Grief. I hate that word. I know hate is such a strong word but, hate….yes, that’s the word. Grief is a thief.  It takes and doesn’t give back.  It robs you, sometimes, when you least expect it.  Like a hurricane that blows in and wrecks everything in its path. When you finally have the strength to open your eyes and hold your head up you see the ugly, dirty after-effects. And it’s breathtaking.  But breathtaking like you’ve been socked in the gut and can’t catch your breathe.  What was once beautiful is now a pile of rubble with no semblance of its initial use.  What was once a beautiful gathering of flowers is now a pile of dirt.  There’s no beauty.  The only thing left are a skeleton of blades of grass sporadically located here and there.  

You look around for help but it seems no one will take the time to lend a helping hand.  They can’t help because they don’t know, don’t care, or just don’t have the strength for themselves.  Even if they did know, what could they say that would bring any consolation?  A return to blissful ignorance would be a welcome blessing.  But you can never return. You can never go back. Once you’ve tasted that putrid dish you will forever be aware of it horrible taste. The texture and consistency is one that leaves you gagging.

Grief doesn’t fight fair. One day you feel you can overcome it. The next day, when you’ve just about gained the upper hand, it shows up with a gang to overtake you. And you end up with a black eye having lost again.  You fight back. Or you try. But after a while you just give in. Grief wins again. It feels like no one understands. Well, unless they’ve been attacked themselves.  It’s a shameful club so many are a part of. Memberships are given so freely. But you never wanted any part of this horrible group to begin with.  The embarrassment of emotions that can’t be controlled seem paralyzing and frustrating.  Even when you sense the faintest whiff of happiness, that beautiful perfume wafts away and gets lost among the stench again. That one moment stands like a tease to your nostrils.  You’re left wanting more. But it melts away like a cube of ice in your hands on the hottest of summer days. The harder you grasp for what’s slipping away, the quicker it leaves you. Then it’s gone. Completely gone forever. Well. Maybe not. Hope. There’s always hope. Or maybe the desire of hope? It’s all just so confusing.

But the pain, it hurts. Of course it hurts. It’s an unexplainable hurt. A pain that pumps through your veins like a lethal injection. All you really want to do is collapse under the heaviness of it all. That unrelenting hurt that courses through your body as your breathe. Every single breath hurts. But the hurt isn’t always bad.  The hurt is a reminder.  A terrible yet wonderful reminder there was once love there. The pain is there to remind us there was once something beautiful that brought such joy.  Like the warmest hug at just the right time.  It was an embrace that wreaked of unadulterated acceptance and an overabundance of warmth.  A love that gave over and over again asking nothing in return.  It was given….. and it was graciously accepted.

Sometimes your face can feel so raw after wiping those hot tears away.  The tears feel like acid that eats at your skin and takes any dignity you had left with it.  The forcefulness racks your body until your strength is gone leaving you emptier than it found you.  You just want to fade away. But you can’t. You pray for an escape from it all but it falls on deaf ears. No. You have to face this monster. The fangs. The claws. The talons. This monster is here for you.  And you feel so alone.  But you’re not alone.  Just listen.  There’s this faint whisper…. “Be still and know I am God….”  The voice sounds familiar but you haven’t been able to hear it over the noise.  You scream, “God–I can’t take this anymore!”  He says, “Shhhhh.  My beloved.  Be still and know I am God.”  So, you wait.  Just be still.  Shhhhhhhhh.  Stop trying to explain it all or figure it out. 

My friends, it doesn’t matter your situation today.  Maybe it is grief…..or even depression, hurts from your past that have left you broken, frustrations about any number of things……  Just, be still.  You don’t have to fix everything.  You couldn’t if you wanted to.  Make a choice to be still.  Just. Be. Still.  Take a deep breath and be still.

I love you, my friends, and I’m praying for you today! 

Have you ever found yourself in a predicament you couldn’t seem to get out of?  While you would like to blame others for your misfortune, truth be told, it was your fault you were stuck there (wherever your there is) in the first place.  We have a 6 month old puppy named Rufus.  He’s very sweet, loyal, and protective over our family.  Recently, he learned how to climb on to the top of his dog house.  The first time he did it he seemed to exude joy in the discovery only to realize he didn’t know how to get down.  My husband left him up there whining hoping he would learn how to get down later were he to ever do it again when we weren’t at home (which he did, and our neighbors rescued him).  Eventually he lost his footing and just fell off.  Thankfully, it was a short fall and he was fine.  But recently, his discovery served him well.  Even though he couldn’t get down, when our backyard recently began flooding he was able to escape the water until he could be helped.  What seemed like a curse was also a blessing for him.   

