Category: babies

I love to write! In fact, I love writing almost more than I love talking, which is saying something. You’ve seen me dabble in poetry, revealing my whimsical side. I’ve attempted some audio recordings, simply reading out loud what I’ve already written… I have always loved reading to others, especially children. I enjoy writing fiction, allegories, and funny anecdotes too! But, I will admit that my greatest joy come from retelling memories from days gone by… some mine, some about those in my history.

Why don’t I just stick with writing memories, you might be asking? What if I quite writing about other things, or writing in different form, simply focusing on my favorite style? While I certainly don’t buy into the whole like, share, and follow merry-go-round… I do not desire to settle for simple, nor do I wish to bore you with too much repetitiveness.

I think that I write all over the place because, I do NOT wish to fall into a category… or BOX if you will. There are visitors to the lobby coming from all walks of life, ways of thinking, and wants and desires of differing styles. My wish is to relate to each and everyone who visits, with the ability to connect on their level… their style.

The lobby takes visitors from all over the world, some reading from their office chairs, while others stop by with a baby on their hip and a burp rag upon their shoulder. These are just several examples of the diversity that I encounter, as I greet new literary faces. I meet some that are young and some that are old, of both men and women. Some visitors are healthy and active, while others may be coping with an infirmity of one kind or another.

I believe the reason I write all over the place is to reach the heart of the masses… not to have a crowd following me around, but to do as Jesus did, walk as He walked. If we are made in the image of God and designed by Him, doesn’t it make sense that I want to reach out as far as I can to find those in need? Yes, it takes more work and creativity, as far as writing style and content go, but the rewards far out way the efforts, in my humble opinion.

Am I not intended to emulate my Lord and Savior, in all things?

I shall never attain Jesus’ holiness and righteousness, but thankfully, He does not ask that I do! Because of what Christ did for us, all we are called to do is believe… and follow Him. I don’t know about you, but when I spend all my time with someone, I tend to start picking up their mannerisms and habits. The saying, you are like those you are associated with, is used so frequently because it’s true… that’s the way our minds are built to learn. Study… memorization… practice practice practice!

Jesus spent all that time with the apostles during His ministry, teaching, training, correcting, rebuking and encouraging them. He was preparing and strengthening them for the work ahead. Jesus wasn’t just a sermon giver, was He? Christ healed, fed, taught, and fellowshipped with whomever He encountered… consistently! While Jesus did all these things in actual form, cannot we, as His followers, emulate him in some form or another?

In pondering these things, I suppose one might find that literary words used in LOVE, can heal, feed, teach, edify and offer fellowship with those who draw near.

Well, maybe I’m way off the mark here, but God did say that He will bless the work of my hands, so in my case, writing IS something my hands are doing. If I seek to give words of love to you, here in the Lobby, will He not bless those words? I don’t know for sure, but as I look over that which I strive to accomplish, in His name and for your sake… God WILL bless it, somehow!

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Once a human… always a human! While time rolls forward, we see the world changing around us, from advancing technologies, to climate changes as well as societal behaviors and interactions.

The more I read about our history, through the bible, the more I’ve been seeing that from the beginning til now… humanity still remains the same, deep within. We like to think of history past as that time in our development where we just didn’t know what we know now… didn’t know any better or didn’t have the tools we have now. It seems, in my human opinion, that we’re the same stiff necked people now, as the Israelites were all those years ago.

It so happens that, as I’ve been reading through the journey of the Israelites, I have simultaneously been reading Paul’s letters to the churches, in both Romans and Corinthians. One day I’ll follow the story of the Israelites journey, as they prepare to enter the promise land… and the next day I’ll spend time reading through the letters that Paul wrote to the church. It almost feels like Paul was often narrating the Israelites story from old, as he tried to teach and encourage Christians, as the number of believers began to grow.

