7 Random Things ~ August

I drive barefoot. No matter what the weather – extreme hot or extreme cold – I do not drive with shoes on. Ever. (Don’t tell my dad. I think he mentioned it was illegal – at least in Florida; go figure!). For some reason I have used a lot of clothes pins this month. First, they remind me of my grandmother, who used them all the time for everything. Secondly, they make me smile because my sister always calls them paper clips.

August is the beginning of the final Grand Slam of the summer! Can’t wait to see all of The Greats at the end of the month in Flushing Meadows.

It is always interesting to me how God moves in areas, which we hold so guarded. He is doing some intriguing things in a relationship that I find peculiar. But, that is the thing about God – always expect the unexpected.

When I said yes to that little voice that prompted my heart I was immersed into a wealth of overwhelming gratitude for things I never knew I needed. Thank you to all of those who sent me a note of encouragement after Tuesday’s gathering!

I hate strings on bananas. I know they provide nutrients for the banana but they really creep me out.

Lastly, I am just grateful.

~ Seventy times 7 ~

I have had the pleasure and agony of working with forgiveness over that past several weeks. This week, in particular, our love/hate relationship came to a culminating peak. I had to make a choice. I could choose to treat another as they were treating me. Or, I could extend an element of mercy and accept that I cannot change how someone feels about me. This concept, for me, seems so easy to articulate yet is extremely challenging to walk out. 

We all make mistakes. We all stumble and flounder about. The truth of the matter is we are all just trying to, successfully, put one foot in front of the other. There are days when we are fairly successful in this task. Then, there are others where we just fall completely flat. It is in these moments, when we are totally horizontal glancing up at those who seem to be doing this thing we called LIFE so much more successfully than we are where we make that split-second choice. Do I take responsibility for my feelings regardless of my being guilty (and lack thereof) or do I lash out at another – simply, because I can? Or, better yet, because that is how they are treating me?

Most of the time I am able to afford reprieve, as I have come to terms with the fact that I am pretty fallible and hope those around me want to return the favor. And, often, Joyce Meyer's words ring in the back of my head to not be offended easily as I never know how many times in a week that I inadvertently offended someone else. However, in those rare moments when I know that the error was not mine, yet I am at the receiving end of a brutal attack is when my “passionate nature” rears its ugly head.

When my heartbeat quickens and the heat of indignation begins to creep up my neck I stop and breathe for a moment. I will be candid enough to admit that an applicable bible verse is not the first thing that pops into my mind. But, a song and a movie clip quickly pass through my psyche (yes, I believe a lot of life's reactions can be experienced either through songs or movie clips).  Human lyrics (by Christina Perri)

But I'm only human

And I bleed when I fall down

I'm only human

And I crash and I break down

Your words in my head, knives in my heart

and the scene from the Sex & the City movie where Carrie and Miranda were sitting in the cab and they were debating over which mistakes are forgivable and which are not. Carrie simply says “It’s forgiveness” regardless of the magnitude of the offense.  

What I remembered and wholeheartedly came to accept (with the help of a lot of prayer) is that forgiveness does not need to make sense; it does not need to be justified; it does not need to be warranted; it does not need to be invited; it does not need to be reciprocated; it does not need to be validated. It needs to just be.

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Ephesians 4:32

~ Suddenly ~

When thinking about how God works – SUDDENLY – always comes to mind. He shows up in the midst of the storms of life as well as in the everyday and it is always suddenly. I have had a great fondness for His suddenly. However, today a suddenly of another kind became prevalent.

A dear team member suffered a brain aneurism this past weekend – suddenly. She is in critical condition and we are praying fervently for her. In one instant her and her husband’s life changed. Suddenly, all that was known and familiar is gone. One moment they were enjoying friends and family and in the next she is fighting for her life.

While I believe in a God of miracles and One that can work suddenly I am reminded to never take anything for granted. Never put off what you are dreaming or hoping of doing or saying. Life is short. We are never guaranteed the next minute. The present is, truly, a gift that should not be wasted or taken for granted.

If you life changed suddenly are you able to look back up until that moment knowing you did all that you were called to do? Did you love with all that you wanted; not being held back by fear? Did you make that commitment or decision that, at the time, seemed so terrifying but in the end knew would make you happy?

As a tribute to her life I will definitely be respectful of the everyday moments. And, while I will continue to believe in my God of suddenly I will be more intentional of my actions and attitude in the process of waiting. Live happy!

7 Random Things ~ July

It is birthday month – yay! I am so grateful every July because my friends and family bless me so much as they celebrate with me. I love doing life with them! If you follow me at all on Pinterest you know that I have a small liking for Champagne and on Monday it makes me happy that I get to drink pink bubbly.

In addition to pink Champagne, I love that Wimbledon finals are always on my birthday weekend. And, since grass is Federer’s best court I usually get a great match to commence my birthday weekend!

If you read my last post about 7 random things you know that I have this weird idiosyncrasy for umbrellas … and, today, I got a great big purple golf umbrella. Thanks to Jola for condoning my peculiarity.

I love lightening bugs … they are something from my childhood that I never knew I missed until I see them appear at the beginning of every summer.

Emotional maturity and intelligence is so sexy!

I look forward to traveling the world with the one I love and seeing the world through their lens.

~TRUTH~

What do you do when life throws you a curveball? How do you recover when you are thinking one thing and suddenly you are smacked with another? Where do you find the balance in truth and opinion? Take in stride where someone is in their life and the reflection it has on you. Walk in mercy to understand that sometimes emotions are simply a reaction to something deeper. And, sometimes there is a truth vein that runs through it all.

Sift through to understand what is real and decide to change it. Toss what does not pertain. Pray. Breathe. Let it go.

~ THE PRESENT SEASON ~

You cannot fully embrace the current season of your life until you let go of a past season and quit anxiously striving for the next. Be present. This thought came to me last week as I was reflecting on a couple of conversations I had with a few friends.  This notion formulated as an encouragement to another but really spoke to me more than her. I honestly thought I had let go of the past season(s) but as I began to take a mental inventory of my thoughts I found that I often reverted back to what used to be. Or, used it as a measuring stick for things and people who are currently in my life. The past is the past for a reason. A relationship that once was but is no longer is because there is a need that was no longer being met. While we learn from it I think we have a tendency to hang on to notions of what once was for way too long.

On the flip side, I found myself visualizing the future. I sincerely believe that we should have hopes and dreams but not to the detriment of what we are called to do in this season of our lives. I am anxious for that husband and family but it is not where I am to be at this very moment. I know that it will happen in due (and God’s) time and I was prompted to take record of my thoughts and the amount of energy I am exerting to make my current season successful. Being transparent, when I calculated the thoughts of the past and the thoughts of the future the amount of present thoughts were very dismal in compare.

Just as I told my dear friend on the phone … “It’s okay.” It really is. I know her capacity and her mind wants to take her to places she is not called to be at the moment. My mind is reeling with the same. However, when we stop, breathe, and accept the present what a force we will be!