He Would Have Loved It

I knew a day like yesterday would come. We all did. As I thought about the upcoming proposal, I thought of my Daddy. He loved my nephew's girlfriend and called her his "little ray of sunshine." Their birthdays were only a few days apart and we always ate at Cracker Barrel to celebrate their birthdays. I am so thankful that in 2009 at our last one, I got a picture of the two of them sitting by each other sharing a laugh with everyone else. This picture truly shows how much he loved his family and this sweet girl.

As I took pictures last night, I thought about him. I thought about how he would have been "mad" at us for not telling him advance. For you see, we all knew he wouldn't keep a secret. As the saying goes, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree because Red is the same way - we were just calling him Bill Jr last night. I could see him running up to hug their necks after the proposal was made - laughing and crying all at the same time. He would have been so proud.

He loved his family and loved this sweet girl. Try as we may, we all had to think of something else. We had to think of the joy of the night but I knew in my heart he was there with us - smiling and laughing right along with all of us. I just wish he could have actually been there. In my mind and my heart, he was supposed to be.

Life Lessons

Life is sometimes that four letter word. We feel the weight of the world on our shoulders and wonder why all of this is happening. The comparison of our life to everyone around us begins and so follows the doubt, anger, fear, worry - all those emotions that keep us from seeing the picture. But what if our reactions to these times changed? What if we decided to not let those worried and thoughts enter our minds but instead look at things completely different?

Have we ever thought that just maybe there was a lesson being taught? That through this trial or circumstance God had plans to mold us, humble us, and reveal to us what He wants? This is exactly what happens for His children. Nothing and I mean nothing comes upon our lives unless it is first goes through His loving hands. When money is tight, when people mean to bring you harm, when life is pressing against us at all sides - yes there is a lesson there. God wants to strip away the things of this world and point our lives toward Him and His plan.

Life - that four letter word that is daily used to bring us into a closer relationship with Him or to some, bring them to a relationship with him. You or I may be the difference in someone accepting that call on their lives or choosing the World. May we choose to ask "Lord, what are you trying to show me? " instead of "why me?"