Categories
fishing Life outdoors retirement

Fishin with Family

Went fishing yesterday for the first time in the New Year. My kinda fishing trip, don’t have to go far and don’t stay long, just a couple miles and a couple hours. I’m that guy, most of y’all have seen him, he’s standing on the road side fishing in a ditch, and most people think he’s nuts. Well I am a bit “off” but that aside, I like my ditch fishing, I have honestly never gone and not caught something. Most times it’s a small bluegill (bream) or the like but I have caught largemouth bass up to 15” from a ditch you wouldn’t think a frog lived in. I get the horn toot and giggle to myself at the strange looks passers by give me as they drive past, I’ve had folks stop and chat in disbelief that I just caught that fish from there. Had people stop and talk about how they used to do the same thing when they were young and that this brings back memories. I encourage each one that does stop, to give it a try when they have a few minutes or even now as I always have an extra rod or two in my truck, I can almost guarantee they would catch a fish if they would but try. I don’t fish to keep them, I snap a picture and toss them back, to me it’s just fun to catch them. It’s something I remember doing as a kid, riding my bike to each of the culverts on that long country road and stopping and fishing, such fun. So when I retired I decided I would start going again and I’ve had a blast. Peach goes with me at times, but she’s busy with work and schooling and it leaves me to wander by myself. But yesterday was different, yesterday Jason our youngest son went with me. It was a hoot! We hit all the same spots I like to go and between the two of us we caught over 40 different fish. Copperheads (bluegill) Redbreast (sunfish) Spotted sunfish (Stumpnocker) and even Largemouth bass, all from ditches and all within 2 miles (as the crow flies) from our house. Fishing with the boys is always something I want time for and when they can go and want to, it’s a wonderful experience. I still have a small 10’ boat and electric motor for the ponds and pits people sometime let me fish (always looking for more ponds so if y’all know any where I can go, pass it this way) and I’ve gone with my oldest son James that way a time or two, but honestly my favorite is the ditch fishing, I can’t help it m! I’m hooked (pun intended) on it. Anyways, Jason and I hit each spot and caught fish until they stopped biting and then we moved on to the next, enjoying the day, the fishing and the company. We bumped into a fella at our last spot, who we chatted with a while, he had run out of bait and was leaving, as we talked Jason caught a good redbreast, which he gave to this fella as he was fishing for food and we were just catching and releasing. I showed him what we were using (pink trout magnet lures) and even gave him one, he stayed and fished more, he was still there when we left for home. At the end of the trip I realized that these are the days people wish for, maybe not fishing but just a nice few hours with family, with nothing else interrupting. Y’all try it sometime, and if you see a fella standing on the side of the road fishing in a ditch, toot the horn and wave, or stop by and chat. Who knows, you might find yourself fishing with him and enjoying every second.

Above are just a few of those we caught, they are not giants but each one is a memory and cherished like it weighed 5 lbs.

“See that Peach, I can catch fishes”

Categories
children dads Faith family Father Fatherhood grandchildren Love memories parents

4 Things I’ve Learned

Peach checking in:

Some thoughts on 4 things I’ve learned. Being a parent is such a great gift. It teaches you so much about how we are supposed to live and our relationship with our Father. And the kids themselves teach you beautiful things, too.

Free Will: As a parent, the Lord taught me the power and purity of free will. We really don’t give Him enough credit for that one. It’s huge. And it’s like a boomerang, because you get to choose, every day, all the time, all these things. And you are attached to these choices, so you will own them, and He has grace for you to overcome and make more wise choices, and it just goes on and on. It’s a strong Father that can do that. No cajoling, no pleading, just free will. Because only what we WANT to do, with a glad and happy heart is what He longs for. ❤️

Unconditional Love: I’ll never forget learning this lesson. It was so painful. When our oldest son moved out (a longgggg time ago) the Lord showed me, that while I loved our son unconditionally, I had not shown that love to him unconditionally. It was a crushing realization, but we learn our most from our mistakes. It’s not enough to love unconditionally. You must communicate that love in a manner that shows it’s unconditional. People on the outside looking in, will judge. They will think they know better. They don’t. Nobody but you and the Lord really know. You live before Him. And Him alone. And He’s the best teacher of love and parenting. Anything I ever get right as a parent or grandparent it’s because I listened to the Lord. Anything I miss. Anything I get wrong, well, it’s because I went my own way, even though unintentionally.

