Good Things

Lately I've been bugging Jeff with questions about the future...things he wants for himself and for us. And then I answer the questions for myself, going on about my dreams and wonderful things I want. It's silly but I think we all do it. It's fun to dream about things we want for ourselves. Sometimes I think about what I want for my faith too because I think it would be unanimous if I asked my fellow Christians if they wanted good things from God. Forgiveness, blessings, hope, and love...ya know, the good stuff.


I don't think however that I would desire the good stuff for those I don't particularly care for. It's not that I would desire terrible things for them but I suppose I just wouldn't think at all about them. My M.O. is just to ignore those I don't like. My thought process is honestly, ugh he or she is annoying, mean, or etc. and I am just going to go out of my way to ignore, avoid, and secretly harbor ill-will. He or she may win a journal entry from me or a counseling session but then I attempt to just move on. I may even avoid gossiping about them. I'm such a good Christian.

But then, if I let myself, I think about their feelings. Would he or she care that I'm bad-mouthing them? Does God want good things for them? Would God want them to grow in their faith and receive the same love that I desire? Oh dear...yes. And then in that moment my fuse is snuffed out because I know I am not better than he or she. I'm not more IMPORTANT or kinder or more special. We are the same, and I deserve nothing more than them just because I believe I am the good one or the right one in the scenario in my mind. Entitlement is a terrible thing to behold in the faith journey. I'm not sure we wear it well.

So where does that leave us...or even this post? I think it's the beginning of a conversation that you have to start asking your heart. And if it's an honest talk then know you'll feel pretty bad at first. Nobody likes to be wrong and no one wants to willingly think upon their enemies or that maybe God wants us to love them. Love the homeless? Sure. Love our neighbors? Sure. Love babies? Of course. Love our families? Yep. But love the one that you just knoooow is dumb AND wrong? (silence) And remember that God wants the best for he or she? (silence).

I think silence is an ok start to this conversation. Silence is time to think and time to dwell on what the great Counselor is attempting to teach. Renewing the mind takes time and so does loving others.

I would rather learn to love than label another person as someone I want to ignore and stuff away in my drawer of people that have hurt me or been miffed at.

things that are not

Just read an article in Relevant magazine about instagram and the other social media sites that are setting us up for failure, pride, and self-deprecation. I think we've heard the argument before; it's no news story that we're all living beautiful lives within the confines of photo-editing. I'm pretty sure EVERYONE and EVERYTHING looks better on instagram. And yet we still feed into the theory that someone out there is living a better and more fabulous life. Or maybe we think we're the fabulous one. Ugh, I hate when I'm the latter.


We're terrified to be real. We're taught to Keep Calm and Carry On. This past week our landlord was coming over to put in a new water heater and I went nuts over cleaning up. I felt a responsibility to have the house look spotless and be as shabby-chic as possible. I wanted him to think we were living the high life in his house. That we took care of it immensely and that it was well-decorated too. We were cool and duh, he needed to see it. But cleaning on a Monday night is not Jeff & Kate, not in the least bit. And our house is not pinterest-iffic. It's a condo in Alpharetta. The laundry is never done! Jeff leaves his shoes and random cups of water everywhere (sorry babe, you've been outed). The grout in the bathroom is forever gray, I can't waste anymore time scrubbing, it just looks grimy even when clean. Most of our furniture is old or from a relative and only once in a blue moon are our counters clear. But it's our home, and it will always be our first little abode.

So this got me thinking. Remember those Dove ads where women in plain white undies and bras are standing in a line and we can clearly see that none of them are a size 2? We LOVED those ads, and why we loved them is because those women look like us. They're real! Dove got it right and we should follow suit. So here my friends is the real me, my open journal for you and to remind me that God loves the things that are not...

God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are 1 Cor 1:28

I have blackheads...despite the fact that I use blackhead scrubbing face wash.

I have cellulite on my thighs and butt and most recently, my knees. wtf? I have gained 17lbs since I got married. Perfect.

I sometimes don't wash my hair.

I lose my temper and curse. (I'm sorry mom)

I am moody and expect others to accept this.

I cannot just eat one chip. Bread is my thorn and first love.

I love instagram because it makes my teeth look whiter and skin look clearer.

And many, many more...