Lighthouse Keepers

Thinking back to when I was a little girl, to my early teen years, then to my mid-late teens, friendships were a big part of my life. I mean, they are for almost everyone! And no matter how the dynamics change and the maturity levels change, there is something that never changes. The thing that never changes is our desire for closeness, security, and comfort within friendships. These characteristics make us feel complete and happy, but they can also be a great enemy. Our desire for these things can cause us to unconsciously (or maybe at times a little too consciously)cut people off who aren’t as close to us; we stick to getting together with the friends who we can talk to easily, who know us so well, and who we have so much in common with. And that is how a clique is formed. Until about two years ago, cliques were a way of life for me. There were times where I was aware of it, but most of the time I didn’t give it a thought, because it was so engrained into me. These elite...

I’ll never forget the day when my second oldest, who couldn't have been more then four at the time said to me, “mommy are you happy at me?” And I immediately said “of course I am happy about you. I love you so much!”  Then she completely caught me off guard and replied “then smile at me.”    Even as I write this I feel the power of those words coming from my little girls mouth. It made my stomach turn.  It literally shook me and broke my heart that she could sense that I was obviously not happy and simply did not have joy right then.  I could tell her that yes I was happy but I knew she knew better. That day I realized that I had been depriving my sweet precious family of a vey powerful and wonderful gift.  The gift of joy. I had had a hard day..or probably a hard week and I had let it drain me of joy and happiness and my dear family had to feel the consequences of it. It was not fair at all. Since then God has so often reminded me of that day and I ...