Hearts of Christian HomeKeepers™

Yesterday was a big day at our house.  Two new beginnings.  It was Andy’s first day of first grade and the first day with our new puppy.  I just love new beginnings.   Fresh starts.  Clean slates.  And in this case, a new backpack, pointy unbroken Crayons and fresh holes in the backyard.

I love my life and the comfortable routine we have built here on our little 3 acres on a dirt road leading to virtually nowhere.  But I also like the idea of getting a fresh start each day when I wake up.  Yes, the coffee pot is still in the same spot on the counter and I like to drink my 2.5 cups with half and half out of my favorite LL Bean mug.  Okay, I am a creature of habit but I like knowing that the Lord gives me a clean sheet of paper each morning to make my mark on.  I don’t think He minds if it is the same mark  I made yesterday or the day before or last week.  I’m just grateful that I can still use the Crayons!

Maybe I’m just becoming more sentimental in my “old” age but I seem to be crying more these days.  I’m not particularly sad, depressed and or overly stressed.  I just find myself tearing up at the most ordinary things.  Like television commercials.  I saw one the other day for a pet food company that gives part of its profits to help homeless animals and before the 60 second bit was over, I was reaching for the Kleenex box.  And don’t even ask me about the first day of school last week or when we got the news that Hubby had made the promotional list at work.

I don’t even have to hear my own good news to tear up.  Anyone’s good news will do!  Last weekend at the town watermelon feed, I got teary-eyed listening to a proud mother talk about her son’s baseball scholarship to a nearby university.  I could just hear the pride and joy in her voice.  Being a mother, myself, I knew exactly what part of her heart she was speaking from.

I don’t mind crying, really, as long as I am wearing the right mascara and have tissues close by.  I really don’t mind if other see me get weepy.  It just shows that I care.  About others and about myself.  I am raising an only son and I have always told him that it is alright to cry.  I don’t buy into the notion that “big boys don’t cry” and “men shouldn’t show their feelings.”  Hogwash!   God gave us all, men and women, boys and girls, a set of emotions.  Use them!  Let it out!  Show the world that your heart is not made of stone and when you fall down and bang up your knee, it hurts!

When is the last time you cried?  Was it in anger? Tears of joy? Maybe it was at a wedding or in the privacy of your own bathroom behind a locked door.  It doesn’t really matter as long as you give yourself permission to do it.  It is an awesome relief for stress, angst and over-flowing emotions.  They say dreams are like opening a window and letting the bad air out.  Something similar could be said about tears.

An 1870 oil painting by Ford Madox Brown depicting Romeo and Juliet's famous balcony scene

My daughter Megan’s hopes and dreams for acting and singing are coming along nicely. She first showed an interest in singing when the children’s department of the church we were attending had a Christmas program. They had auditions for solo parts and Megan, in early elementary school, wanted to try. I was very surprised, but encouraged her. She didn’t get the part, but got another opportunity in a different, smaller church. A young adult choir member invited her to sing a duet. They sang together for a church service and thus began Megan’s journey in the performing arts. A few years later, I saw an article in the local newspaper looking for kids and teens to audition for the community theater Broadway musical review. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about both singing and acting.

From there, she’s gained experience in community,school and church choirs and plays. Her father and I have encouraged her to work hard, but not at the expense of others. 1 Peter 5:6-7 tells us that God will exalt in due time.We’ve instructed her to start at the bottom and gain skills to move ahead. We’ve prayed for God’s will and strength .We see God using and blessing her as she seeks to use her gifts for His glory.

She’s worked hard and been blessed with opportunities this year in Advanced Drama and Intermediate Women’s Chorus. Her drama class is working on Romeo and Juliet. She was considered for the lead as Juliet, and was of course disappointed when it went to someone else, but she didn’t dwell on it. We encourage her to do her best in the parts she’s given and trust God to move her at the right time down the road.

I’m excited about sharing with you how God is guiding us to nurture her dreams! Stay tuned for future updates!