"Reason, Season, or Lifetime"

Do you remember the email that circulates now and again, “Reason, Season, or Lifetime”? I read it years ago, said the amount of oohs and ahhs that I thought appropriate to show whomever I was sitting with I thought it was a nice poem. However, like a song, a movie, a situation, we don’t really get it until we’ve been seasoned enough TO get it. And, I’m been marinating for a time, people! (Please hear this with a strong southern accent and much hand movement, as it is intended!)

I have been so very blessed. I had lunch with a new friend today that was the beginning of phenomenal. I am in a season of growth that is almost beyond explanation. Like all of us, I have a story, and instead of weeping over it, I want to rejoice with you, because it is a wondrously, strife ridden road that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. It brought me here. It brought me to the people I’m meeting now.

Initially I was furious! I didn’t want this change. I was just finding my sea legs, for lack of a better word, in Illinois with awesome friends that I had the honor of getting to know in bible study. But then, in my mind’s eye, God ripped me away from them, and brought my family to “Middle Tennessee.”

Oh boy, how I didn’t know what He was doing!! It’s like preparing for a holiday in your home and everyone that you’d hoped would come to your home arrived, and not only did they arrive, they arrived with open arms, open hearts, smiles, joy, and fulfilling stories to share with everyone gathered around the table.

You’re invited to my table, friends. Every last one of you is invited to walk the next leg of this journey with me. It’ll have pot holes, and there’ll be rain, hail, wind, but it is GOING TO BE FUN! And it is going to be worth it.

God Bless you, may you have a wonderful week ahead of you!

Reason, Season, or Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.When you figure out which one it is,you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON,it is usually to meet a need you have expressed.They have come to assist you through a difficulty;to provide you with guidance and support;to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.They may seem like a Godsend, and they are.They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time,this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away.Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done.The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON,because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.They may teach you something you have never done.They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.Believe it. It is real. But only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons;things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person,and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

~ Unknown ~

What happened to March?...!

Between friends visiting from Chicago, my boys having spring break, IEPs, bible studies, Celebrate Recovery... I've forgotten to keep up on my blog. In one aspect that is wonderful, because it means I'm out there living life. On the other, I want a running tally of my journey... My journey as a mom. My journey as an attendant of Celebrate Recovery and how it is changing my life in so many ways! My journey in the bible and how the bible is affecting my parenting, my friendships, how it clarifies issues and makes me wonder, think, work conflicts out. I've learned some conflicts just are, there is no fixing them or making them go away. They just are... they just are.... My journey in simply growing up. So, this post will be very short, however, it is meaningful. I had a breakthrough in CR the other evening, and though it sounds simple, sometimes the simplest of steps are the most painful to take. This breakthrough was that I have chosen to be overweight because I do not want men looking at me with anything but "Gosh, she's smart!" kind of look. I am incredibly uncomfortable with men looking at me when I start to lose weight. I am comfortable being overweight because I can control who is looking at me, and more importantly, what they are thinking when they're looking at me. This is huge! My husband, God bless him, says to me, after I told him I was very frightened of becoming an attractive slim woman, "honey, you scare the you-know-what out of me! If anyone were to try to hurt you, you'd kill 'em!" And that is the second part of the recovery, becoming aware that I am no longer a little girl. I am a grown woman that knows her own mind and heart. So here's to becoming slimmer, here's to becoming aware that I can handle myself, here's to becoming healthier and happier within my own body without feeding the panic that hits when a man finds me attractive.... then, I'm sure, Mike might take offense to that himself! :) Have a blessed day, everyone! ♥ 1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray Continually."