Facing Doubts. And Encouragement.

Several of you have been so kind to me lately.  You've allowed to me confide my fears and desires.  You've let me tell you what's been heavy on my heart.  You've been very encouraging and given me great insight into different situations.  

But, I would be lying if I didn't admit that there are still moments of doubt in my head.  And while I'm not dealing with transcontinental moves, children going in for cancer scans, nor marital issues that rock the family to the core, my insignificants are still significant in my eyes.  

I worry about the details.  I worry about the small things.  I worry about the things that are trivial to most, but very precious to me.  I worry that things I treasure will be snatched away from me.  I hold them close to me and snarl at anyone or anything that comes too close for comfort.     

This morning I sat down with my journal and sort of stared at the pages.  I've written and written and written in my pink marbled notebook for the past few months about my worries, my desires, my stresses and quite honestly, haven't really had any response from above.  No sense of direction, no sense of which steps to take, no hints from above.  I stared at that blank page and didn't even know what to write anymore.  

It's a helpless feeling for a blogger when she can't pour out her own heart's desires because she's run out of words to use.  

After heaving a half-hearted sigh, I opened the small monthly devotional booklet my mom picked up for me a few weeks ago at her church.  Lately I've felt rather detached during my reading because I finally completed my study on Psalms and now I'm a free agent in terms of committing to my next study.   

The past few days the booklet has been talking about Revelation.  While I find it fascinating, it's not been what I felt I needed and I didn't walk away from my morning reading feeling inspired. In some ways I almost felt like it was another silence that I would have to wrestle with.  I've been slightly annoyed because I wanted some clarity on things heavy on my heart.  

This morning, I was happily greeted by Philippians 4:4-9 (NIV):

 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

(And I love the way it is phrased in the Message-and I know some of you are anti-Message, but I like the clarity of the words so BACK OFF! let me just share what I found this morning.)

Celebrate God all day, every day. I mean, revel in him! Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you're on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute!  Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  

Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies. (The Message)

 And He met me there, in the reading.  He met me when I just stared at the blank pages and had nothing left to say.  I didn't have any more words.  I didn't have any sense of direction nor prodding.  I finally just handed it back to Him with a "Here.  I don't know what I'm doing." and He gently encouraged me with these words.  

I don't have to worry about it.  He's the God of the details.  He's the God of the timetables.  He's the God of the future.  He's God and I'm just a person.  I'm not in charge.  I don't hold the keys.  I just need to trust Him, the One who made it all, to make it work for my good.  

So for this morning, for this moment, for this time, these words will have to be enough.  

These Little Girls

Sassy pants. 

Nature lovers.  OK.  Duck/Geese feeders. 

Has no idea we're going to DW very, very soon!

Embrace the Brain Rot!

I'm posting about Brain Rot today on 31 Rubies!  

Come check it out!

Remove the Burden

Secrets.  

Those precious secrets.  

Some secrets are tons o' fun--a new couple finds out they are expecting their first child and waiting to tell their parents the good news.  Parents waiting until the very last possible minute to tell their kids they are taking them to happiest place on earth.  Sweet secrets of girls about whom they are going to marry, aspirations, and dreams.

Other secrets are not so fun.  The teenage girl staring at the positive test.  The guy struggling with his addictions.  The person looking for a way to start over.

The secrets of our past that haunt us like inconsiderate ghosts.  

The shame.  The mistakes.  The loss of things treasured.  Words spoken in anger and hurt. The resentment.  The attacks on our pride.  The things that would leave us naked and exposed if others found out.  

These are the burdens we carry with us every single day.  Things we put on our shoulders and walk around with--afraid that if we set them down, we risk the chance of someone snooping through our bags.  We drag them behind us, we lug them around, we bring them to dinners and dates and work and experiences.  We stuff them deep into our saddle bags and do our very best to keep them contained.  They become our 5th wheels and they hold us back when we want to run with abandon.  

The past can be a terrible burden.  

We tend to our burdens like Smeagol tended to his Precious (and LOTR fans out there?)  The very things that we want to keep safe and hidden are the very things that are slowly killing us.  These burdens take all of our joy and satisfaction out of life as we struggle to keep them to ourselves.  Our secrets suffocate us, they rob us of living life to the fullest, and we are so afraid to let them go. 

However, I've learned that when you open that bag of burden for a moment and share your heart with a trusted person, it's almost like the burden disappears into thin air.  When you find yourself exposed, despite the initial horror and embarrassment, that burden can no longer haunt you.  The very things that we struggle to keep under wraps, are the things we can only rid ourselves of them through exposure.  

The Lord removed the burden from His people when He led them out of Egypt.  He protected them from the Passover and while they wandered through the desert.  Psalm 81:7 reminds us of His promise to His people "In your distress you called and I rescued you."  If we are also His people, won't He do the same for us?  Won't He rescue us from our past and the fear of exposure?

Hasn't He already done so much more? 

Are you in need of rescue?  Are you in need of lightening your load?  Do you have things you need to confess?  Do you need someone to remove the burden?

Talk to Him.  Talk to them.  

Share your secrets.  

Remove the burden. 

And your load will become a little lighter. 

Mama A Says: I See London, I See France. . .

I see lotsa mommies' underpants!!!!

And believe me, it's NOT on purpose.  But, the way some of you ladies are parading around these days, one can't help but get an eye full while we are out and about.  And there is nothing like the summer season to see some of you shed your clothing like nobody's business (when, in actuality, it becomes everyone's business because we can clearly see your business!)

Many of you requested a part two to this post, and Mama A is more than happy to oblige.  

Ladies, it's time to bring a little modesty back.  Please.  Unless you are at a tropical destination (far, far away from people who know and work with you--other than your lerve, of course), clothing that exposes you from every angle should not be permitted.  I don't want to see your massive cleavage at the local pool.  I do not want to see your thong and string bikini at the beach.  I do not want to see your enormous and artificial ta-tas pushed up and on display when you are trotting around in full make up and styled hair at the gym or on the side of the road.  And goodness me, some of you ladies show up to church, school, or community events lookin' like you've just rolled up from 5th Street in downtown Greenville.

You look a hot mess.

Yes, I intended it to read like that without the "like" and with a neck roll. 

Now, for the record, I'll admit that I'm slightly (ok, very much) on the conservative side of women's clothing.  I do not like to have an excessive amount of skin showing, and I'm not a fan of the deeply plunging necklines or thigh-exposing skirts and shorts.  It's just not something I'm comfortable with on my person.

However, some of you insist on dressing like you are heading out for a night on the town when it's Tuesday at 9:45am at the local post office.  And my goodness, you are giving us ALL a peep show when you bend down and let us see your booty butt crack.

Please stop.  I'm tired of my kids laughing at your exposure at the library--and I'm tired of having to shoosh them.  I've got better things to do--like look for books.

Besides, there comes a point in a lady's life in which she must decide what sort of image she wants to project.  I'm not asking you to drink the Prude Juice and wear old lady garments and look frumpy, but I am asking you to leave your party girl college days (and clothes) behind (and please cover your behind!)  It's time to embrace a more dignified and classy approach to women's attire.  It can be fun, it can be cute, and it can be very affordable.

So, here is a pop quiz to see how you are dressing these days.  Please answer each question as honestly as possible.

1.  It's the first day of spring and you hear Marvin (the local weatherman) announce that it might reach 74 degrees tomorrow.  You pick out the following clothes to wear to the neighborhood cookout:

A.  Jeans, tank top, and flip flops
B.  A formal evening gown complete with tiara
C.  Mini skirt, tube top, and wedges

2.  It's Sunday morning.  You choose the following to wear to the Lord's House:

A.  Skirt or slacks, cute top or sweater, and heels
B.  A choir robe
C.  Same outfit as the cookout, just with 7 inch heels

3.  It's triple coupon day at HT!  You grab the first thing you find in your closet to beat the other binder ladies for free mustard.  You arrive at HT wearing:

A.  Yoga pants, t-shirt, tennis shoes
B.  Business suit and heels
C.  Short spandex workout shorts, plunging v-neck workout shirt (with help from pushup bra), and those shoes that are supposed to help you tone your rear while you walk

4.  You've got a hot date with your lerve.  Your lerve called to say you guys were going somewhere special.  You decide to wear:

A.  A little black dress, strappy heels, and a fun bag
B.  Again with the tiara and formal gown
C.  A dress that requires duck tape, body glue, no undergarments, and sparkly 7 inch heels

5.  You're going to volunteer for your child's class field trip.  You feel you will be most comfortable in:

A.  Capris, t-shirt, sandals or flip flops
B.  Khaki pants, button down shirt, and field boots
C.  Booty shorts, tank top exposing your belly flesh, and sandals with rhinestones

If you picked:

Mostly A's:  Congratulations!  You've found that nice balance between modest and cute.  Yea for you!

