Release

 

A new year for me brings fresh anticipation. Yes, I admit, I usually spend a few moments lamenting and sometimes even grieving pieces of the past. I usually do a thorough self-examination of all the areas needing more attention in the new year. Resolutions and I do not agree. I tend to steer away from them. However, many years ago, I adopted the idea of choosing one word for my year. I begin praying and contemplating my word well before the Thanksgiving leftovers are cleared. For me, this word bears much meaning. It sets my focus for the year. I am always amazed how often God brings this word into my view throughout the year. It makes my heart smile.

For 2022, my word is RELEASE. I love researching the dictionary meaning of my word each year. Of course, I did my research for this one and discovered a beautiful meaning:

 “allow or enable to escape from confinement; set free.”

Now, at first glance, we might be hesitant. Is this relevant? Do we dare admit the relevancy? As Christians, we often say we have been set free. Yet, sometimes we are fearful or too prideful to admit there are areas of bondage with which we struggle to fully break free. Past hurts, relationships, mistakes, regrets, fears…just to name a few.

 Release also brings to mind a picture of letting something go; possibly releasing control. After honest examination, we will most likely identify areas we try desperately to control. We also might find the need to release ourselves from unattainable expectations, which quickly usher in bondage over our hearts and minds. No matter which form of release is most relevant, one truth is certain for me..

 There is an unrivaled freedom that sings over my heart with the thought of full release.

I tend to think in pictures or illustrations. The word release immediately brings to mind a butterfly, held  in its cocoon for a designated period of time. The cocoon is a safe place, a protected place. It is a place of growth and certainly serves a purpose. Then, one day, the time comes to break out of the cocoon and fly. The butterfly has no idea the brilliant colors crafted within its very own wings. The hidden beauty countless others will gaze over, once it is out in the open, doing what it is created to do. God strategically paints each and every color, unique and glorious. I wonder… is God sitting on the edge of His seat waiting for the first time the wings are spread and the colors are visible? I choose to believe time stands still each time a butterfly is released to fly.

Do you see yourself in this illustration? I do. We are uniquely crafted by our almighty creator with individual beauty beyond anything we could possibly imagine. We were not created to remain trapped in the cocoon. We are made to fly and share our incredible gifts with those around us. We were not created to remain hidden in all the things that hold us hostage. Oh no…life is far too important for this. Just as seeing a butterfly quickly changes my attitude and perspective, our lives are a gift to others; changing and interrupting the sometimes ordinary day. Our lives are a gift to enjoy and share with others. The beauty within us is beyond compare. God sits on the edge of His seat waiting for us to finally trust Him and fly. I like to think He calls the angels around and says, “look right there..this is my child who is about to do what I created them to do and it is going to be the most stunning sight.”

God is personally inviting you to live a life of release. He offers grace and forgiveness, which are the ultimate gifts of release. Go ahead, my friend…spread your lovely wings.

 

Full House and Polaroid Moments

 

Full-House and Polaroid Moments

 

One by one…they made their way “home” for Christmas. As parents of children in literally every stage, I am learning many lessons, every day. My husband and I are blessed with four, remarkable, unique children. Our oldest son, Trice, will turn 24 years old this March. Our youngest, Chace, is an energetic, literally bouncing 2 year old boy. Our 12 year old Garyn is making his way through pre-teen adolescent years. And, our only girl, Lillian, will celebrate her 19^th Birthday this month; navigating through her freshman year of college.

Yes. You read this correctly. The numbers 24, 19, 12, 2 represent the vastly different ages of our offspring. This Christmas, we also added a beautiful young lady to our family traditions. Trice’s girlfriend, Sam. We live in a small home, which was running over with activity and memory making this year. I learned a valuable lesson, closed doors work as beautiful concealers of a host of outfit changes and new toys. For the Mom who enjoys order, Christmas always ushers in the opportunity to step outside my comfort zone and choose to ponder the “moments” over the “mess”. Cooking, baking, lots of family traditions and togetherness filled our days. Add to this a toddler on a sugar high, and you have our own version of the 1980’s-1990’s sitcom, Full House. 

Recently, our Lillian received the gift of a Polaroid camera. I love how certain fashions and trends make their way back around. Digital photos are quickly being replaced by memorable Polaroid snapshots. Physical photos, printed instantly and developed over the course of a few minutes. To be held in our hands and hung with the best DIY Pintrest has to offer! The opportunity to freeze moments in time, and instantly see them, hold them, and ponder them. I found myself living many of those moments over the past week. I couldn’t help but wonder, what polaroid moments would Mary have captured on the first Christmas? What are the moments that make us stop everything to notice? The moments worth printing and hanging in our hearts forever.

