I don’t like it, but I’m Thankful

I was a runner. Not on a school track team or in marathons, but at home. During the time that I was young enough to get spankings or “woopings”, I always ran. My mom would literally have to solicit the help of my older brother and sister to catch me and drag me to her (to which I still occasionally remind them of their severe breech of the sibling code).

During the time that my mother was punishing me, many things crossed my mind. Thoughts like Wearing these shorts was not a good idea today, or Allyson and Jr (the traitors) better sleep with one eye open, or I wonder if the neighbors can hear me.

One thing that never crossed my mind was Thanks mom.

I never said thank you to her for telling me that I could not go to a party and stay out past curfew. When she did not buy me the shoes I wanted I never told her I appreciated it. When she took away my phone privileges, told me I could not drive to football games or have a boyfriend, thank you didn’t seem appropriate.

Now though, at the ripe old age of 33, I believe I owe her a few Thanks yous. I see that consequences, boundaries, standards and delays have taught me and shaped me. Those things that I thought were only breaking me were actually building me.

Today is Thanksgiving and some of you are broken. So giving thanks is not easy this year. Know that you are being built. Into what? Something stronger, wiser, and more useful for His service.

You don’t have to like it, just trust it. Better yet, trust Him. Trust that there is purpose for His consequences, boundaries, standards and delays.

Happy Thanksgiving (even in unhappy situations)

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." Psalm 42:5

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Thanks

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The Secret Places

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A DEEPER SOUL CLEANSE

I am confident that at least once a year while growing up in my parents home, my mom broke some documented child labor law. One dreaded Saturday morning, typically when the birds chirped, butterflies fluttered and the son shone bright, she would wake us all with the dreaded announcement of "Today is spring cleaning day."

"Thud!", was the audible gulp in my throat and drop in the pit of my stomach. I knew that all plans for fun and relaxation this Saturday were as leaves blowing in the wonderful spring breeze (a breeze that I would not experience this day unless hanging a mop out to dry).

My mom made us clean in corners, on top of ceiling fan blades, move furniture to sweep and mop underneath, dust picture frames and paintings, and even dump, sort and discard the contents of the junk drawers.

I think the worse part about it was that often the house looked no more clean than it did on any other Saturday morning. This was because much of the labor was for areas that no one could see. All of that hard work behind the scenes. In the crevices. The remote places.

When was the last time you cleaned the crevices of your character.  The mean thoughts you think, that no one would ever know. The "little white lies" you consistently tell that could go on undiscovered forever. The mean and foul words you say in the car. The television you watch when no one else is around.

How clean (aka Holy) are you when no one but you is around? I challenge you to do a spiritual spring cleaning and ask God to search you and make you aware of any unclean thing in you (vs)
Remember, integrity is what you do when you know no one is watching.

Psalms 139:23 "Search me, God, and know my heart, test me and know my thoughts."

A "Paper" Christian

This month marks the 100th year of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc. (DST)  I am a proud member of this wonderful organization. 

I became a member back in Spring of 1999.  In order to become a member I had to go through a pledge process.  The standard process consists of several weeks of intense study, testing, meetings, community service and bonding with your "line sisters" (those going through the pledge process with you).

From campus to campus, the pledge process is anything but standard.  Not just within DST, but within many Greek organizations, the pledge process is many times "amped" up by the current members of the organization by a process called hazing.  Hazing can take on many forms.  From harmless antics to dangerous requests.

My pledge process was "pretty clean".  I did not endure "hazing" as many members of my friends in Greek organizations had.  This however, creates a divide between me and those who were "hazed".  In some of their eyes, I'm not a real Delta but I'm "paper".  Paper is a term meaning that though you are a member of the organization with the certificate (paper) to prove it, you have not earned a true spot in the ranks.  You didn't put in your time.  You did not endure enough to wear the letters or title.

There were many times that I wished I was hazed.  As crazy as it sounds to some of you, others of you understand my desire to had gone through hazing in order to appear to others and even feel myself that I was a "real Delta".

Sometimes, I feel this same way about my Christianity. 

My life has been "pretty clean".  I have never been sexually abused, growing up I always had enough (enough love, enough money, enough friends, just enough), I have never been seriously ill, my parents are both still alive and married, etc, etc.  It does not sound like a problem, right?  That is, until I (or you) start to wonder, have I gone though enough to be called a "real Christian".

Don't you have to have a life war story to have a true testimony and to prove your faith?

Well, back to Delta.  When I go online or look at my "Delta tools" (manuals of sorority policy and procedures), I have accomplished everything necessary for membership.  No where in the sorority literature do I find a mandate for hazing.  I am a full fledged member of DST with all the rights and privileges of any other member.

As it is with Christ!  When I check the "Jesus tool", called the bible, I met all the criteria for salvation.  I am a full fledged member of Christ with all the rights and privileges of any other brother or sister. 

And that is my testimony.  For a long time, I did not think I had one.  But I do.  And a great one it is.  My testimony is that my God has been a provider, protector, shield, a comfort and a blessor beyond what I could have asked or imagined. 

If you want to check my membership card or yours, turn to Romans 10: 9 -10.  I'm in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cathing the Ice Cream Truck

Have you ever had an embarrassing moment and you were so glad that no one was around but you?  And because no one was around, it actually made the moment more funny than embarrassing.  The one that stands out in my mind the most was an occasion while sitting in my mom's living room I heard a most awesome sound.  The sound of the beloved ice cream truck.  To understand my excitement, you have to know a few things.  You have to know that ice cream trucks do not typically come in my mom's neighborhood.  You also have to understand that the ice cream truck is one of my fondest memories I have of weekends with my cousins at my grandmother's house as a child. 

My cousins and I would hear the song of the truck far in the distance and begin the mad scramble of getting our money together, putting shoes on, and dashing out the door to make sure we did not miss the truck as it went by.  If by chance we were a little too late, we would run as fast as we could yelling to the driver to "STOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!!!!"

So this particular day, at the age of at least 25, the sound of the ice cream truck instantly brought me back to that wonderful innocent place.  I scrambled for money, put on my shoes and ran from the house.  This is where the story takes the "funny" turn.  Now that I am telling you the story, it feels a little more embarrassing.

My excitement clouded my judgment and killed my coordination as I tried to descend 3 steps at once.  Before I knew it, I found my self plummeting towards the cement and sliding across it.  Elbows and knees scuffed and skinned.  It burned and bled.  But without even as much as a second thought, I jumped up as if the cement was rubber, and continued chasing the ice cream truck.  I caught him!  The flavor of the Ghost Busters strawberry sorbet with bubble gum eyes is still clear and vivid.

My point in telling this embarrassing and funny story is this, in 2013 continue chasing the ice cream truck.  No  matter what falls, accidents, bruises and bumps 2012 has left you, run on.  Life is not worth living without a goal, a mission, a dream.  But the dreams worth chasing will somewhere along the road, cause some strain and pain.  However, once you "catch up with it" you will be happy you got back up.

2 Chronicles 15:7 "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded."