What If...love was retroactive?

Several years ago I ran across some articles by a man who had spent his childhood in an orphanage. Richard's stories were heartwrenching; full of abuse, neglect and torment. I wrote and told him how sorry I was for all that he had suffered growing up, and we exchanged email back and forth. Although he was about 70 years old he told me how long it took for him to learn how to love people, and how disasterous his first and second marriages were. He was happily married for a third time, but said that his wife didn't understand one ritual that he had kept through the years.

Every Christmas he would buy his young boy self a Christmas present. Through counseling Richard had had to travel back and heal the young boy who had been so hurt and abandoned, and a part of the healing he held on to was buying and wrapping a new toy every Christmas for six-year-old "Richie"; something he'd never had growing up. From our exchange of letters I came to know that one thing that Richard had so strongly wished for was a mother who loved and cherished him.

I told him that I wished I could go back in time and be his mother for him. I said how I wished that little Richie would have come through the door after school to a real home, and that I would be there waiting with a smile, a hug, and a warm plate of cookies, anxious to hear all about his day. I told him if I'd been his mother I would have read him stories at bedtime, sung lullabies, tucked him snugly under the blankets, and said a prayer with him. And then I would have kissed him good night and told him I loved him.

Richard wrote back and said that he knew I would have done those things, he knew that I would have been that kind of mother for him. I hope in some small way that I was another little piece of his journey to healing such a broken childhood. I think for a moment together we both rewrote the past and filled it with love.

What If...We Made The "W" List?

Just a quick post today. I received this email a few days ago by my dear friend and lady of the Pink Collar Club, Carolyn Townes of Spirit Women. Thought I'd share it with you. Take a look!

Hey Blogging Divas!

Just wanted to give you the heads up. To make a long story short:

Toby Bloomberg of Diva Marketing (the Oprah of the blogosphere) posted about the W Magical List -- which started as a list of the top 150 women bloggers. It has circulated around the blogosphere, with women adding their own blogs to it. I saw it on at least a dozen blogs.

Toby posted that some diva should create a wiki to house the list so that all could assess and add their blogs. Well, guess who took her up on it? AND, I added you gals to the amazing line-up, along with myself.

So, just wanted to let you know, in case you get this amazing influx of traffic! The wiki is http://wmagicallist.wikispaces.com/. There are close to 200 blogs listed, all written by women. We rock!

So as they say in blogland, I memed you guys. If you want to reach out, check out Toby's blog post, and make a comment. Who knows where it will lead!?

Stay passionate my sistahs!
Carolyn

It's nice to be noticed, isn't it? The What If...? Women blog made the "W" Magical List !

What if ... we learned to take things in stride?

This topic has been posted about by myself and others from different angles but it is always good to be reminded of things several times and to look at it from different perspectives. So I ask:

What if ... we learned to take things in stride?

So often I want to rush things or get to the end result of something and in my rushed state or possible frenzy, I lose the enjoyment of what I am doing. Often I think we are fooled into believing we are going to miss out on something if we don't hurry and get to our destination. The reality is though that we miss out on the blessings that are in the process of things. The end result is usually just that, the end. Then we move on to something else and begin the cycle again rushing to reach the next destination or goal of ours.

We may think to take things in stride is to go slow but I looked up the word stride and the dictionary says to stride is to walk or run with long regular steps. After pondering this I realize that to take things in stride is not necessarily to take our time or take things as they come, but to take regular and consistent steps towards our destination whether it be a walking or running pace that is most suitable to our own character.

Who do you tend to be more like in the Aesop Fable "The Tortoise and the Hare"?
These fables really can teach us some valuable lessons now can't they?

What If....by Nichole Nordeman

My thanks to Shalene (Proverbs 31 Wannabe) for posting this on her blog. How could I not add a song called "What If" here?!

What if...We Could See the Unseen?

One of my mentors from several years ago recently re-entered my life. It was neat how we were reunited, and we quickly set up a time to meet and give each other updates on what is happening personally and professionally.

What I thought was going to be just a simple catching up with one another, has turned into a collaboration on a future project that will meet a passion and expertise we share for helping leaders. She has also taken my book and workbook to some colleagues for exposure and potentially teaching my work at her organization. I am amazed at life’s surprises when we don’t try to plan them!

Could I have seen this coming? Probably not. Even if I had an “agenda,” I still don’t believe it could have turned out better than it has and I truly believe my mentor would have been turned off to any collaborating projects.

HOW TO SEE THE UNSEEN:

1. Loosen the grip of a tight agenda when you are meeting with an individual or have a certain situation. It could leave room for unexpected positive outcomes.

2. Practice “being” on a daily basis. If all you do every day is produce, you’ll miss the unseen blessings. If you don’t know what “being” looks like, observe the person in your life who seems less stressed and more positive than others.

3. Have a faith in something other than yourself and your capabilities that will free you up to see a fresh, new perspective on your life and how to make a true, lasting impact in the lives of others.

Hebrews 11:1-"Faith is being sure of what you hope for in the evidence of things unseen."

What if...one dad said so much, so quickly?

Just a little mid-week item that will hopefully make you all smile as it did me! (I'm amazed by all the gifts God has given his children.)

What If...We Gave The "EGR"?

I spent a long day at work. I had just returned from a 4 day trip to Chicago with my husband. It was wonderful. We left the kids with my mom and had an "adult" trip in the heart of the city. Formal events, parties, a wedding...a beautiful time.

And then I returned...

My inbox was full, as well as, my voicemail. I spent the bulk of the morning returning communications followed by an afternoon at the showroom followed by an evening at our new building at church...painting.

I was tired. Dead tired.

There are many opinions flying when designing a new church. I was in charge of the overall design and was grateful for the many helping hands in getting the job done. But...as I said...many opinions. Who knew that a particular paint color would cause so much concern? (Obviously those who have done this before---this is new for me!)

So, I answered the questions the best I could. Addressed concerns, encouraged the workers, picked up a paintbrush. I dug right in. (And, I was so tired.)

In the middle of a "discussion", my good friend came up and hugged me from behind and whispered something in my ear.

She said: EGR.

What does that mean? I asked.

Extra Grace Required. She replied.

I nodded appreciatively and hugged her. What a blessing this friend is and what words of wisdom she spoke in her acronym!

It worked. Immediately, I felt a gentleness that come from her words; that came from Christ. I began to ponder the grace shown to me---both in the past and the present. By others but especially by Christ.

What If...We Gave The EGR?

Today, Tomorrow. Forever.