As Only Your Mama Can……

Dear Daughter,

God sends us little precious moments with Him…if we will but be aware. 

He did that for me this morning….

This sunrise, as I woke up to the new day, I found in my reading at my beside the writing which we received when we attended the celebration of the life of Jim Oldach.  As an insert inside the booklet, there was the song, “10,000 Reasons (Bless My Soul).

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name

Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship you holy name

The sun comes up
Its a new day dawning
Its time to sing your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

You're rich in love and you're slow to anger
Your name is great and your heart is kind
For all your goodness I will keep on singing
10,000 reasons for my heart to find

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul

Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Soon my soul will sing your praise un-ending
10,000 years and there forever more

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name

Bless the lord oh my soul
Oh my soul
Worship his holy name
Sing like never before
Oh my soul
I worship your holy name
I worship your holy name
I worship your holy name

Sing like never before
Oh my sue worship your holy name
(Jesus I will)
I worship your holy name
I worship your holy name

 

My prayer for you as we enter into December, this final month of the year and the month which we associate with the birth of Christ is that you make sure to put Christ into all you do with your CHRISTmas. 

Not only in practical ways…..using the word Christmas instead of X-mas or Happy Holidays, but also in soul-deep ways such as being a giver to others in His Name and for His Life. 

You and I have talked about how simple it is to put words down where action should be.  How we are a society where talking about doing something is so simple…but, actually doing something is hard…difficult…. 

Or, is it?

In a world where everything we do is broadcast across the internet in large letters 24-7 do we discredit the little things as unimportant and un-Facebook worthy?

I am thinking so….

When I think of the life of Jesus, He truly was a humble soul….birthed by humble parents in a humble manger living a humble life and dying on a humble cross. 

While He did great big things….miracles ARE pretty amazing!  Miracles were not his daily lifestyle.  They were for the purpose of pointing us to God. 

And, they worked. 

As I read Mr. Oldach’s celebration of his life, and Mrs. Linda’s  (I have hers as well), Bethany’s, Nick Nischan’s  and several others….I don’t do so to be sad or to live in mourning… 

I do so because these precious friends point me to a Heavenly Father in the way that they used their time on this earth.

And, what I know of each of these friends makes me confident that they…. 

Took each day as a gift, thanking God for the New Day Dawning….. 

I remember Mrs. Linda saying, “I am dying, but not today”……so, she used her days to not just give God glory and honor…but to LOVE Him… 

And, to love them who loved Him

And, to love them who didn’t know Him so they could love Him 

And, to love us so that we were filled with His love so we could love others who did not know Him.

 

I think of Bethany …”I’ve Got the Power”….she knew at a very young age that by being filled with the spirit gave you all the “power” you would ever need to make it through this world.  She didn’t say it would be easy….she didn’t believe it would be always pretty.  But, she knew…she knew it would be powerful and mighty to be His child and to use her time on this earth in HIS name!

And, she was right! 

Nick Nischan….you were with me at this Celebration of Life….POWERFUL! 

Nick’s celebration was my first time sincerely….truly….”really”  realizing that leaving to go to heaven was a goal I should aspire to rather than seeking to stay grounded in this world we call life…and, that it is truly, perfectly wonderful if I am NOT cool!!!  That MY GOD LOVES ME ANYWAY!! 

Some people tell me that I look kind of funny
My nose is red and the braces didn't work at all
They say the clothes I wear are all out of fashion
I don't fit in and should be shopping at a different mall
I studied classical piano when I could've been playing guitar
I used to drive an El Camino and I'm not even sure it's a car

I'm not cool but that's okay
My God loves me anyway
I'm not cool but that's alright
I'm still precious in His sight

I'm not cool but I don't care
How I'm supposed to do my hair
I'm not cool but that's okay
My God loves me anyway

It doesn't matter if I know all the lingo
He doesn't mind if I'm not hanging with a certain crowd
Some people still believe in building image
But I am fine and that's a worry I can do without
I used to wish I was athletic but football was never my game
I met some friends in mathematics but no one can spell my last name

I'm not cool but that's okay
My God loves me anyway
I'm not cool but that's alright
I'm still precious in His sight

I'm not cool but I don't care
How I'm supposed to do my hair
I'm not cool but that's okay
My God loves me anyway

He says that I am one of a kind
And I don't have to try to be somebody else
He believes in me and says I'm free to be myself
I can be myself

I'm not cool but that's okay
My God loves me anyway
I'm not cool but that's alright
I'm still precious in His sight

I'm not cool but I don't care
How I'm supposed to do my hair
I'm not cool but that's okay
My God loves me anyway

Baby…there is such powerful (Bethany) strength when you live for Him.  There are so many, many blessings (Mr. Jim) when you start out your "days dawning" …each and every one of them committed to being His daughter….and, it makes NO difference at all if you are not “cool” (Nick)…..

 

When you know WHOSE you are to for WHOM you live and that you do this ….

Then so many other things in your life make sense……. 

Go forth…and, do Good (Poppy)

Let a Smile be Your Umbrella on a Rainy Day (Grammy)

Life is short if you live to be old…live it well (Mamaw)

Be good whenever you go (Papaw)

 

And, while I think God wants us to always look forward and upward…..I believe He also wants us to look into the lives of others who would point us to him…both those who have gone before us…and, those who walk with us.

And, perhaps just as important…I believe he wants us to be ONE of those who point those around US…to HIM..

So, as we walk through this December….a fresh month….where the world sets its eyes on the birth of Christ… 

I pray we are a luminary in His honor and in His name…. 

Blessings,

ILYAOYMC, 

Mama