It's all about the ONE

we leave a footprint
wherever we go.

it's as if part of our
breath
hangs in the air and gently
lands
on people
giving them an
impression
sound
word
voice
that they don't forget.

or maybe they do forget.

and if they do,
did we really leave a
footprint in the first place?

what we bleed
spend
say
do

leaves the footprint for us.

and is that footprint an
evidence
of who we really are?

my life
is marked
by thousands of
footprints.

people who
STEPPED
on my life in a
POWERFUL
way -
turning the tide
breaking the mold
pushing the limits

every
day
counts.

every
moment
we
are
leaving
a
footprint.

and the people who
took the time
stood for something
didn't back down
told the truth

have left
FOREVER
a
FOOTPRINT
on me
that will not
be
FORGOTTEN.

So what about that
cashier
when I'm in
such a frustrated
fervor?

Or that kid who
just needs the
hope of a
smile?

How about the
driver
who cut me off?
What footprint
do I leave on
him
that affects the
rest of his day?

I
have been
marked
by the
footprints of
MANY.

The one who
taught me to
free my wings
and fly

The one who
gave me
unconditional love

The one who believed
in my abilities
before I did

The one whose energy
and loud
in the classroom
inspired my heart

The one who taught
me independence

The one who taught
me grace

The one who let me
be
me.

They have stained
me colors
of beauty and
wrecked me
forever.

Footprints.

We all leave them.
But we don't always realize

the
IMPACT.

One footprint
can change
everything
anyone
everyone
no one.

It's just up to you.

Snow Saga

They make it look so easy! It was not that easy!

We are currently on our fourth snow day. Unlike some others, I am not going stir crazy yet, which is surprising for me and my people personality. But I am happy to say my house is clean, my laundry is almost finished, and I've had several rockin' dance parties with my kid.

After all the cleaning craziness, I had filled our garage with bags, awaiting the time when the garbage man would deem it safe enough to venture out to our street.

Well, this morning was the day.  I awoke to that high pitched beeping sound that could only be the garbage truck. I sat straight up in bed while Brady murmured something about the garbage guy being here.

This Mama runs down the stairs, throwing on various sundry snow clothes. Grabbing all the bags, I ventured into the snow in pajama pants, untied snow boots, a big unzipped winter coat and a crazy top bun.

There he was, standing by my neighbor's driveway, getting ready to load another bin. I clomped out into the street, glancing back at my garbage bin. No use. It was snowed in, poor guy. No time to get him out before the truck left.

Imagine my crazy self, carrying six full bags, stomping down my driveway. I kept yelling numerous times:

"Excuse me?"

I expected the guy to hear me over the loud garbage truck. This did not occur. He didn't even look my way. I tried a few more times and then I saw the side of the big blue truck.

RECYCLING.

It was the wrong truck. I had worked myself up, gathered all my bags, thrown on all my clothes, and run out there like a crazy woman for the wrong truck.

Now before some of you start to criticize that I didn't have any recycling - that is not the case. I recycle often. But just not today! I needed the GARBAGE TRUCK! Not the RECYCLING TRUCK!

No wonder that guy ignored me (there's part of me that thinks he really did hear me but didn't want to acknowledge the insane snow monster trudging through the snow). He knew he couldn't help me with my garbage. He was there for a different purpose.

How many times have you panicked about something...in fear and trepidation? You heard it coming, knew it was coming - so you dug in and prepared for a disaster? You threw yourself into anxiety or worry because you were going to miss it, or it was coming and you had to be ready?

Then everything turns out exactly the opposite of what you expected.

Now, I know there isn't much crisis involved in missing a garbage truck (although my husband might not like me storing all my trash in the garage next to his tools), but there is something to be said about the way we work ourselves up and panic only to find there was no reason to freak out in the first place.

Matthew 6 warns that we cannot add a single day to our lives by worrying. And we spend so much time doing it! According to a survey, we spend 6.5 years of our lives fretting. WHHHAAATTT?? Imagine what you can do with those 6.5 years? I mean, you could build a BOAT in that time! (Don't ask why a boat - I guess I was just reading about Noah the other day)

I still struggle with worry - I'm a planner, so I like to think ahead. I like to think things through and complete things with excellence. But if I focus my mind on Him and know that He has control of the outcome of my world, it doesn't matter if the garbage truck comes or the recycling truck comes. I can trust Him with the PROCESS. He takes care of the outcome, and no matter what it is, He's going to work it together for good.

And really, if I wanted to know for sure, I could have looked out the window first.

In those panicky moments, I've started to slow down, breathe, and really listen to what He's trying to tell me. There may be chaos in my world, but sitting down and praying helps me hear Him. There may not always be in peace in my world, but there's ALWAYS peace in Him.

For those of you "worrying" (STOP IT! NOW!) about whether I was able to get rid of that garbage or not, I can proudly say I dug my bin out of the snow and rolled him down the driveway with the other bags to await the great Oz. Problem solved. And so what if I missed it one week? The world will still turn.

But I will say, I should have taken a selfie this morning. You guys would have had a great laugh.

Names

 

I lost something the other day.

 

To the world, it wouldn't be much. And really, it's not a life altering loss. Nothing like losing my Daddy at the newly wedded age of 22.

 

But it meant something to me.

 

A few years ago, Brady gave me a hand stamped, Vintage Pearl necklace. On one square was his name, on the other, Kayden's. Sandwiched between their names was a pretty pearl, much like the picture I posted with this blog.

 

I wore it around my neck almost daily - it was my reminder to pray for the two most precious people in my life. I would often hold the squares in my hand. It became part of me.

 

A trip to Science Central and several trips to the gravity room later sent us home to vacation from the vacation. When I walked in the door and removed my coat, the lone necklace was hanging from my neck, stretched out, detached - vacant of the two beloved squares.

 

I searched my house, the garage, the van, the driveway, but to no avail.

 

They were gone.

 

Our names - and the names of our loved ones - are so important to us. People call us by name, write our names in e-mails, texts, Facebook posts. It is one thing that belongs to us that no one else can take.

Whenever I would look at Brady's name...Kayden's name...on those necklaces, I was reminded of how much I love them. The privilege of joining in community and family with them. I'm reminded that I want to spend more and more time with them, love on them, wrap them up in my arms.  I would place those squares between my two fingers and be reminded of the gift of relationship.

So, what do we think of when we see God's name?

Is it ordinary? Something we're used to seeing? Flinging around in our vocabulary?

"Thank God."

"God is so good."

But the very name of God - is precious.

When I see it am I reminded how much I love Him?
Of the privilege of joining in community and family with Him?
That I want to spend more time with Him?
Love Him?
Let Him wrap me up in His arms?
Am I thankful for the gift of relationship with Him?

I sat in my living room this morning, looking at the snow covered world. In the chair across from me, I imagined Him sitting there, laughing, loving, wanting more time with me. So I talked with Him awhile, breathing in the beauty of His presence.

And while our names are important - bringing identity and belonging to our lives, His is so much more.

Salvation is through His name (John 1:12).

Believers are to gather in His name (Matt. 18:20).

Prayer is to be made in His name (John 14:13-14).

It is at the name of Jesus that every knee will one day bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11).

I will miss that necklace with the namesakes of my beloved family.

But I am thankful that God remains who He is, and His name will always be a precious gift in my heart.