I was able to see this "skin on skin" concept lived out last week. I was in Little Rock and was privileged to go out to breakfast one morning with my friend, Lisa. During our normal routine of eating, making fun of how she orders food, etc...I began to share some struggles I have been having...not major things, but nuisances big enough for me to blab. Lisa was able to redirect me, point me to true north, and remind me of who I am and whose I am!
Skin on skin lived out. I left breakfast warmed, thriving, and ready to begin this journey called "life" once again. Thanks, Lisa!!!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Monday, June 27, 2011
Skin on Skin
I have been thinking about when my kids were born. At some point, while I was in the hospital with each one of them, I was told that their temperature was a bit low. To solve this problem, the nurse had me completely undress my baby and place him (or her) against me, skin on skin.
It always seemed a bit strange to me. Seemed like the baby would be warmer by bundling up in more clothes or blankets.....but that's not what worked. What worked was both of us becoming completely vulnerable and getting as close together as possible. Very quickly, we both could feel the effects of this skin on skin method. We became like toaster ovens and soon, my baby would be out of danger and thriving again.
Isn't that like the life that God has designed us to live? We tend to think that when we aren't doing well, that we can just isolate and bundle up more and somehow warm ourselves up enough that we get ourselves out of danger and thrive again. But we couldn't be more wrong! God wants us to live in community...accountability and mentoring. HE wants us to become vulnerable and live so closely with others that we warm each other, get each other out of danger, and thrive again...all done skin on skin.
Who are you helping to thrive? Who is helping you? Try living skin on skin and see how God warms you up enough to really live!!!!
It always seemed a bit strange to me. Seemed like the baby would be warmer by bundling up in more clothes or blankets.....but that's not what worked. What worked was both of us becoming completely vulnerable and getting as close together as possible. Very quickly, we both could feel the effects of this skin on skin method. We became like toaster ovens and soon, my baby would be out of danger and thriving again.
Isn't that like the life that God has designed us to live? We tend to think that when we aren't doing well, that we can just isolate and bundle up more and somehow warm ourselves up enough that we get ourselves out of danger and thrive again. But we couldn't be more wrong! God wants us to live in community...accountability and mentoring. HE wants us to become vulnerable and live so closely with others that we warm each other, get each other out of danger, and thrive again...all done skin on skin.
Who are you helping to thrive? Who is helping you? Try living skin on skin and see how God warms you up enough to really live!!!!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Summer Time
Darby took this pic of the three littlest ones. I love these kids very much. I love the photographer. And I love the one who isn't in this pic! Fun summer picture.Monday, May 16, 2011
To Remember....
Daddy has Alzheimer's.
He is slipping away, mentally, right before my eyes.
The other day, I was sitting with him while my mom was taken out by a friend for her birthday. When I sit with Daddy, I always ask questions about his past and love to hear the fun stories he tells. This time it was different. He didn't know who I was.
Now, I know that that is the way with Alzheimer's! I get it! But up to this point, he might not have known others, but has always known me.
It was quite a shock that rocked me to my core. I don't know why it was so horrific for me....he goes in and out of knowing my mom (his wife for 51 years) and my brother...but I guess since he had always known me, I allowed myself to live under the delusion that he would always know me.
Not to be the case.
I realize that I have allowed myself this little delusionary fantasy before. For instance, since I have worn glasses since 2nd grade, for some reason I thought that I would never have bi-focals! I know....why would one preclude the other? But you see where my mind lives! :)
Yesterday, at church, he knew me by name again. What a blessing for me! I will treasure those moments from now on in a different way than before.
I love Daddy so very much!
He is slipping away, mentally, right before my eyes.
The other day, I was sitting with him while my mom was taken out by a friend for her birthday. When I sit with Daddy, I always ask questions about his past and love to hear the fun stories he tells. This time it was different. He didn't know who I was.
Now, I know that that is the way with Alzheimer's! I get it! But up to this point, he might not have known others, but has always known me.
It was quite a shock that rocked me to my core. I don't know why it was so horrific for me....he goes in and out of knowing my mom (his wife for 51 years) and my brother...but I guess since he had always known me, I allowed myself to live under the delusion that he would always know me.
Not to be the case.
I realize that I have allowed myself this little delusionary fantasy before. For instance, since I have worn glasses since 2nd grade, for some reason I thought that I would never have bi-focals! I know....why would one preclude the other? But you see where my mind lives! :)
Yesterday, at church, he knew me by name again. What a blessing for me! I will treasure those moments from now on in a different way than before.
I love Daddy so very much!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Tale of Two Cities
After having spent a week in Little Rock, the kids and I are back home. Lovely to be home. Lovely to be in Little Rock. I always feel so very loved when I am in Little Rock. I always feel so very loved when I am back home.
How is that?
God has provided two very different places that are both my homes! Each place has special people...near and dear to my heart folks.
I am truly blessed!
How is that?
God has provided two very different places that are both my homes! Each place has special people...near and dear to my heart folks.
I am truly blessed!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Emotions! Ugh!
I am an emotional gal. I have always been an emotional gal. And I can only assume that I will always be an emtional gal.
I hate it!
I was able to meet with two sweet gals yesterday. They are gals who were in our Sunday School class in Little Rock....I love them dearly. We were talking about homeschooling and our lives and our children....and our husbands. It was just regular conversation. Nothing spectacular. Nothing earth-shattering.
So after a terrific time of chatting, catching up, and seeing babies I hadn't met yet, what do I do?
I cry! All the way home, I cried! Ridiculous...yet, there was something in that mundane, everyday conversation that made me miss them so much. Made me miss the relationship we had when we saw each other at least weekly.
I am emotional and I hate it!
I hate it!
I was able to meet with two sweet gals yesterday. They are gals who were in our Sunday School class in Little Rock....I love them dearly. We were talking about homeschooling and our lives and our children....and our husbands. It was just regular conversation. Nothing spectacular. Nothing earth-shattering.
So after a terrific time of chatting, catching up, and seeing babies I hadn't met yet, what do I do?
I cry! All the way home, I cried! Ridiculous...yet, there was something in that mundane, everyday conversation that made me miss them so much. Made me miss the relationship we had when we saw each other at least weekly.
I am emotional and I hate it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)