Mikki's Blog - Living in the Grace and Love of God » Birthdays

Nothing Less Than Something More

Mikki — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:43:52 +0000

It’s my birthday today. As I get older, birthdays seem more significant. I reflect more. I evaluate my life. I ask questions.

Am I living an authentic life? Am I living in balance? Have I forgotten to listen to my heart or my Lord? Am I enjoying my family, friends, and church community as fully as I should?

I laughingly call myself a recovering workaholic, and as such, these questions are important for me. I have a sense that these same questions are necessary for all of us who live the great American life which exalts busyness above relationships.

In honor of my heart and soul and what I’ve learned in recent years, I took the day off work today. I began the day with a cup of Archers Farm coffee and a bite of almond pound cake and a good conversation with my husband. I drank in both the coffee and the words in my husband’s birthday letter to me.

I received hugs from my husband and youngest son. I enjoyed birthday wishes from my daughter via phone. I await my wishes from my other two sons as it is still early here in Alabama. My husband’s men’s small group sang Happy Birthday to me.

I am filling my soul and spirit with Jesus Culture as I oscillate between reading birthday wishes from friends via Facebook and email and writing this blog.

I look forward to other significant moments today. I plan to read a good book, which is a pleasure of mine, and my husband is taking me to Cracker Barrel for breakfast where I will enjoy the delightful world of carbohydrates.

I feel at peace, and I know that I am not settling for shallowness, either in my relationships or in my dreams.

I want nothing less than something more.

More than living life to check off a to-do list. More than living for the pats on the back that are not linked to relationships that stand the tests of trials and time.

I believe that life is meant to be more. A sacred adventure. A journey of discovery.

I live for more. More fullness of joy. More revelation of God’s love for me. More good conversations. More beautiful sunsets. More meaningful hugs. More laughter. More awareness of the present moment. The heights of the joys. The depths of the sorrows. The richness of life. The beauty of today. The something more.

What about you? Are you living for nothing less than something more?

Nothing Less Than Something More

Enjoy this post? Share it with your friends by clicking the Facebook LIKE button..

Powered By Facebook Like Post Plugin

The Gift of This Day

Mikki — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:57:01 +0000

I awakened at 4 a.m. this morning to the sounds of the wind whipping. It’s a bitterly cold 17 degrees with a wind chill of 2 degrees here in Northwest Alabama where dusts of snow lie on the ground from yesterday. It is my birthday.

Alone with my thoughts which refused to return to dreamland, I slipped out of bed. My coffee awaited me thanks to the wonder of a coffee maker with a timer, one of God’s really good gifts. For a few moments, I purposefully took some deep breaths and thanked God for breath, for life, always painfully aware on my birthday that my twin, Mike, is not here to celebrate with me.

After reading some reflections on Advent, I smiled as my Facebook account told me that several of you early bird friends have already arisen and sent birthday greetings my way, and my email told me that Luminosity offers me a coupon for my birthday to buy a program to keep my brain sharp. Ah, the mixed blessings of being 51.

Before long, my husband greeted me with a lovely birthday card, very carefully chosen for this day and a chorus of Happy Birthday and You Are So Beautiful to Me. It was really close to Lionel Richie, sweetheart, I’m just sayin’.

I suppose birthdays are meant for reflecting. Tears fill my eyes as I think of significant losses in my life. Inner joy and peace also fill the moment as I think of the great riches I have.

I wondered if I could make a list of the best gifts I’ve ever received. I thought of seeing my oldest son, Andrew, lead a beautiful worship song at church yesterday. I reflected on the moment my daughter, Kara Beth, offered her grown-up gift of friendship to me during a year I barely survived and the words I’ll never forget when she said, “You don’t have to be strong for me,” and the tears and embraces that followed.

I thought of the many times in recent days that my husband offered me gifts of the deep knowing of my soul and his blessing for me to continue on my journey to become all God has destined, even when it looks differently than either he or I ever imagined.

I thought of my son, Elliott, who never ceases to shower me with tender hugs and long embraces, which is pretty amazing for an 18 year old. And my youngest, Nathan, who lives life as fully as anyone I know. I also think of my ever-expanding family including my new granddaughter.

I feel deep thankfulness for my dear friends and my amazing spiritual community of believers.

Perhaps I am more aware than ever of the gift of the moment as I watch my aging mother have moments of fading memory.

My heart is full as my eyes.

Although I wouldn’t have chosen many of the paths that have made me who I am today, I am thankful for how my heart, mind, and soul have expanded to more truthfully reflect God. And I think of the words of Richard Rohr who so beautifully taught us that “everything belongs”.

Looks like it’s gonna be a bright, bright sunshiny day in my heart.

The Gift of This Day

Enjoy this post? Share it with your friends by clicking the Facebook LIKE button..

Powered By Facebook Like Post Plugin

Good Morning 2010

Mikki — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 12:55:42 +0000

2009 is gone, and I have awakened unto 2010. I stop this morning to reflect on 2009 and look forward to 2010. As a matter of accountability, I’ve already looked back at the goals I set for 2009 to see how I did in regard to them. I am pleased. 2009 was a year of continued change for me. Certainly I didn’t score 100% but in my blog, Welcoming 2009, I notice that I gave myself permission to resolve to resolve imperfectly! So I did not fail.

I often use Proverbs 24:16 when I teach about the Christian life. This verse tells us that even though a righteous person may fall seven times, they shall rise again. It then goes on to contrast the righteous person’s response to failure with the wicked person’s response to failure and states that the wicked are overcome by their failure and calamity. I love to use this verse to teach believers that even though we may fall and stumble, the ongoing direction of our life should be toward godliness. I often draw a graph which illustrates the highs and lows of the Christian life.

So with a backwards glance at 2009, I look now to 2010. What are my goals for this year? I think of the old adage which says, “If you aim at nothing, you are sure to hit it.”

So here is my aim:

1. To know myself more deeply, because in knowing my own heart I gain the ability to know God and others in real ways

2. To pursue a deeper understanding of God’s grace

3. To face my shortcomings and failures truthfully with a willingness to change

4. To have a goal of progress, instead of perfection

5. To give love and support to others and receive the love and support of others

6. To recognize things that keep me from growing, such as denial and fear, and then move through and beyond them

7. To use the influence I have on others in ways that lead them into a deeper relationship with God and others

8. To be increasingly less religious and more Christ-like

9. To continue to break the power of the past

10.To live within my limits

11.To learn to easily identify what I am feeling inside

12.To allow Christ to change me

13.To resolve conflict in clear, direct, and respectful ways

14.To admit when I am wrong and ask for forgiveness

15.To be able to enter others’ worlds and feelings, connecting deeply with them

16.To truly listen when others speak and sincerely try to hear their heart

17.To love well, beginning with loving myself as Christ taught

18.To read and receive from others who are life-giving

19.To enjoy myself

Well, maybe that list is a little long, but it is a true reflection of my heart and is a reflection of what I learned in 2009.

Journey on my fellow pilgrim! 2010 awaits us.

Good Morning 2010

Enjoy this post? Share it with your friends by clicking the Facebook LIKE button..

Powered By Facebook Like Post Plugin