There are some truly AMAZING people who have graced my life with their friendship and/or influence and wisdom. If I start listing them, sure as shootin', I'll miss the one that happens to read this blog. If that is you, maybe you'll be blogged about in the future.
One of the people that I truly admire is my brother, Tim. Granted, we're family, and he was my first "friend"...but it's more than that. My brother is a man of integrity. He's also a protector. He has alot of courage. He knows what it is to suffer, endure, and overcome. He works hard, loves his country, loves God, loves his family, cares about others, has a ridiculous sense of humor complete with his wonderful laugh, and is one of the world's biggest teddy bears when it comes to kids. He is as loyal a man as I have ever known. When he is your friend, he'll have your back. If he can help you out, consider it done. He has these three great dogs that think he hung the moon. I think I sorta agree with them. In fact, when it comes right down to it...I'd have to say he's one of my heroes. Along with everything else about him, my brother is a career police officer. I am very proud and very blessed to be his sister. My vocabulary cannot begin to describe how much I love that rascal....yes, rascal! He's also been my mean younger brother at times! But mostly, he's been my life-long friend!!
There's a lovely lady that I have known for about 12+ years. Our meeting happened because I was referred to her. I was in need of a great nail tech. What I got was a beautiful sister and friend! Her name is Debbie. She stopped being a nail tech several years ago, but her love, wisdom, and grace continue to touch my life. We are both involved in our respective churches and personal ministry pursuits, but thanks to the wonders of technology, we manage to be in touch. Debbie is the kind of friend that, no matter how long it is between times we've seen each other, when we do get a few moments it is as though no time has passed. I love her heart! She has one of the most brilliant smiles, and she is a person who truly understands the importance of speaking the Truth in love...and love is what she displays no matter where she is or what she's doing, or who she's with! She is so full of love and laughter and joy. She is full of God! She became a lifeline for me back in those days when we first met. I had suffered the loss of my son, and there were times when I sat across from her while she did my nails that she really did more for my broken heart than I have words to express. I will always love you, Debbie...my friend and my sister in Christ!
There are many people I could write about, but this blog would be far too lengthy for one reading. As I sit here thinking of these people, I am just grateful that they are a part of who I am. When we build relationships with people, there is always something they deposit in us. Sometimes we don't appreciate them until a life is cut short or a tragedy strikes. I want to write about those people periodically. I believe in giving honor to people while they live....what good is it to wait until it's too late for them to hear it?
So....I think that's all for now. I'm thankful for Tim and Debbie tonight. And if this blog makes you think about the people who have made a deposit in you, then I have accomplished something of value in its writing!
Appreciate someone today!!
Friday, February 10, 2012
Saturday, February 4, 2012
I must have a warped sense of humor!!
I was perusing the various items in a neat little thrift store in the old downtown area of our community the other day. It was nice to have about 45 minutes to just "be"...relaxing and enjoying my adventure.
Several people came through the front door of the establishment while I was there, among them a pair of girlfriends about my age. They were chattering away about "whatever"--I wasn't paying attention....UNTIL...they came closer to where I was shopping. They were having a conversation about one of them losing something and how long it took her to find that particular item.....and the "lose-er" laughed and said, "Isn't that always how it is?? You find stuff in the last place you look?!"
I nearly busted out laughing.
Thinking someone else might find the same humor in their conversation as me, I said to the other lady of the pair, "When you think about it, you ALWAYS find stuff in the last place you look....I mean...why would you keep looking?? If you found stuff in the FIRST place you look, it would also be the LAST place you look, right?!" I was smiling my biggest "warm smile", doing my best to share the enjoyment.
They didn't get it. Or appreciate it. The lady I spoke directly to gave a nervous little chuckle. She asked her friend if she "heard what I said"....they kind of looked at me like I was being a smart-aleck. Sigh.
Oh, well. It didn't ruin my 45 minutes of "be-ing". I decided they must not be very happy people. But me?? I chuckle about it all over again each time I recall that moment of comedic genius.
Heeheehee.
Several people came through the front door of the establishment while I was there, among them a pair of girlfriends about my age. They were chattering away about "whatever"--I wasn't paying attention....UNTIL...they came closer to where I was shopping. They were having a conversation about one of them losing something and how long it took her to find that particular item.....and the "lose-er" laughed and said, "Isn't that always how it is?? You find stuff in the last place you look?!"
I nearly busted out laughing.
Thinking someone else might find the same humor in their conversation as me, I said to the other lady of the pair, "When you think about it, you ALWAYS find stuff in the last place you look....I mean...why would you keep looking?? If you found stuff in the FIRST place you look, it would also be the LAST place you look, right?!" I was smiling my biggest "warm smile", doing my best to share the enjoyment.
They didn't get it. Or appreciate it. The lady I spoke directly to gave a nervous little chuckle. She asked her friend if she "heard what I said"....they kind of looked at me like I was being a smart-aleck. Sigh.
