We hear this all the time: Jesus loves you! It’s even a song. It’s an oft-heard phrase but have you ever really dissected that a bit and thought about how precious that really is? Sometimes we feel so small…we’re just one in a sea of billions of people on Earth. And there have been billions of people here before us and God loved them all. So what’s so special about me?? Let me tell you.
There may be billions of people but there’s none just like you or me or the guy down the street. We’re all uniquely different with our own oddities, quirks, features, characteristics, wants, needs, dreams. We often feel like the speck in “Horton Hears a Who.” Sometimes we feel so small,as if we’re a speck on the speck. But I’m telling you, He cares about everything you care about, simply because you care about it. If it’s important to you, it’s important to Him. If it hurts you, it hurts Him. He carries our burdens…willingly!
If you think of all the grains of sand on a beach, they’re too numerous to count. You couldn’t pick out a specific grain of sand. They all look the same! We’re those grains of sand–there are so many of us. Except God can reach down and pluck out a “grain” and tell you all about that “grain”, what it looks like, feels like, what it cares about, where it’s been, where it’s going. He can pick each one of us out of a crowd and knows everything about us at any time…because He loves us. I just wanted you to know.
Yesterday we had the privilege of voting in some pretty significant elections. Since the results came in, I’ve noticed a lot of fallout on social media. So many harsh words were being slung around. There were several mentions of folks unfriending others because they’d become aware of their opposing political stances. Strangers banded together to virtually gang up on a poster who held an unpopular viewwpoint. Personal attacks abound the internet this morning and it made me quite sad.
It’s been said never to discuss religion or politics, the theory being that any such discussions can never end well. I’d prefer to say we go ahead and participate in those discussions but do so with a clear head and respectfulness in your delivery. These discussions aren’t typically likely to lead to you swaying someone in your direction and the chances of that dive from slim to none if you’re berating them for disagreeing with you.
Upon reading some of these conversations, it made me wonder why many people are comfortable being so venomous towards one another. Sure, we all let a harsh word slip from time to time, but I’d like to think we’re immediately remorseful.
Everyone knows how bad it feels when we are treated rudely and hopefully everyone also knows how much better it feels to be treated with kindness. The difference is profound. What if we all made a commitment, a sort of pact with ourselves, that any time we’re tempted to speak bitterly that we catch ourselves first and turn it around into positive thoughts or speech?
Instead of reprimanding that cashier who is grumpy or being a little too slow for your liking, try issuing a compliment. Notice how his or her demeanor changes, softens. I’m a firm believer that no one is chronically rude or cold simply because it’s a component of their personality. I believe (and I teach my children this) that unhappy folks have an underlying reason for their mood, a reason we may never know or see–a past hurt, a spouse who just abandoned them, an illness they’re fighting.
Our words can be like tiny murders or they can be mighty encouragements. In the busyness of our days, let’s pause and really see others and extend some kindnesses. Watch how your compassionate actions impact the person on the receiving end. See how it impacts you.
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each others, just as Christ also has forgiven you.” ~ Ephesians 4:32
Disclaimer: If you haven’t seen Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day, don’t read this yet! But do go see it. It’s good!
This weekend at an all-night movie lock-in for high schoolers, we got to see Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day. Really, those adjectives are a bit of an understatement. Their day was really chaotic to say the least, but overall, they survived and at the end of it, were still a good, solid, loving family. Really, that matters more than anything.
I learned some things from Alexander and his family and here are my top five:
1. Teamwork within a couple really matters. Alexander’s dad was suffering a job loss. Several months into his job search he was still at home being “fommy” (a new term I learned during this viewing), a “father mommy.” He was a stay-at-home dad and managing pretty brilliantly. Even though he was going through some personal difficulties sure to be a challenge, he supported his wife who’d returned to the workforce and he became her biggest cheerleader. She, in turn, appreciated how he kept the family together and running at home.
2. Sometimes you get the girl after all. Alexander liked the very pretty, popular girl who seemed sure to be out of his reach. After all, he admitted his life was a series of bad days. Even after he set her textbook ablaze, she saw through the craziness of his life and gave him a chance after realizing he really was a good guy.
3. Don’t answer the phone while driving. Just don’t. Alexander’s brother learned this the hard way. It set into motion a series of smallish disasters and all in the name of trying to keep his girlfriend from being mad at him.
