Beauty

Some things can  be measured scientifically.  Weight.  Height.  Even the fact that infants respond more to a woman's smile than a man's...All kinds of things can be measured.

But how do you measure the fragrance of a woman?  The beauty of a comforting touch?  Tears of empathy?  Eyes that welcome, accept...love?  How can you quantify the sound of a laugh that makes you feel to your bones that all is right with the world?  How can you possibly dissect beauty?

That would be like pinning a dead butterfly to a board.  What would you know of its flight or what is drawn from the human heart while watching it move?

We know it when we see it.  We truly see it when we experience it.  We experience it when that part of us that is most truly us sighs in our soul's deepest recesses and connects with the heart of our God in rest.  In thankfulness.  In joy.

Outward beauty is a thing that can be measured only when we accept the standards of measurement.  Youth passes - so youthful beauty fades.  Wrinkles are around my eyes.  Yours too most likely.  Laugh lines are earned!  Gravity takes its toll but who wants to live in a cage; fearful of the ravages of time?  Life is to be lived.  Beauty, true beauty INCREASES!  It increases as it is offered, shared and spent on others.  It increases as our eyes open to the beauty surrounding us in God's creation and in each and every one of his image bearers.  It grows as Jesus captures more of our hearts and we are transformed into his very likeness.

Who can measure the beauty of a sunset?  Of a nursing mother?  Of the Living God?  Of you?

No one.  Beauty is a mystery to be embraced and enjoyed and received and owned.

God says you are beautiful.  More beautiful than any other thing in all creation.  And, well, he ought to know.

Home Again, Home Again Jiggity Jig

What a whirlwind my life has been these last two months!  Traveling for a variety of reasons culminated in traveling for the Love and War tour.  Goodness, it was quite a schedule.  It was exhausting, demanding and difficult.  It was also glorious, fun and an immense honor!  Oh, the best part was meeting the men and women who wanted to have their book signed at the end of the evening.  Getting to meet, look into their eyes and chat briefly was just so great!  I was meeting my brothers and sisters who are on this journey with me, who I’ll know well in Heaven, but getting to meet them on this side.  YAY!  Thank you to all of you who came.  What a privilege it was for John and I to have been able to come.

 

But I am home now.  Big sigh.  Home for a month before traveling again and I am so thankful!  Today, I planned out the meals for a whole week – breakfast, lunch and dinner – (yes, be amazed), then made my grocery list and actually went out and purchased it.  It took four trips to unload the car and half of the groceries are still on the kitchen counter but I feel so very accomplished!

 

When I am rested, I am so much more organized.  I am also such a nicer person.  This morning, I ventured out into the snowy twenty-degree weather and took our dog for a walk while I talked with God.  Oban (our dog) was so happy, running along with his nose in the snow.  On the way back home, we passed my neighbor’s who also have a golden retriever who loves playing with our dog.  They’re kind of like cousins.  Anyway, as I’m passing their house, I think about inviting her over for coffee.  We gave the couple Love and War for Christmas and it would be good to talk…but honestly, I haven’t had the energy to pursue anyone for quite a while.  It felt so good to be thinking about pursuing our neighbors again!  So, I’m passing the house when she emerges to let out her dog and invite ours over to romp.  Then, since I have the time and the space, I was able to “hang out” and talk (inside) while the dogs raced around in the snow.  YAY! 

 

I’m back.

Now to pace myself.  I can hear Jesus saying, "Walk with Me".  Yes, Lord.

 

 

 

 

Be My Valentine!

 

Growing up, I loved Valentine’s Day!  I liked decorating a shoe box to hold my classmates mandatory valentine’s that were sure to come during the party held at school that afternoon.  I loved coming in from recess and finding a pretty napkin with a heart shaped cookie on it.  (These were the days before mention of peanut allergies, wheat allergies, dairy allergies, or a personal conviction against holidays.)  It was a welcome break from the monotony of the normal school day.  Hooray!

 

When I would get home from school, my mom would have made a special dessert – something pink and pretty.  And on my bed would be a card from her – and a little gift; like a new pair of socks or a pretty pen.  Her card would have shimmer to it.  I loved the sparkly writing and the beauty of her handwriting.  “I love you!” – Mom.

 

My sons call Valentine’s Day “Single Awareness Day” and my husband hates the pressure to come through with some record breaking day of romantic bliss.  I don’t care.  I still love it.

 

When my sons were in grade school I would go ALL OUT decorating for it the night before while they slept.  We’re talking large red cupids, red, pink and white hearts – and yes streamers!  Yes to the pretty dessert and valentine’s cards.  And pink breakfasts.

 

Ok, was I trying to recapture something here from my childhood.  Yes.  But sooo?

 

I don’t like so much going out to dinner with John on Happy Heart Day, though.  I feel the pressure to be amazing and beautiful and sit up straight and hold my knife and fork just so and it’s kind of distracting.  And detracting.  For the past few years, John and I either eat something special at home (with attendant sons) or go out on another night!

 

But back to loving Valentine’s Day.  Back to embracing the pink and the doilies and the heart shaped everything….

 

To me, it’s a day to celebrate all those I love.  Yes, my husband.  Absolutely my children.  But my wonderful girlfriends too.  With the silly joy of it!  The sparkly shimmer of it!  Hooray for Love!

 

I’ve wanted to have an all girls Valentine’s Day Party for so long.  Sadly, it’s a busy time of year and the desire remains unfulfilled.  But it would be very schmaltzy and rosy and delicious and girly.  And we would laugh and eat and drink and be merry and worship.  Worship our Truest Valentine.  Worship Love Himself.  Worship Jesus.  Thank Him for pursuing us, for choosing us, for romancing us, for loving us.

 

So all by myself, I am going to do that part at least.  We could all do that part!  And eat something pink!  And heart shaped.

 

Happy Valentine’s Day!  You are so very loved.

XOX