Each of us has a story.
It begins at birth--
who our parents and siblings are (or aren't),
our family's geography and circumstance,
their choices and beliefs.
We cannot control these aspects of our lives;
they are chosen for us.
As we grow, the story continues to unfold--
who we choose as our friends,
decisions that we personally make for our lives,
the people around us--
all play a part in who we become.
For the most part,
our development now depends
on the choices we make.
Yes, there are things that happen that are
beyond our control,
but even these things affect our stories
not so much by what they inherently are
but how we choose to respond to them.
This is reality.
Yet many of us create pictures in our minds
of how we think our lives should look.
We see people around us--
our friends, colleagues, mentors,
social media connections
(yes, this includes blogs)--
and we assume from what we see that their lives
are all together. Picture perfect.
(*found on Pinterest)
Isn't this true?
We see a snapshot, a moment in time.
Maybe it's a chosen moment,
such as a blogpost or Facebook status.
Or maybe it's someone we spend a
good deal of time with that we justifiably admire.
We still don't live with that person,
day in and day out.
We see the highlight reel,
not real life.
And the truth is,
real life can be real messy.
We had the privilege of hearing Reggie Joiner
speak this morning and he was talking about this very thing.
Real life doesn't look like the family photo
or the Christmas card picture.
These are ideals or images that we create when we're at our best,
they just aren't what real life looks like.
We've all had difficulties, heartache, regret.
We still do.
Each of us is broken, imperfect in our own way.
This is reality.
However,
"God doesn't use perfect pictures, he uses broken people to tell
His story of restoration and redemption." (RJ)
This is reality, too.
I know it to be so true in my own life.
It was in a deeply broken place
that I experienced this redemption.
And I now want to be a conduit of His grace
and restoration to those around me.
I fully trust God's goodness in all things
and want that to be the focus.
*via
This is what I want to do.
Because there is joy to be found in all things,
even the messy and difficult.
I want this to be a choice in my actions and words.
And as I document my family's life on this blog,
this is the purpose I have in recounting things.
Purposeful snapshots.
Truth is,
I yell at my kids sometimes.
My kids bicker with each other.
We have been known to eat cereal for dinner at 9 pm.
More than once.
Currently, the dryer is overflowing with clothes
that should have been folded
yesterday.
There are weeds in the garden.
The dog pooped upstairs when our house was being appraised last week.
Real life, not reel life.
Yes, it can be messy.
My family and I are far from perfect.
In fact, we are broken vessels.
Yet, miraculously,
God is in the midst of it all,
wanting to tell His story.
His hope, joy, peace and freedom.
What amazing gifts He gives us all!
our development now depends
on the choices we make.
Yes, there are things that happen that are
beyond our control,
but even these things affect our stories
not so much by what they inherently are
but how we choose to respond to them.
This is reality.
Yet many of us create pictures in our minds
of how we think our lives should look.
We see people around us--
our friends, colleagues, mentors,
social media connections
(yes, this includes blogs)--
and we assume from what we see that their lives
are all together. Picture perfect.
Isn't this true?
We see a snapshot, a moment in time.
Maybe it's a chosen moment,
such as a blogpost or Facebook status.
Or maybe it's someone we spend a
good deal of time with that we justifiably admire.
We still don't live with that person,
day in and day out.
We see the highlight reel,
not real life.
And the truth is,
real life can be real messy.
We had the privilege of hearing Reggie Joiner
speak this morning and he was talking about this very thing.
Real life doesn't look like the family photo
or the Christmas card picture.
These are ideals or images that we create when we're at our best,
they just aren't what real life looks like.
We've all had difficulties, heartache, regret.
We still do.
Each of us is broken, imperfect in our own way.
This is reality.
However,
"God doesn't use perfect pictures, he uses broken people to tell
His story of restoration and redemption." (RJ)
This is reality, too.
I know it to be so true in my own life.
It was in a deeply broken place
that I experienced this redemption.
And I now want to be a conduit of His grace
and restoration to those around me.
I fully trust God's goodness in all things
and want that to be the focus.
This is what I want to do.
Because there is joy to be found in all things,
even the messy and difficult.
I want this to be a choice in my actions and words.
And as I document my family's life on this blog,
this is the purpose I have in recounting things.
Purposeful snapshots.
Truth is,
I yell at my kids sometimes.
My kids bicker with each other.
We have been known to eat cereal for dinner at 9 pm.
More than once.
Currently, the dryer is overflowing with clothes
that should have been folded
yesterday.
There are weeds in the garden.
The dog pooped upstairs when our house was being appraised last week.
Real life, not reel life.
Yes, it can be messy.
My family and I are far from perfect.
In fact, we are broken vessels.
Yet, miraculously,
God is in the midst of it all,
wanting to tell His story.
His hope, joy, peace and freedom.
What amazing gifts He gives us all!
AMEN, SISTER!!!! God's words through Reggie yesterday were such a powerful reminder!! Praise God that He uses broken people...otherwise (as Reggie said) we would ALL be disqualified from ministry! :)
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