Lily has always been our drama queen. As far back as I can remember she has dramatized nearly every minor event in her life. There has always been a significant amount of acting surrounding any chore or task. Early on she would try to get out of them with a sudden tummy ache. Later she would instantly think of something of significant importance that had to be done RIGHT NOW, and with a quick turn on her heel, she would flit from the room with a “I’ll be right back” thrown over her shoulder. Lately she has moved on to the more manipulative (however impressive) line of questioning in some deep subject that she knows is of interest to either Brian or me. (I often wonder how many nights she lays awake thinking up the next question she will ask when she finds herself in these predicaments. Actresses must always be prepared to act, you know!)
Brian and I saw through Lily’s little charade very early on. We naturally have allowed her to gently push the boundaries before finally clamping down to say “okay, enough is enough…move it NOW!” This admonition is nearly always followed by Lily’s signature twinkle in those bright blue eyes, a twist of her mouth, a snap of her finger, and a mumbled “darn it!” because she knows her gig is up. I have tried numerous times to explain to her that the longer she puts off a task, the more difficult the task will be and the longer it will take when she finally attends to it. Like that old saying describes, “a stitch in time saves nine.” But still, the dishes go unwashed on the counter for a couple of hours after breakfast, so she might as well wait for the lunch dishes to be added. Then, on one of her really good acting days, the supper mess will be added to the pile, and before she knows it, her daily dishwashing task has grown completely out of control, and she begins to seek assistance.
At times Lily’s drama sessions can be exasperating, at times funny, but they are certainly NEVER without creativity…which brings me to ponder something in my own life. Just how creative am I at making excuses for myself and my actions? How many times has the Lord given me a directive, and I have asked “Do I HAVE to?” Or whined “Can’t I do it later? I’m so busy right now!” Once in a while He will come down harder and give me richer impressions that I just can’t deny or ignore. But mostly, He waits. He may nudge me again later…a little softer…a gentle reminder. But generally He lets me try it my way. Before I know it, that little molehill that would have been so easy to step over at first has now become a mountain, and I…well, I become desperate for His help. Oh, how He must tire of me and my human-ness! Yet He loves me still.
There is a praise song frequently played on Christian radio. The lyrics burn into my soul every time I hear it. It is performed by the David Crowder Band. I’ll close with a portion of the lyrics below, and if you haven’t heard it, I encourage you to look it up and listen.
HE LOVES US
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart churns violently inside of my chest,
and I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way...
He loves us
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us!
Showing posts with label Lily. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lily. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Friday, October 3, 2008
A Legacy of Love
The girls and I just returned from a wonderful two-day trip to Nashville, Indiana. We travelled with those we have come to affectionately call "The Bane Ladies."
My mom's family is very close-knit. My grandmother, with her unquestioning faith in the Lord and unconditional love for her 14 children, created an amazing circle of admiration -- a legacy of love. Growing up, this large famly was the center of my world. I was blessed to be raised alongside numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who doubled as additional sets of parents and siblings, and as a child I thought we would all remain close throughout our adult lives. As tends to be the case, however, life-changes had a way of making alternative plans for us, and as the cousins married and began raising families of their own, our limited time together caused us to drift apart.
Thankfully, some years back, my mother's younger sisters decided to organize a retreat for the ladies of the family. They invited all females connected to the Bane family by blood or marriage to join them for a slumber party, and chose a wonderful bed and breakfast inn in Nashville, Indiana, as the meeting spot. Those of us who were longing for reconnection jumped at the chance! That first trip was nothing less than amazing - we shopped, talked, laughed, played games, acted silly, and swooned over delicious desserts. We enjoyed it so much we decided to go back again...and again...and AGAIN!
Our circle of "Bane Ladies" has changed since that first year. I'll never forget the last year Aunt Nancy went with us. She had lost her hair and her stamina, but not her spirit. We intentionally slowed our pace of walking from shop to shop, and we landed back at the inn early when it was apparent she was tiring. Munching on desserts, we listened to her giggle as we placed bets on what color her hair would be when it grew back.
Sadly, the next fall found our group a little smaller. The thought of going without her was difficult, and the stay was certainly bittersweet as we reminisced about our time on earth with her, and shared how hard it was without her. It was a time of healing for us all. The circle was smaller, yes, but it was tighter...and the hugs lingered a little longer in an effort to hold on to that fleeting moment of breathlessness.
The circle was extended this year as my three daughters joined us in Nashville for the first time. As a grown woman, I realize how richly I have been blessed with the wise counsel of these amazing ladies and the legacy of love that was built to support me - the legacy they recieved from their mother. It was incredibly touching to watch my daughters join the circle and to see the legacy begin its descent to the next generation.
I don't think it a coincidence that I found a small trinket at a shop in Nashville that spoke directly to my heart that first year without Aunt Nancy. It says "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away." It still speaks expressly to me today. That the Lord has blessed me with such wonderful family - it takes my breath away. That my life's journey has been gifted with love, laughter and tears - it takes my breath away. That my daughters have now joined this circle - it takes my breath away.
Through this legacy of love I've been taught how to extend my circle to include others in need of breathless moments in their lives, and I'm thankful...so thankful!
My mom's family is very close-knit. My grandmother, with her unquestioning faith in the Lord and unconditional love for her 14 children, created an amazing circle of admiration -- a legacy of love. Growing up, this large famly was the center of my world. I was blessed to be raised alongside numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins who doubled as additional sets of parents and siblings, and as a child I thought we would all remain close throughout our adult lives. As tends to be the case, however, life-changes had a way of making alternative plans for us, and as the cousins married and began raising families of their own, our limited time together caused us to drift apart.
Thankfully, some years back, my mother's younger sisters decided to organize a retreat for the ladies of the family. They invited all females connected to the Bane family by blood or marriage to join them for a slumber party, and chose a wonderful bed and breakfast inn in Nashville, Indiana, as the meeting spot. Those of us who were longing for reconnection jumped at the chance! That first trip was nothing less than amazing - we shopped, talked, laughed, played games, acted silly, and swooned over delicious desserts. We enjoyed it so much we decided to go back again...and again...and AGAIN!
Our circle of "Bane Ladies" has changed since that first year. I'll never forget the last year Aunt Nancy went with us. She had lost her hair and her stamina, but not her spirit. We intentionally slowed our pace of walking from shop to shop, and we landed back at the inn early when it was apparent she was tiring. Munching on desserts, we listened to her giggle as we placed bets on what color her hair would be when it grew back.
Sadly, the next fall found our group a little smaller. The thought of going without her was difficult, and the stay was certainly bittersweet as we reminisced about our time on earth with her, and shared how hard it was without her. It was a time of healing for us all. The circle was smaller, yes, but it was tighter...and the hugs lingered a little longer in an effort to hold on to that fleeting moment of breathlessness.
The circle was extended this year as my three daughters joined us in Nashville for the first time. As a grown woman, I realize how richly I have been blessed with the wise counsel of these amazing ladies and the legacy of love that was built to support me - the legacy they recieved from their mother. It was incredibly touching to watch my daughters join the circle and to see the legacy begin its descent to the next generation.
I don't think it a coincidence that I found a small trinket at a shop in Nashville that spoke directly to my heart that first year without Aunt Nancy. It says "Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away." It still speaks expressly to me today. That the Lord has blessed me with such wonderful family - it takes my breath away. That my life's journey has been gifted with love, laughter and tears - it takes my breath away. That my daughters have now joined this circle - it takes my breath away.
Through this legacy of love I've been taught how to extend my circle to include others in need of breathless moments in their lives, and I'm thankful...so thankful!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
