Honesty

I was listening to the radio on the way home when I heard a song that really caught my ear.

Rascal Flatts sang:

What hurts the most
Was being so close
And having so much to say
And watching you walk away
And never knowing
What could have been
And not seeing that loving you
Is what I was tryin' to do

As I was listening, I thought, how refreshing! This group was actually honest about a break up. He was hurt because he put his heart out there to love, and it was rejected. Most songs about breakups are filled with bitterness, slamming the other person, or putting up a wall saying something like you just don't know by me - I can have another you in a minute so don't get to thinking your irreplaceable. These kind of songs mask how people are really feeling. They cover the hurt instead of saying it real - you hurt me and I was just trying to love you.

I think if we were more honest with the fact that we are trying to love and sometimes we do get hurt in the process, we would be less bitter and more willing to face the hurt and heal from it instead of then turning around and hurting someone else.

Character

Watching America's Top Model once again and found a great life lesson...

Tyra Banks, top model, hosts the show and takes the girls through their journey of becoming America's Top Model. This week, there was a girl that seemed to grate on everyone and was in it simply for the win. Tyra addressed it in a way that was so beautiful and able to expand character.

Tyra had the girl sit in front of all the other girls. The other contestants were then to one at a time tell this girl what she had done to grate on them. The girl listened and took all of the criticism in. Tyra then gave the girl a chance to address the other girls. She broke down. Her response was, I'm so sorry! In tears she said how she has been so hurt in her life and has only truly felt loved by her husband and son. Tyra said words of wisdom, "hurt people hurt people". She was able to address the girl and say, you know how it feels to be hurt and yet in defense you hurt others. If you don't get anything else out of this competition, I hope that you will take this away with you.

It made me think... before I "judge" someone for the way that they have treated me or others, I might need to simply stop and think, why did that person act that way? Most people are not cruel just to be cruel. Most times something has happened to them to cause them to act or respond a certain way. Lord, help me to look deeper and see people how You see them and love them.

Junk Mail and Tornados

I got the best junk mail of all time today - it was a membership request for me to sign up for AARP! My dad and I always used to joke about AARP and he is now a member. I just turned 30 so I thought I was getting old - but not that old! HA!

In other news, there were tornado warnings tonight in Middle TN. I really don't like tornados. They really kinda freak me out actually. Last year, I got caught driving in hail and couldn't see 2 feet in front of me. I was driving so slow thinking wow - a tornado could be right in front of me and I would have no clue because I can't see a thing! I was in my first tri-mester at the time and thought - this could be it. My car still has dents in it as proof to the severity of the storm. When I got home, it looked like it had snowed when actually, there were hail balls the size of the big high bounce balls scattered all over my lawn. I put some in a jar and put them in the freezer just incase anyone didn't believe me. Then, the next hail storm experience last year took place at an air show. We were all chilling on the air field when they postponed the show due to thunder. Next thing you know, the air temperature drops like 10 or so degrees and then it starts raining hard. Lucky I had an umbrella because it was really hot that day and I was still pregnant - this time entering my 3rd trimester. The rain quickly turned to hail as I crouched under the umbrella with a good friend of mine. We decided we needed to find shelter so we ran towards the port-a-lues. Lucky we didn't hide in the port-a-lues because when it was all done, there were 3 of them that blew over! How gross would that have been!!! We instead hid behind a big truck. It helped keep some of the hail off of us, but not all. It was super scary! And then tonight, Lucas was out delivering pizzas when the wind really kicked up. The news just said it was about 40 miles per hour! That's almost 65 km per hour for you Aussies!! Anyways - as Lucas was driving home from his last run, there was a HUGE branch in the road. So big that he couldn't pass it with the car. He had to stop the car, push the door open with all his might and then make his way to the branch to remove it from the road. He said he had to remove his hat because of the wind. Yeah - I'm not too fond of tornado weather! Pretty freaky stuff.

I did, however, learn a little tip when it comes to tornadoes. You should open your windows a crack and leave them open during the storm. This helps so there is not that much negative pressure in the house which if severe can cause the roof to collapse in. So tip for the day - in tornado type weather, always keep your windows open a crack and then make sure you have a safe place in the house to go. It should be the middle most room and should not have any windows. If it's a bathroom, get in the tub and put a mattress over top of you. You can keep some bottled water in there with you with a flashlight and a radio operated on batteries. This way - you can listen to the radio for weather updates.

The Body

Today, Lucas and I went for a walk. Going for a walk in our development is not very productive... There are always neighbors out that you stop and say g-day to.

On our 4th stop of saying hi to neighbors, we stopped for a while and really chatted.

They are actually our dear friends. They are having to make some big decisions in life at the moment and are really seeking God for His perfect path.

A prophetic word is probably what they are really looking for - someone to say Thus Sayith God and they would know what direction to go.

My friend was joking and said - do you guys have a prophetic word? We told them we could make one up if they wished - but didn't think that would help.

Anyways - here is where I'm going with this... I think we all have a very important part in the body of Christ. I also think that one day we might be one part of the body and another day we could be something different. In other words, somedays - I could be the mouth and use my prophetic giftings when the next day, I need to be the hands and serve someone in need. Another day, I can be the heart caring for another with sincerity. Even though I have a prophetic gifting, I don't necessarily always have to be a mouth.

In my friends situation, I felt like I was supposed to be the ears tonight. Maybe tomorrow I'll be the mouth or the eyes, but I still don't think I can fully say - Thus Sayith God do this or that at this point. I think for now, God has me as one who will listen and give insight when I feel led.

Listen to the Spirit when He's telling you what part of the body you should be for that very moment!