Oh, well. It didn't ruin my 45 minutes of "be-ing". I decided they must not be very happy people. But me?? I chuckle about it all over again each time I recall that moment of comedic genius.
Heeheehee.
Our lives are like a vapor...
Sooo....my hubs has spent recent weeknights burning family home movies/videos onto DVD. Some of them go back to the late 1950's, when we were just little people. It has been funny to observe the changes in styles, culture, etc. in these movies. What hasn't been funny is the realization of how quickly life passes by, and we don't even know it until it's already happened!
We have watched our children progress from infancy....and then the grandbabies...all in just a few hours. I have watched with some smiles, but some tears as well. Seeing video of our son, Ryan's last Christmas before he passed away was particularly difficult. It made me miss the son I knew then...the gentle heart, quick wit, broad smile and warm hugs. It made it fresh all over again. For my husband, David, it seemed to be more cathartic. I think he's afraid he'll forget something about our boy. But for me....it was hard to watch. The other day I was looking for something in one of my little jewelry boxes, and I came across the small plastic bag that held a clip of Ryan's hair that a kind nurse gave me when he passed. It took my breath away, still....after all this time. This coming April 16th will be 13 years since he left us.
But I have a choice to make.....and I choose to look forward. You see, I am, every day, another day closer to seeing him again!
Jesus said, "If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." And that is the hope that gives me strength at times when the hurt resurfaces. I am one day closer today than yesterday....and if tomorrow comes, I'll be another day closer than I am today. I WILL see my boy again! Greater still....I will see my Lord Jesus, face-to-face!!
This morning I was thinking about how the Scriptures tell us that the last days would be like the days of Noah...basically, people just living life with no thought of eternity or God. We are there. All of us. Mankind. Just living life....going about our own way....and before we know it, life has passed us by. TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. NONE OF US HAVE THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW. WHAT IF LIFE FOR YOU STOPPED TODAY?? The question I have for you, greater than any other question I could ask you: DO YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, WALKING IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM? If your answer is "No"....well, you can change that, right here, right now. If you will confess to Him that you are a sinner in need of His forgiveness, and will believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you can enter into a personal relationship with Jesus that is unlike any other you've ever known!! His love is AMAZING!!!! He doesn't promise that we will never have losses in this life (I know that first hand), but He does promise that He will never leave us alone....He will walk with us....He will strengthen us...He will heal us...He will restore joy to us....and He has wonderful plans for us!! And when my life is over, I have the promise of eternity with Jesus in Heaven. My Ryan made that choice.....and being with him will be one of the many other things that make Heaven "heaven" for me!
We have watched our children progress from infancy....and then the grandbabies...all in just a few hours. I have watched with some smiles, but some tears as well. Seeing video of our son, Ryan's last Christmas before he passed away was particularly difficult. It made me miss the son I knew then...the gentle heart, quick wit, broad smile and warm hugs. It made it fresh all over again. For my husband, David, it seemed to be more cathartic. I think he's afraid he'll forget something about our boy. But for me....it was hard to watch. The other day I was looking for something in one of my little jewelry boxes, and I came across the small plastic bag that held a clip of Ryan's hair that a kind nurse gave me when he passed. It took my breath away, still....after all this time. This coming April 16th will be 13 years since he left us.
But I have a choice to make.....and I choose to look forward. You see, I am, every day, another day closer to seeing him again!
Jesus said, "If I go away, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." And that is the hope that gives me strength at times when the hurt resurfaces. I am one day closer today than yesterday....and if tomorrow comes, I'll be another day closer than I am today. I WILL see my boy again! Greater still....I will see my Lord Jesus, face-to-face!!
This morning I was thinking about how the Scriptures tell us that the last days would be like the days of Noah...basically, people just living life with no thought of eternity or God. We are there. All of us. Mankind. Just living life....going about our own way....and before we know it, life has passed us by. TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. NONE OF US HAVE THE PROMISE OF TOMORROW. WHAT IF LIFE FOR YOU STOPPED TODAY?? The question I have for you, greater than any other question I could ask you: DO YOU KNOW JESUS AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR, WALKING IN PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM? If your answer is "No"....well, you can change that, right here, right now. If you will confess to Him that you are a sinner in need of His forgiveness, and will believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you can enter into a personal relationship with Jesus that is unlike any other you've ever known!! His love is AMAZING!!!! He doesn't promise that we will never have losses in this life (I know that first hand), but He does promise that He will never leave us alone....He will walk with us....He will strengthen us...He will heal us...He will restore joy to us....and He has wonderful plans for us!! And when my life is over, I have the promise of eternity with Jesus in Heaven. My Ryan made that choice.....and being with him will be one of the many other things that make Heaven "heaven" for me!
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