From a Mother’s Heart

DAY 30 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!”)

Lying in the bed, resting as best as one can in a hospital, I was awakened to the beautiful sound of your cry. 30 minutes of failed attempts by your father and the nurse to calm you led them to lay you back in your little bed. Fed, changed and no signs of discomfort left them puzzled as to what to try next.

“Let me have him,” I said.

Your dad carefully lifted you from the crib and placed your head against my chest as I cradled you close. Not even a second more passed and you were silent. The connection was obvious and from that moment, I knew my responsibility was big.

What has transpired over the last 19 years is nothing short of a thrill ride on steroids.

As a mom, I was to raise you to be independent and strong, yet I cried with each crossroad displaying my success. I gave you wings to fly yet secretly hoped they would boomerang you back to my arms at times. Quite the psychotic endeavor.

As you boldly venture into the life of adulthood, please, take these words of hope and aspirations with you and hold them close because the world won’t teach them to you.

Don’t wait for growth to happen…seek it, in spiritual and emotional well being.

Don’t wait for respect to be handed, earn it.

Work harder than you feel necessary, love deeper than you deem capable and remember the only reason you’re placed on this earth is to care for people. It’s through your gifts and talents that you are to do that.

Cast out the sense of entitlement so many youth these days carry and learn that you will reap what you sow.

The measure of a man’s success is not in the accomplishments and achievement he obtains, but in the quality of his character development as he journeys to get there.

Never complain about the things you can’t do but adapt your agenda to the things that you can.

Open your eyes to the ways of Christ so that you can combat and battle the ways of the world. Make Him your ultimate role model to measure every action against.

Don’t be content with the entertainment of the world instead choose to create with the gifts that God is giving you.

Never ask what can I get but instead question what should I give

As important as good grades are, if you fail in character, you fail in life.

Waiting on God is the hardest and most rewarding act of obedience you can practice.

Surround yourself with Godly men who will help hold you accountable and challenge you to grow in your faith because the enemy thrives in an isolated heart but dies where his lies and deceit are exposed.

Above all else, love first, love last and every moment in between.

So be bold and confident in the foundation of your faith in Jesus because it is the only constant truth that will remain through all the changes and challenges of your life.

When you first started to walk, I would loosen my grip, back away and have you walk to me. Now, as I loosen my grip it’s time for you to start walking away. I pray you walk into the arms of Christ, because without Him, it’s all for nothing.

My Biggest Supporter!

DAY 28 & 29 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)

Everyone needs someone to tell them the truth about their potential. The only reason, next to God, why I continue to create is the overwhelming support and encouragement of my husband. The following is a note from him.

Teresa,

I wish you could see yourself the way I see you. I see a gifted and talented awe inspiring creation, fearfully and wonderfully made.

Don’t believe the lies don’t believe the doubts.

If there is a misstep, move on and keep creating. If a particular creation or work doesn’t pan out, set it aside for a time but don’t destroy it or give up on it. The beautiful thing about art is that its intent is to draw out the emotion of the purveyor, not to perform a task. Great art is not always the end and perfect culmination of the inspired initial vision but instead the result of passion poured out onto a medium. As that medium accepts the words or the strokes or the molding of the artist it shape into a new creation unique from all others. You are unique from all others and are a unique creation that inspires me to create in my own right.

Don’t believe the lies that you are not good enough or well-trained enough.

Remember always that you are God’s work of art, His creation, the canvas that is you is continuing to be perfected into a one of a kind value and treasure.

Don’t believe the lies that you are a mistake.

Keep receiving the creative forces being poured out on you. Keep pouring out your creative powers on those around you because those fortunate enough to have their story line cross with yours will be better because of it. A piece of art is always better with the touch of a master and God has created you into a master of people sculpting through you scripts, performances, blogs, and leadership.

Don’t believe the lie that is too late for you to make an impact.