Have you ever considered that the great fish was actually God’s provision for Jonah?  Your yucky place might just be your place of provision.  In the beginning, while the storm was happening around him, he was sleeping.  Rather than deal with the reality of what God has commissioned him to do he chose to sleep and escape it all.  Upon waking, Jonah found himself in a storm in the heart of the sea with the current swirling all about him.  Then, God sent a great fish as provision.  Who would have thought a fish swallowing you would be considered God’s provision?  What he probably thought was yuck was actually better than the heart of the sea where he could have drown in the storm.  In the belly of the fish he prayed and God eventually delivered him.  He was there three days pulling himself together not really knowing if he would actually survive.  Jonah was so low in that moment he described it by stating, “…to the roots of the mountains I sank down” (Jonah 2:6).  After those three days, God commanded the release.  He was vomited out (which was not a pleasant process either) and went on to do what God had asked.

Often what seems like our place of pain can actually be our place of deliverance.  “These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith–of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire–may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him..” (I Peter 1:7-8)  Your yucky doesn’t seem so bad now, does it? 

My wife smells. It’s really crazy. You wouldn’t imagine that scent could come from her but, good grief!  My wife smells……so good!!!  For as long as I’ve known her she has this daily routine.  After her shower filled with soaps, shampoos, and conditioners she continues by using scented lotions, adding sweet smelling deodorants, fixes her hair with an abundance of products, and eventually ends with a spritz of her scent for the day. The combination of the scents is her signature smell– and it’s wonderful to me. She doesn’t smell like anyone else, and I like it that way. I caught a glimpse of her scent this morning after dropping off my kids and, out of habit, I turned in the car to say something to her. She wasn’t there. I realized she had left her mark on me during our morning hug and kiss goodbye. There are times I catch myself smelling like her. No doubt it’s due to the closeness we share with one another. I’m sure she sometimes has a little bit of a manly scent when my cologne happens to rub off on her as well.

Over the years, this has happened more times than not.  The reason is because of the closeness we share.  We sleep in the same bed, share the same bathroom and shower, and have spent thousands of hours together over 15 years of marriage and nearly 17 years together.  It only seems logical my scent would rub off on my wife and vice versa.  It caused me to question another relationship I have.  Do I smell like my Savior?  Have I spent enough time with Him in those intimate moments for His scent to rub off on me?  In Song of Solomon, we find the Shulamite woman making a declaration about God’s love.  In verse 2 she states God’s love is “better than wine.”  Then, in verse 3, she states, “Because of the fragrance of your good ointments, Your name is ointment poured forth.”  The transliteration of the word ointment is shemen.  It has multiple meanings.  One being a perfume-type scent, but another meaning points to something used for medicinal purposes.  When we purpose to spend times of worship and giving adoration unto God something begins to happen.  There is a distinctive scent that comes forth from that intimacy.  Not only as a perfume, but also as a type of medicine.  I’m glad to know even the mention of His name brings healing.  This string of thoughts led me to another question, do I stink to the devil?  There’s no doubt in my mind the devil hates the scent of God.  I assume it’s because it stands as a reminder of everything he lost when he was kicked out of heaven.  My prayer would be the intimacy I (or you) have with God would become a stench in the devil’s nostrils.  It would be like walking into the perfume section of a department store.  The smell would be so strong and overwhelming it would drive him away and cause him to leave me (us) alone!

Closing remarks and encouragement:  Do you stink to the enemy?  I would hope so as it means there’s an intimacy and closeness he can’t seem to invade.  I want to encourage you this week to protect those intimate times with your Groom.  Find your secret place, whether it be a prayer closet or war room (as some refer to it).  Find a place and a time to allow the stench of his love rub off on you.  Allow that same stench to drive the enemy away from you!  I hope you stink!  🙂

Have a blessed week, my friends!!