Two things I learned from our sons:

Don’t rush. Be still, be slow, enjoy the moment, take it all in. Take your time. Breathe. Kind people are not in a hurry all the time. Gentle people are not rushing around. That’s it.

Acceptance: accept people for who they are, just like they are. Not as we’d like them to be. Or how we think they ought to be. But, just as they are, just like that. It might sound strange, it’s so simple a thing. Just accept. Here’s part of the dictionary definition: “the action or process of being received as adequate or suitable, typically to be admitted into a group.
“you must wait for acceptance into the club” – this is a quality of children, right? We tend to lose it as adults, but I don’t think either of our sons ever lost it. I think they got that from their Dad, and I learned it from them.

This is what happens when you’ve had the virus and been having too much time in your head! 😅💚

Categories
Faith family grandchildren Gratitude joy Law Enforcement Life Love retirement thankful

The Goodness of God

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God.
The skies display his craftsmanship.
Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.
They speak without a sound or word;
their voice is never heard.
Yet their message has gone throughout the earth,
and their words to all the world.”

Psalm 19:1-4

Peach says:

So much happened during the past year, the Lord was so good to bring us through so much, bestowed so much sweetness and goodness on us in the past year, it’s hard to know how to get back started again in writing. But, write we must. So like any big, monumental mountain of laundry facing you, you just get in there and start sorting through and making piles.

The best I could figure as I sorted through photos from the past seven months, by way of remembering the overall big things, I felt it might be best to start with a giant thanksgiving post, to the GOODNESS, astounding goodness, of our Father God.

MeMa Heaven!!

We saw Batman through his final year in law enforcement! He finished many little things, details, he wanted to accomplish before retiring. He’s whole, healthy and so ALIVE, something you have to celebrate every day in law enforcement!

He was blessed to be a part of so very many great adventures in his career. Things that in my mind were too numerous and too good to not have been ‘steps of a good man’ ‘ordered by the Lord’

He is now permanently assigned to retirement life with me! AND our kids and grandkids, and there will be lots of very different adventures to come! Albeit, gardening, fort building, putt putt golfing, fishing, real golfing, traveling, coffee on the deck in the morning, more picture taking, more writing, and generally enjoying and growing and learning! Still side gigging, but at a sedate pace! So grateful! The possibilities are endless and every day, we literally can’t believe how awesome it is!

And the flowers!!! Well, we will talk more about them in a future post I am sure!! He’s the bomb, y’all!

We welcomed sweet, sweet grandsons (Kylan, in August) and (Henry, in November), and we just cannot get enough of them!! Overwhelming love and joy and great expectation and hope, a sure hope, for the future! Brand new, little humans to love and enjoy and teach and just relish life and the wonder of God with and watch them take on the world and make their way!!

Babies, babies, babies!!

Our oldest son battled the dreadful virus and whooped it, by the GRACE of God and his whole family whooped it, including his pregnant wife! Somehow, the Lord helped them navigate the purchase of their first home in that crazy month. Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals. The joy! The gratefulness. The wonder.

Our youngest son came to work with me in my dear brother in law’s company, during the fall!! I can’t even EXPLAIN the astounding joy and wonder at getting to share this with him and watch him in his element!! Being so gracious to customer after customer, going out of his way, as a matter of refined, routine, over and over, and finding a way to connect with and secure a client, oh so many times, while encouraging coworkers. It’s like a giant Christmas gift! Every day!

The holidays brought all the joy we could imagine and more! But. The season was not without pain. But, I’m not ready to talk about it. We will save that for another day. I will say, however, that even in pain the Lord provides, there is love and shelter, and grace and provision, if we will let Him in, let Him guide and provide. He is so faithful.

I would love to post more pics, but, I want to respect my sons’ privacy and I’m not sure how much is ok to post! I’m just so proud of them!

My heart!!! ❤️😍

You and me, Batman!! Forever! So far to go! So much LOVE to live!!!

See y’all real soon!

Categories
baking bible birthday children family Fatherhood food fun grandchildren Gratitude grilling kids Life Love Mustard on my Collar outdoors parents retirement sugar boogars thankful Word writing

Family!

Peach says:

It’s been a minute since I could slow my roll and make a post without likely falling asleep!

I think I may have mentioned we have two new grand kids coming this year! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

Our youngest son and his sweet girl had a ‘Gender Reveal’ party at the first of this month. She is very organized and really gifted for decorating and doing so in a thrifty fashion!! I’m so amazed at and proud of her mad skills! Everything was super cute and pink and blue, with lots of ways for the attendees to stake their claim on if the baby is a girl or a boy!

