That 4 Letter Word

Tears left highways down that sweet face as her mascara ran.  And my heart feel into a thousand pieces, or more, as the words just wouldn't come.  Couldn't come.  How do you comfort a heart so young, so innocent?  Stories of young love and adult tragedies were a plague, removing the sacred.

Adults can make dumb decisions. Sometimes they choose themselves over their children.

It didn't make sense and it isn't right. But how do you do damage control?  How do you convince a young heart they are not at fault for their parents poor choices?



And in our world love is a four letter word that has little meaning and even less value.  It's an emotion in passing rather than an action in choosing. The words of Paul to the church at Corinth ring loud in my ears and heart.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIV

Am I so naive as to believe that society around me is fine and not falling apart at the seams?  Families crumble. And we leave the children in the aftermath to fend for themselves.  Not fully understanding that this vicious circle of life keeps happening.  And what they see is what they do.  So, when will we step in and make a change?

When will love win?

Who's going to tell her that not every man leaves? Who's going to raise him to be a man, that makes good choices?  Who's going to show her that her worth doesn't come from someone else?  Who's going to teach him to lead by example?

Who's going to chose to love them?  Well, I am.  Will you?

Let's indoctrinate them with love! Love that is not self-seeking or self-serving. Love that reaches out beyond ourselves to embrace others where they are.  That offers hope and freedom.

This isn't something I'm great, or even good, at.  It is a discipline. It means going beyond me.  But, Lord Jesus, I'm ready.  Use me.  And remind me daily to love.

33 Years & A Million Miles

Woke up this morning to a little curly red-haired boy climbing into my bed at 2:45 AM.  Just like any other night he comes into our room he snuggles up close and begins to whine for his "tup".  This beautiful gift finished his cup of choc and restlessly fell back to sleep.  He tossed and turned, kicked and cried for the next 3 hours.  And though my words may not always express it, I am thankful for his life.

I can only imagine the joy my own parents felt as this day thirty three years ago they welcomed their own red-haired baby girl into this wild and crazy world. Through the years I have done my own share of kicking, screaming, whining and crying. I own a stubborn streak that can even be attested to by my loving husband.  In thirty three years some things have changed and others have, well, changed.

I've learned many valuable lessons over my 33 years and some million miles on this planet.  The one that is etched in my heart and mind today is about change.  Lucky for me I'm no longer the 5 pound 15 ounce baby girl I was when my mother delivered me.  I've grown and matured over the years.  Change.

These are a couple of things I've learned about change.

• Change is inevitable.  We cannot stop somethings from changing no matter how hard we try.  These events/circumstances are things we likely have little or no control over.  That doesn't mean that instances where we can affect change, we shouldn't.  Sometimes we can see change coming and all we can do is prepare.  We should choose our battles wisely.

• Change is a choice. We have the choice to make changes within our own lives that will affect us and those around us. This is by far the hardest for me. To incite change means I recognize something within me that is not the best it could be.  Choosing change pushes me to be a leader and holds me accountable for my attitude and my actions.

After 33 years, I know that change is coming. I can't live a dormant life.  I'm either living or dying.  The choice is will I face change or run from it?  May my next 33 years be something to tell the world about!