As God continues to sculpt new tools into your kit, continue to use those tools to create his beauty. Believe that you are and continue to be fearfully and wonderfully made. I see greatness shining from you. Keep shining brightly.

Love you always,

Dave

May you, too, be encouraged to press on.

Watchful Eyes!

DAY 25 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)

He lounges in his favorite spot, feet propped up, and southern style tea by his side while she settles beside him on his right with newspaper in hand. The paper is flapping softly from the movement of the air circulated by the fan above. I am nested precisely where I always am. I observe no divergence from the routine, yet something seems, well, unexplainably off. Silence is interrupted by gravel being crushed and turned under the weight of tires. A brief glance between the two says this is an unexpected visitor.

Painful Journey to Heal!

DAY 24 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)

“Are you aware that you may die in the process of this procedure?”

More eloquently explained, definitely less blunt, were the words spoken by the nurse prepping my son for minor, shoulder, repair surgery. Yet the implications of risk to full blown healing was evident.
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Correction Brings Life!

DAY 22 and 23 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)

A prideful despising of correction leads to justification of our behavior. Justification leads to denial of poisonous character defects which leads to contamination of the heart, ending in death and destruction.

A little confession can go a long way!

To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction. (Proverbs 12:1 NLT)

Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 NLT)

Speak Life Now!

DAY 16 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)
A eulogy shouldn’t be written for someone who has passed, it should be spoken while they’re still in the present!

Spoken words can bring life to the living, but only fall on deaf ears if they’re dead!

Don’t neglect the chance to speak life now.

Proverbs 18:21

Childish Dreams become Heartfelt Desires!

DAY 17 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)

Tiny white walled room, scarcely decorated, tightly cramped with a twin bed and mismatched dresser that my 10 year old frame barely could move between. As they say, “it wasn’t much” but it was all I needed, along with the oversized mirror over the dresser that could reflect my entire petite shape so long as I was standing on the stage, or, uh, my bed I mean.
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It’s in the Whisper

DAY 14 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)

Cool breeze blows through the open window, fluff the pillow to perfection, lay my weary body down to sleep, adjust, manipulate and position myself just right. In both anticipation of deep sleep and celebration of the close of another day, I sigh with an exhale that releases and relaxes. That’s when they start!
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Fears from being 5′ nothing!

DAY 6 (Read Day 1 “OK, Honey. Challenge Accepted!” Post)

Because somedays you just need to laugh!

1. Turning a blind corner and slamming my face into a tall mans belt buckle.
2. Arm pit hair tickling my nose when I hug a man.
3. A 2 liter soda falling on my face trying to retrieve it from grocery store shelf.
4. Grocery store shelf collapsing when climbing it to reach last cereal box in the back of top shelf.
5. Being mistaken for one of them when walking through halls of elementary school.
6. Arthritis developing in my toes due to constant extension to see credit card reader at store.
7. Having to use a booster seat at a movie full of tall people.
8. Getting stopped at entrance to confirm I’m tall enough to get onto the ride.
9. Oxygen mask on a plane doesn’t drop low enough.
10. Having to hem a miniskirt because it reaches my ankles.
11. Only top locker left at the gym.
12. Freakishly tall friend walking around my house on their knees to see the world from my perspective.

I can neither confirm nor deny whether these were based on actual true events.

A cheerful heart is good medicine… Proverbs 17:22 NLT

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A Soul Never Handicapped!

Another sunrise; yet today appears to follow the path of the hundred, actually many more, days before. Lyme, still very present, dictates what his body will do. Seeing the sun is a treasure. Gazing at his beautiful wife, children, nothing less than a gift, a miracle. A long time friend with a long time physical fight!

This Easter season did not reflect the chaos of planning, shaping and rehearsing as in years past. That didn’t stop his desire. His intent, his longing, was to engage in worship of his Christ, his Savior in spite of what his handicapped body would say.

Journey of Emotions!

A few thoughts and feelings from the Life of a Nobody hoping to touch somebody!

Life