As I wrote this post, I was listening to my little brood, giggling and marathon watching old reruns of reality shows they used to watch years ago when they were teenagers. Brad and Kayla were here for Christmas and when they are in town, Kristen is "in town." She moves back in and they are all "here." It's great and I love having a full house.
I began to notice a pattern as they were watching their shows. As an episode would end they would Google the people to find out "where are they now." I started thinking to myself. It's always dangerous when I start thinking, but bear with me a second. They do this for child actors and stars all the time. The Brady Bunch, The Partridge Family, Boy Meets World, Saved By the Bell, etc. What if we did this for general, everyday people. Would it be something that we would want people to see? As I was thinking through this process, I was reminded of a funeral service that I attended and provided music for recently. Pastor Sears was speaking and my heart was blessed to hear all of the wonderful things about this precious lady. Things about how she had lived her life before God and her family and friends. As I sat there listening, I thought to myself, what will someone say about me someday? I mentioned this to another lady that was there and she said that she had the very same thought.
Where is Felicia now? Is she making millions of dollars? Is she in a foreign country feeding the hungry? Does she go straight to work and back home again every day, day in and day out? Does she party all day and every weekend with nothing to show for her life but a good time? What good has she done? Did she make a difference in someone's life? Does she live her life in a way that is acceptable to God? If someone put our life up on a screen in front of everyone with a headline that read "Where Are They Now" would we be able to look at it and say that we made our life count for something? What will someone say about you someday? You know, it's never too late to write your story.
I saw this on a website http://spiritualinspiration.tumblr.com/ and I thought it was very appropriate for this post.
You are not too dirty for God to cleanse.
You are not too broken for God to fix.
You are not too far for God to reach.
You are not too guilty for God to forgive
And you are not too worthless for God to love.
Anonymous
(I've tried to find the author. If you know who it is, please let me know and I will give credit where credit is due.)
Until we meet again, Fifi
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Monday, January 12, 2015
"A Little Boy and Frogger"
Me: I don't know how to make the frog jump. We played with a joystick when we played years ago.
Luke: What's a joystick?
Me: Well, it's one of those things that you hold when you are playing a game. You know, the thing that makes the frog jump.
Luke: Huh? Why don't you just hit this button?
Me: Right. Right.
I was playing Frogger tonight with Luke and was trying to get the frog to swim across the river by using the mouse. ( I know, don't say it.) I so don't know how to play a game on the laptop. I do know now. Thank you very much and thank you Luke. It's a bit humbling to be schooled by a five year old.
Luke is one of those kids who goes full steam ahead, 100% of the time. However, tonight he wanted to "watch" me play video games. He didn't want to play himself. Just watch me. (insert hysterical laugh) It had to be the most riveting thing he has done in days. He was the quietest that I've ever seen him. This was a new thing for us. Usually he is on the go and doesn't have time to sit with me but tonight we sat. He had fruit snacks, I had goldfish. I learned to play a video game on the laptop. He taught me. I listened and learned.
It's the little things. It's those moments when you tune out the outside and sit quietly with a precious, 90mph little boy and he patiently watches and teaches you to play a game and you soak it all in because this moment will be lost in time if you don't. You may never get it again. We need to slow down and grasp these moments. Life is just too fast. It is folks. We rush and rush and we miss it and then we wonder where has time gone.
I reflect back to the days my kids were little. Those times of sitting and reading books, curled up on the couch with our blankets. We would read the same book over and over and over again. I would finish the book and they would say "read it again mommy" and I would think can we please read another book. Back then I wanted to move on but now I smile when I think of those little bodies cuddled up next to me. All they wanted was to be with me. We can't go back but we can make now as good as it can be. We can cherish the moments we have.
Take time to cherish the moments that we have with those we love. Slow down and enjoy your people and those around you. Say no, to the things that aren't important and yes to the things that are. Make life sweet. Listen to a child. You might just learn something.
Luke: What's a joystick?
Me: Well, it's one of those things that you hold when you are playing a game. You know, the thing that makes the frog jump.
Luke: Huh? Why don't you just hit this button?
Me: Right. Right.
I was playing Frogger tonight with Luke and was trying to get the frog to swim across the river by using the mouse. ( I know, don't say it.) I so don't know how to play a game on the laptop. I do know now. Thank you very much and thank you Luke. It's a bit humbling to be schooled by a five year old.
Luke is one of those kids who goes full steam ahead, 100% of the time. However, tonight he wanted to "watch" me play video games. He didn't want to play himself. Just watch me. (insert hysterical laugh) It had to be the most riveting thing he has done in days. He was the quietest that I've ever seen him. This was a new thing for us. Usually he is on the go and doesn't have time to sit with me but tonight we sat. He had fruit snacks, I had goldfish. I learned to play a video game on the laptop. He taught me. I listened and learned.
It's the little things. It's those moments when you tune out the outside and sit quietly with a precious, 90mph little boy and he patiently watches and teaches you to play a game and you soak it all in because this moment will be lost in time if you don't. You may never get it again. We need to slow down and grasp these moments. Life is just too fast. It is folks. We rush and rush and we miss it and then we wonder where has time gone.
