Tag: love

  • Here to be Changed

    Here to be Changed

    An excerpt from the book Choose Joy: Finding Hope and Purpose When Life Hurts. ~ Sara Frankl

    We are not put on earth merely to satisfy our desires, to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. We are here to be changed, to be made more like God in order to prepare us for a lifetime with Him. – Philip Yancey

    “Any time I got hurt when I was a little girl, I would go to my dad crying about my ailment and he would always do the same thing. He would take my pinched finger or other such hurt and say, “You know what the good thing about this is, don’t you? It’s a long way from your heart.”

    Then he’d laugh while trying to get me to laugh and think about anything else buy my hurt. Being a kid, I would always take my finder, hold it to my chest, and say, “No! See? It’s right here by my heart!” But the conversation and the laughter usually distracted me enough, making whatever had been hurting suddenly not so bad.

    I eventually understood his lesson behind the distraction, that no physical ailment could change my heart. That every hurt would pass and I would still be the same on the inside regardless of the outside.

    I’ve had many opportunities to put that saying to the test in my adult life, and I’ve realized something about Dad’s theory. Some hurts aren’t actually a long way from my heart. Some hurts reside there. But they don’t change who I am inside. They don’t change my faith. Every lesson I learned before remains the same after. Nothing is different. God is the same. Love is the same. No matter how much my heart hurts.”

    My friends, choose to nurture who you are and who God intended you to be. His child, made in His image. His beloved.

    With love and joy,

    Laura

  • Limited Visibility

    Limited Visibility

    Moments in time.

    One BIG learning I have had in my life is to be intentional in savoring the little every day moments. There are moments that may not seem a big deal at the time. But, they become a big deal when they are gone.

    I learned this very quickly after losing my dad and sister. I realized that the things I missed the most were the things that I deemed little. They were even irritating at times.

    An example for me were the “dad joke’s” we’ve all experienced. Those jokes that we roll our eyes at and laugh a bit out of respect. Well, I would give anything to hear one of dad’s jokes again!

    I had the joy of spending this past week with my 1 and 3 year old grandchildren. I quickly realized that I had forgotten what it was like to get very little sleep! I also forgot that any plans I make might as well be dismissed. The kids’ plans take precedence.

    I don’t know about you, but I catch myself when I am in one moment, wishing for another. Instead of savoring the moments I am blessed with, I waste them wanting something different. When I do that, I am not appreciating the blessings God is giving to me.

    Moments are just that. Moments. Once they happen, they are gone. The moment is gone, but the memory of that moment lasts a life time. I want to be intentional in savoring every moment I have with those I love. I want to make special and joy filled memories for those I love to treasure for a lifetime.

    My eyes, no matter how clear and focused on Christ, are cloudy compared to His.

    I can’t see the beauty God is creating beyond what is right in front of me. I can’t see how He takes something that seems fearful, sad, or unjust, and shines His light in and through to redeem it into beauty.

    I can’t see ahead into the unknown and I have to remember that none of it is unknown to Him. 

    My job is to savor my moments.

    In my limited vision, at the age of 66, dad was taken away too soon. I trust that God has the vision to see where true beauty lies. I have faith and hope that He takes those times of hurt and sadness and shines His light in and through them to redeem their beauty. I choose to look for the beauty.

    He has the perspective. We have the life we are given by our circumstances. And if we trust Him, really trust Him, I believe He will always make sure there is beauty beyond our limited vision.

    And I will always praise Him for that.

    I am grateful for savoring many of the moments I had with my dad. The trips with him in the semi. The rides on the tractor when he was in the field. The days I was able to follow him around the farm and learn many life lessons. The calls I would receive from him when he was in the field. There are so many memories I savor.

    I want to create those same treasured moments for my children and grandchildren. I want to continue to create those treasured moments for me.

    I savor those moments and realize now more than ever the importance of those moments in my life. It’s those moments that I can turn to and fill my heart with joy.

    Be intentional in savoring the little everyday moments!

    With love and joy,

    Laura