Letter of Appreciation
Our children want to appreciate us, but they really don't know how. As they grow older the appreciation begins to settle, but when they have their own children, the appreciation goes through the roof!
Don't Mess With Mama Bear!
It's difficult to explain what a mother feels when her child has been mistreated, abused, or even ignored. A fighting instinct surfaces that is sometimes hard to control. I often use the term, Mama Bear, because it perfectly describes how mothers protect their cubs; they will KILL before they allow their cub to be harmed.
For the past few months, anger has stirred within me and I knew I needed to channel that negative energy into something positive in order to move on with my life and bury the bitterness. Firstborn was wrongly accused and kicked off his football team, and finding the good in that was more than difficult, but I was eventually led to speak up and out for not only Firstborn for all youth in athletics.
I now have more peace of mind regarding this situation, which is a sign that I'm doing the right thing. I had to take a stand before I fell into a pit of pity, revenge, and hate. Yes, I was that angry! Don't mess with my children!
For the past few months, anger has stirred within me and I knew I needed to channel that negative energy into something positive in order to move on with my life and bury the bitterness. Firstborn was wrongly accused and kicked off his football team, and finding the good in that was more than difficult, but I was eventually led to speak up and out for not only Firstborn for all youth in athletics.
I now have more peace of mind regarding this situation, which is a sign that I'm doing the right thing. I had to take a stand before I fell into a pit of pity, revenge, and hate. Yes, I was that angry! Don't mess with my children!
Please visit the site I created to share awareness of mistreatment in sports. It's titled, Your Loss
Invasion
The Pneumonia, the flu, and a few other nasty viruses seem
to be lingering around this season looking for weak immune systems to invade. With
the exception of Secondborn, the rest of the family has escaped the contagious bug;
however, this weekend I began to feel a little achy. I rarely catch a virus, so I immediately increased
my prevention measures by consuming more of my mixture of beet, tomato, and
kale drink, my vitamin shake, and a few other powerful nutrients. I refused to
give the nasty bug access to my body. Plenty of rest was also a part of my
prevention, so I retreated back to bed as often as I could. Rest is a powerful
weapon! While fighting the persistent bug, I realized prevention measures are necessary
for my physical body as well as my spiritual body; they both require protection
from outside elements.
My spiritual body is capable of submitting to bugs also,
but when I boost my spiritual warfare defenses, I’m not knocked off my feet in
defeat and frustration. Praying without ceasing and putting my armor on early
instead of waiting until I’m in the midst of battle prepares me for warfare. This
morning, I am achy free; yet I can’t afford to stop pouring the extra nutrients
into my body. The bug is lingering and waiting to catch me off guard. The
adversary, aka Miss Flesh, is also waiting to invade my body through any avenue
possible; there is always a trap set. The adversary stays on the lookout for
unprepared bodies to dwell in just as those nasty virus bugs do. How we prepare
for the day reflects on the outcome
of our day. Do you have your defenses up? Have you made preparations for
possible invasion of the bugs? If not, boost up for battle and have a marvelous day!
Change Your Clothes!
New Year's Day, I made a point to not say anything ugly or negative to hubby. I wanted the first day of the year to be free from my jokes and criticism. Well, I failed. I looked at hubby and he had on his favorite work sweats. They weren't just an ordinary pair of sweats. These sweats were old as dirt and had chlorine spots all over them. They use to be gray, but they have been washed so many times, the color was gone. The sweats were an eyesore and I really didn't want to look at them all day.
I looked a little lower and noticed hubby's black socks had a beige heel. Wait a minute! That's not a beige heel, that's hubby's skin! The socks, both socks, had huge holes in the heels. Nooo way, I can't keep my mouth shut, I've got to say something. I refuse to look at this on the first day of the year - maybe tomorrow, but definitely not today.
I apologized in advance, but I had to be honest. "Uh, do you plan on wearing that all day?" He mentioned he planned to work on the car. It looked like it was going to rain, so he was going to wait a while before he started working on the car. I apologized again, but I had to tell him there was no way I could look at what he was wearing on New Year's Day - I just couldn't. I said it as nicely as I could with a smile. Hubby proceeded to justify the sweats, but I wasn't hearing it. He walked away and I wondered if I should have just kept my mouth shut. I'm not one to hold my tongue, and convinced myself that I didn't say anything out of line.
Hubby came back and looked like a different person. He had on a nice shirt and another pair of sweats and socks with no holes! HALLELUJAH! He looked so handsome and I was sooo thankful. He stood in front of me and asked, "Is this appropriate?"
I gave him a big smile and said, "YES! God bless you!" I was so relieved. If it's New Year's Day, why wear old, torn, dead looking clothes? I know hubby wanted to be comfortable, but my God! Give me a break! I didn't ask for much...just a better view of my husband to start the New Year off right. Tomorrow you can go back to normal and wear his old, chlorine spotted sweats. Thanks, hubby!
I looked a little lower and noticed hubby's black socks had a beige heel. Wait a minute! That's not a beige heel, that's hubby's skin! The socks, both socks, had huge holes in the heels. Nooo way, I can't keep my mouth shut, I've got to say something. I refuse to look at this on the first day of the year - maybe tomorrow, but definitely not today.
I apologized in advance, but I had to be honest. "Uh, do you plan on wearing that all day?" He mentioned he planned to work on the car. It looked like it was going to rain, so he was going to wait a while before he started working on the car. I apologized again, but I had to tell him there was no way I could look at what he was wearing on New Year's Day - I just couldn't. I said it as nicely as I could with a smile. Hubby proceeded to justify the sweats, but I wasn't hearing it. He walked away and I wondered if I should have just kept my mouth shut. I'm not one to hold my tongue, and convinced myself that I didn't say anything out of line.