Just as with my very full house, life can quickly become very busy. Sometimes chaotic, cluttered and filled to the brim with the things that need done. We must make a conscious decision to look past the clutter and see the person. To look past the mess and see the gift of relationships and family and even different personalities. Each one of my children are uniquely different. Each one brings my heart a different type of joy. I am often tested and asked, “Mom, which one of us is your favorite?” I honestly answer, each one is my favorite for different reasons. Reasons I choose to celebrate, to ponder and to capture.

Like Mary, I want to choose to ponder the Polaroid moments and the Full House over to host of other distractions that hold no true value.

Whether within the walls of our own homes or within the course of our days. There is a very full house of people who need us to look past the clutter and notice them. To cherish them, to celebrate them. And if the opportunity arises, take a Polaroid snapshot of a memory or two along the way!

 

Jesus..Where Are You?

With December creeping up on us all so quickly, we ordered Chace a new toy. A simple Nativity Set. He is an extremely curious two year old boy. Like all two year olds, he listens and learns something every day. This little Nativity is sure to be a treasured piece. We learned the Christmas Story faster than I could hope. Chace played and role played..the angel..the shepherds..and certainly, the baby Jesus! One moment particularly caught my attention. He kept saying, "Baby Jesus, where are you?" 

I thought..how quickly we become absorbed in all the beauty, busy and to do lists of the most wonderful time of the year, and before we know it, we misplace Jesus. He never moves... yet, in our hustle, we rush right over Him. 

Before the Christmas season moves into full swing, may we pause to ask, "Jesus, where are you, in the midst of all our planning?" And may we keep Him..front and center. 

 

Life Lessons From Mom's Flower Garden, Chapter 2

 One day, after a visit at Mom's house, I noticed...my flowers were fading quickly. Just a few weeks prior, I had "post worthy" pics of some of these same plants. They were stunning and vibrant. It was hard to even fathom these colorless blooms belonged to the same plants from a few weeks ago. "What in the world am I doing wrong?" I gasped on the phone to Mom. I went through the long list of everything I was doing. Feeling very much like a defense attorney pleading my case! Mom agreed I was doing most everything correctly, but I failed to do one of the most important steps to a thriving garden...

Lesson 2: You must pinch off and remove the dead blooms to make room for new growth.

Mom patiently explained... removing the old, dead blooms was essential to maintaining brilliant color all season long. Without this step, beauty would only last for a short moment. 

This was time consuming and a little painful with each nick from the rose bush thorns. However, after a few short weeks, the bright colors of healthy plants again brought color to the green backdrop. 

As I pinched off each dead blooms and anticipated the new that would soon replace it, I heard God speaking clearly. "Danita, if you are going to truly bloom where you are planted, you must allow me to remove the dead, lifeless things you are holding in your heart. You must give me space for new growth, new relationships, new ministry and new beginnings." You see, I struggle with holding on to the past. I have also struggled with holding on to seasons of hurt. But by keeping the dead things in place, I was certainly not thriving or reflecting God's brilliant color in my world.

Isaiah 43:19a says it so beautifully, "See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? "

What new thing is God leading you to do, but you are holding tight to dead things? God created each one of us to add our own unique splashes of color in this world, but we cannot bloom vibrantly holding on to the past. Hand your Heavenly Father the shears, and allow Him to prune away harmful, dead, old blooms. My heart understands how this step is sometimes painful. There are harmful relationships and thought patterns that are well embedded in our hearts.  Maybe at one time they brought beauty, but maybe God is calling you into a new season. Trust the Master Gardner to create a life so full of beauty, you have yet to imagine it.

 Every day brings new opportunity. Seize this day with freedom, and bloom beautifully again, my friend. 💐❤️

Life Lessons Learned from Mom's Flower Garden-Chapter 1

 In the fall of this past year, my family and I moved across state lines. Leaving a blessed, full life in Texas to embrace a new journey. Family health struggles brought us back home to Arkansas. Literally. To the hills I grew up running, trail-riding and loving. My parents downsized, and my husband and I along with our three children still at home and a puppy moved into what I consider my home place. Life took a much slower pace, as we began settling in on what we call The Haven. A little over 72 acres. We exchanged a suburban home on a small lot with a pool for lots of vast space, quiet hills, our pet chickens and serenity. These hills have always served as a place of healing for me. One particular spot at the top of our hill has been my place to go, when life became too much, and I needed to feel and seek God's faithful presence like never before. It never ceases to amaze me how God plants us right where we should be. And then, provides the provision for rest and renewal through the most unexpected ways. Like Elijah and the broom tree. God provides shade and lessons through his creation. This is what led me to take particular notice of a few simple, yet profound lessons found in the strangest places. You see, by moving into my parent's home, I inherited my Mother's flower garden. Mom's yard was far more than a beautiful landscape. It was and is her masterpiece. Anything her hands plant or touch grows into something extraordinary. Often through the years, her yard has been described as magazine worthy. Suddenly, my not so green thumbs were given the task of trying to maintain the masterpiece. So, I literally spent hours watering, nurturing and even toiling over theses plants that have been planted and transplanted from generations! I began noticing and journaling over special lessons that seemed to come to my heart while spending time in Mom's flower gardens. This is the first of many sweet lessons...

