All I Want Is You

If I was a flower growing wild and free
All I'd want is you to be my sweet honey bee.
And if I was a tree growing tall and green
All I'd want is you to shade me and be my leaves

If you were a river in the mountains tall,
The rumble of your water would be my call.
If you were the winter, I know I'd be the snow
Just as long as you were with me, when the cold winds blow.

If you were a wink, I'd be a nod
If you were a seed, well I'd be a pod.
If you were the floor, I'd wanna be the rug
And if you were a kiss, I know I'd be a hug

All I want is you, will you stay with me?
Hold me in your arms and sway me like the sea.

-The Vespers "All I Want Is You"

Promises, Not Explanations

On Tuesday, I wrote the beginning of what I hope will be a long series of posts on being positive.  And as it is with many things on this blog, it's personal.

Unfortunately, I've spent big parts of my life being mad at the world, angry at others, and just an all around unhappy person. I could point fingers at those that were to blame and most people would have justified me in feeling that way.  As I've gotten older, I've gained some wisdom and some perspective. As cliche as it is, I know that things could always be worse and I should always be thankful for what I have. I've seen others struggle through far worse and come out stronger than ever imaginable. I'm constantly amazed by those around me who persevere. I just spent the past two days at a work conference hearing from those who work in the field of child abuse. Talk about the epitome of unfair. I've heard stories from adults who survived abuse at the hands of adults who were supposed to love and care for them. I've spoken to those that have investigated and prosecuted those cases in hopes of giving a voice to the voiceless and restoring some sense of justice to an unjust world.  It is in being witness to the struggles of others that my strength has increased.

I know that the experience has a profound impact on the growth of my own strength to push through tough times. But I know that it only grows because the root of my strength lies in God. My trust rests solely in God and I know He will carry us through difficult times. His love is never failing and He is always present.

During the sermon at church this Sunday, our preacher shared a quote that stuck with me: in this life we will not find explanations but we will always find God's promises.

The Bible is full of those promises. My favorite (it hangs on the wall in my bathroom and I look at it every morning) has always been Jeremiah 29:11:

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Trying to find answers to the "whys" in this world will only leave us more frustrated and brokenhearted. Because there are no answers to those questions in this life. But there is something much, much better. God's promise. His promise that YOU are taken care of by HIM. That He has amazing plans for you, better that ones you or I could ever dream up. That even in the midst of the struggle and the uncertainly, there is hope. And that's a guarantee. 

So, don't despair. Instead, copy this sentence below, add your name and post in your car, on your computer, on your bathroom mirror or fridge. Then make a copy, add the name of a friend who is struggling and share it with them.

For God knows the plans He has for you, ________________. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Take heart. Better days are just ahead.

*M

Positive Posts

If your day is anything like mine, it probably looks something like this:

Wake up (usually tired) and grumble about various aches and pains,
rush to get ready (possibly spilling coffee on yourself), grab the baby and run out the house-sans shoes,
sit in awful rush hour traffic,
make it to daycare to drop off the baby (perhaps forgetting to pack her breakfast but thankfully finding a backup bag of Cheerios in your bag),
hurry to make it to work on time,
barely make it on time and are greeted by a long to-do list (and maybe a few grumpy co-workers),
work through lunch (or skip it all together),
fly out the door at 5pm to pick up the baby from daycare,
sit in more frustrating rush hour traffic (with a now fussy and tired baby),
throw some dinner together,
bath the baby and unload/load the dishes (or a load of laundry),
rock the baby to sleep,
fall into bed.

Repeat.

Sound familiar?

Our days are filled with annoyances, frustrations, irritations, and disappointments. And we feel lucky when we have a few little bright spots sprinkled throughout. Maybe a someone lets you over in traffic or a co-worker offers to help on a major project or a friend treats you to lunch. We feel so lucky, happy and thankful in these moments, often because they are such a rare occurrence. We have become so accustom to fighting and struggling and mumbling and grumbling throughout our days. What a sad way to live the only life we have.

That's why I'm starting a series of Positive Posts on this blog. I've had it with all the negatively. Yes, I've been guilty of it myself (hello, we are all human) but I want to be a part of doing good. I want to be a light to others.  To show love in the middle of a loveless world.

This feeling has been building in me for quite sometime. This desire, NEED, to do something. I found myself reading blog after blog with people talking about the same, exact thing. Wanting to put more good than bad out there. The more I read and the more I see, I truly believe this a movement I want to be a part of.

So, this begins a journey. A journey to share, to love, to support and to spread happiness. To be a positive force. I hope you will considering joining me as we do our small part to change the world.

*M