4. Show up for your siblings. Despite their insane day, the family “showed up” for each person’s event. Big brother got to his prom dinner (that ended with a pretty surprising and wise decision made on his part), sister got to perform (so to speak!) in her star role of her 8th grade play, and Alexander…well, he got his over-the-top birthday party after all. The whole family was together to share in the ups and downs of it every step. (And Australian animals (Alexander’s favorite) are quite fabulous).
5. Happy endings really are the best part of the movie. I still love whimsy and neatly sewn up endings where everyone is happy. I’ll never change. Who doesn’t want a happy journey with the promise of a happy ending?
When I say “The Duggars” most people know who I’m talking about. The Duggar family has been long-known as “the ones with all the kids.” They do have “19 Kids and Counting”, which is the appropriate title of their reality TV show on TLC. Many people have strong feelings about this larger-than-average family. They either love them or…they don’t.
I’ll admit when they first came into the public eye (when there were fewer than 19 children), I wasn’t a fan. I couldn’t understand how it was responsible to have that many children. After all, how could parents possibly keep track of each one and give them much-needed undivided attention on a daily basis? I judged them, assuming the older kids all but raised the younger ones. I didn’t dislike them per se, but I didn’t understand their ways so I didn’t make any attempts to investigate and see what they were really about.
Eventually I gave them a chance and started watching their show here and there and no one was more surprised than I to find that this family grew on me. Here are my ten reasons why:
1. I just plain like them.
The Duggars are likable, it’s just that simple. They seem like people who I could be friends with and have some laughs with and learn from.
2. They have an unshakable faith.
The Duggars have been raked over the coals time and again for their beliefs and the way they choose to live. But they’re confident in their spirituality and they haven’t let the criticism sway them. They live out their faith.
3. They’re honest about their mistakes.
Jim Bob and Michelle have been open about some mistakes they made early on in their life. They’ve copped to some debt and some other circumstances they’d change if they could go back and do so. They are very straight forward that some of their parenting strategies are formed around preventing their children from making similar poor decisions.
4. They make messes.
There is a big bunch of little ones running around the Duggar house which translates into bigger messes than in most homes. The struggle is real, people. Keeping a house neat and tidy when we have two children is practically an Olympic event some days. Imagine keeping any kind of order with 19 (nineteen!) kids playing, finger painting, making blanket forts. They don’t pretend that they’ve got it all together at all times. There are messes and they just clean them up and move on to the next one.
5. They laugh a lot.
Laughter is huge in my life. I’m a firm believer in laughing every chance there is. So when I see this family joking around, especially between Jim Bob and Michelle, it really endears me. The family that laughs together, stays together.
6. They shop secondhand and are proud of it.
Be still my heart. Celebrities who buy secondhand! I’m a bargain shopper, born and bred, and even if I break the millionaire tax bracket someday, I’ll still be a bargain shopper. Why pay more for something if you don’t have to? The Duggars buy secondhand and even make some of their own clothing and it’s admirable and it’s also smart. They make good use of what God has given them.
7. They have real talents and interests.
It appears most if not all of the Duggar children have musical ability. They take musical lessons and have vast interests. Many of the boys help with construction and home improvement (as we saw when the family readied an investment home for newlyweds Jill and Derick).
Jill has a love of midwifery and coaching mothers and helping newborns enter the world and the other children have displayed various interests. They are individuals and their uniqueness shows.
8. They have each other’s backs.
There is real comradery and support amongst the members of the Duggar family. There is genuine love and tenderness and a healthy amount of teasing. But overall, the kids seem very supportive and truly happy for the others’ successes.
9. They have great hair.
Seriously, this family has been blessed from a follicular standpoint. The girls have long hair and volume for days. It’s beautiful and I’ve noticed them mention more than once how they enjoy doing each other’s hair in different braids and curls.
10. They make it all work.
I’m sure they’re like any other family. They have problems. There are cross words and sibling rivalry that crop up. But they love each other and have developed a system and they make it work. It seems effortless, but I’m sure it’s not. To make sure 19 kids and 2 parents are cared for and have the attention they need is sure to be a challenge but they’re in it together.
They’re a formidable team and their faith is the glue that makes them stick. They’ve really endeared themselves to me over the years and I’ve found myself tearing up at the wedding proposals and cheering for them as Michelle and Jim Bob become grandparents and in-laws to the young people marrying into their family. As they go on mission trips, help others, and keep on keeping on, I’ll keep on tuning in.
