Singleness doesn’t hit you until you see flowers intended for someone else.

 

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Gifted

The frustrating part of gift-giving is finding that one tangible item to convey all of the intangible gifts already given by the recipient.

‘Nother Gadget

Sometimes, the latest technology can ruin the oldest family traditions.

Faith is

Faith is being guided through a dark tunnel trusting solely in The One Leading the way.

Things Aren’t What They Seem

Turning from a busy street, I took what’s usually a shortcut home until I pulled behind a vehicle driving what seemed like 10 miles under the speed limit.

My frustration grew as we creeped along each block as if in a caravan of a funeral procession instead of my skip and a hop home.

We were driving so slowly that for the first time, I noticed the neighborhood signs that read, “Drive Slowly, We Love Our Children.

I love my child too which is why she is safely buckled in the backseat.

My exasperation had simultaneously reached its breaking point as I braked for the 4-way stop ahead.

Judging from our Sunday drive in the middle of a Monday commute, I anticipated sitting at the 4-way for at least five minutes as the car ahead decided who had the right-of-way.

 That’s when I noticed a group of patrol officers on foot with speedometers in hand.

 They used their other hand to flag down speeding vehicles as they approached the intersection to issue citations.

 Until that point, I felt impatient and trapped at what appeared to be an obstacle preventing me from moving forward as quickly as I hoped.

As I passed the officers in relief (at not citing me for following too close), I reflected on the news I received at work that had me in such a rush to get home.

 I didn’t get the promotion.

I may not have gotten the promotion as quickly as I hoped, but soon my disappointment will dissipate as I realize I don’t know what lies ahead.

Seeing Halos

My daughter is a part-time angel who’s off on weekends.

A Thousand Years in the Rain

Last year this time, I was crying in the threat of a lawsuit for being unable to pay my student loans

Last year this time, my car was threatening repossession

Last year this time, I was struggling to cover necessities

Last year this time, I couldn’t afford to buy my daughter any Christmas gifts

Last year this time, I was lonely, depressed, frustrated, anxious, helpless, and hopeless

This year right now, I am in good standing with my student loan debt

This year right now, my car payments are up to date

This year right now, our necessities are met

This year right now, my child has toys she won’t even play with

This year right now, I have positive friends that fill me with hope

A thousand years are but a day to the Lord (2 Peter 3:8)

So bless God whether He’s Pouring sunshine or storms.

Remember God’s Promise of His Rainbow (Genesis 9:12-15)  that comes after the rain.

Joy comes in the morning (Psalms 30:5), as long as you can make it through the night.

I’m a living testimony that if you don’t have blind faith, you have no faith at all.

So when it rains, keep your umbrella (and your hopes) up too.

Honor Our Father

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We’ve all been there – in need of advice, a confidante, or moral support.  Out of all of the people in our lives, our moms usually know just what to say. We’ve called our mothers ‘mom’ before we even knew her name.  Through countless hugs and floor-pacing, moms have literally paid an arm and a leg when we needed a shoulder to cry on, a pat on the back, or a listening ear. During those times, the name that we’ve called her since we could speak, her new first name, is the only one that matters.

Dads are no different.  Ask any daddy’s girl, and she will agree that her requests usually begins with Dad instead of Mr. or John.

Mom and dad were who we told some of the biggest announcements and most intimate details of our lives.  How else could we address…

“I’m engaged!”

“I’m pregnant!”

“I made a mistake.”

Mom and dad simply, endearingly, and somehow appropriately suffice.

Our Heavenly Father is no different.

Jesus Instructs us that when we pray, to begin with “Our Father.” (Matthew 6:9)*

Not that any variation of His name is not correct, but Our Father Wants a personal relationship with His children.

How intimate would a mother-daughter talk be if it began with, “Parent” or Maternal Figure?”

Imagine daddy’s girl requesting the car keys by addressing her “Patriarch” or “Begetter?”

Though there are numerous religions formed on the validity of Our Father’s Name, let’s not take away the simplicity of the Bible.

^“and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that [is] in the Christ.” (2 Corinthians 11:3)*

Some of us already know, and some have yet to experience the pain of losing one or both of our parents. However, we are reminded throughout His Word that Our Father Will Always Be there.

Honor, love and obey your parents and especially, our Father.

*Young’s Literal Version

 

Don’t Stop Chasing Rainbows

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While I was running errands, my daughter asked me a random question.

“Mama, can I see a rainbow heart?”

“No,” I said not because I was in a sore mood, but because I didn’t know what a rainbow heart was.

“Please mommy, can you show me a rainbow heart on the computer?” whimsically mixing technology with fantasy.

“We’ll see.”(if she’s forgotten about it by the time we’ve made it home.)

She didn’t.

After an image search, she was amazed and I dumbawestruck at the various rainbow hearts on the screen.

When I was her age, I futilely looked for the end of rainbows before abandoning my search for the elusive pot of gold.

However, my young daughter was freely seeking a heart full of the multi-colored banners.

While her search ended when she found a rainbow, my search would just begin as I overlooked countless others for something that didn’t exist.

Based on Our Father’s Covenant(Genesis 9:13-17), how could she know that she was literally searching for a heart filled with love – and find it?

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You’re Officially a Parent When…

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Your child repeatedly awakens you to answer questions, and with the exception of peeking one eye open for “suspicious” inquiries, you can answer each one without interrupting your sleep.