"I may not amount to much, but at least I'm unique." Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Never tho't of myself as being unique...but nevertheless, I am (more ways than one). Oh, you're wondering how's that, huh? For starters, I was a Smith girl; eldest of five children. Uniqueness first came in the form of my name. People always ask how I got such an unusual one.
Goes like this...my dad wanted to name me Betty and mother said, "NO"...we'll name her Vasca. I think she got it from some novel...it was novel all right. My sister and three brothers were christened Jane, Don, Ron and John...thankful that I came first.
What's in a name anyway? Well, mine is a great icebreaker...forget politics, weather and all that stuff...a unique name can cover lots of ground. For what seemed like years, people had trouble spelling mine...now, most spell it correctly. Smith was certainly never, ever a problem...how simple is that?
The year before I met M, our family lived in Beall Subdivision in West Texas. Think that was some kind of omen...was God sending me a message? Ta-Dah...met and married M Beall..totally foreign to the Beall Subdivision...I have worn that name ever since I swept him off his feet...not difficult at all. He came home from Korea so weak, he simply fell into my arms and the rest is history.
What's in a name? Plenty and I love mine...BE ALL...as in "BE All that you can be!" Of course that was the Army's motto awhile back but hey, it fits. M made career with that outfit.
James Dobson wrote.."It is our uniqueness that gives freshness and vitality to a relationship." I wanna' be all the me that God wants me to be...and you know what? I've stepped out of the boat and using my uniqueness ~ BEing All I can be.
Father, you are the giver of all things; you bless me so abundantly...never giving up on me! I pray that I will use the uniqueness you gave me to encourage everyone you put in my life...to show them your great love. I love you and I wear Christ's name gratefully. It's in His Name I pray, Amen.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
I Look...I See
Okay, putting the reader and the books on the shelf for awhile...as far as the blog goes...M and I continue reading but after all, this is my blog and I can change gears, right? I'll get back to 'my reader' later.
Life has so many peaks and valleys...joys and sorrows...surprises and disappointments. I'm a very observant person; always have been, guess I always will be and I like that. Sort of like...Spirit Eyes...wide open to people, wide open to the opportunities His Spirit shows me. Beieve me, there are more than plenty.
Henry David Thoreau wrote..."The question is not what you look at, but what you see." I don't just look at a person, I want to 'see' what's going on there. I look at you and I feel somethng is not quite right; what is it? What is it that is hurting you so? Then you open your heart and there it is...in plain sight and oh how painful it is...I ache with you.
Good friends marriages get 'derailed'...how can I help? One of our son's will be out of a job this month...he has a family to care for...how can I help? A young husband/father just died...how can I help? A young wife/mother just died...how can I help? A child is into drugs and trying to kick the habit...how can I help? Life is hard...and...not always fair. One never knows what feelings whelm us during these times...but life goes on and on and on.
I've not had an easy life...very difficult times with many downs. But hey, with God anything is possible and believe it or not, I've become a 'water walker'...stepped out of the boat and walking by faith. Emptying oneself for God does that, you know! God never gave up on me...nor did those who loved me then and love me more now...never gave up! They were there for me, they encouraged me and last but not least, they prayed for me!
Lesson learned...the best thing I can and will do for those I see in danger of drowning...is to be there for them, to encourage them and to pray with them and for them.
"Wonderful Father, I ask for your help in seeing, not just looking. Help me see what's going on here, to shine your light for those whose eyes mirror heartache...to encourage, to pray for them and show them your love...to be there for them. I pray that they would be here for me and mine, too! All of us need encouragement and hope...you give it and I thank you so much for encouraging me and giving me hope...regardless! In Your Sons' Most Holy Name, Amen"
Life has so many peaks and valleys...joys and sorrows...surprises and disappointments. I'm a very observant person; always have been, guess I always will be and I like that. Sort of like...Spirit Eyes...wide open to people, wide open to the opportunities His Spirit shows me. Beieve me, there are more than plenty.
Henry David Thoreau wrote..."The question is not what you look at, but what you see." I don't just look at a person, I want to 'see' what's going on there. I look at you and I feel somethng is not quite right; what is it? What is it that is hurting you so? Then you open your heart and there it is...in plain sight and oh how painful it is...I ache with you.
