Oh, Valentines Day. People either love you or hate you.
A friend of mine came up to me today and said "Happy Single Awareness Day!" It definitely feels like that some years. I even went to dinner with some friends a few years ago and we called it our "Single Awareness Dinner." Ironically, four of those friends are married or in a serious relationship now...
Love is great! In fact, LOVE is my favorite word in the entire English language. When I was in high school I made a painting that displayed the word "love" translated into 11 different languages. That painting was given to a random art collector and is probably collecting dust somewhere in a house in North Carolina. But even back then (seven years ago), LOVE was my favorite word.
However, as this Valentines Day was approaching, all I could think of was the classic Charlie Brown comic strip in which he's eating a sandwich and turns to Linus and says "Nothing quite takes the taste out of peanut butter like unrequited love." And so another Valentines Day of being fully aware of my singleness is here again.
The cliche thing would be for me to continue this blog about all the reasons I'm depressed that I don't have a boyfriend. But I'm not gonna do that. And everyone shouts HOORAY!
The truth is...wait for iiiiitttt... I am in a relationship. I am currently being passionately pursued by the most romantic Lover ever. His name is Jesus. Oh my goodness, words cannot describe how intense He loves. I am only just beginning to know His ways.
We hear it all the time. "God loves you." Yes, the bible tells me so. I know. Yep, He loves me. But we don't even realize just how much He loves us. But check this out, the bible tells us that one glance from us makes His heart beat wildly. The God of all creation desires you. It just blows me away.
The book I'm reading right now does a great job at describing the romantic side of God. "God's version of flowers and chocolates and candlelight dinners comes in the form of sunsets and falling stars, moonlight on lakes and cricket symphonies; warm wind, swaying trees, lush gardens, and fierce devotion."
I love that word. Fierce. It defines Strength and Passion and something that is Unbreakable. Unbeatable. It describes God's love for us. And when someone loves you like that, you fall head over heels in love as well.
Ask God to show you how much He loves you. Ask Him to open your eyes to the many ways He is pursuing you. He is most definitely pursuing you. But like any gentleman would do, He won't force anything. He waits for you to willingly offer your heart.
He loves to love you. He won't mind if you ask Him to woo you or to do something that displays His love for you. He knows the innermost chambers of your heart, and so He knows exactly what will leave you speechless.
So this Valentine's Day, and everyday after it, I plan on reminding myself of this Love. God's love. The love that drove Him to go to the ends of the earth in order to be with me. And to be with you. Let's celebrate! Let's fall in love even more on this beautiful day!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Things My Mom Has Taught Me
A friend of mine recently shared a blog about things the author planned to teach her daughter. It got me thinking about everything that my mother has taught me, both in what I've observed and what she has told me.
I think this would be a very good topic for my first blog post. :)
So 40 things that I learned from my mother:
1. You can eat anything for breakfast. Spaghetti, pizza, pie, cookies, ice cream, bacon (the whole pack if you want), or a cold soda- especially if it's Pepsi.
2. Laugh at yourself. Loudly.
3. You don't have to say "Yes" to everything. Something she still has to remind me often.
4. Do not say the phrase "It's not fair." Unless you want your ears pulled and spit in your face. Haha, I think that's how it goes.
5. If someone is being mean to your friend, it's okay to push them down on the playground- Just kidding. I think the point of that story was that one should always stand up for others.
6. Reading a book is never a waste of time.
7. Ask forgiveness when you do something wrong. Even if it's a few days later and you have to stand up in front of your class to do it.
8. Living your life in a way that honors God can impact people more than any words you could speak.
9. "You've Got Mail" is the best movie to watch over and over and over again.
10. Go ahead and sit at the dinner table for as long as the conversation and laughter keep coming.
11. If it's wrinkly, throw it in the dryer. It'll be grand.
12. Some friends aren't gonna be "forever friends." Be thankful for the ones that will be.
13. Do not worry about what others think about you, but don't do something that could cause someone else to stumble.
14. Why cuss, when there are so many better words in the English language? Or just make up your own words! Goooble-watchyaaa-mopplinkey-aaauurgh!
15. Blue eyes must be a requirement for the future husband.
16. Moms can be best friends too.
17. It's okay to go and have a good cry. Your mother and truest friends will sit and listen why. They'll sit and hold you even if you don't tell them the reason. But usually, the mother knows without you telling her.
18. Never turn down a chance to go to the beach.
19. The book is always better than the movie.
20. You will get older and have more responsibilities, but you don't have to grow up.
21. Enjoy being single. You can hang out with whoever, eat whatever, and go wherever.
22. Talk to strangers. When I was little my mom always struck up a conversation with people at the grocery store or the park or movies or waiting room. Everywhere. I find myself doing the same thing now.