My son has this thing about people dressed up in costumes with masks. He doesn’t even like clowns with painted faces. When we went to Disney world over a year ago he wouldn’t have a thing to do with any of the characters that had on masks. But the princesses and princes were a different story.  He would speak directly to those characters and had absolutely no fear.  It’s the same way when we’ve visited Chuck W Cheese. I’m an adult so I realize there is some sweaty soul dying of thirst in that costume.  I’m not fearful because I know what’s behind the mask.  All he sees is this bigger than life character with unnatural and maximized facial features and it just freaks him out. Were someone to remove the costume and mask there’s not a doubt in my mind he’d talk that person’s ear off. I’ve even told him, “It’s just a mask!  They won’t hurt you!”  It doesn’t matter. His perception of the situation blows things way out of proportion.  But his responses aren’t really any different than that of an adult.

As an adult, we encounter things from time to time that we’re unsure of and it leaves us shaking in our boots.  “How can I…..?” “What will I…..?”  What if….?”   Were that demon the devil sent in your direction be made to remove its mask, you’d realize that little shrimp isn’t something to be afraid of.  Luke 10:19 says, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”  You’ve been endued (filled) with an ability and strength to fulfill the purpose for which you’ve been called to.  There’s no need to have fear of those things that can kill you.  Scripture tells us we’ve been given supernatural steel-toed boots (that’s from the Brian International version, ha ha) to step on and kill something that is venomous enough to kill us under normal circumstances.

Man of God/Woman of God–hear me when I say we’ve been given authority on this earth to place those things under our feet.  We can keep staring at them worrying they’re going to attack us….and they quite possibly could try to attack.  Or we can just step on that thing and move forward.  I remind my children, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” [2 Tim 1:7]  Why do I know this scripture so well?  Because I have to remind myself almost daily sometimes of this truth.  I fall prey to those moments just like everyone else.  I forget that it really is just a mask.  “The devil prowls around like a roaring lion …..” [1 Peter 5:8].   Here’s the great thing.  The devil is a poser.  In other words, he’s not really a lion at all.  He’s only pretending to be one.  That mask he’s wearing makes him look real.  But it’s fake.  It’s all fake.

Closing remarks and encouragement:  I know the real lion; the one referred to as the Lion of Judah!  My God is the real deal!  And if my Heavenly Father isn’t afraid of the devil, why should I be afraid?  My Father protects me but he has also given me the tools and ability to protect myself!  Why are we so afraid?  It’s just a mask!

Have a blessed week, my friends!!!

Months ago my wife and I went to the movies on a little mini-date.  Afterwards, we decided to take the exit door rather than the entrance we came in as it was closer to our vehicle.  You know, the door no one ever uses that is located next to the screen in some dark corner of the theater.  Being a southern gentleman, as we approached the door, I motioned for my wife to go ahead of me as I opened the door.  It was a matinee so the sun was a shocking change from the darkness of the theater.  I bowed my head and squinted my eyes and pressed forward.  After taking two steps outside I saw something move from the corner of my eye.  As my eyes were still adjusting I noticed it was one of the things I’m most fearful of.  It was a snake.  In my mind he/she was the size of a large anaconda.  Needless to say, I was dancing around that area like someone was shooting bullets at my feet.  Hearing the commotion, my wife turned around and started laughing and asking me what I was doing.  I pointed to the snake as I continued to dance and she just laughed harder.  She’s a bit of a country girl so she’s not very afraid of a snake.  Not to mention the baby snake was really only as big around and as long as a kindergartener’s oversized pencil.  My fear of snakes made that slithery menace seem bigger than it was.  My fear paired with inexperience with reptiles were the perfect disaster to cause me to fear something 100x’s smaller than I was.

Have you ever been there?  You come in contact with something that, at the moment, seems like a steep mountain that can’t be crossed.  Only later do you realize it was really just an ant hill.  In Acts 21 we find a group trying to convince Paul not to go to Jerusalem as they fear he will be captured.  In verse 13 he responds, “…I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”  He sounds like a man who isn’t worried about the future but is more concentrated on the task of spreading the message of Christ.  A few chapters later in Acts 27, Paul has been captured and is on his way to stand trial.  The ship he is on is caught encounters a great storm and the ship is lost.  He and the other prisoners find themselves on the island of Malta (we’re now in chapter 28).  In an attempt to warm themselves they and the islanders begin building a fire.  As he’s adding wood to the fire a serpent is driven out of the brush by the heat and it attaches itself to his hand.  Folks, I would have passed out.  Plain and simple.  This white boy doesn’t do snakes!  Paul did something unexpected.  He just shook it off back into the fire and went on about his business.  For quite a few chapters prior to this one Paul has been hit over and over and over again by things happening around him and to him.  After reading all of that I was ready to fly the white flag of surrender for him.  Rather than panic in the moment of attack he made the choice to just shake it off.

