Moments with MarLo

I remember as a child getting excited about Christmas. Dreaming about the possibility of gifts I might receive. Today, I decided to take advantage of some free time and wrap up Lydia's gifts.  I was not prepared for her response upon the site of them.  I knew she would squeal with delight. I expected the requests to open "just one."  What surprised me, however, was how her eyes filled with tears as she placed each of her gifts beneath the tree.  Almost breathlessly she responded, "oh, I don't know why I'm crying."  It caused me to think about the gift of Christ.  The gifts He continues to pour into my life.  Have I, with child-like abandon, responded with pure delight at the simple fact that I have received a gift from the heart of Christ?   May we all take note of this simple response from this precious child.  It wasn't the number of gifts or the potential of what each package contained, rather the understanding that she is loved. ...

One of the things I have struggled with lately is my attitude at work. Some of my grumbling stems from the work itself but more so how I sense a lack of respect for who I am by those assigning me the tasks.    I have been asking God to help me with my heart condition.  I know I am to do the work as Christ did, as a servant with a glad heart, a s if "unto Christ ." I have tried to respond in gratefulness while inside I wrestled with my seething pride. Then, just this morning my good friend, Melissa Milbourn  sent me the following scriptures. Psalm 37:6-7 “He’ll validate your life in the clear light of day and stamp you with approval at high noon. Quiet down before God, be prayerful before him. Don’t bother with those who climb the ladder, who elbow their way to the top.” (MSG) Luke 14:11 "For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." (NLT) 1 Peter 5:6 “So be content with who you a...

Ever caught yourself wishing you were someone else?   Though I hate to admit it, I have. I didn’t really want to be the other person; instead, I longed to have my own sense of accomplishment. I looked at their life and wished I was as successful in school, in my career, with my health, in my marriage, or as a parent.   Reality check! It took me a while to realize a longing to have what someone else has would never bring to fruition those things I most desired. It may however, bring about bitterness, envy and strife. Yikes! The truth is, there is not another me. I have been formed, skilled, matured, mentored, given specific responsibilities and placed right where I am for a very specific purpose.   So have you. So have they. When I longed to have what someone else had I was usually looking for a shortcut to get me to where I wanted to be. Or l was looking for an excuse on which to hang my own feelings of inadequacy. Or maybe I was focused on selfish ambitions rather than k...

During a recent shopping trip my daughter, Lydia, became exasperated as she tried on several pairs of shoes, none of which fit. She finally cried out, "Shoe stores can be soooo  frustrating!" She had in mind a certain look and every time she saw a pair of shoes that came close to what she had envisioned she would get a burst of hope as we searched the stacks of boxes looking for her size. On occasion we would find a box with the correct number and she would get giddy as she wrestled them out of the box, stripped out all the paper stuffed inside, and worked at the various buckles or straps to get them on her feet. Too often though the smile disappeared as disappointment set in when the shoes just didn't work on her feet. She was tiring of the process and I knew exactly how she was feeling.  Life can sometimes be just like that shopping experience.  We get something stuck in our head or heart and begin to seek it out. We start out with high hopes believing we can easily a...