Hubby came back and looked like a different person. He had on a nice shirt and another pair of sweats and socks with no holes! HALLELUJAH! He looked so handsome and I was sooo thankful. He stood in front of me and asked, "Is this appropriate?"
I gave him a big smile and said, "YES! God bless you!" I was so relieved. If it's New Year's Day, why wear old, torn, dead looking clothes? I know hubby wanted to be comfortable, but my God! Give me a break! I didn't ask for much...just a better view of my husband to start the New Year off right. Tomorrow you can go back to normal and wear his old, chlorine spotted sweats. Thanks, hubby!
Slow Down!
Firstborn and I were standing in a self-checkout lane yesterday and although our line was shorter than others, it was moving extremely slow. The machines kept locking up, which meant customers were becoming agitated. I thought I was going to rush in and rush out, but NOT!
The lady behind us was growing impatient and verbally trying to process the long wait. We even heard her say, “You gotta have patience.” As soon as we got to the register, Firstborn said, “Slow down.” He didn’t want us to lock the machine up and be held up. I thanked him and we proceeded with our two items.
Almost immediately, we heard an extremely loud bang that startled us and everyone around us. We looked up and noticed the woman behind us had walked into an emergency exit door, shattered it, and fell out.
We don’t know how badly she was hurt, but she wasn’t moving. We both stood in shock as store employees rushed to her assistance and called for help. We finished our checkout, without the machine locking up, and passed by the lady on the floor. The lady was in a hurry to go somewhere, but was going nowhere. Life is the same way. No matter how much we rush, everything happens in its own time and we have no control. We grow anxious for certain days to come and can’t wait for other days to pass by. We watch the clock, can’t wait for red lights to change, and look forward to uncomfortable seasons in our life to pass by – not knowing what’s ahead of us. We’re only rushing our life away. Aren’t they passing by quickly enough on their own? The lady behind us was obviously rushing; but her next few minutes in life weren’t worth the rush.
For the love of life, slow down! What’s the hurry?
Did You Choose to Snooze?
I befriended
the snooze button this morning; I wasn’t feeling the “before the chickens”
early rising. After pressing the snooze button twice, I thought about the
Proverbs 31 woman and jumped up. I didn’t jump up because I wanted to be like
her, I jumped up because I knew entertaining the snooze button would put me
behind in my many Monday morning tasks and I would later regret it.
When I
finally got up and going, I remembered today is my oldest niece’s birthday;
she’s fifteen years old today. I remember her being a butter ball baby and now
she’s a lovely young lady wearing contact lenses that she begged a long time
for. She even has an amazing singing voice that surprised the entire family
because she’s always been so quiet. She barely talked and now she’s serenading
us with notes we’ve never heard before. Her first fifteen years flew by and in another
fifteen years, she’ll be thirty!
My niece’s first fifteen years of life invited
thoughts of the snooze button of life. I can choose to snooze or I can relish in
the quick minutes of life and use my time wisely. Procrastination can be
haunting. If I bottled up all the time I’ve wasted or snoozed away, I probably
wouldn’t believe it.
Age has a way of reminding us of how quickly life goes by.
If you don’t believe it, watch a child grow up. It’s unbelievable how quickly
we grow up and grow old. Snooze? I don’t have enough time left in my life to
choose to snooze! I need to get busy and seize every moment. I thank my sweet
niece for this reminder of life and I pray she doesn’t choose to snooze her
life away.
May this post be another reminder to seize the moments
instead of snoozing them away.
Don't Get Too Comfortable!
Saturday, December 1st, was an extremely warm day in my city. We
were able to put away our extra layers of clothing, get comfortable, and enjoy
the summer-like weather. I had an amazing revelation with this beautiful
weather. The same environment that I was enjoying is the same environment that
I must protect myself from as the outside elements attempt to destroy my skin,
my cells, and my overall health. Regardless of the temperature, I need to be
aware of the elements and guard myself. My spiritual life is no different. Even
when everything is going smoothly and my days are peaceful, I better not get
too comfortable with my environment. I better stay covered in prayer and ensure
my armour is intact as if I’m going through a storm. The weather is tricky and so
is Miss Flesh. She will sneak up on me when I least expect her and it’s usually
in my most comfortable, summer-like days when I put away that extra layer of
clothing and get relaxed. Stay covered, laVender!
I was reminded to pray without ceasing and to watch and pray. I was also reminded how crafty and conniving the adversary is. Whether I notice it or not, there is always a struggle going on in my spiritual and natural life. A good example of this is a well- manicured lawn. We notice the beauty of it, but we’re clueless to the war going on beneath the surface. Bugs and so many different forms of insects are scuffling for food, space, and their life. They are protecting their young, seeking safety, and rebuilding what man continues to destroy. Isn’t that something? Our life is the same, so let’s go ahead and enjoy our peaceful, summer-like days, but let’s not forget to watch and pray! The temperature can change at any time.
I was reminded to pray without ceasing and to watch and pray. I was also reminded how crafty and conniving the adversary is. Whether I notice it or not, there is always a struggle going on in my spiritual and natural life. A good example of this is a well- manicured lawn. We notice the beauty of it, but we’re clueless to the war going on beneath the surface. Bugs and so many different forms of insects are scuffling for food, space, and their life. They are protecting their young, seeking safety, and rebuilding what man continues to destroy. Isn’t that something? Our life is the same, so let’s go ahead and enjoy our peaceful, summer-like days, but let’s not forget to watch and pray! The temperature can change at any time.
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