Be A Light

The most inspiring stories, it seems, originate from such strong and courageous people who grow up in struggling childhoods. Who grow up too fast because they don't have a choice. Who, for so long, had to provide for their families because their father may have left the house and their mother is working 4 jobs to make ends meet.  Who are told over and over again that they'll never amount to anything, that they'll never be anybody.

It seems like these people find a dream. They work and they work and they work harder. And it's these people that stick with it until this dream comes true.

And why?

Because they have nothing to lose...

Award winning actors. Grammy winning artists. Star athletes and billion dollar executives.

Now, I'm not saying every successful person comes from broken families or troubled childhoods, but those that have, well... I've followed their stories, I have.  And while, for a minute, I'm truly inspired by their determination and refusal to lose. . . I can't relate.

What about the people that grow up in a family where everything you do, they support.
    Run ins with the police not included. Sibling rivalry excluded.

What about a family with a foundation made from love, built from love, structured from love, and grew from love. The people that woke up in the morning surrounded by laughter (unless there was no froot loops and my their towels weren't heated when they got out the shower), made it through each day with mountains of support and encouragement, and when tough decisions need to be made -- they make them together.

All in.

All for one. One for all.

What about those people? What happens to them?

I mean,
Who, is your constant light when the world couldn't seem darker?
Who begrudginly happily shows up to every high school sports game, is in the audience at every play, and every award night, and every function there was because you can't make up your mind about what you wanted to try.
Who, when just told you want to move across the country not only helps you pack, but drives you the entire way.
Who is a constant source of support (in more ways than one) when you can't seem to pull it together, mistake after mistake, time after time, year after year.
Who holds the reigns just loose enough to let you learn from your mistakes, but tight enough so you won't fail?
Who swallows their fears to not only encourage your new career path, but writes a check to send you into a world unknown.
Who will love you forever, like you for always, as long as you're living, no matter what?
Who just willingly goes out and buys a cart full of Princess Baby Dolls on Black Friday so you can have 'on hand' ready to give to your princess across seas?

I mean, Who does that?

What happens to these people, when as they grow up, they're told they can be anything they want to be. They're told they can do anything they want to do. To dream a dream and work to achieve it.

What happens to them you ask?

They grow up believing it.

and they want to change the world by teaching others to believe it too.

 

 

"You are the light of the world, a city on a hill cannot be hidden.

In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."

Matthew 5:14-16

 

"We Are"

Kari Jobe

 

November 6, 2012: Election Day.

Today is election day.  Today is a day that every American has an opportunity to take part in who becomes our nation’s next president.

What a humbling thought.

And how far away from it all I feel.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am truly, sincerely grateful for the fact that this opportunity exists for us.  I feel SO blessed that we GET to go to the polls and cast our opinions.  I am honored to live here and have that opportunity.

Yes, I live here…and yet, my mind and heart are elsewhere.

Those kids in Uganda, who are stuck, sitting in prisons for years before their trial, simply because they are orphaned….  where is their voice?

Those kids in Rwanda, who are living in an orphanage with about 600 other children, who may be ‘reunified’ with their families because they want to shut down orphanages…. where is their voice?

The kids in Ethiopia, the ones scraping for food, killing to survive on the heaps of trash that fill the streets of Korah, with no family heritage or inheritance to claim…. where is their voice?

At a time when our nation so desperately needs to come together, to UNITE and stand as ONE… I feel like we couldn’t be further from that truth.  We’re Drifting away, slowly… breaking away from everything we once stood for.:

One Nation, Under God.

We’re too divided.

We’re too objectified.

We have our own opinions but give no grace to others with theirs…

We don’t rally together on making tough decisions, we veto our opposers.

We don’t compromise on things that matter, we fight until our side wins.

This world is OUR oyster.  WE have the power to make a difference as ONE.  ONE NATION.  … with liberties and justice FOR ALL.

At a time when I should feel so patriotic… I feel so guilty that I don’t.

Because my heart breaks for those without even a chance...

Like, where on the ballot does it say, “to help give the 163 million children out there, who would give anything to have a say, to once, and for all….

Have a Voice.

Lord GOD Almighty

"Whoever wins will be my President. I will pray for his well-being, hope for his success, applaud what I agree with, and humbly stand against what I disagree with. In faith, I voted what I thought would be best but I'm very aware I could be wrong. I believe no one comes to power without divine appointment and I will trust the outcome. I appreciate the service of both men. I admire their love for their wives and children. I believe both want was is best for this country and neither are exactly right.” ~(copied from a friend’s status today)

… never have you failed.  never have you lost an election.  You have the final say in every vote that is cast and every box that is checked.  Lord, I pray YOUR voice is heard, that YOUR ultimate will be done.