I was listening to a presentation about God’s forgiveness. One example given left a powerful impression on me. The impression was not necessarily based on the specific point of forgiveness that was being made but had more to do with God’s desire that nothing separate us from Him. Forgiveness and uninterrupted relationship are two of the most beautiful aspects of a personal relationship with God, and they’re bridged by His unconditional love.
There’s a song from back in the day when I was in my early 20s called Jane Says. Whenever I hear that song, it takes me back to the same mindset I had in 1987. Now that I have more life under my belt, I realize the girl in the song, who I once pitied, is not that different from me.
I’ve been spending the last few months trying to figure out who I am without my husband. We did 34 years of life together so all my adult firsts were with him. Marriage, buying a house, having babies, a business. Who am I now? This is the perfect intersection for a personal mission statement.
While there are several different types of communication (nonverbal, written, facial expression, etc.), the one we most connect with on a daily basis is verbal. Because speaking is so natural, I tend to take its foundational power for granted. Scripture tells us that words have the power of life or death. Life or death. Let that sink in for a moment.
My son and daughter-in-love invited me to attend my granddaughter’s K-4 year-end play. As I took my seat, I anxiously waited for her class to make their way to the stage. I didn’t know anything about the presentation; I just knew she was going to be part of the production. As soon as I spotted her, I waited for the moment when she would be positioned to see me, and I threw my hand in the air with a wild wave. She spotted me and acknowledged me with a smile and a shy wave. I sat poised to give her all the support I felt she might need. Over the top? Maybe, but I won’t apologize to anyone. I’m her biggest fan!
I adopted a dog a few days before Christmas last year. After losing my sweet fur baby, Zoey, in June, my remaining pup, Zeek. needed companionship. With Zoey gone, he was beginning to have anxiety attacks, tearing up my carpet, chewing my door frames, constantly bloodying his feet. Zoey was all he’d ever known, and he was distraught without her. I knew how he felt, so my heart went out to him.
It’s my birthday this week! I have more years behind me than I do ahead. I’m at a place in life where I’m free to do anything I want and go wherever I please. But, as with life, there is a push and pull, a beauty and an ugliness, life and death.
“Outside of the cross of Jesus Christ, there is no hope in this world. That cross and resurrection at the core of the Gospel is the only hope for humanity. Wherever you go, ask God for wisdom on how to get that Gospel in, even in the toughest situations of life.” Ravi Zacharias, Founder RZIM
If you saw the unfolding story of 22-month-old Kenneth Howard, surely you were as heavy hearted as I. He wandered away from his Kentucky home on Mother’s Day late in the day. Darkness would soon cover the wooded terrain. How in the world would they ever find a tiny toddler in a dark forest with overgrown mining operations nearby? And how would that poor baby survive alone in the dark? As a mom, I was heartsick thinking about his tiny self, alone and afraid. But God.
