Lessons from Flash

Lesson learned from Flash - He is "Mischief" personified. Or is it "dogified"????

Lessons from Cocoa

As I was running around the house this morning like a mad woman (typical for me on a weekday) getting everyone ready for school and work, I looked over at Cocoa, the most fantastic dog in the whole world. He was stretched out on the couch...totally oblivious to the the frenzied pace of all of us beginning our day. We also have a little Jack Russell puppy, who is NEVER relaxed. He, too, was running around like crazy. But not Cocoa. He would look at us every now and then, one eyebrow raised, and I think I saw him raise his head once. But he was content to just stretch a little and then just lay back down.

I decided to turn on the tree lights and put on some Christmas music to slow myself down. I poured another cup of coffee, and instantly I was a little more relaxed. Due to schedules and obligations, I wasn't able to join Cocoa in lying on the couch (although it's so cold and dreary outside it would have a perfect day to do so).

I thought about some of what I have learned from Cocoa. He defines the world "loyalty" - once you win him over, he's yours for life. I've learned to be playful. Nothing in life makes Cocoa happier than a ball or a frisbee...I mean he will retrieve for what seems like hours. Sometimes when I'm outside and don't really feel like playing, he will keep bringing me a ball or frisbee until I stop what I'm doing and play with him. The next thing I know, I'm laughing at his antics and we're having fun. I've also learned to just sit and enjoy another's company. Although Cocoa enjoys having his ears rubbed as much as the next dog, he's often content just to be near one of us. He'll often follow us around from room to room, or follow us around outside. No maintenance required during these times, just wanting to hang out. I've learned to be friendly with all that I meet. This past Halloween, we had trick or treaters stop by our house, and ask to see our lab. They didn't know Cocoa's name, but they had enjoyed watching him play outside and sit with us, and he had won them over with his personality. It made me wonder what impression I give to those around me during a normal course of the day. I've learned to be a caretaker. Cocoa seems to know when one of us is ill or simply feeling bad. He will give that person in the family his undivided attention, often laying in the bed or couch with you, his head on your lap, as if to say "it's okay, I'm here and you will feel better soon." During the night, I often hear his paws on the tile floor walking around and checking on all of us. He keeps a constant patrol guarding us.

Yep, Cocoa is a cool dog. He's not perfect, he can still get into mischief. Every now and then, he'll drink out of the toilet, or he'll get into the trash, or he'll dig up some of my beloved bulbs from the yard.

But the lessons I've learned from Cocoa are wonderful, and I'm so thankful for him.

My Grown Up Christmas List

I love Christmas music....I turned on my XM the day after Thanksgiving to the holiday station and will probably be listening to Christmas music from hereon until Christmas Day. One of my favorite contemporary songs is "My Grown Up Christmas List". I especially love the way Amy Grant sings it.

In one verse her wish is that "love would always win". I like to believe in love always winning.

The photo I've posted above is a picture of a table in my living room. There are some special things about that table. It's a table from my Meme's house, and she was very special to me. So everytime I look at that table, I think of her and smile. Also, the plaque that is on the table is a second-hand treasure that I found in a thrift shop and just fell in love with a few years ago. It cost me practically nothing, and to me the words just symbolize what I feel about family.

Not too long ago, the plaque was accidentally bumped from the table and broken. I cried, not over a broken item, but over the brokenness of a symbol I have grown fond of. You see, my family has been broken this year. But we are still together, and we are working on healing. Andy lovingly and carefully put the pieces back together with some "gorilla glue" and after we let it dry, it was good again. I look at it now, and even the cracks are meaningful. You see, God is MY gorilla glue. When I am broken, He puts me back together and I am bonded to Him through His grace and mercy. I may be bruised and cracked, but I am made whole in Him. My family may take a few hits along the way, we may get battered, but we are healed through Him. He restores us to a place of grace and love.

Are we perfect as a family? Heavens, no. Just like my plaque with its imperfections, we have ours too. But we choose to believe that "love will always win".

And that is my grown-up Christmas list.

Consistent Love

Just now I was listening to a song by JJ Heller...a Christian artist that I was only recently introduced to. Well, introduced to her music, that is. A young woman in college, a dear family friend, sang one of her songs with an acoustic guitar in church a few Sundays ago, and it was quite powerful. The song is titled "Love Me" and is definitely worth listening to. A beautiful song with powerful lyrics. Many people in the congregation, including myself, were moved to tears.

The song asks the question, "Who will love me for me?" not for what we've done, or for what we'll become.

I was listening to the song just now, and am now asking God to help me have that kind of love for the people in my life. I want to model my heart after God's heart. I want to love unconditionally the people He has placed in my life for me to love.

Naturally, I have expectations, as we all do, of the people we know and love. There are certain expectations we have of spouses, of children, of other family members, of our friends, of our leaders, our co-workers, etc. However, I don't ever want anyone to feel that my love and/or acceptance has to be earned. I want the people I love to know that my love is genuine, full of grace, and always there. Since I'm human, that's not always an easy task. I'm sure I fail often. But I want to love as God loves. At least as much as is possible.

I thank God for loving me just for being me. I thank Him that He is consistent, full of abundant grace and mercy, and that His mercies are new each day. I thank Him for the assurance that He will never leave or forsake me. And I thank Him for laying on my heart that I need to learn to see others as He sees them and to love as He loves.

A Wonderful Day

Yummy smells coming from the kitchen (after one major mishap early this morning - which didn't smell so great), my family all mellow and just hanging out, a beautiful sunny day outside, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade earlier this morning, football on this afternoon...

As I busy myself in the kitchen, instead of being stressed over the preparations, timing of the turkey and all the "other little things" I used to stew over...I'm relaxed and I'm happy. If a dish doesn't taste perfect, I'm okay. If the turkey takes a little longer, I'm okay. If my table setting isn't perfect, I'm okay.

I'm surrounded by love and laughter...by history and memories....by wrapped up in the ever faithful presence, grace and love of my Savior.

It's a wonderful day, and I am thankful.