What choice will you make in the moment of your attack?  You can run around screaming and acting foolish (like I did at the movie theater) or you can simply….shake it off and keep pressing forward.  Was he scared to die?  No!  He said so in Acts 21.  When you remind yourself of what you’ve been through you’ll realize that little snake in your life is nothing to be afraid of.  Anxiety?  Shake it off!  Fear?  Shake it off!  Depressed?  Shake it off!  Worry?  Shake it off!  Shake it off!  SHAKE IT OFF!!

Closing remarks and encouragement:  God is not afraid of your mountain…and you shouldn’t be either.  Do you have something that has attached itself to you?  Shake it off!  It doesn’t matter what it is.  Shake it off!  If got brought you through that, he will SURELY bring you through this!  Be encouraged, my friends.  Weeping may endure for a night…but joy is coming!

My wife doesn’t ask for much.  But one thing that brings her joy is watching the show “Say Yes to the Dress.”  Personally, I could go the rest of my life without ever watching the show again.  Like most females, she gets great joy from watching or taking part in anything wedding-oriented.  She loves to think back to our own wedding day and can be caught watching the DVD of our ceremony.  On this particular show the viewer watches each woman’s journey which includes her personal story, a picture of her future husband, and more.  Her mission, in this (shortened for TV) 30-minute time slot, is to find the perfect dress.  It has to be a certain type of material, must be made a certain way, it has to fit ‘just right,’ it has to be just the right shade of white (personally, I didn’t realize there were ‘shades” of white–I thought white was, well, white).  For many women, months of preparation go into 2 hours of time on a single day that pass so quickly you can barely remember it.  While I understand the planning that goes into it, in the grand scheme of things, weddings can get a bit ridiculous.  The dress is never worn again.  The guy has paid to rent a tux that has to be returned (that he could have paid to buy a new suit).  All you’re really left with are a few memories, some pictures taken by an overly priced photographer, and a lot of debt.

Has the couple put that much time into planning the rest of their lives after the wedding?  In most cases the focus is more on the party and celebration and less on what comes later.  This faulty move lands many in divorce court.  But this is how we tend to live our lives, isn’t it?  “Buy now, pay later!” is a commonly heard statement used in many commercials.  We’re encouraged to appease the flesh and worry about the consequences later.  That’s the great American way!  This past Sunday our Pastor messed everyone up by having a casket parked right in front of the pulpit during the per-sermon prayer.  When everyone opened their eyes it was sitting right there staring us all in the face.  Talk about a wake-up call.  What would happen if we put just as much effort in to planning for our death as we did for things such as a wedding day?  It’s apparent we would spend more time attempting to pray for and lead our unsaved loved ones to Christ.  We probably wouldn’t waste our money on half the junk we buy.  We would realize there are many things we could live without.  2 Corin 4:17-18 says, “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

Closing remarks and encouragement:  Say NO to the dress…..in other words, say no to the fleeting things of the flesh that have no long term value.  Place the importance on the things that matter.  As I recently heard one of my mentors state, “Your true goals will influence your decisions!”  What is influencing you?  What is most important to you?

Have a blessed week, my friends!

Side note:  I’m not a scrooge about weddings.  Please hear my heart and the message I’m trying to get across.

Have you ever been around a child (or adult, for that matter) you would classify as a spoiled brat?  You know the one I’m talking about.  They’re never happy with anything they’ve been given and are constantly asking for everything shiny in their line of site.  I was recently walking through Walmart shopping for groceries.  Once I reached the third aisle of the grocery section I heard it.  “Momma—I want that!!  Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!”  Having experienced it with my own children (who, according to their grandparents, are perfect angels-HA!) I simply responded in my mind, “Bless her heart.”  Kids have a mind of their own and we can’t always control their outbursts.  I continued walking.  Four the next ten minutes I (and everyone within 200ft) continued to hear that child, over and over again, “Momma—I want that!!  Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!”  By the time I reached the last aisle for my milk I, like many of the shoppers around me, was ready to get out of there.  The constant (and loud) whining was stressing me out.  I grabbed that gallon of milk and walked quickly to the front to check out as the voice began to fade.  Then I had a thought.  Is this what God hears when I pray? 

