chooses...

Love chooses...

To actively pursue...

Capturing the greatness in others...

To celebrate those that posses the attributes we dream of having...

Letting admiration...
Become a vehicle...

Towards transformation...
Instead of the transgression...
Insecurities or jealousy might bring.

It's important to choose the company of greatness...
Right in the middle of wanting to hide behind our "smallness."

For it's often during these stretching times...
If we do not shy away...
We are marked and set apart...

For the greater things regarding our own destinies.

I am so thankful for the elder stories in our lives...
Allowing courage to be gleaned from what they have learned...

We do not have to be afraid!
Together we can grip onto truth tools that help us battle the lies...
That our lives are too small to be super.

Sure...
We may not be Batgirl...
Robin...
Or Even Prince George...

But, we are part of The Royal Family.
And, in this family...
It's not about focusing on who I am not...
But, being brave enough...
To choose...
To fix my eyes on who He is me.

Only our God would redeem all of my weaknesses...
By displaying His power and majesty...

Right in the middle of my awkward growing.

And, crazily enough...
Most of the time...
My powers come most alive...
When I choose...
In my struggle...
To empower the story of another.

we...

Several weeks ago one of our nephews was visiting Bud...
A highlight in his life.
When these two get together...
It's nothing short of SUPER.

Super giggling...
Super loving...
Super costumes...
Super happiness...
Super volume...
SUPER CHARGED. 

In the middle of the "super" fest...
We decided to go to our neighborhood park.
The 90 degree weather did not deter these two growing heroes...
From their powerful duties...
Nor the ensembles that accompany such important tasks.

After much running...
Trying to avoid heat exhaustion...
Bud decided to rest a bit.
During his pause...
His cousin asked with the greatest concern...
"Elliott, why are we not saving the day?"

It made my heart chuckle...
It made my mind think.
It encouraged my soul to process...
The precious power and possibilities of "we."

When we join forces with the entourage we so deeply love...

Courageous power emerges...
It's as if NOTHING can stop us...
And NOTHING'S impossible.

Whether we are 5 or 95...
Great joy arises in us all...
When we believe that what we hold in our hands is truly powerful.

Imagine what we could do...
If we really believed that power lies in our very fingertips...
If we lived our lives in childlike faith and wonder.

Together...

We...

Just might have the courage to attempt what we might never try alone.

Like saving the day...
Or perhaps even the world!

weeds...

"Even a tree has more hope!  If it is cut down, it will sprout again, and its new shoots...
Will not fail."
Job 14:7

This has been a "spring" season for our family.

It has been beautiful.

And it has been painfully revealing.

I have become aware...
With all the new blooms...
Of how much pruning needs to be done in my personal story...
And, just how many wild plants still need to be dealt with in my life.

Some days it feels like buckets full.

In the life-long process of "de-weeding,"
I've invited the tender shoots from my own tree...
To learn from my mistakes...

Allowing them to help me...

Dig up that which can so quickly take over...

And prune back that which is overgrown...

A most humbling process.

But, I know...

All that is well tended in me...

Serves to bless them and their future families.

The thought that I am contending not only for my own wellness...
But also for the wellness of my children...
And their children's children...
Gives me EXTRA satisfaction...
As I rip the thorny weed-trees out of the ground.
It's like an act of declaration...
That the weeds in my life will not be passed down...
Into the Gardens of my growing ones.

I HATE weeds.
I love seeing the plans of their roots destroyed.
Maybe because I know...
That the weeding and pruning back...
Have generational benefits.

When our boys died and Charli wrestled to survive...
Control really germinated in me.
I lived in constant fear...
Tragedy had shaken me to my core...
The unknown was like a cloud of darkness that hovered everywhere I turned.
So... the very few things I could "control..."
I clinched my fist around with all my might.
I chose an illusion.
One providing me with a false sense of peace.
Allowing me to focus on the strength of my own legs to stand firm...

Instead of The Gardener.

He wants to pluck all of my illusions...

Dig up all the idols of "safe..."

Expose all lies... all fears... 

By the root...

He wants them tossed in the trash.

He alone is the solution for healthy soil.

I want all the beauty He wants to display through me...

To always point back to The One who planted me.

There's much weeding yet to be done in me.

I am still learning.

The ache of the pull will no doubt be messy...

As the lies and behaviors are uprooted.

And the healthy shoots are trimmed back.

But, I'll keep trusting The Gardener.

And, together... with the help of those who love me...

We'll haul those weeds and clippings off to the trash.

One bucket at a time.

For even this tree...

Has more HOPE and LOVE yet to bloom.