Interestingly enough, even after Jesus died and rose again to free us from the penalty of sin, we still opted to live under the old laws… still chose to live sinfully, using the name of Jesus as our get out of jail free card. The believers in Corinth may have looked at the Israelites as the ones with all the spiritual bad habits and disobedience, but as Paul wrote his letters to the church, they were freely sinning against God and each other within their very own communities, at that time. Idol worship had simply changed faces… became modernized, dolled up, and self-justified. The church still battled with immorality, adultery, incest, backbiting, slandering, coveting, etc. Even today, the church still struggles with the very same things that the Israelites, as well as the Corinthians, were always plagued with… sinful human nature!

Old habits die hard, they say, and good old fashioned human nature is a habit that only ends upon the return of the King! I have told you before and I’ll say it again… I am not trying to teach anything here, only to share observations I’ve gleaned, during my study of scripture. Also, just because it might look bad for us humans, I see something to the contrary… goodness, in fact! Think about it! God has remained faithful, patient, loving and oh so forgiving, even to this day! He steadfastly carries us onward toward the home He has prepared for us, with all our warts, flaws, and dirty laundry. I am confident of this… it WILL all come out in the wash, as they say, when we come to the end of our journeys.

At no time has God yet to revoke our free will to choose the paths we walk, allowing us to believe or deny, to follow Him or turn to our own way. Humans are born with a physical body, a soul residing within, and a mind to use for learning and growing. Mankind must learn to master its very self, making choices that will determine how one navigates the world it was born into… some choices good, some bad, but all made freely as our God given right! Whether it be an Israelite from so long ago, down the paths of history, or a modern day man… we face the same choices between right and wrong. We still must navigate through the rewards or consequences of our choices and actions, same as our predecessors did.

The ONE thing that separates us from our beginnings is the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… the SON of our Creator… the Righteousness of God!

That is definitely something to write home about!

Is it just me, or has this weeks line up of Daily Prompts left us wondering about our value to the world? These prompts probably left many to question if we really did like our jobs, or whether we wished to be someone other than who we currently are. WordPress wrapped up this theme by going as far as to ask us our thoughts about our fate ////// destiny.

I, for one, found myself trying to justify the qualities of what makes me a good person… what have I ever done, of value, that might make me worth something to society. I’m not saying that the prompt questions did this intentionally, but this is how it left me feeling, none the less.

I had to smile to myself this morning, as I picked up the stack of Note To Self cards and came to rest holding the note meant for today…

Note To Self #27

“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” William James

As I am currently practicing the KISS Challenge (Keep it Simple Stupid) that I talked about earlier in the week, the words of Mr. James seemed to fit perfectly into my rolodex of honest encouragements and reminders to myself… as is… with no more explanation necessary! Wouldn’t you agree?

As many of you may have noticed, my writing has been more poetic and whimsical of late. I think my brain is tired. When my literary mind can’t travel deeply, it falls back on lighter, more dreamy thoughts and feelings.

Over the last year of writing, I have amassed a great number of words, deep thoughts, reflections and funny anecdotes… all of which, I felt very led to write. Now What?

Do I leave them where they were created, or do I go farther with the messages God has so lovingly interlaced within the lines?

For over a year now, the main message I’ve received from my Father has been to Just write! So that is what I’ve done, steadily!

Of late, I’ve been sensing Him leading me toward finishing nearly half a dozen projects… like my squirrel saga, which only needs one more episode and a conclusion to be completed. I also have two of my Barnyard books written, as well as a third in the works. My novel Brutus, which is my passion, needs patience and time, so I don’t want to rush that story… but I am nearly 2/3rds of the way done. Then there’s Just A Bag, which is sort of like the back story of both Brutus and Nia. All in all, when I looked at my insights page on WordPress, it reflected that I wrote nearly 100,000 words last year alone! What to do… what to do?

I keep hearing that old joke that ended with “Margaret, please oh please… buy a lottery ticket!” If I don’t finish any of the things I’ve been working on, how on earth can I offer it to anyone with confidence?

