"TRUTH ON THE GO" My One and Only Time on the Radio!

I did something new last week: I was on the radio! 

Actually it was on my friend, Andrea Lennon’s, “Truth on the Go!” radio program! 

We taped a couple of episodes for broadcast in a few weeks. I was nervous when I got there, but Andrea and Bethany are such pros, that I relaxed right away. 

In one segment, Andrea asked me to share something I was “passionate” about. Like, what is the thing that fuels me...what motivates me...what means the most to me. 

It took me a minute to formulate what to say, and to think, “what would God want me to say?” 

I’m passionate about Jesus, my family, and making sure the new or “different” people feel welcome. I’m passionate about #advocatinglikeamother for Joshua, and his friends. I’m passionate about letting people know, “hey, I see you...I understand (or I don’t)...you are not forgotten.” 

Because haven’t we all felt forgotten or alone at one time or another? 

I’m passionate about women connecting with each other, which I think is what I ended up talking about. 

What I really wanted to talk about, but there wasn’t enough time, was the importance of the body of Christ. Or, how important it’s been in my life. 

I realize the body of Christ is bigger than any one church, but I love the local church. 

The main focus and mission of “the church” is to reach others for Christ. And, because we don’t want to leave them to face the world on their own, we bring them into our church body...so they can learn more about Jesus, and connect with others. 

Why? 

Because we crave community, and we can find that in church. 

Strength, support, encouragement....people who will walk beside us in good times and hard...people who will pray for us. 

I know that, for some, church has not been a good place...or a safe place. They’ve been hurt by the words or actions of others. I hear ya, and I’m so sorry. We should never, ever gloss over things like that, because they.are.wrong. 

But, in my experience, for every wrong or hurtful thing said or done in church, there have been a thousand good and kind things said and done in church. 

If you can’t find the kind of friends and support you want in your church, then maybe that’s not where you’re supposed to be. 

Or, maybe it IS where you’re supposed to be...being the friend, holding the banner, blazing the way, being the cheerleader, giving support...for someone else.

"And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near." Hebrews 10:25

38 YEARS

THANK YOU ALL for the anniversary wishes! 

Jim and I are enjoying scrolling through them, and remembering each one of you, and the part you have played in our lives. 

We laugh a lot in our family. At Jim, mainly. 

Just kidding...(but really). 

It’s just that when you have one type A+ person in the house...and 5 NOT type A people in the house...it can either be reeeeally stressful, or we could make it fun. 

I said something to Jim the other day, and it got me thinking about what it means to be a “help meet” to him. 

I’m no theologian, but I have a Strong’s Concordance, and it tells me that the first word of “help meet” can mean, “to rescue, to save, to help.” And the second word has a meaning of “exactly corresponding to,” which is like looking in a mirror. I should be Jim’s mirror opposite, and he should be mine. 

Like, I have half the qualities and attributes that Jim lacks. And Jim has half the things I lack. 

And so we fit. 

And so I am a “help-meet” to him in life...and I do that in my own way. 

Which brings me to the other day: I bought some dog trimmers, and told Jim that I was going to try to trim our dog’s hair between groomings. Jim goes, “well, what will you do with all of her HAIR (after you cut it)? And, in the spirit of being his help-meet, I casually said, “I was thinking I’d just sweep it into the pool.” 

Now, if you know Jim well, you know that he loves his pool. He FREAKS when a leaf blows into it, so when I said I was gonna sweep DOG HAIR in there...well, you’ve never seen a head whip around so fast. 

Unless you saw the exorcist movie...which, I never did. 

Now, I wasn’t really gonna put dog hair in the pool...I was just trying to “rescue” and “save” him from a long, boring life. 

Because while he says I lack in things like logic (whatEV)...I say he lacks in humor. But that’s okay...because he has an abundance of logic (yawn), and I have an abundance of humor! 

And we use our gifts and talents in different ways to help each other, and our family. 

Jim helps in serious and practical ways...like, making sure we don’t get too off-track, providing financial and physical security...and things like that. 

And me? Well I believe in majoring on the majors...and minoring on the minors. 

Jim’s glass is always half-empty, and my glass is always half-full...because that’s how I choose to see things. Realist vs Idealist. Realistic vs Delusional. Serious about everything vs serious about the serious things. Sees the facts...sees the people. Has a 7 year planner...HAD 4 KIDS. 

(CANIGETAWITNESS?)

Ying...yang. Ding...dong. 

This is why I sometimes have to push Jim to the edge...for his own good; to show him that not EVERYthing is so serious. I mean, I live in the serious, 24/7, but some things are just funny. 

This is why I sometimes park my car on his side of the garage, and I don’t tell him. And then, when he opens the garage door and there’s my car...for no reason, just cuz...well, that’s funny, right? 

Or why I sometimes purposely leave the light on in a room that I’m not currently IN (gasp!). 

Or why I burn a candle...IN THE SUMMERTIME. 

And it also may be why I sometimes set the stuffed “Barney” toy precariously on the shelf with the coffee cups, so that when Jim opens the cabinet first thing in the morning...It comes falling down on his head, and scares him half-to-death. 

Thirty-eight years today. 38 years of good times, and hard times; of laughing, and loving; of saying the wrong things, and [occasionally] saying the right things; of holding it in, and letting it out; of keeping score...and loving unconditionally. 

Thirty-eight years of sometimes being misunderstood; of letting Jesus have His way...but, more often, demanding our own way; of holding grudges...and forgiving; of hopefully learning from our mistakes; times of being selfless...and times of being selfish. 

Thirty-eight years of hard work, sleepless nights, tears, grief, joy, great friendships, family support, and lots and lots of prayer. 

There’s no one else I’d rather walk with thru life. Two completely imperfect people...saved, sustained, and strengthened by an Almighty God...this is us. 

Marriage is sanctifying.

"This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one." Genesis 2:24

FOR (ALL) THE WOMEN

Today I am thinking of all the WOMEN: The ones who gave birth, and the ones who didn’t; 

the ones with moms in heaven, the ones with moms on earth; 

the moms who have been separated from their children due to death, divorce, distance, estrangement, imprisonment, bad choices; 

the moms working at home, the moms working in an office, a classroom, a hospital, a store, or on a construction site; 

the ones who serve our country; 

the ones who made a choice because they couldn’t see any other way; 

the ones who are at their wit’s end, and the ones who long to be; 

the ones who have to hide in the bathroom to get a moment’s peace, and the one whose houses are quiet; 

the ones who kept their children, and the ones who gave their children to others to raise; 

the ones who gave birth despite great odds, the ones who are still waiting; 

the ones who traveled the world to expand their families, and the ones who gathered those closer to home; 

the women who feel unloved, unwanted, unworthy, used up...I SEE YOU; 

the ones who foster, adopt, teach, mentor, befriend; 

grandmothers, step-mothers, aunts, cousins, friends; 

all of you moms who struggle with extra-special children, and extra-difficult circumstances...I SEE YOU. 

Single, married, widowed, divorced; those being celebrated today...and those who are overlooked; 

FRIENDS, never feel less-than because a child hasn’t come from your body. You are important. You are enough, and we need you. We all need each other.

"We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord." Romans 15:2