Have you ever paid attention to the types of prayers you pray?  I’ll be the first to admit there have been times I’ve found myself stating, “Daddy—I want that!!!  Gimme, gimme, gimme!!!”  I ashamed of those moments.  1 Kings 3 tells us of God coming to Solomon in a dream.  God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” (v.5).  Wow!  He could have asked for anything!  His response was, “…give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong.” (v.9)  Wait!  What?!?  Come on Solly!  You could have asked for a new castle, a stronger army, greater riches, a new chariot!  Apparently, he had learned a thing of two from his flawed yet God-loving earthly father, King David.  Verses 10-15 state, “The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.  Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.  And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”  And God was true to His word.   

Final remarks and encouragement:  God honors faithfulness to His kingdom.  When we endeavor to live a life that is pleasing to Him we have no need to ask for the selfish things.  Not only did God honor Solomon’s genuine prayer for wisdom to govern His people in the right way, He also blessed him with both wealth and honor to the extent there was none considered his equal during that time period. (v.13)  I encourage you to inspect your prayers.  Don’t be a spoiled brat!  If your genuine desire is the furthering of His kingdom you’ll have no need to be selfish.      

My maternal grandfather (I called him Papaw) had some pretty severe health issues in the latter part of his life requiring constant oxygen and limited mobility.  One thing that seem to bring him the greatest joy and help him pass the time was putting together puzzles. He would sit for hours at a time working on thousand-piece puzzle’s.  One particular puzzle I remember was of a large poinsettia field.  I remember glancing at the pieces and getting mildly frustrated because every piece looked the same.  That one puzzle would have taken me weeks to complete because I didn’t have the patience.  It only took him a few days.  My Papaw was doing it simply for the enjoyment.  I was looking for instant gratification.  He always had this ability to look beyond the pieces to see what it could become.  I remember him encouraging me to start out by doing the outside pieces first.  Once the border was finished he would begin from one corner and work his way towards the center.  Every few minutes he would glance at the front of the box to be reminded of the final product.  I would get frustrated by the enormity of the job before me and run outside to play.  Upon returning he had miraculously finished a small section of the puzzle.  Over time, piece by piece, it always came together.  I don’t think I ever saw him get upset unless he got to the end and realized he had lost a piece.  Thankfully, that missing piece was always close by and would be found on the floor or having fallen between a crack in his coffee table.

Sometimes I look at the puzzle that is my life and get frustrated.  My ‘To Do’ list gets longer by the day, I begin thinking about upcoming bills and worrying how they’ll get paid, volunteers are needed at my children’s school for multiple events, I can’t seem to get caught up at work… I just can’t do it all.  And for someone that is a consummate over-achiever, that frustrates me beyond belief!  It’s like this nauseating merry-go-round that continues to pick up speed.  No doubt King David understood what is was like to be overwhelmed.  He fought many battles throughout his life.  Psalm 118 finds him expressing thanksgiving for the battles God had brought him through.  Verses 5-6 state, “I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place.  The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”  I’m sure the puzzle of his life frustrated him from time to time but he kept pressing forward.  Piece by piece, little by little, with help of His Savior, things always came together.  From time to time, especially in those overwhelming moments, I’m sure he had to reflect on the big picture.  But he knew the promises God had made to him.  If God helped him with the lion, the bear, and that vulgar giant, surely his God would continue to work on his behalf.  What has God done in your life?  Surely, if He brought you through those things, He will help you through this!

Closing remarks and encouragement:  Maybe you’re at a place of frustration and can’t see past the enormity of pieces that need to be put together.  Be encouraged!  Fulfillment of your greatest blessings or promises from God require more work on your part.  Don’t get frustrated.  Just work on your puzzle one piece at a time.  You’ll eventually realize, with God’s help, it is all coming together!

Have a blessed week, my friends!!!

Depression. Just the mention of the word makes many uncomfortable. If you’ve never dealt with it, it seems impossible to explain.  Most don’t understand it, know how to deal with it, and are unsure what to say to those who are dealing with it.  Just the mention of the word brings copious volumes of shame to those plagued with it. But let’s face it, it can happen to anyone at any time.  It cannot be predicted. It can’t be avoided. Many tend to be more susceptible to it simply because of an over-abundance of certain hormones or, in some cases, a lack thereof.  Waves of conflicting emotions and feelings splash down upon you, one after another, leaving you gasping for breath and searching for a life raft. It seems odd but many find comfort in the darkness of their minds. In those precious moments there’s no one to answer to. No one to have to explain the confusion of thoughts to.  But then, minutes later, there is frustration brought on by the very loneliness that once brought comfort.  It’s one conflicting thought after another.  A vicious cycle of perplexity and puzzlement that leaves behind a wake of uncertainty.  Some can’t eat.  Some can’t stop eating.  Many have a hard time sleeping but can’t seem to find the strength to get out of bed.  Constant confusion and feelings of chaos.  Yes.  Those are just some of the symptoms of depression.

