tardona

Un poema de siempre llegar tarde..

Tardona soy
tarde voy
por la vida
yo ando vencida
por el reloj
el viejo mandón
que siempre me manda
corre, Trish, anda

Dependence Day

Happy 4th of July, everyone!  (well, actually, I started this post on the 4th, and I am just now finishing it).

I give up. I surrender.  It is time to hoist the white flag. I am tired of being independent.  Too long have I been relying on my own shallow wells of wisdom and and strength.  Too long trusting in my own resources, my own talents.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  - John 15:5

This morning I was struck again with how needy I am, even in the seemingly little things in life.  I can't sit still to spend time reading the Word.  I struggle to stay focused to get important things done.  I avoid things I don't know how to do or don't feel like doing and end up letting people down. I can't organize my time well to save my life.  I'm grouchy and unloving, impatient and self-serving even though I don't want to be.

In A Praying Life, Paul Miller reminds us to as little children, acknowledging our desperate need of our heavenly Father.

Jesus does not say, “Come to me, all you who have learned how to concentrate in prayer, whose minds no longer wander, and I will give you rest.” No, Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” The criterion for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering heart. Come messy.

It is interesting that the words humble and human come from the same root word, humus, meaning dirt.  It is a good reminder that we come from dust and end as dust.  We come with nothing and leave with nothing.  Everything we do have comes from our Creator.  We are the created and by definition, we are dependent on the Creator to create, to sustain, to provide for us.  The only appropriate response is humility and dependence.  We are always in the position of need and receiving.

So, in honor of the 4th of July, I would like to use today not to declare my independence, but to declare my dependence.  Apart from me you can do nothing...

beautiful

Kindness is always beautiful.

This phrase has often been in my thoughts the past few days.  My 32nd birthday was last month, and I find myself checking the mirror more frequently, wondering if I look older, wondering if my clothes fit funny, wondering why my face still breaks out like I'm in middle school, wondering if I'm beautiful.

I am thankful that there is a beauty, a true beauty that never fades.  Father, help me to wear these:

Love.

Godliness.

Humility.

Faithfulness.

Gentleness.

Compassion.

Patience.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. 1 Peter 3:3-5

Christ is always beautiful.  Let us put on Christ.