Happy Birthday Mom

Gloria Jean

Sitting at the mirror,

a precious little girl

looking deep inside herself

into another world.

She wasn’t sure she liked

The reflection that was seen.

She knew her name yet could not see

the treasured Gloria Jean.

She saw herself as she thought others did

Finding each and every flaw,

When she looked at her reflection

It wasn’t herself she saw.

She saw a girl who seemed so weak,

A girl quite plain and dull.

She felt like she was not a gift

to anyone at all.

God saw Gloria Jean’s heart was troubled

And one night in a dream

He opened up her eyes and mind

And this is what was seen.

God said, “You are a gift and more than just to me!”

He then began to show her things that no one else could see.

She saw herself through eyes

that weren’t hers at all.

She now could see with God’s own eyes

Another girl so small.

Perplexed by what she now could see

A new and different reflection,

She realized she knew this girl

But struggled to make the connection.

The girl that was before her now

Was beautiful and brave,

Deep blue eyes full of passion

And a heart that gave and gave.

Then suddenly before her

A young woman did appear.

An adoring husband by her side

And four children she held dear.

Carefully she reminded

each of her little ones

That they were special, loved, and smart

Magnificent and fun.

She then turned to her husband

Looking deep into his eyes

Without a word she let him know

He was her perfect prize.

Love beamed from her heart like sun rays

Kindness from her pores

Patience, understanding, peace

That stretched to distant shores.

Then God said,”This girl you see,

Is the same one that I see.

 I see YOU as a gift

and the gifts not just to me.”

As Gloria Jean awoke

From a long and restful sleep

She realized that this amazing dream

Was a gift for HER to keep.

God made her just as He saw fit

Each piece and every part,

And only God can fill the holes

That lie within our heart.

On this special birthday

Know that you may get lots of gifts but to us

YOU are the gift!

With Love,

Brittany

9-30-11

Are you a Referee?

     I am not a confrontational person by nature. I don't like chaos or conflict so I avoid it at all costs. I am learning though that not all confrontation is necessarily a bad thing. Either way, I still don't like it. It makes me feel bad, uncomfortable, and all around bleh. Well, being a mother, wife, teacher, and friend limits my ability to live my zen existence that I so desire. I would love nothing better than to just live in Utopia where "everybody just get along."
      I get up in the morning and my kids are already arguing and forcing me to be the referee. Then I go to school where I have to make 22 kids coexist and use their "lifeskills." I spend my entire life being a peacemaker but never seem to succeed! Then I think of God and how he must feel. He just wants us all to love one another and get along. His plan for us is straight-up love and we do just the opposite so much of the time. The little bits of conflict that I am working out in my life are so minimal compared to the chaos God looks down on everyday. What a wonderful day it will be when we all live in perfect peace. I am really looking forward to it and I bet God is too!

     ^"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
and see the day fill up with good,
Here's what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
run after peace for all you're worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
listening and responding well to what he's asked;
But he turns his back
on those who do evil things."
1 Peter 3:8-12

Intermission

"Be still, and know that I am God" Psalms 46:10

     Today was a great day...a needed break from the
merry-go-round of life. Everyone needs an intermission every once in a while and mine was today.  I woke up with no alarm going off, meandered to the coffee pot, watched some mindless entertainment on Animal Planet, then worked in the yard. Working in the yard may not sound like a sabbatical from life, but for me it was something that slowed me down enough to take notice of the things that really matter. We sorted through rocks for hours, laying plastic underneath so that the weeds would not come poking throught the rocks. But while doing that seemingly mindless activity my whole world seemed to make sense again. God has a way of showing us what is really important if we just "Be still." The beauty of a bunch of river rocks, crawling insects, and sunshine slowed time down and allowed me to be still in the chaos of this world.

Thank you God for the little things.

Homesick

     I'm homesick. Even though I am at home sitting right in my cozy little living room, I still have the strange feeling that I am not where I am meant to be. Now don't worry, I am happily married and love my family, but there is a distant ache inside that yearns for my real home. God gives me beautiful glimpses everyday of Heaven while I am here on earth and though those glimpses are good and satisfy, they make me long for what I know will one day come. I look forward to seeing the face of the One that made me, the One that knows me like no one else ever could. The One that saw this broken girl and recognized the potential that even I couldn't see. I long for peace, no more sorrow, no more suffering, no more crying.                       
     This world seems to have so much to offer...get what you want, get it now, its all about you. I used to think that was what I wanted. Now I know that its what I depise. I want to live in a world where people love one another, where a neighbor is someone you actually know, where you don't have to worry about your kids playing in the front yard. Praise God that one day this will be a reality. My current world will seem so insignificant in the eyes of eternity. The little things that get me down and the earthshaking things that make me sad will be history.
      So, what do you do when you are homesick? Well I Googled that very question and here is what the answer was...
"If you are homesick like a child away from his/her parents then I think you should call whoever you miss, but keep yourself busy until they get back so that you don't think to much about it."
Sounds like a simple answer but it actually makes quite alot of sense! I need to talk to my parent (God) by praying and communicating with Him and I need to keep myself busy until He comes back. That is exactly what Matthew 28:19 says to do, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." That should keep me busy!