Thankful Thoughts

The Glorious colors of autumn

speak to me of my Master's Joy,

exuberant,

extravagant

and

sometimes elusive.

 

I dare not look away,

or be distracted

for my natural eyes are prone to miss

the evidence of HIS Glory!

Praising HIM for all the beauty

that surrounds us...

Praising HIM for the promise of eternal life.

Praising HIM for the blessing of

family and friends...

Praising HIM for grace that abounds

in every corner of my life.

~ Praising HIM with Thankful Thoughts ~

The Ladies in the Mirror

Mom and me, circa 1979 ~ Colorado

I guess it boils down to imprinting.
Just as a newborn chick waddles after the first moving object it sees upon hatching, so our mothers imprint on us!
A definition for imprinting: (n) A learning process occurring early in the life of a social animal in which a behavior pattern is established through association with a parent or other role model.

In so many cases we struggle to differentiate ourselves from our mothers only to be like them the older we get!  Hmmmm...I see my mom more and more in the little gestures that I make...automatic responses to situations, both happy and sad.

When I recognize her in the way I spontaneously hold my hands,

it surprises me.

Then I miss her.

Yet, I carry her in my heart
as well as in my gestures.

Who is that woman in the mirror? 

A reflection of the generation that passed

and a glimpse of the one taking the stage...

I wonder in what ways
my daughter will mirror me?

"LORD, help us to mirror YOU!

Your Love is selfless and unconditional.

Please mold us by Your Spirit
into our best selves!"

When You Least Expect It...

You're ready to let go!

Tonight, in the midst of packing for vacation, when my mind was absorbed with a myriad of details, I decided to throw out 6 pairs of shoes that I can no longer wear.  Now, that may not seem significant at first telling but let me explain...These pairs of shoes ranged in cost from $100 to $180 each and I have been hanging on to them!

You see, the right shoe of each pair had an expensive, custom "lift" added when my hip surgery in 2004 left me with a 3/4's inch uneven gait.  That's why I didn't want to toss them.  And yet...it's been 10 months since my other hip was replaced (leaving me more even) and I can't wear the old shoes.  So, why the reticence to turn from the past and embrace the new?

Hmmmm...reminds me of a biblical principle about "newness" in 2 Corinthians 5:17 ~

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come."
and "...You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires."   Ephesians 4:22-24

How like GOD to inspire me when I least expected it, to LET GO of those old shoes and walk freshly in His Spirit!

What are you hanging onto that you should let go of?

~ Blessings to you and yours ~

Hand-Me-Downs

Two nights ago my pregnancy center hosted it's annual fundraising GALA.
So exciting, so exhausting!
The evening was wonderful with glamorous centerpieces, glorious music from my church choir, delicious food and loving fellowship among the well dressed guests.

Our speaker, Sol Pitchon from New Life Services, gave an anointed message about his extraordinary story.  Both of his parents are Holocaust survivors and it is truly a miracle that he was ever born.  Now he oversees a large ministry in southeast Florida in an attempt to rescue women and babies from abortion.

Thankfully, ALL of the details and logistics for the event came together...only by God's Grace.
Indeed, I had so many "balls in the air" that I doubted I could catch them all.  BUT God, by His Spirit, enabled me to field the details almost as if I had a butterfly net and was scooping them up and placing them in order!

A poignant part of the evening for me was that I chose to wear a dress that I had purchased for the 2004 Banquet.  I mean, it's always good to recycle, right?   Well, I had both the dress and jacket shortened so they felt "new" and then added a headband with a crystal bow for punch. 

You see my Mom was with me when I originally picked out this dress.
I guess the "missing" never goes away.
So thankful for the happy memories...what a treasure they are!

The "hand-me-downs mentioned in the title?"... Her love of jewelry.
While on this earth, she was certainly a classy lady!

And her gumption to make a difference! 
          Thank you Mom.