These hands have held, been held, worked, wiped tears, patted backs, rubbed headaches away… these hands have been folded in prayer, they’ve reached out to another, twiddled, anxiously moved, covered a mouth filled with laughter, rubbed a back to console.
These hands have written down feelings, held the hand of a dying loved one, held a newborn child straight from the womb. These hands have raised to God in worship, stretched wide in desperation, lifted heavy loads, disciplined out of love, made mistakes, and begged for forgiveness. These hands have loved and lost and hurt and been hurt.
These hands will continue to make a difference here and now and forever. These are hands of mothers, daughters, sisters, friends, wives, cousins, aunts, nieces, a grandmother, a widow, sinners, redeemed women, saved by grace through faith daughters of The King. These are mine and Momma’s hands.
“Leave behind footprints in concrete not footprints in sand that wash away…” ~Heather Dawkins
A thought that came to me the other day.
I was on the treadmill.
Provoking thoughts usually come to me at the strangest times. While mopping or vacuuming or exercising usually.
That might provide some insight into why there have been so few posts lately.. 💁😂
Anyways.. For some reason the poem about footprints in the sand came to mind. I immediately thought of my life & the footprints I am leaving. And just like that, The “footprints in concrete” thought appeared.
I think it’s because of the large amount of time I’ve spent reminiscing since my Daddy died. Replaying events over and over again. Thinking on those footprints he has left that are like concrete in my mind.
Footprints in the sand wash away. The footprints in concrete remain. Daddy left some beautiful concrete footprints.
Which led to me thinking on just what kind of footprint was I going to leave.
Some will be the sand kind. Some will be the concrete kind.
But will they be the beautiful remembering kind?
I’ve not lived a perfect life. I’ve made mistakes. I’ve failed. I’ve fallen.. But I have learned. Isn’t that the blessing?
Even the ugly footprints that we hope will wash away can be where the largest blessings emerge from. The blessings of lessons learned, growth, and hopefully maturity as well.
The concrete footprints are the legacy we leave behind. The lessons learned. The love we gave. The lives we touched along the way.
So I can’t help but wonder, just what kind of reminiscing will be done when my footprints in concrete are left behind.
Do you wonder about your legacy too?
We live here for such a brief moment in the whole scheme of things. Time is such a mystery. We toil and worry and rush around.. But in all the rush, are we doing what is lasting? Are we making lasting footprints? The kind that live on and on and on?
I want to leave behind footprints in concrete not footprints in sand that wash away.
The beautiful remembering kind.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. (Proverbs 4:26 KJV)
Behold, upon the mountains, the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace! (Nahum 1:15 a ESV)
I’m normally a coffee drinker. Love my coffee. Every morning.
My momma, my daughters, and I are enjoying a girls trip. We are visiting my aunt and family in North Georgia. My aunt and cousin love to go to tea at the neatest little place. {Tea Leaves & Thyme}
So much fun! They even provide hats to wear! Of course, I HAD to wear a hat. {2 hats actually}
There’s something about getting away. Doing different things. Trying new experiences. It refreshes and renews your soul.
My sweet aunt purchased my first tea-cup and saucer at an antique shop today. I let my girls pick the cup and saucer that they wanted so that we can have our own tea parties at home. {whether they like it or not} 🙂
Being present looks different on each day. Today it looked like a tea party. Tomorrow, who knows. I plan on BEING PRESENTwhatever the day brings our way.
Time is a gift. Time is valuable. When it’s here it’s here and when it’s gone it’s gone. Spend it wisely.
Until Next Time,
sisters…that’s a chocolate cherry “mouse”
Me having Peach and Flowers tea in hat #2.Tea party in hat #1.Tea party with my daughters.Momma and Jillian
My tea-pot and Aunt Lori’s tea-pot..Rock sugar in the background.Our antique tea cups and saucers for future tea parties.
Fun facts about Tea and Tea Parties:
Tea is a natural antioxidant, and rich in vitamins and contains vitamins B2, B1 and B6.
Tea is also rich in potassium, manganese, folic acid and calcium.
At 11 o’clock in the morning, to stay alert, in England it’s common to take a break with a cup of tea and some cakes: Elevenses is what they call it. Before dinner, however, you can take ‘high tea’: a kind of reinforced snack.
There are many different kinds of tea, but they are all derived from just one plant: Camellia sinensis. The color and variety of the tea (green, black, white, oolong) depends, however, on the way the leaves are treated.
Tea bags were invented in America in the early 1800s, and were initially used to hold samples of teas brought from India. Today, 96% of all cups of tea served around the world were made using teabags.
The first tea used in England came from Dutch sources between 1652 and 1654. When Charles II of England married the Portuguese princess Catherine of Braganza, she introduced the pleasures of tea drinking to the English Court.
Not living in the here and now. Focusing on the future. The future that we aren’t even guaranteed. Instead of living where we are right now.
As I was thinking about what I was going to share on the blog today, my Daddy’s words came to my mind.
I can see myself sitting on the sofa in their family room. Talking about some future plans. Can’t remember just what. Other than saying: “I can’t wait until….” To which Daddy replied with something like: “I don’t want to hurry time up..my days seem to fly by..time is just flying by for me.” He was so right.
He knew how precious time was. He knew how fast life here on earth could be over. He lived life to the fullest. He loved with everything he had and he taught me to really live and really love.
I learned from the best. To not wish my life away. To enjoy each moment. To not rush time.
I am learning to be really present, not distracted by technology or tv or even good things and people who may take my focus off of who I am with at the time.
The little things in life really are the big things. Especially when the memories are all that you have left. The simple things. The times that you were all there and not distracted. Those moments are precious.
What are you learning during this 31 Days of Being Present? Share in the comments. Would love to hear from you.
