The right words...

I've been incredibly quiet on the social media front this week. I simply couldn't find the words to express the big feelings I had. I wanted the right words to find me, so I've prayed for intentionality and discernment. I've prayed that my words find the right ears and the right hearts that need them which is kind of silly because no one is sitting out there wondering one second "What does Katy think about all this".

Then I started writing and as my fingers hit the keys I paused and thought, "I've read this somewhere before." Turns out I had the "right words" all along... from a blog post I wrote 10 years ago. 

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June 23, 2015

I'm sure you've all noticed the news lately. Filled with sadness and hate. Judgment and scorn. A he said/she said battle that would rival a middle school cafeteria. Stories of courage that are met with ridicule out of fear of the unknown. Stories of racism that a country won't admit still exists. Stories that are so unbelievably tragic all you can do is cry. 

And I do. 

But I also pray and within those prayers are the hope that my Christian brothers and sisters will stand up and showcase to the world that is watching what the meaning of Christ's love is really all about. 

And then I cry some more because time and time again, we fail.

We fail to help from fear. We fail to listen from hate. We fail to simply stand next to each other with an open ear, open arms and most of all, an open heart. We ultimately fail to love and in doing so, we fail to bring people to Him. In fact, we do the opposite. We turn people from Him. With our hate. With our judgment. With our scorn. With our "better than you" attitudes. 

I'm not a biblical scholar by any means. I can recite maybe 5 verses off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure no where in the bible says, "Go thee, and hate. In my name, turn others from seeking me because I just don't like them." 

All kidding aside, I have always envied those that can recite applicable scripture for any situation and I have made it a goal and prayed many a prayer that I become more connected with using His word in my own. And prayers are answered y'all because this week I feel like He was speaking to me (and well, when He talks to you - you best shut up and listen). 

As I was sitting in church on Sunday listening to a sermon that I personally felt wasn't sharing the true meaning of Christ's love ... He laid on my heart The Parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37. It states... 

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live." 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Did you see it? It's so simple but yet we find it so hard to follow. 

Love your neighbor as yourself. 

Love your NEIGHBOR as YOURSELF.

Y'all. It's what we've been taught since we were tiny humans. Love thy neighbor. It's rampant in the bible - from beginning to end. Love. Love others as He loves us. 

Unconditionally.

Unequivocally.

Unquestionably. 

Love. 

It literally is all around the bible. 

1 John 3: ... This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

In actions. And in truth.

1 John 4:19: We love because He first loved us.

He loved us. He LOVES us. 

And all He is asking is for us to do the same. 

He's not saying agree. He's not saying be the same. 

He's just asking us to love. 

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The great debate in America is filled with voices claiming persecution because of Christian beliefs. I'm not going to claim to know someone else's story. I will only claim mine. I've found that it is not my belief in Christ that turns people away, rather my lack of ACTING on that belief that causes others to pause. 

I can claim the word of God until I'm blue in the face. Put my favorite verse on my social media profile, tweet that I just want people to know Christ, and light a ceremonial candle every Sunday. But if I don't LIVE like Jesus, then what is it all for? 

That's my challenge to anyone reading this. Before you speak, before you offer judgment, before you claim action in Jesus' name, ask yourself if that's REALLY what he would do. 

Jesus touched the lepers. He TOUCHED them. He spoke to them. He healed them. 

Our love should do the same. 

It really is that simple. It really is that easy. Like my good friend Jen says, "People can hate me because I love Jesus. But I would never want people to hate Jesus because of me." And lately, a lot of people hate Jesus because of Christians. 

Think about that. How many people have been turned away from the ultimate love because we haven't offered our own? 

Be a good Samaritan today. I promise you won't regret it. 

Everything I need to know, I learned in Kindergarten...

Goodness, it feels like just yesterday we were counting down until the first day of kindergarten, and that's not just a saying... we literally did a 10 day countdown complete with presents, activities, and words of wisdom from our closest friends and family. 