23. Only wear really short shorts at home.
24. South Africa is the best place to view the stars.
25. If someone asks for your opinion about something and you can't think of anything nice, just say it's very unique.
26. Wear your hair down and natural. It took me a long time to take this advice.
27. God knows who you're gonna marry. She tells me this a lot. Like when I'm sure my prince charming has been hit by a bus or something.
28. Don't stress when you lose your keys. Just ask everyone to help you find them.
29. Put cheese on broccoli and asparagus.
30. Dick Van Dyke is the funniest.
31. Wear make-up in a way so that it looks like you're not wearing very much make-up.
32. Read this book: When the Pieces Don't Fit... God Makes the Difference.
33. If you plant a garden, give away a lot of zucchini to your friends.
34. I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.
35. The Bible has fun facts that people sometimes overlook. Solomon imported monkeys! Rebecca had a nose ring! Goliath's brothers had 6 fingers on each hand!
36. I have my grandmother's shoulders.
37. Pray.
38. If possible, make a task into a game. We would always race to see who could pack a suitcase the fastest before a long trip.
39. Ask people to tell their story. Especially your grandparents.
40. Going to a party? Make an apple pie or corn stuff. People need to know you by the dish you bring. ;)
There are definitely more lessons than the ones I've written here. And I know I will learn more from her. And discover the things I never noticed I learned from her.
Thanks, Mom. :)
~Em
I think this would be a very good topic for my first blog post. :)
So 40 things that I learned from my mother:
1. You can eat anything for breakfast. Spaghetti, pizza, pie, cookies, ice cream, bacon (the whole pack if you want), or a cold soda- especially if it's Pepsi.
2. Laugh at yourself. Loudly.
3. You don't have to say "Yes" to everything. Something she still has to remind me often.
4. Do not say the phrase "It's not fair." Unless you want your ears pulled and spit in your face. Haha, I think that's how it goes.
5. If someone is being mean to your friend, it's okay to push them down on the playground- Just kidding. I think the point of that story was that one should always stand up for others.
6. Reading a book is never a waste of time.
7. Ask forgiveness when you do something wrong. Even if it's a few days later and you have to stand up in front of your class to do it.
8. Living your life in a way that honors God can impact people more than any words you could speak.
9. "You've Got Mail" is the best movie to watch over and over and over again.
10. Go ahead and sit at the dinner table for as long as the conversation and laughter keep coming.
11. If it's wrinkly, throw it in the dryer. It'll be grand.
12. Some friends aren't gonna be "forever friends." Be thankful for the ones that will be.
13. Do not worry about what others think about you, but don't do something that could cause someone else to stumble.
14. Why cuss, when there are so many better words in the English language? Or just make up your own words! Goooble-watchyaaa-mopplinkey-aaauurgh!
15. Blue eyes must be a requirement for the future husband.
16. Moms can be best friends too.
17. It's okay to go and have a good cry. Your mother and truest friends will sit and listen why. They'll sit and hold you even if you don't tell them the reason. But usually, the mother knows without you telling her.
18. Never turn down a chance to go to the beach.
19. The book is always better than the movie.
20. You will get older and have more responsibilities, but you don't have to grow up.
21. Enjoy being single. You can hang out with whoever, eat whatever, and go wherever.
22. Talk to strangers. When I was little my mom always struck up a conversation with people at the grocery store or the park or movies or waiting room. Everywhere. I find myself doing the same thing now.
23. Only wear really short shorts at home.
24. South Africa is the best place to view the stars.
25. If someone asks for your opinion about something and you can't think of anything nice, just say it's very unique.
26. Wear your hair down and natural. It took me a long time to take this advice.
27. God knows who you're gonna marry. She tells me this a lot. Like when I'm sure my prince charming has been hit by a bus or something.
28. Don't stress when you lose your keys. Just ask everyone to help you find them.
29. Put cheese on broccoli and asparagus.
30. Dick Van Dyke is the funniest.
31. Wear make-up in a way so that it looks like you're not wearing very much make-up.
32. Read this book: When the Pieces Don't Fit... God Makes the Difference.
33. If you plant a garden, give away a lot of zucchini to your friends.
34. I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always. As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.
35. The Bible has fun facts that people sometimes overlook. Solomon imported monkeys! Rebecca had a nose ring! Goliath's brothers had 6 fingers on each hand!
36. I have my grandmother's shoulders.
37. Pray.
38. If possible, make a task into a game. We would always race to see who could pack a suitcase the fastest before a long trip.
39. Ask people to tell their story. Especially your grandparents.
40. Going to a party? Make an apple pie or corn stuff. People need to know you by the dish you bring. ;)
There are definitely more lessons than the ones I've written here. And I know I will learn more from her. And discover the things I never noticed I learned from her.
Thanks, Mom. :)
~Em
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