It’s a vicious cycle. You see a woman who does something really well, let’s say cooking, and you initially admire her and praise her for her kitchen prowess. The admiration might turn into inquiring how she became so proficient at making meals for her family. Then a little voice begins speaking, “You can’t cook like that. Your dinners always turn out bland and uncreative. You are lucky if you don’t burn dinner. Stop trying, she is just better than you.” What was once admiration has now turned into discouraging comparison, and now you are just straight-up jealous.
Count Your Blessings in 2012
012 has arrived and many of us have moved from family mode to reflective mode. We are making lists and making goals. We are resolving to exercise more, read more, accomplish a difficult task, or learn a new skill. We are looking back at 2011 and looking forward to 2012. The beginning of a year can feel very hopeful and anticipatory about what is to come. Maybe 2011 wasn’t the year you expected, and you want 2012 to be the turning of a page and start of a new and better chapter of your life.
2011 Year in Review in Pictures
Waiting for the Light
One of the hardest elements of this past year has been the lingering feelings of darkness and sadness. It is in these moments that it seems that I'm unable to feel anything at all. I know I should be feeling joy in the Lord. I know my only hope is to treasure Christ and cling to him alone. I know I should be talking to myself instead of listening to myself. I know a lot of things in those moments, but the kicker is that I don't feel a lot of things.
Silent Christmas: A Poem
No infant cries to call our own
No tiny presents that fill our home
Just a deafening silence that tells a story
Of what was, is not, and now will not be
We sing the songs that tell of good cheer
And all the while wish you were here
Your mommy and daddy, we miss you so
Yet in our sadness we hope and know
That your Christmas celebration is much greater than this
More joy, more laughter, and endless bliss
For in our Savior's presence you forever will stand
And one day we will meet you in Emmanuel's land
No tiny presents that fill our home
Just a deafening silence that tells a story
Of what was, is not, and now will not be
We sing the songs that tell of good cheer
And all the while wish you were here
Your mommy and daddy, we miss you so
Yet in our sadness we hope and know
That your Christmas celebration is much greater than this
More joy, more laughter, and endless bliss
For in our Savior's presence you forever will stand
And one day we will meet you in Emmanuel's land
Friday is for Fotos: Christmas with Family
Hope for the Holidays: You Are Not Forgotten
For many people the Christmas season is a joyous time filled with family gatherings, way too much (good) food, and an abundance of gifts. But for some, it’s far from the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas is only a reminder of what is missing, or broken, or not right. Christmas only highlights the fact that they feel completely forgotten by God.
Rest is Not My Savior
The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be an extremely busy time for most people. Between the rush to buy the perfect gifts for family and friends and the seemingly endless parties and family gatherings, we can easily burnout before mid-December. As I’ve gotten older I’ve started to realize that the holiday season just seems to get busier and busier. And sometimes I just don’t like all of the busyness.
Friday is for Fotos: Oklahoma City
A couple of weeks ago Daniel and I went to Oklahoma City for his job, and while we were there we visited the memorial site where the Oklahoma City bombing happened. It was a very well done memorial, but it was sobering to walk through the place where 168 Americans were tragically killed. I remember exactly what I was doing when the news broke that the bombing had taken place. I was home sick from school that day, and I remember watching the coverage with my mom and being scared and overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all. As a 12 year old it was really frightening, especially knowing that 19 children were killed as well.
The chairs were the most moving part to us. Each chair represents a person who was killed, with the smaller ones representing the children killed. Below are some of the pictures that we took from our visit.
He Made Himself Nothing
"The Holy Spirit wants us to understand where Christ came from. Paul tells us in Philippians 2:5-7, 'Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.'