Because I believe that freedom is not primarily for the privileged, but for the oppressed, and because I believe that the strong are obligated to take up the cause of the weak, and because I believe that those whose voice has not been silenced are duty bound to speak for those who have no say, I will fly my flag proudly today and say thank you to those who have given their lives not only to protect America, but to fight for freedom all over the world.
I have a bobblehead of Barry Bonds that my mom gave me and it sits on the shelf above the computer in my kitchen. Just jiggle him and he nods his head, “Yes, yes, yes.” Whatever your feelings about Barry Bonds personally, his bobblehead is a great role model.
I read a devotional the other day that talked about having a “yes” face. How do people perceive you? Do you have a face that invites conversation? Inquiry? Friendship? In regards to our kids, my husband is often telling me, “Say yes whenever you can.”
It’s easy with simple things: Can I take the bird out of his cage? Sure, that doesn’t cost me any extra energy. Can I make a smoothie? Well, will everything be cleaned up? What will I have to invest in this project? Can I have a sleepover? Wow. That’s a much bigger commitment on my part!
So basically what I’m saying is, if it’s convenient for me, I’ll say yes. And that’s just plain selfish. Not that I need to concede to every request of my children, but if it’s a reasonable request, why not say yes?
Will you play with me?
Can we make cookies together?
Can my friend come over to play?
I’ve seen a couple of really cool times in the past week when God has said “Yes” to things I have asked for. First, last Sunday our church was holding a big outdoor celebration. When David got up early that morning to go over and help run sound for the event, it was lightly raining. I looked at the forecast, and it was calling for a 45% chance of rain right at the time of our celebration. I prayed, asking God to keep the rain away from us for that time. This was a really big deal in the life of our church family, and rain would have washed us out. about a half hour later, I checked the forecast again. Guess what it said. Zero percent chance of rain.
God loves saying yes.
The second time was just today. My friend Carol had told us that her son, Roy, who is my son Nathan’s friend, had mononucleosis. Eight days before their graduation from middle school. What a big bummer. Depending on what the blood work showed, he could be down and out for weeks. Again, I went to God in prayer. This morning, Carol called to tell me that Roy’s blood work looked beautiful. No mono. Praise God.
God always has a good reason for telling us no, or wait. I don’t always have a good reason for telling my kids no. Have I raised kids who don’t take the initiative in life because I told them no too often? I pray that’s not the case, and I will work on saying yes more often. After all, I desire to hear God say yes to me, don’t I? Be like Bobblehead Barry: “Yes, yes, yes.”
“You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God” (James 4:2).
Thankful today for:
891. answered prayer
892. a new refrigerator
893. growing investments
894. a 3-day weekend
895. America’s lost and wounded warriors
896. nearly a month on my exercise plan
897. recognition for Justin for his academic achievement
898. a hair cut
899. rain for my new rose bush and transplanted avocado volunteer
900. early baseball games
Today is my 22nd anniversary. Seems like such a short time ago that I was writing about my 21st anniversary. My, how time flies. I have a wonderful husband who loves me more than I ever thought anyone would love me. Here’s 22 reasons I love him, too.
1. He’s a man after God’s own heart
2. He likes to hang out with his family
3. He’s really smart
4. I never have to worry about where he is or what he’s doing
5. He’s handsome
6. He, without hesitation, took in his mother nearly 4 years ago when his parents separated
7. He doesn’t hold onto a grudge
8. He’s a hard worker
9. He sends me sappy lyrics from country songs
10. He has a servant’s heart
11. He’s not a complainer
12. He cares about keeping up his health
13. He lets us have pets even though he doesn’t like them
14. He puts up with the messiness of life without nagging
15. He puts up with me 🙂
16. He’s musical
17. He’s funny (though he says I never laugh at his jokes)
18. He’s generous
19. He’s a great dad
20. He likes to bake
21. He’s loyal
22. He loves me!
I could go on, but I wanted to share 22 things on our 22nd anniversary. I love you, David Reeves, and I’m so glad we’re doing this thing called life together.