To those who have gone through their lives and haven’t had to deal with it, consider yourselves blessed.  In the spirit of transparency, I’ll admit I’ve dealt with it off and on throughout my life.  I recently found myself dealing with those unwelcomed emotions again.  While I can acknowledge what is going on in my heart and mind I choose not to embrace it.  That darkness is not my friend.  Over the past few days God has gone out of His way to remind me I am not alone.  Whether spiritually or physically, I am not alone in my battle.  You, my friends, are not alone in your own personal battles.  His word has become my constant companion in the past and during this season.  It has reminded me that He will never leave nor forsake us [Heb. 13:5].  Even when it feels like we’re fighting these battles alone, our help comes from the Lord [Ps. 121:2].  He is with us as we walk through those valley’s….even when it feels like death may overtake me [Ps. 23:4].  When happiness eludes us and we feel weakness and despair, the joy of the Lord is our strength [Neh. 8:10].  Even when there seems to be no answer, He is our answer!  Life can become overwhelming.  My assignment today is to remind you, when it seems there is no hope, He is our hope!  He is our joy!!!!  He is our peace!!!!!  He is our Healer!!!!!  He is our Deliverer!!!!!!!

Closing remarks and encouragement:  I have no clue who this message was for today.  Maybe this blog was just for me.  Though, because of the pressing I experienced from the Holy Spirit for me to share, I seriously doubt it.  But don’t you dare feel pity for me.  I am okay.  With God’s help, I will ALWAYS be victorious.  YOU will always be victorious!  If you are struggling today, find help somewhere.  Find someone you trust to confide in.  You might feel alone, but you’re not!  Just keeping putting one foot in front of the other.  I assure you, one day soon you’ll realize it’s not raining any longer.  I may not know what’s going on in your life, but I want you to know I love you and I’m praying for you.  You are NOT alone!

Have a blessed week, my friends!

By guest blogger, Jennifer Rhodes…….

Who on earth has found a love that is purer and more devoted than that of a good father or a mother?  Recently, our son gave me a plaque that contained the sweetest words describing a mother.  As I self-reflect, I find many characteristics that are repeated from generation to generation.  There are times that my actions mimic my mother and grandmothers.  When I give to my children and there is nothing left to give, or when I feel I am over-giving I think of my mom.  My mother has the gift of giving.  She is self-less and gives from a genuine heart.  In moments where I am high energy and loving life I think of my mother’s mother.  She found joy in the simplest things such as wearing red lipsticks and talking with anyone in her company.  My father’s mother taught me to kneel and believe God for anything I asked Him for.  As I pray over and teach Godly principals to my children I think of her.  This grandmother provided a legacy of faith that I pass on.  My father and grandfathers possess qualities just as genuine as those mentioned above.  I see my dad’s characteristics in myself just as often.  His confidence and love of life echo in my actions daily.  My grandfather’s social interactions and giving heart are still ever displayed in his actions.  I’m reminded of my mother’s father as I pour myself a cup of coffee and relax in my home.  He also enjoyed the simplest things in life.

I see generational characteristics as I reflect over my own actions.  I ask myself, what characteristics do I see of my Heavenly Father?  Do I see more of Him than I do myself? What characteristics of His are reflected in my daily living?  Scripture points out, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.” [Ps. 27:10]  This scripture is not to negate the role of father and mother but to focus us on the importance of understanding God’s role in our lives.  This God, our God, created every facet of our being.  He knows how many hairs are on our head.  He placed the stars in the sky and divided the day from the night.  He knows when a sparrow falls to the ground.  I love the scriptures that teach we are more important than creation.  Our Heavenly Father values us beyond what our mortal minds can conceive.  He alone holds the future in the palm of His hands.  We can rest securely knowing that nothing is beyond the Master’s reach.

What do you see when you look in the mirror?  I hope to not only see the image of my earthly father but my Heavenly Father as well.