Mostly B's:  Well, you are very, very modest.  Perhaps you could try to pair a little bit of feminine and fun with your very conservative attire.

Mostly C's:  Houston, we have a problem.  Clearly you are clueless when it comes to modesty and appropriate attire.  Please find your grandmother and let her take you shopping.  You are killing us.

And there you have it ladies (and my closet male readers).  Mama A loves you very much, but if you continue to wear your streetwalker gear in broad daylight, she might borrow some of the choir robes from the B's and start handing them out.

Love and smooches,
Mama A.
xoxxo

Mama A Says: Skank You, Skank You Very Much!

Oh.  My.  Words.

Ladies, this has absolutely, positively, GOT.  TO.  GO!

I'm talking about your daughters and what you let them out of the house wearing in public.  

Have you looked at your daughter lately?  The apple of your eye?  Your precious.  Your sweet, adorable girl? 

Yes, the one all dressed up like Prostitute Barbie at Target, Lowe's Foods, and even church!  The little girl with her dress up mid-thigh barely covering her rear end.  Yes, that strapless little number that is not appropriate for grown ladies, let alone 16 year old girls.  The one with enough make up caked on her face--if she sneezes her entire face may slide off and crumble on her lap.  The one with her hair teased and straightened.  The one smelling up to high heaven with something she purchased at Victoria's Secret.  

Do you want men looking at your daughter like a piece of meat?  Do you want them thinking those thoughts?  Do you want your daughter encouraging those teenaged male hormone machines with her provocative attire?  

And don't give me that crap about teen styles blah blah--there is always a way to be trendy and modest.  And no, just because she's got a killer body for about 4.6 years does not give her the right to flaunt it around for all to see.  

SHE DOES NOT LOOK CUTE!  SHE LOOKS CHEAP!!! 

Or, as my grandmother puts it, "She looks like a hooker!"

When I see these girls flitting around town, my immediate thought (after wanting to find nun attire or a choir robe or a napkin to cover her up) is, "Where is her mother?!?!?!"

Now, I know that there are many girls out there who have lost their mothers for various reasons.  I know they may or may not have respectable women in their worlds who can care for them.  I am not talking to or referring to these ladies.  I want to wrap my arms around them, not judge them. 

No, I'm speaking of girls who clearly have a mom in their world.  I see them with their moms out and about.  I see them walking next to their mothers with their flesh hanging out for all to see.  

And I want to strangle their mothers. 

Do they not see their daughter?  Do they not see what she's wearing?  Do they not see what she's doing?  Or are they turning a blind eye because they are too afraid to say something about it?  Are they afraid of being a mama?  Are they too tired to care?  

Let me tell you something--you'd better care!  You'd better tell your daughter that she's precious and wonderful and too special for that outfit she's got on.  And yeah, she's going to get mad.  I get that.  But you're not there to be her friend, she's got a million friends.  You are her mother--you are there to train her up and lead her in the way she should go.  

Now, I realize that Mama A is not quite as seasoned in raising teens--but I've had my fair share of quasi-mothering some sweet and wonderful (and terrible and hormonal and sassy) middle and high school girls.  I don't know all the ends and outs of living with teens, but I do know how to tell them to change their attire.  I've had no problem telling them to pull it down, put 'em up, and wipe it off.  

And you know what, they will. 

When you've got that good balance of love, respect, and admiration--and add a good measure of accountability and responsibility, they can handle it.  Even if it embarrasses them, they can handle it.  

Don't be afraid to make her change her clothes.  Goodness me, if your tail walked into the party showing your tail, wouldn't you want us to tell you?  You would be mortified if we let you walk around all day with your unmentionables on display.  

Why is this ok for your daughters????  

Ladies, we have got to put a stop to this!  We need to stand up for each other--young and old--and be accountable.  We need to train our younger women up--we need to remind them that they are surrounded by ladies who care about their well-being.    

Life does not come with the black censor bars--but if you don't get your daughter's attire under control, I'm about to break out my construction paper and cut rectangles to have on hand at all times.  

Love and smooches, 

Mama A. 

xoxxo