I receive a daily e-devotional from Cru’s ministry to families, FamilyLife. The other day, I was struck by the words of the post about watching what we say and why. Around our house, we don’t allow vulgar language. I have never heard my kids use bad language, my husband and I don’t use bad language, and we even had a foul-language filter for our T.V. for movies that otherwise would be entertaining for our family. I can’t say it any better than FamilyLife founder, Dennis Rainey, so please read his words and think about what might issue forth from your lips. Is it from a clean well or a dirty one?
Potty Mouths
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29
Dennis Rainey
Fifty years ago, censors were allowed to delete crude terms from books before they were published. When James Jones, for example, included more than 250 vulgar words in his final manuscript of From Here to Eternity, censors eliminated 208 of them from the original hardcover edition. When the book came out in paperback, they deleted all the rest. They simply didn’t want the masses reading profane words. Read more
I’ve gotten behind on my thankfulness list, so I need to step up the pace to make 1,000 by the end of the year. But there is so much to be thankful for, that shouldn’t be too hard. Maybe at the end I’ll compile them all and see what it looks like all together. I know there have been repeats, but that just means I’m extra thankful for those things 🙂
Thankful today for:
710. light
711. the smell of gingerbread
712. glitter
713. Christmas cookies
714. God’s provision for not just us, but others
715. peace
716. mercy
717. grace
718. not having to be in a rush
719. love
720. laughter
721. compassion
722. silly jokes
723. open windows in December
724. the state of my electric bill because of the warmer weather
725. innocence
726. handmade ornaments
727. generosity growing in my children’s hearts
728. natural healing aids
729. a smoke-free environment
730. much to celebrate
I keep having this recurring dream. No, it’s not the one where I show up at a college class I never even knew I had to find out there’s an exam I’ve never studied for. I haven’t had that one in awhile. In this one, I’m driving a car and coming up to a stop, and as hard as I push on that brake pedal, I cannot get the car to stop. It’s a very out-of-control feeling.
Out of control. Yep, that’s what it is alright. I’m a mother, watching my son become a man, and there’s nothing I can do about it. Not that I’m supposed to do anything about it. This is the way it’s supposed to be. But, take yesterday for example. We sent him off at 4:00 in the morning with about 100 people that I don’t know to a place we’ve never been to do something he’s never done before. Granted, the rest of the family would be meeting him there a few hours later, but still, the dream came.
Yesterday’s event was an Air Force Junior ROTC drill competition. Justin’s goal in life is to be an Air Force fighter pilot. It’s been my habit to thank active duty or retired military personnel for their service when I see them. Now, I do it with a bit of a tear in my eye as I think that someday in the not-too-distant future, that could be my son.
I’m having to release control, cut the ol’ apron strings, as they say. It started when he entered high school. Before that, he’d been under my watchful eye at our parent-involved private Christian school. When he started public high school, I felt like I was sending him into the lion’s den. He survived–even thrived–so this year wasn’t as tough. But I know that, in less than three short years, he’ll be leaving my little nest and I won’t have any control whatsoever.
Thank God that He’s still in control. And I can pray.
I know all my friends who have gone through this before are laughing at me–or maybe they’re nodding their heads in sympathy. That 
dream might come more and more often. And I’ve got two more kids to go after this one. *sigh* Those baby days were a lot easier than this. They are maybe not as physically exhausting, but emotionally, well, let’s just say I’m earning my gray hair.
I’m proud of the man he’s becoming. I pray that he seeks to stay close to God his entire life. That will make this letting go thing a lot easier on me, if I know he’s making good choices hand-in-hand with his Lord.
And it would be nice to hear “M’am, yes m’am!” around the house sometimes.
Thankful today for:
630. an extra hour’s sleep
631. sunshine with no sweating
632. pictures of fall in other places, because we have no color here
633. food when my stomach rumbles
634. the approaching holiday season
635. open doors
Compelled 