Hand Made Gifts and Rejection

On this past weekend I attended a baby shower for a precious sister that I've become so fond of since moving to Vancouver. I was a little nervous at first because this would be the first time I fellowshipped with the ladies at church. Our church has 2 campus' and we were joining in with our Portland campus to celebrate the mother and the new life that will be here any day now. Being around people didn't make me nervous, it was my gift.

Most of the gifts I make are handmade aka homemade. I really wasn't sure how my gift would be received. Some people like handmade gifts and some don't. From my experiences in the past, I was nervous though. I felt that there was something much deeper at work here than a "homemade" gift. Once again, it wasn't so much whether or not my gift would be received, but rather would I be rejected because of my gift.

Why in the world would I be rejected because of my gift? Is a question I kept asking myself. Well, if your a person who has dealt with rejection, you know what I'm talking about. Often times when rejection takes it ugly grip on us, we have to continue to fight as we dig up the root that planted itself there.

As I sat there as the gifts were being opened, I made sure I looked around for the nearest EXIT sign in big red letters. Often times when we are faced with rejection, we look for the nearest exit. Sometimes those around us who knows our weakness will push us to the exit sign only to grab us by the arm before walk out the door. It becomes a game they like to play, but there are the only ones having fun.

Then one day you get to that exit door and you walk outside. For the first time in years you smell fresh air and the freedom that comes with it. You turn around and face your rejector and tell them your free. You will no longer play the game. The game is over and you're the winner because standing behind your rejector are those who are exposing their weaknesses in secret.

I was so relieved when my handmade gift was received with great joy by the expecting mom. The gift was a beautiful crib quilt. I look forward to meeting the baby boy that will be added to the church family. But the thing I look forward to the most is bonding with the women at church and being vulnerable to them and not being afraid to expose my weaknesses out of fear of rejection.

I've learned in life that in my weaknesses, God's strength will prevail.

Just Call Me Mom

Everybody has a passion for something. I'm passionate about a couple of things in my life. I'm passionate about God. The One who created me and changed me from the inside out. I'm passionate about being the best help meet that I possibly can to a man that deserves my up most respect. Don is a man full of integrity and lives the life that others just talk about. One of my greatest passions in life is being a mom.

Mom. A simple three letter word that has enough impact to bring real change that we so desperately cry out for. It's me, Sandra, known as "mom" to my children, that's raising up a generation of worldchangers that will shape the future of this nation.

Mom. A simple three letter word that doesn't have BA, MD, PhD or XYZ ect. behind it, but an occupation that existed before the alphabet letters were known. When I became a mom, the only formal education I had was from watching and listening to other moms. But when the alphabets are just a fading memory in my mind, my heart will still smile at the sound of the word "mom"

I encourage all women with children to embrace your calling as a mom. Rock those babys to sleep at night. Be patience with the toddler you're trying to potty train. Answer the "why?" questions because Little Man might have the solution to a cure for cancer. Help your kids find their identities in their tween years. Don't run from your teenagers and tell them you'll be back when their grown. Let them know that the changes that are taking place in their body is normal. Your boys need you to tell them that they are strong and it's okay to be masculine. Your girls need to hear from you that they are pretty and it's okay to be feminine.

Society may tell you that you have so much more to give than just being a mom. You need to tell them because your just a mom, society will have a future they can be proud of.

Words of Love

Many people have asked how are we doing with the transition that took place this summer. I noticed in my response, I would use the word "love" a lot. ex: I "love" our new place, I "love" our new church and I "love" Vancouver, etc. But there is one thing that I received this summer that I "love" a lot. It's an older book titled "Words of Love" It's a small book with various quotes about love. It's a Hallmark Editions book and the quotes were selected by Ben Whitley.

I received this book from my Secret Sister. I want to share some quotes from the book. I hope it blesses you the way that it has blessed me. BTW, I "love" Secret Sisters.

The heart that loves is always young. ~ Greek Proverb

The sea has its pearls, The heaven its stars,
But my heart, my heart, My heart has its love ~ Heinrich Heine

If you wish to be loved, love ~ Seneca

'Tis what I love determines how I love. ~ George Eliot

Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind. ~ William Shakespeare

Love is the gentle smile upon the lips of beauty. ~ Kahlil Gibran

A loving heart is the truest wisdom. ~ Charles Dickens