I reflect back to the days my kids were little. Those times of sitting and reading books, curled up on the couch with our blankets. We would read the same book over and over and over again. I would finish the book and they would say "read it again mommy" and I would think can we please read another book. Back then I wanted to move on but now I smile when I think of those little bodies cuddled up next to me. All they wanted was to be with me. We can't go back but we can make now as good as it can be. We can cherish the moments we have.
Take time to cherish the moments that we have with those we love. Slow down and enjoy your people and those around you. Say no, to the things that aren't important and yes to the things that are. Make life sweet. Listen to a child. You might just learn something.
Luke
(Picture used with parental permission)
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Getting the Knack of Being Still
I decided way back, sometime last year, like at the beginning of the year, that I needed to simplify. Remember, I needed to "be still." Life had gotten out of control. I was busy all the time. I was burning the candle at both ends. Just as I started into my "be still" mode, I had surgery to repair my rotator cuff, got the flu, etc, etc. moved into the spring and summer and had yet to find stillness. I had used up practically all my vacation as sick time in the first quarter of the year, no stillness there and big changes at work were causing me anything but. No matter how hard I tried I just couldn't get it. So, I tried even harder to "be still." You know what I've learned, sometimes the harder you try the further you get from your goal. I also have found that the harder I tried the more trust I put in myself and the less trust I put in God.
In the process of obtaining this goal of "being still" I built a wall around myself. I went to work everyday. I came straight home from work and I actually planned to not leave the house all day long on my off days. The "stillness" (and I use the term in this context lightly) was great. I'm not going to lie about that. However, there is a price to pay when you shut yourself off from the outside world. You lose emotional contact. Sure, I still called my people, my family and friends, but I didn't "see" them. I didn't realize what I had actually lost until tonight. It's so easy to make excuses. I'm tired. I'm stressed. I'm too busy. I'm this. I'm that and then you fall into that trap and before you know it, two, three, six months have gone by and you have no idea where they went. The truth is, relationships don't grow unless you feed them. You can't sit at home by yourself and expect everything to still be the same when you decide to come back out again. While you've been wasting away life has been progressing along on the outside. There must be balance. Trying to find that is the key. Right? Balance and moderation in all things.
I'm still learning that to "be still" has a more deeper meaning than just being free of activity. Sure, I definitely needed to cut down some of my schedule but there was so much more to this verse. "Be still" and "Listen" for His still small voice. No matter what is going on He is still speaking. We just have to be quiet enough to hear Him.
So, with my new theme for this year coming from Isaiah 43:19, it IS a NEW day. Today is the day to make time for those I love. Isaiah 43:19 says: See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Until we meet again, Fifi
Friday, January 2, 2015
Happy 2015 and a New "Theme"
Can it be 2015 already? It seems like yesterday that I was choosing "be still" as my theme for the year and here I am revealing my theme for a new year. "Be Still" took on a life of it's own. We faced things in 2014. Uphill battles. Hurdles. Some we are still climbing. I can't say that I've conquered being still. I CAN say that I've learned huge, valuable lessons this past year. I've learned that being still and knowing that God (not me) is in control gives me a certain amount of peace. It has gotten a lot easier to turn things over to Him as opposed to handling things myself. "Be still and know that I am God" is much more dear to me now than ever before.
Now, on to 2015. My theme for this year is from Isaiah 43:19 "See, I am doing a NEW thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." So..."NEW thing" is my theme for the NEW year. I'm already amazed at how many times I've seen this verse crop up since I've claimed it for the year. I have a friend that I've been sharing this with. She calls this "God winks." I'm excited to see what NEW things that God is going to do in the next days, months and year. I'm think it is fascinating to watch God work when we open ourselves to His will. So, with that being said...fasten your seatbelts and hold on to your seats. Open your hearts, pray for your family, friends and neighbors. Take your pastors and your churches before the Lord. Really, really pray for them. Let's trust God and see what NEW things He has in store for us in 2015. I'm excited are you?
Now, on to 2015. My theme for this year is from Isaiah 43:19 "See, I am doing a NEW thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." So..."NEW thing" is my theme for the NEW year. I'm already amazed at how many times I've seen this verse crop up since I've claimed it for the year. I have a friend that I've been sharing this with. She calls this "God winks." I'm excited to see what NEW things that God is going to do in the next days, months and year. I'm think it is fascinating to watch God work when we open ourselves to His will. So, with that being said...fasten your seatbelts and hold on to your seats. Open your hearts, pray for your family, friends and neighbors. Take your pastors and your churches before the Lord. Really, really pray for them. Let's trust God and see what NEW things He has in store for us in 2015. I'm excited are you?
On another note: Facebook is now controlling how we "advertise" our blogs. So...if you like reading my blog, please look at the top right hand side of this post and "subscribe" to Fifi's Filosophies. All you have to do is type in your email address and you will get email alerts when I've put up a new blog post. There will be a link in the email that will take you directly to the blog. I also love to hear from you. Please leave comments on the blog as to what God is doing in your life. I think it is exciting when we share with others how God is working. I know I love to hear about it and it inspires me to live more for Him.
Thank you so much for reading and following along with me on this journey. I can't wait to hear and see what God is going to do in and through us this year.
Until we meet again, Fifi
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