The holiday season is here! Blogs and magazines are teaming with posts and articles and pictures of delightful table settings and centerpieces. Now, I'd like to pretend that I'm crafty and that I am perfectly capable of putting together a fancy pants centerpiece or fancy pants name cards on beautiful place settings. Perfectly capable. But let's get real. I'm so NOT that person. Better Homes and Garden can tell me as many simple ways to throw together that perfect holiday dinner, but I can guarantee two things: 1) The Better Homes Magazine picture will always look/taste/be better than mine and 2) I will feel like my skills as a woman are completely insufficient. Hold that thought.
Target, Costco, Sears, and every other major retailer boasts lights, easy-to-assemble fake trees, sales on potential presents, and so much more. It's here. Both the delight and horror of the season puts even the calmest shopper in somewhat of a panic. Panic that we'll forget a present for a relative. Panic that there won't be enough food at our gatherings. Panic that there won't be enough money in the bank for this season. Panic that there just won't be enough.
That's an interesting thought, isn't it? That in the land of plenty, there won't be enough?
The terrible part of this season is that so many of us lose sight of what "Enough" really is and what it really looks like. Every ad we see and hear promises that their product will offer us more, will satisfy our desire to have and be enough. Friends, the ads lie. I've shopped enough at Target and Home Goods to know this. Truth. (Husband is a witness.)
The wonderful part of the season though, is that we don't have to believe the lies. We have enough. We ARE enough. When God sees us, He doesn't see our shortcomings like we see them. He sees Christ. He sees our More-Than-Enough that covers every insecurity and every insufficient attempt on our part. That More-Than-Enough not only covers every flaw, but He heals every wound. The toughest part is to believe that's true. We are made worthy of God's love by God Himself.
To open ourselves up to this mysterious love and grace is to become fully alive in Him, accepting His plan for our lives. In doing so, we find what we were truly made for. We find freedom to live joyfully, freedom to love wholly, and freedom to come before the King of all like His children that we are.
This Thanksgiving, friends, let's celebrate the Enough in our lives.
Love to all,
Me
Praise to the Lord,
the Almighty, the King of creation.
O my soul, praise him,
for he is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear,
now to his temple draw near;
join me in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord,
who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
surely his goodness
and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew
what the Almighty can do,
who with his love doth befriend thee.
Praise to the Lord!
O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath,
come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again;
gladly forever adore him.
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Red Cup Celebration and the Most Dreaded Chore Ever
I realize that I've been a little raw lately. Things have been difficult, but they're getting better. There are elements of my life that I probably shouldn't post on the internet, but I think it's good. Sometimes it's good to be open, honest, and raw. It opens lines of communication. I think that we hide behind the "I'm perfect" image too often and don't allow others to truly see what we're feeling and who we are. So I've taken a little break from posting here because, quite frankly, I couldn't find the peace and quiet that this blog was dedicated to. But here I am again, and things are looking up!
In light of my recent hiatus in the blogging world, I thought that I would post on two things today.
Red Cups.
I could not be more excited about this season! It's going to be my son's first Thanksgiving and first Christmas, followed by his first birthday! I've imagined this season in the past, and it all seemed so distant. But alas! Today, I discovered that Starbucks has finally brought out their famous "Red Cups", which, to most coffee-addicted Americans, means the holiday season is nearly upon us!
Do you know what this also means, friends?! Yes, it means Caramel Brulee lattes are back!! It is a blessed day indeed.
The Most Dreaded Chore. Ever.
Things have been a little chaotic in the Walker home, which can only mean that chores around the house go neglected. We have a system. It's called "Function". My husband and I are both musicians and one of our busiest times of the year is over the holidays when community events or churches ask us to step in and perform or do tech for a show or direct a show or, or, or. The list goes on. We love what we do, but I'll speak for both of us when I say that anybody who plans on visiting us should stay far and clear from things like the fridge. You never know what might crawl out and attack you.
So today, I finally got around to emptying part of the fridge. Yes, I said "part". I don't empty the fridge. That's Dear Husband's line of work usually. But today I thought I would help. (Sidebar: Usually when I think I'm helping, it turns out to be a bigger mess for Dear Husband...But I think I did well today.) Anyway, emptying the fridge is quite possibly the grossest chore there is.
Three things run through my mind every time I attempt the dreaded chore:
1. Who stuck this throw-up back in here?!
2. Is this tupperware really worth opening or can I just throw it away?
3. Will raccoons and rats pass this one up...?
And then I usually stick the super gross things back into the fridge, but close to the front so as to make it easier for Dear Husband to see. It's easier than making tags for each container so he can identify what goes in the trash and what was just a cooking experiment gone bad from last night.
I try to help. I think he appreciates it. On the inside.
But every time the fridge is emptied, it reminds me that new beginnings are just around the corner. Literally, I have to go to the grocery store around the corner and start again. But in the higher and happier thinking world, it reminds me that new beginnings are close at hand. As we continue into the holiday season, let's remember that this is the time to reflect on new beginnings, for they're just right around the corner! A new year is approaching and we can live with the hope that tomorrow holds new mysteries and mercies.
On that note, everybody enjoy the season of red cups and the hope of new beginnings!
Love to all!
In light of my recent hiatus in the blogging world, I thought that I would post on two things today.
Red Cups.
I could not be more excited about this season! It's going to be my son's first Thanksgiving and first Christmas, followed by his first birthday! I've imagined this season in the past, and it all seemed so distant. But alas! Today, I discovered that Starbucks has finally brought out their famous "Red Cups", which, to most coffee-addicted Americans, means the holiday season is nearly upon us!
Do you know what this also means, friends?! Yes, it means Caramel Brulee lattes are back!! It is a blessed day indeed.
The Most Dreaded Chore. Ever.
Things have been a little chaotic in the Walker home, which can only mean that chores around the house go neglected. We have a system. It's called "Function". My husband and I are both musicians and one of our busiest times of the year is over the holidays when community events or churches ask us to step in and perform or do tech for a show or direct a show or, or, or. The list goes on. We love what we do, but I'll speak for both of us when I say that anybody who plans on visiting us should stay far and clear from things like the fridge. You never know what might crawl out and attack you.
So today, I finally got around to emptying part of the fridge. Yes, I said "part". I don't empty the fridge. That's Dear Husband's line of work usually. But today I thought I would help. (Sidebar: Usually when I think I'm helping, it turns out to be a bigger mess for Dear Husband...But I think I did well today.) Anyway, emptying the fridge is quite possibly the grossest chore there is.
Three things run through my mind every time I attempt the dreaded chore:
1. Who stuck this throw-up back in here?!
2. Is this tupperware really worth opening or can I just throw it away?
3. Will raccoons and rats pass this one up...?
And then I usually stick the super gross things back into the fridge, but close to the front so as to make it easier for Dear Husband to see. It's easier than making tags for each container so he can identify what goes in the trash and what was just a cooking experiment gone bad from last night.
I try to help. I think he appreciates it. On the inside.
But every time the fridge is emptied, it reminds me that new beginnings are just around the corner. Literally, I have to go to the grocery store around the corner and start again. But in the higher and happier thinking world, it reminds me that new beginnings are close at hand. As we continue into the holiday season, let's remember that this is the time to reflect on new beginnings, for they're just right around the corner! A new year is approaching and we can live with the hope that tomorrow holds new mysteries and mercies.
On that note, everybody enjoy the season of red cups and the hope of new beginnings!
Love to all!
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