“Why is it that you walk beside him- when you know all that he’s done?

Why didn’t you just keep moving; live your life for you and your son?

How can you stay with him- why do you waste your time?

You are just being emotional….you will see…you’ll change your mind?”

OH….I’M SORRY- Were you talking to me? Because clearly I have tuned you out-

Because I am faithing forward toward victory…I HAVE NO TIME FOR YOUR WORDS OF DOUBT.

But let me take just a brief moment, to give you a glimpse into what I see…

because surely all that you are inquiring about…IS A PART OF A GREATER DESTINY.

Why do I walk beside him? Because together we are stronger than apart.

Why didn’t I just keep moving?…Because God joined us together from the start.

Keep living my life is your suggestion…well I’ll take that and I assure you I am…

But part of my life is OUR KINGDOM FAMILY LEGACY…..AND WE ARE GOING TO POSSESS THAT PROMISED LAND!

I don’t proclaim that this walk is a bed of flowers…but the Rose of Sharon continues to lead and guide

Some days are better than others…but EVERY DAY God walks by our side

I hope that I’ve not only answered your questions- but also allowed you to see

That the faith, hope and love I have…is because of the Greater One who lives in me.

So, the past few weeks have been full of emotions for me. Some days were filled with love pains– because I really wanted to have my husband home. Some days were marked by frustration, because there is so much to be done- and seemingly not enough time or energy to accomplish them all.  And of course in the midst of balancing my own emotions, there is also my marriage, motherhood and work responsibilities that all have to be tended to daily in order to prevent a system shutdown!  (Can anyone relate, or is this just me?)

On one really rough day, I was driving home from work and a song came on the radio that truly encouraged me as the lyrics said over and again “live through it.” (The song is titled Live Through It by James Fortune.)

But it was after the song went off, and I thought about what it really means to be “living” that I gained some new strength.

The word living means: to continue to have life; to remain in existence or to be alive.

The word alive means:  not dead; not yet defeated; still having a chance to win.

 

I realized that “living through it” means in spite of my pains, frustrations, and weariness…I MUST CONTINUE TO HAVE LIFE.

I realized that while I am entitled to have moments that I can’t do anything other than be still until the pain passes; I must remember that MY SITUATION IS NOT DEAD…AND WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN.

I realized that even though I have days where I cry and my vision gets cloudy…I must daily refocus my hope keep LIVING THROUGH IT.

Today, I hope that you are reminded that you still have life in your situation. And even on the days that you feel discouraged…you are not defeated!  Keep LIVING and focus on the life that is yet ahead of you! 

“He, because of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross and despised the shame…”

Easter has always been one of my favorite holidays for many different reasons.

When I was a child, it was because of the pretty dresses, the colored eggs and Easter baskets.

As a young adult, it was definitely the message of hope that was, and still is, in the Resurrection story.  The fact that a plan that was intended to destroy Jesus actually proved to be the incredible wisdom of God was powerful beyond words to me. In fact,  as I look at some places that “appear” to be dead or beyond repair in my life today….I still get excited with the possibilities that I am reminded of when I think of the power of the cross!

This year, I have a deeper and more personal connection to the journey of the cross that I never had before.  I can relate to the choice that Jesus made when he DECIDED to endure the cross…and when he DECIDED to DESPISE THE SHAME THAT CAME ALONG WITH THE CROSS.

You see, there is a certain degree of “shame” that is associated with loving someone in prison. It is the shame that causes you to only talk about your loved one to those that already “know your situation” or with those who you think would understand.

It is the shame that causes a mother of four to speak only of her three children, because she doesn’t want to answer any questions about the child in prison.

The shame is real….but so is the decision that I can make to despise, reject, abandon and refuse it!

This year, I recognize that we can focus on the shame….or we can focus on the joy that is coming on the other side of this journey. And I am convinced that there are so many loved ones of inmates who are doing this daily.

Yesterday, I sat in a visitation room that was full to capacity; and I saw so many people there who have made a DECISION to DESPISE THE SHAME…..and to love any way.

I watched an elderly mother on a walker; stand in the doorway with tears rolling down her cheeks until she knew that her son had completely exited the visitation room. I imagine that she knows quite well what it means to despise the shame.

Before yesterday, I had never considered the loved ones of Jesus who were there watching as he ENDURED THE CROSS. I realize they too had to DESPISE THE SHAME that came along with being connected to Him.  But I can hardly imagine the joy and victory they experienced when the saw the outcome on the other side of the cross!

Is it an easy choice? No. Do you make that choice one time and for all? I don’t think so.

But each time that we DECIDE TO DESPISE THE SHAME we are one step closer to the other side of the cross.

Today, I am encouraged as remind myself that there is another side to this story! I encourage you to stay focused on the joy that is beyond the cross; and to DECIDE TO DESPISE THE SHAME!