Lesson(s) Learned

Timing is Everything. (Christmas Season 2012) For many things in this life, timing is absolutely everything. Take this morning, for example: Mom and my sister Rosie decided (against my advice-giving) to go to WalMart. Not just any WalMart though. The one on Normandy Blvd on the Westside of Jax. Pretty sketchy. and risky, if you ask me. Questionable in the daytime. Not-an-option past sundown. Not even ten minutes into their trip, Rosie texted me to say she overheard some man, who happened to track down a stranger-woman he previously saw at a yard sale, ask if he could buy some artwork off of the woman. The woman's response? "No. I don't even know who you are." The man's response? "Yeah, but I remember you. You bought the painting I wanted at that yard sale!" I love that story. Rosie and I laughed for a while about it. But then, this thought came to mind: Timing. Is. Everything. And isn't that the truth? If that guy had been at the yard sale ea...

This note is coming straight from one work in progress (me) to another (you). I don't know about you and your mom, but my mom likes to pop impromptu life lessons upon me unawares - like in the car ride to the credit union today.  Today's words of advice? the 11th commandment. "Be ye content." Although, if you know my mom, this is pretty funny, the subject of contentment itself really isn't all that hilarious. It's sobering. and sometimes even painful. What is contentment? I'm glad you asked. I actually googled the definition of it and got a slew of synonyms…. Ready? Contentment.  Satisfaction.  Joy.  Happiness.  Ease of mind. Peace. Yup, that's (in a nutshell) what contentment is. Being satisfied or conTENT with the CONtents of your life. (notice the pronunciation difference #grammargeek) Everyone wants that. Some seemingly "attain" it at certain seasons of their lives. Others outwardly "obtain" it through one venue or atta...

The Israelites crack me up. Actually, no they don't. They sadden me. a lot. They're just so very dumb that it borderline annoys me. If the Old Testament were split into tracks instead of chapters, it would pretty much go like this: 1. God provides. 2. Israelites screw up. 3. God provides more. 4. Israelites screw up more. 5. God continues to provide exactly what the Israelites need. 6. Israelites complain that the provision of God isn't what they wanted. 7. God provides exactly what the Israelites wanted. 8. The Israelites still choose to be miserable. with a capital M. I mean, seriously, what's up with that?! I'm currently going through a Bible study surrounding the Israelites and all lesser things and gods they sought after apart from (and in place of) God Himself. No wonder they were so miserable, right? Well, today, I stumbled upon a verse that not only caught my eye, but it also caught all of my heart's attention. It's in Psalm 106:15, and it read...