Scars December 3, 2008

Yesterday on “One Minute Writer” the subject was on scars. This subject has gotten my mind going. There are different ways to think about scars, such as I have few, some from stupidity, some from surgery, from being a mom and a grandma, and some that are heartfelt.

For example, (Stupidity: I have a scar on my shoulder from climbing through a barbed wire fence from being in the horse corral when I wasn’t suppose to be. Another from hanging myself by my ring on the overhang of the stairwell. (long story). LOL There’s the ball joint behind the big toe of my left foot sticking out from jumping in a dunk tank when I shouldn’t have and broke it. I never went in, and am reminded constantly of that embarrassing moment. (blushing)

Then there’s the surgeries: Three on my knee from tearing the meniscus in a couple of places–there will be more of those as I have serious rhuematoid arthritis in my knees and will eventually need a knee replacement–but that’s okay. I’m just thinkful I can still walk! Scars from a gall bladder removal–thankful it was laproscopic. Scars from a hysterectomy, bladder suspension and recteceal all at one time. And then huge scars from a mastectomy, due to being too top heavy and needed to relieve the shoulders, back and kneck. Believe me, well worth the scaring–although at first I didn’t think so. LOL

Then there are the scars of being mom and a grandma: You want the best for your children praying they will grow up with the values you have tried to instill in them. You watch them grow through their struggles in life, wishing you could take away their pain for them. You pray for better days for them. You take a little bit of scaring with you as you travel those roads with your children, watching them go through the learning steps of life. But wait, now comes the grandchildren. You thought your days of concern were over and becoming grandparents would be a time of gratitude and joy! But you start the process all over again, wanting and praying for the same things you did for your children, but even more now, as you have grown and matured, having learned so much more. We take a few more deep scars with us, but, now we know we can rest easier, as we place the worries in God’s hands, as He does not want us to worry. He has His reasons for our seasons. We just need to learn to trust.

Then there’s the deep seeded kind of scars. The kind that are hard to let go unless you have the Lord in your life. The years of being told your stupid, won’t amount to much, ugly, you name it. All those sweet names that kids can be so cruel with. Rejection. Abuse, physical and verbal. Being told you are no longer her daughter that she doesn’t love you any more, to get out. After having such a close relationship with her. Watching one of your sisters being seriously abused and seeing what it has done to her mentally. Being cheated on. You think those scars will never go away. But thanks to our loving father, they too can be wiped clean if you allow it to happen.

But you know, there are those scars that we can be thankful for. That’s the scars that God and Jesus have taken upon themselves for us. God’s scars for having sacrificed His only begotten son for our sins. Jesus’ scars for the suffering He took for our sins. Our scars when we think about it are very minor when it comes to the scars they have endured for our well being.

I look at my scars today and say, “Thank you Lord for allowing me to experience the lessons you have given in each and everyone of my scars. I may not have understood at the time, but you always found a way to let me see the light. Thank you for your sacrifices so that I can live a free person.”

So you see, scars can actually be a good thing. Just look for the light of it all and guaranteed you will feel better.

Thank you C.Beth for giving me an inspirational subject to write about.

Sweet Memories December 3, 2008

Memories; what would life be without them?

While cleaning up Thanksgiving day, I was rinsing off a plate my grandmother had made and passed it on to me. My paternal grandmother was an instructor of ceramics. She always taught in her home until my mother and her turned our family run hardware/garage/gas station store into a ceramic shop. We poured our own molds, gave classes, done the firing the whole nine yards.

I marveled over the swiftness and elegance of grandma and her demeanor. She was a loving woman with so much talent. She was the grandma that took me to church and taught me what true faith was all about. Unfortunately I never fully grasped it then. She had such a passion for what she done and produced beautiful pieces of art.

How I wanted to be just like grandma. Full of grace, and in love with our Creator. I rarely saw grandma get mad. She always had open arms a beautiful smile and kindness poured from here.

While cleaning off that plate I had the most warm thoughts come to mind. Grandma, the potter. Granted she didn’t sit at a potters wheel, but somehow I knew it was basically the same. It occured to me that when we meet again, she will be sitting at the potters wheel. My grandmother, one of the potters of the Lord. How sweet is that! What a great way to hang on to days of past in loving memory.

Grandma, I miss and love you, but I know you are doing great things where you are. I can’t wait to see the beautiful works you have done since departing earth and going home!

Just to Let You Know December 3, 2008

I thought I would explain my habits. There are times when I post nothing, then times when I post a lot in one day or more. This is due to messages I receive either from e-mails, or from the Lord. Most of the time it is due to something happening, and then I’m given the words to write.

Granted, more times than not, I do not write the words in the best format, but the message is sent out. Most of the time I receive the messages when I have no way of writing them down. Guess I should carry a voice recorder around with me.

Anyhoo, this is the reason for my sporadic postings. Hope you can all hang in there with me on this roller-coaster of a journey.

Covering December 3, 2008

He does not give up on us and continues to let us know when we are faltering.

When I first started getting awakened so early in the morning it irritated me. I thought; why can’t you tell me when I get up or when I’m praying and meditating waiting on your word. The answer is that when we are woken the enemy is less able to penetrate our thoughts. He has our undivided attention this way. We are less apt to be distracted as we are during the waking hours. I’ll tell you what, for those that haven’t experienced it, this technique really works. He gets my undivided attention when being woken up in the wee hours of the morning.

I understand more now as well, as the closer my hubby & I come into the Lord, the more the enemy attacks. I’ve been getting hit hard left and right lately. Satan hates a happy Christian. I can’t begin to count the amount of times I’ve broken out into saying the Lords prayer after shouting stop, leave me alone, you are not welcome here as this is the house of the Lord. He’s stubborn, but so am I.

God is good, God is faithful. His love for us never falters. All we need to do is be faithful to Him, follow His ways, listen to His words. Pray! “Your strongest power is when you are on your knees.”