My heart was so full for about a week and half I couldn’t process any writing! Then it was work, work and here — take some more work!! 🤣🤣

But you know, I do not say that in complaint! Work is absolutely a blessing! We are made to sharpen our skills and accomplish and serve and lead and train and help and provide! I’ve been both ways, and working is BY FAR the better! Whether I worked as a housewife and homeschool mom and writer or keeping a friend’s child or as a Sergeant in a law enforcement agency that was leading the way for Florida back in the day, or in insurance sales and firearms training, there are so many ways we contribute, we grow and we learn.

It’s only that I need more sleep than I use to, so I can’t burn the candle at both ends like I did back in my 20s and 30s and somewhat in my 40s!

Alton Brown’s Banana Pudding

So, the days have been so full and among them has been seeing to little details for Batman’s upcoming retirement. There’s a lot of paperwork. Lots of questions with answers sought and comprehension eventually acquired! I remember the days when we longed for and sought for this job, this calling. I remember the struggles and sacrifice and much heart ache, adrenaline rushes, exhaustion, and steady grinding. I’m not entirely sure he understands the depth and breadth of what he has accomplished. All with and through the Grace of God and his own willingness.

I am so grateful and excited for his upcoming next. Scriptures tell us, our latter shall be greater. The path of the just is as the shining sun, shining more and more unto the perfect day!! I’m completely believing that for him, and for me with him! Just. Getting. Started.

Early morning on his work day patrol.

We share birthdays so to speak, my birthday being the day after his! Which is awfully handy!

We started last year getting some of our family together to celebrate on Batman’s birthday and this year was just overwhelmingly everything good and joyful! He grilled and I cooked side dishes and baked. And my brother and his tribe came and our sons and their families!

There was a little friendly horseshoe competition between the guys and lots of wrangling the littlest of the younguns!

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese!
A bit of much needed shade! 😎

We are blessed to have so much family to enjoy! I know this sounds sappy, and I’m quite ok with that! The last two years prior to this, while filled with much of The Lord’s much needed Grace and blessings, were very painful in lots of ways. So, I believe celebration for accomplishments, progress and just altogether sweetness of life are important to life! 😍👏🏻👏🏻

We capped it off by sparklers, and the youngest three of the affectionately known as Sugarboogars, had not so far had an opportunity to experience such things just yet!

There were much squeals of shock and awe and utter delight! Oddly none of them were afraid! Even the almost two year old Loved them! I can’t imagine where they got that from! 🙃 But, I will say my second favorite holiday is Independence Day!! 🎇🎆🎇🎆

Just a bit of sparkly!
‘Taking cover’ behind the woodpile while videoing the sparklers with their cameras their Daddy got them last year! They get SO MUCH pleasure out of them!

I am praying this year draws Batman even closer to the Lord and fills his heart with joy and peace and old dreams fulfilled and new dreams dreamed! That the Lord teaches me how to be more of a surprise and blessing to him! He’s beyond good to me! So very grateful for him!

In closing:

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.” — Psalm 138:7-8

Categories
birthday children Cooking Delicious family Fatherhood fishing food grandchildren grilling kids Love outdoors Uncategorized

Birthday

Batman Says:

It creeps up on us once a year without fail, and suddenly “BAM” you’re a whole year older. It’s inevitable, it happens to us all and there is no way of stopping it.

When I was a kid, I like most of us, never worried about age or growing old, I played hard, ran the woods and fields, fished, hunted, trapped and just basically did kid stuff until ma or pa called me home. Every birthday that came when I was young was celebrated with my family, we were not “well off” but mom and dad always made it special and surrounded by my brothers and sister I don’t see how it could have been any better.

The years progress and we get older and have to stop doing “kid” stuff and “act our age” so to speak (something I struggle with having a professional small boy mentality), but I believe we all maintain, somewhere deep inside buried under years of stress and strife, piled upon us by work and trying to make a living, a piece of that “kid”. It’s this small piece that shows up at times to play jokes, laugh at inappropriate times and generally helps to keep us sane in a world that is drifting rudderless nowadays (squirrel).

So, as I look back, I see numerous things from my childhood that have been erased by my getting older and I would like them back at some point in time. Without these childhood things and mentalities we become drab boring adults just muddling our way through life, where’s the fun in that?