I’m not saying that God gave me a list and a sure fired plan for success… rather, I believe He wants me to get organized, cleaned up around the edges, and presentable. Beyond that, no answers have been forthcoming, but as I’m acclimated to the way God tends to lead me forward, clean up I shall do!

God has been teaching me about things like timing, patience, and consistent inner peace… none of which were a part of most of my life! The thing about time, is that it will not wait for us! The thing about patience, is that it truly is a virtue that must be practiced and perfected over time… see what I did there… hehe! I thought that patience was going to be the more difficult thing for me to learn, but it wasn’t! Having consistent Inner Peace was actually the tough thing for me to tackle, due to the entirety of my life being anything but calm or peaceful.

I’ve decided to learn to practice childlike faith, in regards to everything I written. I fully believe that the things I’ve written before my Heavenly Father, belong in someone’s hand, heart, mind and/or spirit. If God chooses to use even one of my earthly words, then He WILL see it done! Therefore, I need not fear rejection or failure in whatever will come. I believe that each one of those children’s books belong somewhere, so I have them packaged and ready for God’s timing, as He prepares the way. The same goes for whatever I write… if it be worthy, He will see it through for the good of all who read it.

Some of you may scoff at my naivety… it’s alright! I choose to believe! From there, whatever comes will come… I serve a pretty big God and He’s never failed me yet!

It’s hard to believe that these two little plants are thriving, while growing up in an inhospitable environment… but thriving is exactly what these girls are doing!

The plant on the left is apparently called a Snake plant, so I dubbed her Medusa! When the plant on the right came to live with us, I affectionately named her Sis, after one of my granddaughters… the tenacious one!

Somehow, in all this chaos of living conditions… these two have shown amazing resilience and growth! If they can do it… so can I!

I suppose that I too have grown, stretched, changed… pushed through the darkness that sought to block my path. If you would have suggested I handle my current Life Interruptus, perhaps even just a year ago… I would have laughed in your face!

In truth, God has brought me through a great deal of difficulties that only He could. The master Gardener has been strengthening me, training me, mending me, and pruning me just like a plant. All of the tending has produced a change… I think it’s called Growth!

Has it been a party? Hardly! Has it felt painful? Most assuredly! Am I the better for it? Absolutely!

What I encounter, experience, endure, and overcome only strengthens me to walk forward in the most profound Grace and Mercy I’ve ever known!

What made the difference, you might ask? God’s Presence! In every moment, whether painful or joyful… He is there, right in the heart of it with me, beside me, carrying me and guiding my lantern as I step out into the darkness. I was born for this purpose, hand chosen by The King of Heaven!

Who better to hold the hand of the lost and afraid, than one who was lost and afraid… and angry… and traumatized… and scarred? Who better to show love and acceptance to the hated and rejected, than one who lives as the shunned, the outcast, the unwanted…. the wanderer in the desert?

For many years, I was unable to understand why there was never anyone who stayed in my life for very long, leaving way before they had to build a deep and meaningful relationship with me, but it is starting to make sense.

I am, and have always been… Much! Think about it! I am loud, energetic, passionate, animated, overly emotional, an overthinker, an over worrier, a chatty Cathy, and very demanding. I am a fight or flight girl, with high expectations of myself and others to be better, smarter, or simply more… like, um… just like a what?! A Raging River, that’s what! Wiwohka… Duh!!!

Well, guess what… everyone needs water! I’m just the wild water, that’s all! This vessel will push open gates, flood the banks, rip out dead undergrowth, slam through barriers… just for that one tiny seed out there! Somewhere in the desert, there are those needing a portion of the life-giving water that pours freely from the vessels cracks, that were sustained along her journey!

If I am much, well then, let my much be put to use for a purpose greater than I am! If I am like water then I should be free, unlimited, and meant for anyone in need.

Just like my little plants that are growing, so too am I … we strive to purify the air everyone breathes, as we develop and mature… even if it isn’t seen, or rewarded. My sweet girls and I just keep on living, growing, and doing the work we were born to do.