Thursday, May 22, 2008

Patiently Enduring

Wow, what exactly does that mean? Well, let me tell ya, I know first hand what it means!! Sometimes things happen in our life that we just don't understand the why or the reason. I can assure you there is a reason for it! I know God has a sense of humor and sometimes he has a funny way of getting our attention. He certainly has my full attention.

I have been through some things within the last four weeks that have just literally brought me to my knees! Absolutely gut wrenching things. Of course, that is exactly what He want's. When you are down on you knees, the only thing you can do is look up! You have to know that you know that God has your best interest at heart and He is trying to teach you something.

For some reason, He has been trying to teach me about patiently enduring! Why? I don't have the answer to that just yet, but I will in due time. Sometimes we think we need to get our hands on it or in it to make sure something is taking place and some sort of action is happening to whatever situation we are in. However, that is not what God wants us to do. We have to learn to be patient and endure whatever it is we are going through at that particular time in our life. He certainly will not put you through anything that you cannot handle! What you survive and endure, will make you a stronger and better person for it. I thought I was a pretty strong person! I think God is showing me, yes I am, however, we need to work on a few areas.

So I have come to the realization that you have to continue to be strong, faithful, be in control of your emotions, don't believe everything you see or hear, and have trust in God to know that all will be okay! No matter how bad or bleak it may look, it WILL be okay!! Be bold in your Faith, prayers and know someday you will know exactly why you went through whatever it is you are going through. You will see that light at the end of the tunnel and be thankful for what you have learned and the experiences you have gone through. You will be a better person for it!

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

A Poem for Mother

I know Mother's Day is over with, however, I wrote a poem to my mother and just thought I'd take my daughter Kenda's advice and put it on my blog as well. Enjoy and if there is anyone out there that would like to hire me to do some writting, I'm all ears!!!

A POEM FOR MOTHER
Written by Debra Lamb for her mother on Mother’s Day May 11th, 2008


~Thank you for loving me the way that only you can

~Thank you for your words of encouragement when I needed them the most.

~Thank you for your kindness and patience with me at times I was not at my best

~Thank you for being such and awesome example of what Love is all about

~Thank you for every single prayer that you have ever said for me throughout my lifetime!

~Thank you for always having faith in me when others doubted

~Thank you for always being proud of me in everything I have done and in the new things that are happening in my life

~Thank you for always being there from the smallest of details in life to the most life changing moments

~Your love for me will never go unappreciated or unrecognized

~Thank you for being such an awesome Mother and I love you with every fiber that I have!

Saturday, May 10, 2008

For all the wonderful Mother's!

I had to share this beautiful poem that my cousin sent me, thank you Mimi. It really sums up what a Mother is and how we all have that unconditional love for our children and grandchildren. It depicts the details we all go through in being a Mother and the things that sometime go unrecognized or unappreciated! However, just know that you will be rewarded for all your efforts and the constant time, love, patience, dedication and persistence that we do everyday without ever thinking of what we will get in return. We do it because we WANT to and we have a love for our children and grandchildren that is sometimes unexplainable! Happy Mother's Day to all of you and enjoy!

MOTHERS and MOMS

This is for the mothers who have sat up
all night with sick toddlers in their arms,
wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer
wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying,
'It's okay honey, Mommy's here.'

Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.

This is for all the mothers who show up at
work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains
on their blouses and diapers in their purse.

For all the mothers who run carpools and
make cookies and sew Halloween costumes.
And all the mothers who DON'T.

This is for the mothers who gave birth to
babies they'll never see. And the mothers
who took those babies and gave them homes.

This is for the mothers whose priceless art
collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors.

And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars.
And that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say, 'Of course, I wouldn't
have missed it for the world,' and mean it.

This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.

This is for all the mothers who sat down with
their children and explained all about making
babies. And for all the (grand)mothers who
wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.

This is for all the mothers who go
hungry, so their children can eat.

