Last week, I was given the opportunity to share my life story. It's always an interesting task to determine what is relevant and what is not and how to capture over 43 years of living into 30 minutes. I prepared through a simple prayer - Lord, bring out what you want said and highlighted.
As I walked down memory lane, I found myself ending with more questions about my life than answers. A few of which were...
- What made this moment significant?
- Where was God?
- What did I learn?
- Why is this part important to share with others?
A few days later, I heard someone say, "A true friend is someone who loves you because of who you are and not in spite of who you are."
Something like fireworks went off inside of me. Within a flash, I was back within the early days of my story remembering how my mom was pregnant with me when she left my dad. It hit me afresh how untimely my conception and birth was for this very rocky marriage.
From there, I knew deep down, that somehow despite everything I knew about God's love for me... I didn't really fully understand it yet. Subconsciously, I had viewed my beginning years of life from a broken sinful place. It was like my life with God began 'at the cross' - where "in spite of" who I was - He poured out his love into my life.
In this moment, a few verses in Psalm 139 came streaming into my mind...
For You shaped me, inside and out. You knitted me together in my mother’s womb long before I took my first breath. I will offer You my grateful heart, for I am Your unique creation, filled with wonder and awe. You have approached even the smallest details with excellence; Your works are wonderful; I carry this knowledge deep within my soul.
It was the Lord revealing to me my true beginning as His handiwork. His love is poured out in my life BECAUSE I'm his. Personally knitted, hand-crafted, signed, sealed and delivered into this world and my birth family. I was perfectly equipped and fashioned for the place and moment of my entry into life and His love has been with me and carried me every day since.
Living your best life is knowing deep down how deeply he loves you. From your hand-knit in the womb beginning, to every breath of air that has filled your lungs, until the end of your earthly life, when you find yourself with face to face with him.
Every chapter of the story whispers His love. May you carry this knowledge deep within your soul.
There are those moments in life that catch your breath, delight your heart, and carry your soul. More often than not, they are not anticipated, much less a plan we came up with. Quite possibly that is what makes them so wonderful. Surprises are heaven's gifts.
I had two amazing surprises today.
First, for those of you following me - you know we recently got a puppy. And with a puppy, comes many things... one being the need for a backyard fence. The short version of the story is to make this fence possible was going to take the removal of trees. That's a big undertaking.
My friend Tom has generously been helping with the chain saw action. In fact, he spent over five hours cutting yesterday. That left me with an enormous amount of wood to move. Just so happens this week we are blessed to have 13 young adults from Heroic Leadership Institute (Vineyard leadership program) here in town. They came over and in 30 minutes they had it all moved to the front for pick up!
Heaven's gift came with muscle, energy, and big smiles.
Secondly, with this being my first year in my home I am still discovering things around here. Wouldn't you know, as we hauled the wood through the yard, what caught my eye but the beginnings of purple tulips!
Heaven's gift came with spring life, beauty, and vibrant color.
Living our best lives is delighting in the surprises that come our way. Keep your eyes and heart open to the love your Papa showers on you.
Every good gift bestowed, every perfect gift received comes to us from above, courtesy of the Father of lights. He is consistent. He won't change His mind or play tricks in the shadows. We have a special role in His plan. He calls us to life by His message of truth so that we will show the rest of His creatures His goodness and love. James 1:17-18
"Daughter? I don't know who your daughter is. In fact, I don't know who you are." Siri
A couple of months ago, Natalie changed her contact in my phone to "Daughter". I'm not completely sure why, but imagine it's a symptom of only-child syndrome. Anyway, Siri did great identifying her for the first few weeks and then suddenly I get the message as quoted above. Cracked me up. I did what every other person would do in this situation after recovering from laughter and pressed the button again asking Siri to message Natalie. Same response. :)
Siri reveals one of the core desires we all have - to know and be known. This enables us to make connections and experience life more fully and freely. You know, things like being able to message when you are driving because Siri knows your family!!
It's easy to get caught up in doing life and miss the opportunities to connect with others. I've found that the best aspects of life are those connections.
Here are a few ways that you can explore being known and knowing those around you:
- Learn names. Yes, even for all of you who say you can't remember them. Using names expresses value and personalizes conversation. Nicknames, even more so. They are also a great conversation starter - you can ask if they are named after someone or if there is a story behind it. Here's an article on the best five tricks to remembering names.
- Be curious and caring. Ask people simple questions that show you are interested and care about them. A few great conversation starter's - How's your family? How's your job going? What type of fun do you have planned for this weekend? Where did you grow up? What's your favorite restaurant in town?
- Tell a story. Often, sharing a fun experience or plans we are making will spur an idea for someone else. Sharing from life's challenges as well as the highlights can especially open the door for relationship. Your comfort with being known will make it more comfortable for others to be known.
- Share photos. With the ability to carry them on our phones or in our wallets, photographs provide a simple way to share humor and meaning in our lives.
- Be intentionally diverse. Generally we find it easier to associate with people who are most like us... age, career, gender, race, ethnicity, and belief system. Purposefully, build relationships with people who are not like you and experience the richness and depth of a new friend and worldview. This will expand your world of connections and theirs, too.
A big part of living our best lives is having quality relationships and connections. It's important to make the time to be known and know the people in your circles of life.
Here's to good living with new friendships, deeper relationships, and connections.
No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn. - Hal Borland
It's April and spring is bursting out all around us. The air is filled with the melodies of the birds. The grass has turned green again as the sky sheds winter grays for the bluest of blues. It's boisterous and windy. Rainy and wet. And then suddenly, gentle breezes return and the sun becomes so warm. Jackets are shed and shorts donned as the fragrant smells of blooming flowers and turned over dirt fills our senses.
Awakenings.
It is now we find out what is really happening under the surface of the earth. What plants and trees are coming back healthy and strong and which are not. As always, the weeds are quickly showing their resilience as well and the yard work begins.
It's such a picture of our own lives.
We go through winter seasons where our outer energies lessen and the need to replenish inwardly quiets our schedule. We can't keep up with everyone and everything and don't even want to. It's a gentle wooing to settle ourselves and rest. It's winter and it's a gift.
And then spring arrives. Life begins to burst out again. We say 'yes' and begin to give ourselves to others and activities in fruitful ways. We experience a melody in our heart, a fresh energy, and the warmth of giving.
Awakenings.
It is now we find out what has been really happening under the surface in our lives. What is the healthy and strong work that was accomplished on the inside. And out pops a few weedy habits and attitudes that stubbornly refuse to give up.
It's life. It's the beauty and the work. The fragrance of the flowers and the dirt. It all blends together to make our ordinary lives something meaningful.
Living your best life isn't only the blooms, melodies, and bright sunshine moments. It's also the wind, rain, and pulling out the weed moments. Living in sync enables you to enjoy it all and realize this is creation in it's whole.
Awakenings.
May you embrace and enjoy life fully today and every day.
