Mopey Day

Remember when you were younger and some meat head called you an ugly-pugly face? After school you came home and cried about it to your mom and she said something like, "Don't worry honey, I think you're beautiful." And you felt a little better because someone was hugging you, but deep down you just wanted meat head to think you were beautiful because moms have to say stuff like that...

That's a little part of how I feel today.

I'm just not feeling very loved.

It's not your fault. It's not anyone's fault.

No one even called me an ugly-pugly face.

But you know those days when you just feel like you're on everyone's back burner? Everyone's on someone's back burner some of the time, but occasionally the stars and planets align in such a way that lots of people make you feel little all at the same time.

I'm not trying to be a whiny baby head. I know my husband will cuddle me up tonight and tell me that I mean the world to him and that he loves me more than anything in this universe- and he'll mean it. I'm even going back to Weirton tonight to visit my family and I'm sure they'll love me up too. I am blessed with a constant sphere of love ever-revolving around me-- but in this mopey state, it just makes me kinda wanna say:

"Yeah, but you guys have to."

I try to pep talk myself out of bad moods, but it's like talking to a mirror-Who am I to reason with myself?Usually I just understand where I'm coming from and leave me to my wallowing.

BUT there is a greater Spirit that lives within me who can speak truth to the heart. And this is what He has to say:

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness" (Jeremiah 31:3).

The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17).

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends John 15:13).

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love (John 15:9).

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: "For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39).

If somebody called you an ugly-pugly face to day, or even if they didn't, abide in these truths. Don't let lies and bitterness rule your heart.

Children all over the world make me smile :)

How can you not love these precious faces?

Mondays can be rough. Nobody likes rolling out of bed after a {satisfying, relaxing, full, lovely} weekend to return to the daily grind. Whether you sit behind a desk or drive a bus or, whether you bring home the bacon, or the bacon bits, whether you're living the dream or just scraping by, whether you're doing what you love or doing what you have to--everyone needs a reason to go to work in the morning.

And these children are mine:)

I don't know their names and I've never met them. I don't know where they live or what they like to do for fun.

But I know that 1.1 billion people in the world don't have access to clean drinking water.
I know that every 7 seconds a child dies from hunger. I know that there are 27 million slaves in the world today- more than ever. I know that 1 million children are exploited in the global commericial sex trade every year. I know that there is so much hurt in the world, and I know that I want to be a force against it.

I've never had a passion for a career. I've always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. And maybe just because I'm wired that way, law school can sometimes have me looking around at early mornings and the late nights, the memos and exams, interships and resumes- and i wonder what in the world I'm doing. I grumble at the alarm clock and the casebooks. Then I take a deep breath. I think of their faces. I think of all that I have been given and all that I have. I think of the resources before me. I think of how so many could never dream of a world where women can be empowered, and children can go to school. A world where you don't fall asleep in fear and hunger every night. A world where you don't work 20 hour days to pay off an impossible debt. A world where you are FREE. And I think of how law school is an invaluable tool, how the things I learn could impact them forever. I think about how if they had the opportunity to do what I take for granted, they would read the casebooks cover to cover without complaint. I know the power that law can have in the pursuit of justice.

So I'm looking at Monday differently. Monday is a day where I gain a few more ounces of knowledge and experience. I am one day closer to having the skills that will make my passion a reality. It's a beaituful day. a fortunate day. a day set in place by the creater and orchestrator of the universe, and I am so excited to find out what He has in store.

Some scripture that speaks to my heart:

when I forget that I am weak, but He is strong:

Psalm 35:10
My whole being will exclaim, “Who is like you, O LORD? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them, the poor and needy from those who rob them.”

when I forget that nothing I have is truly mine:

Proverbs 3:27-28
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbor, “come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow” when you now have it with you.

when I feel like getting lazy:

Colossians 3:23
Whatever you do, work at it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.

When the cause seems too big or I feel too small:

1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

What are your passions? why do you get up and GO in the morning?

Be refreshed and encouraged as you embark on this exciting week!!