For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight,
Moon' twice a night for a year. And then
read it again, 'Just one more time.'

This is for all the mothers who taught
their children to tie their shoelaces before
they started school. And for all the mothers
who opted for Velcro instead.

This is for all the mothers who teach their sons
to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.

This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?'
in a crowd, even though they know their
own offspring are at home -- or even away
at college -- or have their own families.

This is for all the mothers who sent their kids
to school with stomach aches, assuring them
they'd be just FINE once they got there, only
to get calls from the school nurse an hour later
asking them to please pick them up. Right away.

This is for mothers whose children have gone
astray, who can't find the words to reach them.
For all the mothers who bite their lips until they
bleed when their 14 year olds dye their hair green.

For all the mothers of the victims of
recent school shootings, and the mothers
of those who did the shooting.

For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.

This is for all the mothers who taught their
children to be peaceful, and now pray
they come home safely from a war.

What makes a good mother anyway?
Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?
The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and
sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time?

Or is it in her heart?
Is it the ache she feels when she
watches her son or daughter disappear
down the street, walking to school alone
for the very first time?

The jolt that takes her from sleep to
dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put
her hand on the back of a sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes again
at 2 A.M. when she just wants to hear
their key in the door and know they
are safe again in her home?

Or the need to flee from wherever she is
and hug her child when she hears news
of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are
universal and so our thoughts are for
young mothers stumbling through diaper
changes and sleep deprivation...
And for mature mothers learning to let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.

Single mothers and married mothers.

Mothers with money, mothers without.

This is for you all. For all of us...

Hang in there. In the end we can
only do the best we can. Tell them
every day that we love them. And pray
and never stop being a mother...

Please pass along to all the mothers in your life.

'Home is what catches you when
you fall - and we all fall.'

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Today's Inspiration

For years I have struggled with weight issues. I am always aware and wondering what do people really think of me. I know that the people around me and the one's that love me the most, love me no matter what and that is certainly encouraging. They don't see my weight, they see the person I really am!

However, we know that in today's society, weight is always a big issue and I have always wanted people to see me for what is inside. The values that I have, the love that I have for other's, the hard and dedicated worker that I am and my love for God. At one time I lost 50 pounds and about 23 inches and kept it off until I had back surgery. Now I just cannot do the exercises like I used to be able to do to manage my weight or to be able to keep it off. That is very discouraging!

But, there is light at the end of the tunnel! Something that changed the way I see myself and made me have more confidence is this; God has people see you the way He wants you to be seen! Wow, that was so enlightening and enpowering. I no longer wonder what people think, they are the one's that will have to pay for that later. Now I think and know that people are seeing me for the beautiful person that I truly am! The vivacious, kind hearted, spirited, happy, outgoing, friendly, loving, hard worker, passionate, talented, satisfied and generous person!

So for all of you that might struggle with weight, feeling a bit insecure, say that passage as often as it takes for you to believe it. It will change your thinking and the way you feel about yourself! It has certainly changed my life! So get back that confidence you deserve!!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Make It a beautiful Monday

For all of you that are dreading to go to work this Monday morning. Be thankful that you have a job! For those that hate the drive, be thankful that you have a vehicle. For those that your children woke up fussy and cranky, be thankful that you have those precious ones in your life. For those that are wishing they had a new house, be thankful for the one you have. For those of you that were able to take a nice hot shower this morning, be thankful that you had water so abundantly! Such simple things in life sometimes go unappreciated. Before you can move on to the next step in your life, you have to be thankful for where you are right at this moment!

I can remember when I didn't have a car, job, house and hot water! I look back at those rough and trying times and I am thankful for each and every little thing that is in my life today. Sometimes people get just a little too big or high and mighty and God has a way of dealing with you and bringing you back down to earth. He certainly dealt with me many, many years ago and it certainly taught me a very valuable lesson.