Dear lord, the energy I had. 

I justify this crazy because our first kid was having this major life moment which meant our family was having a major life moment. (I only regretted it a little since this then required us to do to more countdowns because I am nothing if not a consistent parent.) 

These first borns, y'all... they have to share all the firsts with us - we are all literally doing everything for the first time at the same time, except as parents we're supposed to know what we are doing. Spoiler alert - we do not know what are doing.

I fear I didn't plan an elaborate countdown to senior year - kindergarten mom is totally judging me. But I did go re-read that "lesson plan" and wouldn't you know that all those people that loved you then (and still love you now) had some great wisdom that applies all these years later.  Here are some of my favorites: 

• Pick your friends with care - they are a reflection of you. - Pops
• Always be yourself. Try new things. Be ready for new challenges. - Gigi
• One day it will all make perfect sense. - Uncle Pete 
• Just do YOUR best. - Uncle Jody
• Work hard. Have fun. Kiss a girl. Make new friends. - Nana 
• Be nice to your teacher. Work hard. Have fun. - Jenni
• It's only a mistake if you don't learn from it. - Uncle Josh
• Walk humbly with God and give all glory to Him. - Tia
• Be kind to everyone. There will always be someone in class that needs a friend. - KK

In all these years, you've learned these lessons and more. But you know what, you've taught me and others so much along the way. Proud of you, kid. You may have entered a season of lasts, but I can't help but think of all the firsts there are to come and how lucky we are to be part of each and every one of them! 

Happy birthday, Momma

 Hey, Momma!

Happy birthday! 

We love celebrating you - I mean, there is nothing easier in the world that celebrating a loving, caring, giving, selfless person like you. And you know what else you are? 

Strong.
Brilliant.
Beautiful.
Supportive.

I know this birthday is going to be hard. I know the next 20 birthdays are going to be hard. But I also know that YOU are worth celebrating big. Even if it feels and looks different than any birthday you've had for the past 55 years with Dad. He wants us to celebrate you because he was so proud to be yours. He was so grateful to be loved by you. And we are, too. This year even more so. 

You've amazed me for my entire life. You're patient with all of us. You're funny when you get mad. (ok, so maybe we just laugh at you when you're mad).  You are fiercely loyal and protective (just ask any sports referee). You want things to be fair. You want us to feel valued. You want us to be happy. You don't love it when any of us are mad or sad or generally inconvenienced (which is why you insist on skipping yourself in a game of Uno). 

You've taught me the art of opening up my home to whoever needs a place to feel welcomed. I recognize the importance of "the more the merrier" and always cook more than I need to just in case. I never feel guilty about ordering the ice cream. I've made it my goal to make sure my home is as inviting and welcoming as the one you raised us all in (including our friends). My fridge is stocked with soda. My pantry has sugary cereal and my snacks are always ready for as many hands that need one. ( I do draw the line at going to 4 different fast food restaurants but occasionally will call an audible and celebrate a "Gigi night"). 

I'm as hard on my kids' friends as I am on them because I love them like my own. 

I cuss a little.  

I prefer jeans and leggings to fancy dresses. 

I wear hardly any makeup. 

I prefer baths to showers any day of the week. 

I love a good pedicure. 

I used reusable bags before they were cool. 

Bread is my bestie. 

A target run with my best-friend can solve any problem. 

I think Jesus is pretty cool but his followers annoy the heck out of me from time to time. 

Basically, I'm you.

All that I am, all that I hope to be, rests in the example you set for me. 

You are a leader in every sense of the word. You have modeled the way for Jody, Jeremy and each of ours to grieve but keep going. To keep Christ at our core. To cry when we need to but to celebrate, too. To find joy within our own sorrow. 

And we do. We will. Always.

We are so glad YOU were born and we take this day and all the days ahead being grateful for the gift of you as our momma. 

I love you, Mom. 

Happy happy birthday!!