Good friends marriages get 'derailed'...how can I help? One of our son's will be out of a job this month...he has a family to care for...how can I help? A young husband/father just died...how can I help? A young wife/mother just died...how can I help? A child is into drugs and trying to kick the habit...how can I help? Life is hard...and...not always fair. One never knows what feelings whelm us during these times...but life goes on and on and on.
I've not had an easy life...very difficult times with many downs. But hey, with God anything is possible and believe it or not, I've become a 'water walker'...stepped out of the boat and walking by faith. Emptying oneself for God does that, you know! God never gave up on me...nor did those who loved me then and love me more now...never gave up! They were there for me, they encouraged me and last but not least, they prayed for me!
Lesson learned...the best thing I can and will do for those I see in danger of drowning...is to be there for them, to encourage them and to pray with them and for them.
"Wonderful Father, I ask for your help in seeing, not just looking. Help me see what's going on here, to shine your light for those whose eyes mirror heartache...to encourage, to pray for them and show them your love...to be there for them. I pray that they would be here for me and mine, too! All of us need encouragement and hope...you give it and I thank you so much for encouraging me and giving me hope...regardless! In Your Sons' Most Holy Name, Amen"
Thursday, March 4, 2010
My Reader
Each morning I'm usually up before Michael...gives me time to check the mail and print our favorite blogposts for the 'best time'. You don't know about that time yet so I'll explain as you read along. M's up, we have a cup of coffee w/a toast to the day; settling in M contentedly begins...reading to me.
You wonder why he gets to do all the reading? Well, certainly not because he's the head of the house or lording it over me...it's like this, he has a good reading voice while I simply do not. I had injuries to my 'voice box' and have a low, soft voice which is difficult for most to hear/understand..'specially M. I'm a multitasker so while he reads I can sit still, do breakfast, etc. He checks me out occasionally to see if I'm getting it and I am...we laugh & so it goes!
We begin w/Daily Bread from RBS Ministries followed by reading from the Message translation of the Bible...the new posts from our fav blogsites...then the other books...books...books...books!
This quote from David Almond describes our feelings: "Books. They are lined up on shelves or stacked on a table. There they're wrapped up in their jackets, lines of neat print on nicely bound pages. They look like such orderly, static things. Then you, the reader come along. You open the book jacket, and it can be like opening the gates to an unknown city, or opening the lid of a treasure chest. You read the first word and you're off on a journey of exploration and discovery."
This is my 'best time'...for the remainder of the week (maybe even longer)...I'll write more about 'my reader'.
Most Wonderful Father, Thank you for blessing me so richly; thank you for lending me to M, for lending him to me. You have blest me with a wonderful influence and I am better for it. Hearing M reading from your book each morning reminds me to use my 'spirit eyes' to take advantage of the opportunities sent my way...shining your light wherever I am. I pray that I will wisely use what you give me...making each day a day of discovery and 'the best time'. In Jesus' Name...Amen.
You wonder why he gets to do all the reading? Well, certainly not because he's the head of the house or lording it over me...it's like this, he has a good reading voice while I simply do not. I had injuries to my 'voice box' and have a low, soft voice which is difficult for most to hear/understand..'specially M. I'm a multitasker so while he reads I can sit still, do breakfast, etc. He checks me out occasionally to see if I'm getting it and I am...we laugh & so it goes!
We begin w/Daily Bread from RBS Ministries followed by reading from the Message translation of the Bible...the new posts from our fav blogsites...then the other books...books...books...books!
This quote from David Almond describes our feelings: "Books. They are lined up on shelves or stacked on a table. There they're wrapped up in their jackets, lines of neat print on nicely bound pages. They look like such orderly, static things. Then you, the reader come along. You open the book jacket, and it can be like opening the gates to an unknown city, or opening the lid of a treasure chest. You read the first word and you're off on a journey of exploration and discovery."
This is my 'best time'...for the remainder of the week (maybe even longer)...I'll write more about 'my reader'.
Most Wonderful Father, Thank you for blessing me so richly; thank you for lending me to M, for lending him to me. You have blest me with a wonderful influence and I am better for it. Hearing M reading from your book each morning reminds me to use my 'spirit eyes' to take advantage of the opportunities sent my way...shining your light wherever I am. I pray that I will wisely use what you give me...making each day a day of discovery and 'the best time'. In Jesus' Name...Amen.
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