This year on my birthday I was again surrounded by family, not mom who is off with my sister in Pensacola, not Dad who is in heaven looking down shaking his head at my nonsense, but family none the less, my boys and their families and Peach’s brother and his family. I cannot see how it could be a better birthday than the way it was (‘cept maybe minus the yellow flies, deer flies some call ‘em) we cooked on the grill, played badminton and horse shoes, goofed, talked and caught up. Peach and I have awesome families and kids and grandkids and they all come together to help us old farts remember when we were kids and not to take life too seriously.

Birthdays, long as we’re here, we will have them, they are celebrations that we should embrace and enjoy. Surround yourself with family, be thankful for having them, do not take life too serious, play a game, laugh, and most of all love, and I think you will enjoy each one more than the last one.

Nothin better than your banana puddin’ for my birthday, Peach

Categories
beauty children dads Faith family focus Ford F150 grace grandchildren Gratitude Mustard on my Collar New Year podcasts retirement sugar boogars thankful

Odds and Ends…and New Beginnings!

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and He delighteth in his way.” — Psalm 37:23

Peach says:

How is everybody doing? We hope this new year finds you still hopeful and looking at things through the lens of God’s Grace and POWER. It’s what makes everything look BETTER, and brighter!

I see Batman spilled the beans on our latest endeavor! Because we really needed a new project!! 😂😂 But, seriously, I am so peaceful and hopeful, and sure that God is with us in this, that it gives me courage! We shall see! Like he and I often say, if even ONE person is helped, saved, encouraged or anyway uplifted, it is ALL worth it!

I try these later years in life to always be mindful when in contact with people to remember that it all MATTERS. Don’t categorize our interactions as important and non important, because sometimes what a soul needs comes suddenly AFTER a myriad of little things finally tips the basket. It’s how it was for me, and I think for many.

We’ve been each busy with jobs. Then there’s our side gig as you see up there 👆🏻

Then we have what I like to call the ‘Sugar Boogars!! We have two sons and our oldest and his wife have 5 kids!! Yep! They do know what causes that!! They just LOVE having a big family! And I love being a Mema!

The girls turned 4 this week and we celebrated last Saturday. The pictures above 1) that popped up in my IG memories. 2, 3) them sporting birthday presents!

Tomorrow we get a visit from our youngest son and his fiancé! They are happily expecting their first child! Our sixth grandchild!! We are over the moon excited!! Can’t wait for tomorrow!

And our oldest has a birthday on Valentine’s Day! He’s working this weekend, so we are celebrating that next Saturday!

Looks like February is the month for family and parties! Don’t worry! We are all very low key and careful and it’s only immediate family! 👌🏻🙏🏻

The podcast could not happen without Batman. There have been all sorts of technical issues and he has muscled his way through each and every one of them. I am so grateful for him, y’all have no idea.

We’ve only got the intro one up yet. But, much more in the works. Prayers appreciated. In the natural, I mean like the world does NOT appear to need another podcast. But, I believe in the supernatural! I believe in a God who decides what He thinks is necessary and works out the details for each soul as they need it. That doesn’t make our podcast special, it makes us available for Him to work through! That’s all I’m looking for! Right place, right time, right message, right soul(s) at any given time!

This happened on Christmas Eve!! It was such a happy, unexpected (but secretly hoped for) blessing! It’s part of our retirement plans. He’s researched for over two years the kind of camper we want to pull and the type of truck which would best suit it. Everything just came together for the best package deal (year end stuff and a heap of Grace) and now we are ready to narrow down our search for a camper!

We went to our first RV show yesterday! It was very cool and we are getting a lot closer to what we want!

There will be more RV shows this year!

I am hoping to be much more regular on here. It makes me happy and I think it’s important to work our gifts, however humble they are, and trust God to do good work IN us and THROUGH us. I often find myself thinking the life of Christians, is very much like a bee or butterfly, cross pollinating and bringing much needed joy wherever they go!

This made us giggle at lunch today, after the Range! We often like to grab a quick meal after (or between) class(es) at our favorite nearby chain restaurant. Just silliness, I tell ya!

Lastly, here’s one more of Sugar Boogars!! Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you will say Hi! And drop a note and we will come see you!

Categories
Faith Life

Granny Beads

Photo by Caleb Oquendo on Pexels.com

Peach says: Do you remember playing outside as a child? Until forced to come inside in the evening, after dark and get a bath? I can remember being told I looked a tornado had hit me. I always wondered what that might mean, but did understand it had to do with all the fun I had enjoyed! All the dirt, all the sweat, (do we sweat when we are little? I don’t really remember that being a thing!) all the scrapes, etc.