At one time in my life I had to leave everything behind! Every household item and furniture that I had accumulated over the years had to be left behind. It seemed at that time to be so traumatic to me, but over the years as I grew into a more mature person and God showed me how material things really do not matter at all!! More important than material things for me was to remember the memories that had been created and the sentimental things that you could never put a price tag on. It taught me that the smallest of things sometimes were the most important.

What is most important to me in my life today, my family! I am so thankful for every little minute I get to hold, kiss and hug my grand babies. To see their smiling and innocent precious faces. When my son calls and tells me, "Hey mom, I was thinking about you the other day." Or when my daughter calls me on her way to school to chat with me every morning about what she is going through in her life and ask for me to pray for her for certain things. When my husband does the things he does for me every day. Those are the types of things that are truly most important! Just remember, material things can be gone in an instant, but the memories, relationships, time spent and appreciation for family are embedded in your life forever! THAT is what is really important. Enjoy the ones around you and show them how much you appreciate them being in your life!

Sunday, May 4, 2008

Walking in LOVE!

I debated this morning on what I wanted to convey and I think I came up with an excellent topic. Do you know what it means to walk in love? It means simply; forgiveness, appreciation, honor, respect and thankfulness, just to mention a few. It means to love each and everyone you come in contact with! I know that may be hard for some, but you have no choice in this matter. If you want to be loved, then you must give love unconditionally! You have to learn to forgive those that have wronged you in some way. To be patient with the one's that are in your lives. Understanding beyond your imagination!

How do you do that? Kindness is a great way to start. Go out of your way to be nice to your neighbor or someone that you might have some sort of conflict with. Show appreciation to someone when they do something nice for you. Go out of your way to do a random act of kindness. You can do this for anyone!

Take the time to tell those in your life how much you appreciate them and love them. Be thankful in everything that you receive on a daily basis. Sometimes all it takes is a simple smile from your heart to a complete stranger. You may never know what an impact that could be on some one's life!

Love is patient and does not keep score. Love is a peaceful feeling beyond words. Love is most certainly forgiveness. If you think you are lacking in Love today, ask God for his guidance, direction, understanding and wisdom. He most definitely will show you how to Love!

Today; tell someone you Love them!

Friday, May 2, 2008

Why things happen in your life.

Have you ever wondered why things have happened to you in your life? And I just don't mean big things but little things as well. You know I used to wonder that myself and I came to the realization that "everything happens for a reason". That is what I would like to discuss today. You may not understand why you are going through what you currently are experiencing but there is a reason or a purpose for it. God has an exact plan for you and one reason you may be experiencing things in your life, big or small, is that He is trying to teach you something. From the most minute things to the biggest things in life! Everything happens for a reason!

I can remember one very low point in my life when my kids and I were homeless. I had no where else to turn and ended up in the soup kitchen line at the Salvation Army. That was probably one of my lowest times, having to go stand in line and ask for food to feed my kids. There were all sorts of people there. Some were pretty creepy and scary looking. Some of them had tired and weary looks on some their faces and to be very honest, it gave me the creeps. Some of them looked like they were stopping by after a business meeting to get something to eat. There were all sorts of people from different walks of life that were also reaching out for help. At that time I had no idea why I was going through that or how in the world this could of happened to me! I must say what a humbling experience it was for me and did not know at the time how my life was going to change from that moment on. But that was the lesson. I truly believe that God was showing me how to be humble, not to judge other's, being patient with other's and most importantly, to seek Him in everything!

You wonder sometimes why. You may not know that answer immediately. However, one day you will come to the realization that wow, that's what God was trying to teach me, show me, direct me, lead me or to keep me from making a horrible mistake. It may take years before you really know the reason why. But I can guarantee one thing, you will definitely learn something very valuable through your experiences and you will become a stronger person! And, you will be able to look back on that experience and see how you were victorious in it!

Therefore, everything happens for a reason and the best thing to do is listen, take notes of what is happening in your life, analyze it, seek guidance and direction, and just know how your character is being fine tuned for something bigger in life! That in itself is very exciting! You will become a better person from that particular experience!