entire universe sees all and knows all and loves us in-spite of ourselves our wickedness and our selfishness. I have experienced through the years that love comes to each of us in many different ways and none of us are in any position to cast judgments on others when it comes to the love shared between two human beings. Never settle for close to love or it feels like love, the real and true love is worth the wait and God has so many wonderful plans for you and the love of your life. Seek first the Kingdom of God and all things will be made clear to you. Matthew 6:13 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

These are my truths…

•Marriage is more than a man and a woman

•Marriage is more than a document

•Marriage is living and breathing a commitment

•Family is more than a mother and a father

•Being a daddy is more than being the father

•Being a mommy is more than being the mother

•A home is more than a house with walls, windows, doors, rooms and a roof

•Love is more than a four letter word

•Love often turns into two four letter words life + time = lifetime of love

•Love is a four letter word used many times in a single day for a wide variety of things, please take time to know what you’re saying, who you are saying it to and then mean what you are saying.

Do not let definitions limit your “LOVE” potential.

~Blessings and Peace~

References:
Psalm 139:1-24 “You have searched me, Lord,and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place,when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;ball the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Hebrews 4:13 (NRSV) “And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account.”