Perfect Love

From 1 John 4:18…perfect love casts out fear…

We reviewed this verse last night at my girls’ group and it stuck with me today. I don’t yet “get” God’s love; I may never “get it” like my human brain wants, but I have a lot yet to learn and look forward to new levels of comprehending it. Why He wanted to make us in the first place is curious and knowing we’d let it all “go to pot” as my Granny Can would say. We’re a mess, us humans. We don’t know up from down. It reminds me of a cheesy Michael W. Smith song that talked about all the chaos going down in the world.

However, this morning as I contemplated the verse that popped into my line of vision, I can see how important it is to cling to His love. He knows what He’s doing. Whew! what a relief! As I’m very familiar with my way around the land of anxiety, I know if we look at what’s around us and begin to wonder who the heck we are and what the heck we’re doing here, it can get quite frightening. It can leave us confused and unsteady. So, I choose, little by little and sometimes minute by minute, to hold tightly to God. The one who designed every bit of me and knew we’d have trouble in this life also knows we need a rope to hold onto for safety. We are, after all, only dust. He gets it and loves us to pieces. I may not “get it” completely, but I think I’ll hold on to that rope, aka Christ, just in case the waters start to pick up; which they will. That’s life. Little by little…trusting, obeying, believing. Hold tight.

It’s bubblin’…

If you have kids, you know what feeling I’m talking about: The grit your teeth, bubbling joy, want to squeeze them and/or kiss them to pieces feeling. Wow! Sometimes I can’t even handle how cute and amazing my little boy is to me. His serious face, joyful smiles, dimples, crazy hair, squealing, and even stinky booty make my heart sing. Cheesy, yes, but honest truth. I love that God gave us the ability to love and be loved. What an amazing bit of evidence to prove there’s a mighty God in charge. Relationships; they’re so powerful.

Here’s my encouragement to you: Grab a hand, hug a neck, kiss a cheek and look someone in the eyes to tell them how much you love them or how you value them. Feel the nudge and take advantage of it when you want to share that bubbling joy inside. It feels so good, doesn’t it? I wish all of life felt so good, but crappy moments can, if we let them, make the beautiful moments that much more intense.

Treasures

What treasures there are from my textured past! I can pull from my life and find such interesting relationships; most can bring a smile to my face and some probably make me cringe. I love the idea that each and every interaction we have in life is on purpose. That we can influence someone and play a part in their story, good or bad, is fascinating.

Through Facebook, I’ve recently come across my summer camp counselor that had a major impact on my faith in God. She was beautiful to me and I’m thrilled to have found her again. I also found the cute face of my 5th grade boyfriend! My mom saved a Valentine’s Day card that he gave me 🙂 Technology has certainly aided in keeping in touch with people from ages ago. My husband is anti-MySpace, but I think there’s lots of fun to be had and lots of memories to recall through those online outlets.

The same thing goes with this Blogging idea. What a fun and interesting way to understand someone. My friend Courtney shares her life as a photographer and as a mother to a little one with CF. I’m encouraged by her and often times inspired. I’m glad she and so many others are part of my story. God is an amazing author.

Hello world!

It’s me! Emily! What an opportunity to write about the random thoughts that often pop into my head. I love this idea of blogging; that anyone and most likely no one will read my obscure thoughts…could be interesting and oh so very boring.

My title, “Life is so curious…” isn’t it though? The whole concept…people just out there “living”; for what? We wake, do our daily requirements, have relationships with others, strive to gain more and more…for what? I’m a Christian and believe there’s a specific purpose to all of it, but what about those who don’t think much of a Creator? Whatcha doin’ in this life? SOO many brains in this world that are thinking, plotting, stewing…

I’m a new mommy and hope my little one tends to have more of his daddy’s brain overall, but I do hope to give him a bit of my curious brain, too…I want him to wonder and question all that goes on here so that he can gain confidence in a purpose for it all. It’s so curious…a true combo platter of beauty and strife. Not what was intended, but worth living, that’s for sure.