Leave it all on the field. Indeed. Getting called in for bath time was the most upsetting thing as a child, especially in the summer or on the weekend.

I can remember in the early days of our marriage, my husband used the term ‘Granny Beads’. I was so puzzled, having never heard it. He had picked it up from his extremely Southern Mother and her folks. It means the dirt ring around a child’s neck who has been exuberantly playing outside for hours, and now the dirt looks a bit like a ring of Granny’s beads around their neck! Signs of a good time!

For some reason this phrase has been on my mind recently. 1) to introduce people to it, because children’s lives are much too sanitized anymore. We did that, starting with Homeowner’s Associations. and 2) I think I have an urge to live out the fullest number of our days, getting dirty, playing until way after dark, leaving it all on the field so to speak, with Granny Beads!

That’s going to look different for each of us, but it entails keeping a searching and believing heart before the Lord, letting Him lead us, and help us develop the talents He has put in us, for His Glory and the expansion of His Kingdom, and all of this does indeed lead to our JOY.

Maximizing our reach, with His love and excellency and generosity, learning and growing as we go.

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” – 2 Timothy 4.

I leave you this for a bit of fun and inspiration!

Going Out With My Boots On

Categories
children Faith family Life Love Marriage thankful Uncategorized

37 Years

Batman says:

Today 12/19 Peach and I have been married 37 years (yes to each other). I keep telling y’all she’s amazing cause for anyone to stick with my weirdness, grumpiness, from the wrong time-period-ness , you would have to be an amazing person. I love my Peach and I’m pretty sure she loves me so I expect we will keep at it a bit longer.

Started me thinking about longevity, being married to the same person for a long time used to be common, now days it seems to be more common to either never get married or get married several different times to several different people, I guess hoping to finally find the one you always agree and get along with, good luck with that. Being married is full of complications but if you go into it knowing there are going to be disagreements and arguments and other things that make you unsure it was right, then you will be willing to work through them. Today it seems people get married, are happy a short while, get divorced, and start the cycle over again. It’s tough enough on the adults that go through it, but it’s the kids that suffer the most. I believe it’s why too many folk get married and split up, they saw it when they were kids, and their parents had no “stick-to-it-ness” and split up, so why shouldn’t they when things don’t go the way they think they should.

Peach and I started off many years ago living with my parents (who eventually divorced) because we could not afford anything else. We scraped by and we had and have disagreements, but leaving each other?? Never was a thought, at least on my part (hope peach concurs) and we worked through our issues. 37 years later still going strong, not rich by far but we get by. We have something lots don’t, we have each other, and Peach is the light of my life and has been since day one.

I joke with the youngins I work with that I’ve been married longer than most of them have been alive. I would not trade one second of my life with Peach and hope she feels the same.

Y’all find the person you can’t stand to be away from, love, marry, stick with through everything, and your life will be full with no empty spots.

Ready for 37 more Peach? Peach?? Not funny!”

Categories
children danger exploited family Fatherhood Fear human trafficking Life missing parents safety Uncategorized

Find the Missing

Batman Says:

I’m not sure why, but I’m sure it is going on, most of the world turning a blind eye to “Human Trafficking”. Where are the outcry’s of rage? Where is the supposed “news media”, where are the family members of missing loved ones? Where are the Police? Where are the elected officials? Where for Gods sake are the red blooded American citizens who should be beating down the powers that be’s doors?

There are an estimated 800,000 missing children EVERY YEAR and these estimates are lowballed and do not include adults. There are evil people out there, snatching kids off the streets, playgrounds, and even yards, to sell as slaves and sex objects. It is not a new thing, it has been going on for ages, in the background, silently and stealthily, people are being snatched and disappear hourly.

Where is the outcry? It makes no sense, with all the families of the missing, there should be marching in the streets. Where is the so called news media, that says they have the public’s interest at heart in their “news” stories, one would think something like this would be front and center DAILY so people would see the severity of the problem and rise up to begin to stop it. They are not reporting it because it’s not sensational enough, there are no bad cops to show, nor politicians whose ideas they don’t agree with to bash, therefore they do not care. Folks to fix the news media is another story all by itself, but emailing and writing may help, I suggest something radical that I’m sure not a lot will do, but it would work, stop watching the news, stop watching that network, the one thing I do know these people want is ratings, without you they don’t have that, then they send out polls as to why and you can express your opinion and tell them why, but this is about the missing not the biased news.