If you are new here or have missed any of the 31 day posts, you can find them all on the Intro post to 31 Days here. Thanks for stopping by.
Women need to stop wearing masks and stop assuming that everyone else has it all together. We need to be real and transparent and share the good the bad and the ugly. (No, I don’t mean to rant or tell all.. Face it, nobody wants to hear it all) I’m saying share the real you, not just the “highlight reel” or the “photoshopped version”. And we also need to quit comparing what we assume others are to how we think of ourselves.
None of us are perfect. None of us have it all together. Just because we have a great photo that looks like we do..doesn’t mean it’s real. Or maybe it is at that moment. What about after? Is it always picture perfect?
And I’m not saying that a great photoshopped photo is bad! Trust me.. I love them. I’m just saying that if we want to reach other women for Christ, then we might need to let them see that we don’t have it all together all of the time either.
How can one relate to someone that pretends to be perfect? Nobody is perfect. Nobody has it all together. Why do women,especially, believe the lies that we tell ourselves? Why do we compare our wrong thoughts about ourselves to what we assume to be real about another woman?
What if instead of assuming, and comparing, and being prideful, that we were real?
It is a pride issue ladies.
Call it what it is.
You can’t pull a weed from the top and expect it not to grow back. You have to dig deep and pull the weed out at the root.
And I’m not saying that we should vomit negativity. I’m saying that we need to deal with ourselves. Deep digging. Get real with the root. Take off the masks. Stop assuming. Quit comparing. Walk in faith.
Walk in belief.
The belief that God is enough and that he doesn’t make junk.
The belief that not every other woman has it all together.
Yet, if they do have it more together, then what is their secret?
I’ll tell you the secret. It’s found in Philippians. The secret to contentment is belief and faith in Jesus.
Paul found the secret to being content.
Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:11-13 NLT)
The truth is that we are all dealing with our own insecurities. Yet, we don’t have to be in bondage to those insecurities. God doesn’t talk to us the way we talk to ourselves. Why do we?!
Faith is the secret.
Faith that Jesus is enough. That Jesus provides all that we need and at just the right time.
And honestly, we as women, need each other.
If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. (Ecclesiastes 4:10 NLT)
Maybe, just maybe, if we would stop assuming and take off the masks, we would see that we are not all that different.
To me picture perfect is showing the real you.
The real you (or ME) that messes up. Fails daily. That Desperately needs Jesus every single second of every day.
Today, as promised, I am continuing the message : What Are You Filling The Voids With? , and if you missed the first part you should click on the title/link above.
To begin this second part of the message, I need to ask you again, if you know HIM and if HE knows you. As I said in yesterday’s post, there is a difference between head knowledge and heart knowledge.
Here is another really simple and you may think “crazy” way to look at it…….
Are you a SHEEP or a GOAT?
Jesus is often referred to as The Shepherd in scripture, and if you are saved, you would be referred to as SHEEP. Sheep needed the shepherd to guide them and show them where to eat and drink. Sheep needed protection from wolves, and the shepherd often slept in the pen with the sheep and stretched across the entrance to keep them safe from wolves while the sheep slept. Every sheep mattered, and the shepherd went to great lengths to find even just ONE lost sheep.
Seeing any parallels yet?
Sheep and goats often “hung out” and grazed together. Yet when it was time for the sheep to have the wool sheared off, the shepherd would separate the sheep from the goats.
God will separate the sheep from the goats as well.
The true follower from the great pretender.
The real from the fake.
Matthew 25:31-34 ~ When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people from one another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.
Here’s some good news though, If you are a GOAT you can still become a SHEEP!
God’s love is unfailing, unchangeable, immeasurable, and AMAZING! His grace is enough! Our small minds cannot comprehend how deep HIS love is for us!
1 John 1:9 ~ If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
Hebrews 7:24,25 ~ But Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
God loves you as you are. He loves you too much to leave you that way though. He sees you, loves you, and wants a relationship with you.
If you do know Jesus, and heaven is your home, then I ask this : ARE YOU SHINING JESUS?
Or is there some junk that you need to clear out of the way so that others can see HIM in you again?
Shine Jesus or shine the world…and the world doesn’t shine.
Make a difference for GOD or make a difference for the devil.
You are always making an impact on others around you. Are you making a positive impact or a negative impact? I am asking myself these same questions.
NO, you won’t be a perfect little shining star all of the time. You will mess up. I do. We all do. What we do when we mess up matters. Do you make it right? It matters.
What we fill the voids in our lives with MATTERS. Our actions (words, walk, talk, text, tweet, post,etc..) reflect what is in our heart. What we FILL UP with will show.
Luke 6:45 ~ The good man brings good out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart his mouth speaks.
In life we have TWO choices in relation to eternity.
Heaven or Hell. Both places are real and both last for ever and ever.
SHEEP or GOAT
If you have not surrendered your life to Jesus, what are you waiting for?
If you are saved, Are you shining Jesus? Do others see Jesus in you? Or do they just see all the junk that you have filled the voids in your life with?
True freedom. True peace. True love. They are found in JESUS.
To know Jesus you have to spend time with him. He doesn’t force his way in, because a forced love isn’t love. He wants to know you. He wants you to know him. He wants you to want him.
I know I have written a lot of questions in this post, but questions make you think. They make me think.
I leave you with these questions and yes they may already be in this post :
~ Do I shine Jesus or the world ?
~ Do I really know HIM and does HE know me?
~ Do I just know about him and “think” that I might be saved..but not 100% ?
~ Is there anything in my life that I am using as a substitute for Jesus?
God loves you.
Blessings to you all, and I pray that this message, both parts, touches your soul. Share it with someone if you think it will touch their soul. All Glory to God, because this message is HIS..not mine.
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