Do not water too fast...take it slow. Let the water seep in slowly. Slow. Down.

One day, after much frustration, I called Mom. "My plants looked terrible!" I gasped on the phone. I explained to her I was faithfully watering, but my plants were dying! She asked how I was watering. I went on to say, "I turn the hose on high and try to make the most out of the little time I have to water." She smiled through the phone. "Sis, you have to turn the hose on low and just let the water slowly absorb...You are not giving it time." Lesson learned. I needed to slow down. Let the water soak in..or else, nourishment would not come.

How many times in life have I tried taking the quick route..rushing..drowning..trying to pour as much in as quickly as possible...only leaving my soul parched. I did not allow time for Jesus, my living water, to sink in. Absorb. Nourish my heart and soul. I read a host of verses so quickly, only to check it off my list. I rush through ministry, trying to fill far too many shoes, not giving my full attention to anything or anyone. Oh...how my soul relates to this lesson.

Turn the water on low. Take time. Let it sink in today. The miracle is, just like my plants, you will slowly begin thriving again. ❤️

Blooming Again 🌼

"To Everything there is a season. And a time to every purpose under Heaven."  Ecclesiastes 3:1

A walk this morning revealed the most beautiful picture. Trees beginning to bud and show signs of new life. The most stunning discovery came in the form of beautiful, fresh blooms directly over the little cross we placed at the entrance to our prayer walk. Signs of hope and new beginnings. My mind immediately went to our soon approaching Easter Sunday. This picture perfectly illustrates the gift Easter is to me. The evidence of God's power over death and pain. The proof that resurrection life belongs to each of us as believers. It also symbolizes the truth, Jesus brings beautiful life again..even following hard, wintery seasons. 

This morning, I sat and listened to a complete stranger share her story with me. A story of addiction, the loss of a child, a life left for a hopeless end. But. God. Changed. Everything. She has only been a believer for 4 months now. She has been clean and sober for 4 months. We celebrated this together. She beamed with a freshly blooming heart as she shared, "God is AMAZING!" She and I teared up as she told me how she wished she had come to know Him sooner. I reminded her..we cannot change the past, but we most definitely have the opportunity to place our lives as a pen in God's hands as He writes beauty again into our story. 

My morning conversation with this new, sweet sister shifted my mind back to my morning walk. 

Jesus alone has the power to make our hearts bloom again. 🌼💛

 

Loved Beyond Measure

Loved. Accepted. Cherished. Pursued. Treasured. Enough.

For some, those words bring warmth and smiles. For some, they serve as a reminder of something lacking.  I listened quietly yesterday as a few dear friends oohed and ahhed (not sure how to articulate this adequately into correctly spelled words) over roses delivered. I smiled as some discussed their "knights in shining armor" who taxied them to work under seemingly treacherous road conditions. While others...shared they only wish they had such a knight. Shades of red, boxes of chocolates and balloons were in most every corner. Now, I do not downplay these gifts. I dearly love a timely, special gift. My red arrived in the form of a new beautiful casserole dish, which I might add, is the key to my heart. Dishes and books..two of my most favorite things. I love this time of the year. I always have. But..I am also most sensitive to sweet women of all ages who, through hurting hearts avoid every color of red or pink. You see, sometimes the heart is broken or maybe just covered by layers of protection to avoid any feeling or the vulnerability of putting it on the line to be bruised or wounded again. 

This morning, I carefully retreated to my little haven. My place tucked inside our shop to just "be" with Jesus. I listed to a few podcasts, played a few songs on my newly unpacked, keyboard. Combed through years of Bible Studies, books and notes. I am reminded of the steady love of my Heavenly Father. I am reminded again, I am enough..in Him. You, sweet friend are enough. You are treasured. You are sacred. You are His. His love never fades in time. It never wavers based on circumstances or performance. He is indeed enthralled with your beauty. After all He created you. Just as you are. He planted dreams and desires deep in your soul..on purpose. He knows what makes you smile. He knows what makes you cry. He knows how to delight you to a point of uncontrolled, hands in the air worship. He holds your hands and your delicate heart. He chases after you. And He never stops chasing until the day you meet Him face to face. You do not need to shield your heart from Him. He wants to fill every longing and empty place with His love and His spirit.... To give sparkle to your eyes and a glow to your face that out performs any beauty cream on the market! Enjoy a piece of chocolate today and spend a moment savoring in your Father's Love. ❤️💌

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness." -Jeremiah 31:3