Relationships – Page 13 – I and Thou Reflections

I and Thou – Life is Short

Life takes you in many different directions. Seasons come and go, and the human developmental process moves forward. Taking care of elderly parents is a stage blog_pic31 of life that we go through. One parent may need help or nursing care and then the other. Elderly parents have years and years of material stuff that needs to be weeded through. Homes, where they have been for years, need to be sold. Senior housing or assisted living options need to be explored. Then, days, weeks, years go by and then illness followed by passing from this earth. Life. Death. We learn through this process that life is precious. Life is short.

How do we balance parents, children, work, and other activities? God leads you through transitions. You have a lot to offer. Use your knowledge wisely. Each decision made is a growth experience. Every situation you have been in – you have learned from. Leave the worrying to God. If God wants you to be somewhere, God will open the doors for you. Follow where God leads, and the rest will fall into place.

I and Thou – Rest in God’s Arms

You worry too much. You are fine – perfect in God’s eyes. You have been created in God’s image. Flawless. Whatever thorns that are in your side are there for a reason. Someday it will be all clear. For now – rest in God’s arms. Commit your mind and body to God. Follow God where you are led. Your body is telling you to relax. Rest!

Blog_Pic28 Take time for you. Take time to experience all the beautiful things life has to offer. Romantic dinners, walks in parks, picnic lunches. Use your money wisely and use it to enjoy and have fun. Horseback riding, mini-golf or hit some golf balls at a range. You need to take more breaks. It will help with eye strain and backaches. It is good for your health, and it is good to commune with God in your fun. God created life for enjoyment – you have suffered from demons, and you need to break free from their chains and rethink the purpose of life. Balance. Yes, it is good to serve others…to help the poor and needy. It is also good to take breaks. Remember the word, balance.

I and Thou – Lend a Helping Hand

Be still, GOD knows it is so difficult to listen. With the many conversations that take place in your head, it is hard to differentiate the good from the bad. Or the positive from the harmful. Evil seeks to continuously devour the mind. Lurking in every nook and cranny because evil seeks to steal you from God. You need to be aware of this and denounce evil ways and thoughts. It is your choice. Remember that God is love and God is the great “I am.” God is all things positive. Keep that in mind. It is God’s love that shines through your smile and your eyes. Share this with others. God creates all humans with uniqueness – a set of gifts. The end game is to use these gifts, (skills and abilities), for God’s glory. Although it may sound a bit presumptuous and conceited – God speaks to you in all humbleness. God is the glory. God is King. God is eternal. God’s name will be glorified – it will not be insulted or mocked. Blog_Pic26

What exactly is glory? Glory is a misunderstood word. Glory is a delight. Glory is praise. To glorify God is to show love to one another. It is to lend a helping hand when needed. Digging wells. Planting sustainable crops. Feeding the hungry. Clothing the poor. Rescuing children from abuse. Adopting orphans. The list goes on. God seeks to fill you with love. With energy. With compassion. Go, and glorify God today!

I and Thou – Be the Light!

God values your relationship. God is with you and walks with you day by day. You have been given certain traits and abilities. You are unique. You have been placed on this earth to serve different needs – to be a rock. To be a rock for other women. For men. For children. For young adults. Your colleagues admire you. You have integrity. You are dependable. You are accountable. You follow directions. You have the gift of knowing when to take direction and when to give guidance. This is one of your greatest assets. In human resources terminology, you have KSA’s. (knowledge, skills, and abilities). Do you know what yours are?

In today’ Blog_Pic22 s world, God wants you to be a light. God wants you to light a path for other people. God’s word is a lamp for your feet and a light on your path. (Psalm 119:105). You become light through introspection. Take inventory. What are your strengths? What do you excel at? What comes easily to you? Are you creative? Are you contextual? Do you have a focus? Do you relate well to others? Are you light? Or, are you darkness? Do you walk on the dark road? Do you have secrets? Do you tell lies? Do you humiliate? Are you disrespectful? Are your stagnant? Or, do you desire personal growth? It is your decision. Choose the light because you deserve to grow. You deserve to flourish. You deserve to glow. Let God’s light shine through you. Let God illuminate your path. Let God direct you. Surrender yourself to God and let God soak you with light. Be bright. Be brilliant. Shine. Be the Light!

I and Thou – Pain of Estrangement

The Pain of Estrangement

Mother and eldest son estranged
Since the divorce.

Mother sent gifts first Christmas
Father returned them unopened.

Mother doesn’t understand why
Father doesn’t talk to mother either.

Mother feels betrayed, shamed and disrespected
Father feels in control, full of power.

Mother fights the tears away
Father delights in seeing his son.

Mother hasn’t seen son in years
Father sees him regularly.

Mother moved 5 times in 6 years
Father moved none.

Mother, uncle, and grandmother shunned at graduation
Father and other grandparents celebrated with the son.

Mother’s mother passed away
The eldest son was unresponsive.

Mother watched college graduation through live stream
Father flew to witness and celebrate.

Mother has no address for son
Father doesn’t share information.

Mother loves a child unconditionally
Father loves a child unconditionally.

Then, why does the Father
Keep the Mother away?

I and Thou – You are not Worthless

You were and are not Worthless

You were not worthless
because you were molested as a child.

You were not worthless
because you were date raped in college.

You were not worthless
because you married a man, who lost his love for you.

You were not worthless
because your husband sought to financially destroy you.

You were not worthless
because you needed to protect vulnerable children.

You were not worthless
because your husband alienated your child from you.

You were not worthless
because you worked four jobs to pay bills.

You were not worthless
because you brought enormous and abundant value to so many.

You were not worthless
because actions had consequences.

You were not worthless
because you were kind, gentle, and compassionate.

You were not worthless
because you were responsible, a good communicator and role-model advisor.

You were not worthless
because you loved to teach, coach and mentor.

You were not worthless
because actions caused visible, invisible, and physical reactions.

You were not worthless
because your words were meaningful and profoundly insightful.

You were not worthless
because you would never stop talking to someone no matter what the circumstances were.

You were not worthless
because you love with a never-ending love.

You were not worthless
because you could whip up a gourmet meal on a moment’s notice.

You were not worthless
because you achieved the goals, you set for yourself.

You were not worthless
because you had grit and an abominable spirit.

You were not worthless
because you overcame many trials and tribulations

You were not worthless
because you placed other’s needs above your own.

You were not worthless
because you overcame.

You were not worthless
because you forgave those, who needed forgiveness.

You are not worthless
because you are a child of the almighty creator of the universe.

I and Thou – The Gift of Peace

God is so glad you are here. God cares about you. He seeks to bring you peace. Are you a parent? God designed parents to love their children and encourage them and to supply their needs and to build character and to be a blessing. Each child in this world needs to know that they are a blessing. A blessing. A gift. A gift from God. No child should ever feel they are a burden. Even when one parent does not feel they are ready to be a parent, Blog_Pic14 that parent needs to rejoice and celebrate the creation of life in the womb. No partner deserves to be called names. No partner deserves blame. No partner deserves to feel alienated. Alienated from love. Estranged from children.

Mothers and Fathers have an obligation to their children to love them unconditionally and to be good role models. If you have young children, spend quality time with them. Read. Tell stories. Play in the bath. Give them time. As children grow, they will need more space. Continue to love them. Be there when they need you. Lean on God when your children are not physically with you. Reach out to them by phone. Tell them how much you love them. God wants you to have peace. Peace for you. Peace for your children. Peace for your marriage. Or, peace for your divorce.