Today is a strange, sad, and emotional day in our country. "We will remember" is the prevailing thought, and everyone is sharing where they were when they heard the news that our country was under attack. I'm not sure why we feel the need to do this, except that it helps us feel connected to one another. Maybe it helps to rekindle that "we're all in this together" feeling that permeated the country right after the attacks. We were united in our desire for revenge, our need for some kind of reckoning. It was and is an interesting time in our nation's history.
For me, it was fitting for this significant anniversary to fall on Sunday. The Lord's day. It reminds me of His goodness, His mercy, and His awesome power. And today while I worshipped I couldn't help but wonder why Christians don't feel a similar ache in their guts or have the same teary eyes or the "we're all in this togther" feelings when we think on the cross of Christ. Why is it that we don't cry "We will remember!" and give God the honor for His perfect plan that culminated in the death and resurrection of his Son?
I think it's fitting to honor the lives of those Americans lost on 9/11. It's good to thank those who keep us safe and to grieve with those who lost loved ones. It's appropriate to honor the heroes who risked their lives on that day.
But, tomorrow is September 12th. We will go back to our regular lives. The TV specials will be over. We will be relieved that we don't have to think about that day for awhile. So, why don't we wake up tomorrow morning with hearts for remembering the only death that ever changed eternity? Let's unite with a declaration for the ages. No matter how crazy this world gets, or how tough life is, or how wonderful things are, we will remember what God has done through His Son. We will remember that His glory and greatness are all that matters. We will remember that we are nothing without Him. We will remember.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 2011
There's No Place Like Home (Movies)
Watching home movies can be a blessing and a curse.
Curses:
1. Extreme boredom. Especially if they're not YOUR home movies and you or your children are not in them. Watching a friend's unedited vacation videos has actually been known to end friendships. Just don't do it.
2. Sentimental overload. Chubby babies, cute little kids who love their mommies. Guaranteed tears and possible chocolate ice cream eating will ensue just to ease the sentimental pain.
3. What-has-happened-to-me Syndrome. Seeing yourself when you were thinner, younger, and (for you men) with more hair can be quite a blow to the old ego.
4. What-was-I-thinking Complex. Especially hurtful if you were a child of the 80s. I mean, the hair was bad. Really bad.
But, then there are the blessings.
Chad and I recently ran across some video of the kids when they were little. I realized after watching that I had actually forgotten what Adelade was like when she was Sawyer's age. How is that even possible?
I've spent hours now watching the kids cry and flail when they were just minutes old, learning to talk, walk, dance, jump, and everything else that little kids figure out. I watched Adelade reading books to her kitten Backpack, who we only had for a few months before he "went on an adventure" and we never saw him again. I saw Adelade meet Sawyer for the first time and remembered the fear that I could sense in her when she saw me lying in the hospital bed. I saw Sawyer finally learn how to get those big old thighs to crawl around, and watched Adelade take her very first nervous steps. I also saw glimpses of my parents and Chad's before illnesses and other scares had touched our family.
And I am so happy to have every single minute of it. It reminds me how faithful God is. How blessed I am. And how quickly things change in life.
Sure, I cried a few tears. I had a few what-was-I-thinking moments. But, most of all, I remembered how very privileged I am to be a woman, to be a mother, to be a wife, and to be a believer.
So, drag out some home videos. Remember how adorable that mouthy teenager used to be. And let yourself be reminded just how much God has carried you through this crazy, chaotic, tragic, and beautiful life. He is not finished with us. Many more video-worthy moments are coming. And I can't wait.
Curses:
1. Extreme boredom. Especially if they're not YOUR home movies and you or your children are not in them. Watching a friend's unedited vacation videos has actually been known to end friendships. Just don't do it.
2. Sentimental overload. Chubby babies, cute little kids who love their mommies. Guaranteed tears and possible chocolate ice cream eating will ensue just to ease the sentimental pain.
3. What-has-happened-to-me Syndrome. Seeing yourself when you were thinner, younger, and (for you men) with more hair can be quite a blow to the old ego.
4. What-was-I-thinking Complex. Especially hurtful if you were a child of the 80s. I mean, the hair was bad. Really bad.
But, then there are the blessings.
Chad and I recently ran across some video of the kids when they were little. I realized after watching that I had actually forgotten what Adelade was like when she was Sawyer's age. How is that even possible?
I've spent hours now watching the kids cry and flail when they were just minutes old, learning to talk, walk, dance, jump, and everything else that little kids figure out. I watched Adelade reading books to her kitten Backpack, who we only had for a few months before he "went on an adventure" and we never saw him again. I saw Adelade meet Sawyer for the first time and remembered the fear that I could sense in her when she saw me lying in the hospital bed. I saw Sawyer finally learn how to get those big old thighs to crawl around, and watched Adelade take her very first nervous steps. I also saw glimpses of my parents and Chad's before illnesses and other scares had touched our family.
And I am so happy to have every single minute of it. It reminds me how faithful God is. How blessed I am. And how quickly things change in life.
Sure, I cried a few tears. I had a few what-was-I-thinking moments. But, most of all, I remembered how very privileged I am to be a woman, to be a mother, to be a wife, and to be a believer.
So, drag out some home videos. Remember how adorable that mouthy teenager used to be. And let yourself be reminded just how much God has carried you through this crazy, chaotic, tragic, and beautiful life. He is not finished with us. Many more video-worthy moments are coming. And I can't wait.
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