A Promise With A Purpose

I can see the day.

Gorgeous skies ahead.

Not even a breeze to wash over her face.

Only a calm to meet her where she is that morning.

And then the clouds roll in.  The storm comes!

And she is left alone….a widow.

I can see Naomi crumble under the loss.

A heap of an broken soul in a barley field.

One day planting seeds.

And the next day reaping what she did not deserve.

Laughter & dreams washed away by the steady stream of tears & confusion.

And then love sweeps in.

In the form of a mirrored image of sweet Naomi in her younger years.

Ruth….widowed at a young age & losing both of her children.

Suffering incredible loss also.

Playing the ‘same-storm, different-day’ card.

And in that field, both gathered up their dreams…TOGETHER!

There was something about Naomi that Ruth loved.

Was it her wisdom?  Her spirit? 

Was it the fact that she was planting beauty in a field that was void of it for so long?

Whatever it was, it was worth hanging on to.

So…she…did!

Naomi encouraged Ruth to move on.

She didn’t want to hold Ruth back from what her life could possibly hold.

And Ruth…was going nowhere!!

She stayed!

Taking hold of Naomi’s hand.  Maybe because it’s the only thing she could find to hold onto at the moment. 

Maybe…it’s because she just plain loved her!

And in her loving voice, committing to her that she would not leave her!

Can’t you hear her?  Strength in her words with a bold touch of beauty as she spoke.

‘Until your heart finds a home I won’t let you feel alone Naomi!!’

‘Even if it takes us into FOREVER’

‘I am not going anywhere’.

‘Where you go I will go!’  And, ‘where you stay, I will stay!’.

Promise with purpose is unbreakable you see!!!!

In my opinion, Naomi allowed her to stay because she was an example of God’s love.  Strong & bold.  Beautiful & unfailing.    And with that, comes nothing else needed!

And Ruth didn't want to leave because that’s not what friends do.  If love abides here, why would she need to go somewhere else?

Their friendship triumphed over adverse circumstances & blessings reigned down on them because of it.

It’s easy to call someone a friend but so much more of a blessing to actually be one! 

Holding hands.  Through the storms. Where heaps of rubble lay.  Fractured lives rebuilding themselves....with the help of one another.

In those times that it’s hard to stand, isn’t it always better to have that friend to hang on to.  To hear those words, ‘I’m not going anywhere!...EVER!’ and to know that promise has met purpose in that moment.

Hello 2012!!

Hello 2012!!

What will you bring this year?

If I can put my two cents in, here’s what I’d like to offer.

That you allow every single day to be filled with Joy!  I’m not asking for it every single second because that will be too unrealistic.  BUT….a sprinkle or 2 of it at random times would be wonderful.

I would like to not have worry!  So many things that I COULD do with it but I don’t want to.  Let me give all of that to God.  Place it at His feet each day & go about my business.

Let me embrace my family even more.  Not just physically, although I shall work on that too, but allow my heart to open up even more to feel things I haven’t even yet discovered.

Please God…watch over us this year!  Continue to blanket our family with your amazing love!!  Protect our children with the power of 10,000 armies.  Keep them under your wings Lord & show us how to love them with YOUR heart.

Give us memories this year that will last a lifetime!  Whether we travel to far away places or our feet are planted here just in our own home, let laughter ring loudly in everything that we do.

Give us good friendships.  The kind that are only seen in movies.  Let new faces enter in & let us grow in the old ones as well.


Give us a better appreciation for the wonderful marriage that we have.  For this partnership that we have entered in to.  Allow for quality time together to grow in our relationship with one another & keep God in the very center as we should.

I want more time with You God!!  I know that’s not just going to happen on it’s own.  I’m aware that it takes two of us to make this relationship work.  But some days, I may need a push from you.  I’m giving you full authority to wake me early so we can have a good morning chat.  (that’s funny!!...Me giving YOU authority)

Provide me Your gifts Lord!!  Of gentleness, kindness, self-control, love, goodness, etc. so I can reflect that back to my family. 

And if there is to be time wasted, let it be time that’s spent well.  In good company & not just on trivial things that do nothing for me or my soul!

Bring lots of sunshine our way so we can enjoy the outdoors & all it has to offer.  Let us feel rain on our faces & fall asleep to it’s sound hitting our rooftop.

Give me lots of kisses & hugs & snuggle time with my kids!!  Cuz OH how I love them!!

And when there are times when I ruin my ‘mother of the year’ nomination, let forgiveness fall on my tongue.  Let that softness pour over me & an apology come easier than it has in the past.

I know it’s a lot to ask!  And it’s probably more than 2 cents worth but you can’t get anything if you don’t ask for it, right? 

And one more thing….simplicity!

Can 2012 be simple?  No hassles or hype.  Just plain living with those I love.  Less shopping & more fresh air.  Less eating out & more dinners around our own table.  Less money spent on material things & more time spent with those less fortunate.  Less worrying about what the house looks like & more making of messes with the kids that are growing up WAY too fast.  Just….SIMPLE!!

And there we have it.  Just a small request.  Here’s praying for a GREAT year!!