This is no fantasy story, nor something happening only in lower class places, this is something that effects us all. Human traffickers care about only one thing, money, and to get money they need live bodies, boys, girls, men and women are ALL targets. We as people have GOT to make a stand and start thwarting these (and I won’t use foul language) lowest of life forms on the planet, by EVERY means available to us.

Here are a few tips:

Moms and Dads know where your kids are at all times

Watch your neighborhood, call the Police over suspicious people and / vehicles

Go places as groups not alone

Look at your surroundings as you move about, look up, not at your feet

Always tell someone where you are going to be, and when to expect you back

Let someone know your route you plan to take.

(Where it’s legal) Carry pepper spray, mace, or a stun gun, in your hand Anytime you are walking or running.

Park your car as close to the store you’re visiting as you can get, under a light if possible.

Do not park next to a van or truck, especially if it is between you and the store front.

When you leave the store Know where your vehicle is prior to wandering all over the lot.

(Where it’s legal) Walking to your vehicle have your pepper spray / mace/stun gun in your hand until you are in your car, with the door locked. Look at your car, does it look like it’s been disturbed? Is there a car or truck or even a car with dark tinted windows around it? If so, ask a store worker to walk you to your car.

There are hundreds of things we can do to make ourselves and our children and friends “hard targets” but it takes constant vigilance to do it.

As a Police Officer, I am appalled at the lack of concern, lack of public knowledge, lack of commitment by most anyone on this subject. It’s a disgrace and should not be allowed to stand.

Folks, if you know ANYTHING at all that could lead to finding even one missing person, one human trafficker, one location, or anything, I beg you to tell a Law Enforcement Officer, or anyone you can that may be able to help…if you’re afraid or don’t want to get involved, message us here privately and we will get the right people to the right places.

Together we can stop this horrible crime and maybe rescue someone’s loved one in the meantime.

Use the tips I posted 24 hours a day 7 days a week, pass them to your friends and family, pass the word around, information and diligence is key and together we can win.

Peach and I are both available to speak to groups about personal safety, just shoot us a message and we will see what we can come up with.

God bless you all and please be safe.

Your stun gun is fully charged Peach, is my hair sticking up?”

Categories
bible Faith family Fatherhood Life parents

‘It Wasn’t His Child’

Peach says:

Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name EMMANUEL, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.” — Matthew 1:20-23. ♥️♥️ So, this certain song came on, on my way to work Friday and it just touched my heart so much. Because on those back country roads, that I love to drive, and are a big part of who I am, I was able to really think about Jesus’ birth from Joseph and Mary’s point of view. Scripture tells us He was willing to come down from Heaven in human form and endure the cross for the coming victory. He thought you were worth it! He was ‘made poor’ so that we ‘might be made rich’. (2 Corinthians 8:9) He took an unfathomably hard road so that we would have a path to follow out and through and up and over, to a better place, a better way. I particularly realized something, as I listened to Trisha Yearwood sing this song, and thought of Mary’s unique and unlikely dilemma, and Joseph’s perdicament. Jesus, our Lord, had Himself born into something which was almost unheard of in that time, a single mom (unmarried and pregnant), who Joseph agreed to marry in spite of, in obedience to the Lord’s guidance, making Joseph a Step-Father. Jesus really walked in humble shoes to give us the advantage of the greatest hope! And to be able to show (I believe) our current generations, so many of whom come from either broken, blended or both, families, He’s been there. His Mom was talked about. His Dad was talked about. His family life was ‘complicated’, while we don’t ever want to treat His deity with a lack of reverence, we also do NOT want to miss out on His HUMANITY which He CHOSE to be born to FOR A PURPOSE.

John 10:10, — “10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I AM COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE, and that they might HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY.”

I believe, like so many things He walked out for us, He walked this unique and challenging family life out,,so that we could have wholeness in all circumstances, with His GRACE!

He did without a lot, endured a lot, overcame a lot, for you and for me. This week I want to embrace the victory He purchased, the abundant life He wants for us, for you and for me, and it’s going to require I let go of the things that don’t matter and grab hold of the best things He has for me. It’s going to require more of my attention. More of my heart. He knows I’m weak. But, that just makes more room for Him to move in me!

God bless!

‘It Wasn’t His Child‘ — by Trisha Yearwood!