Thankful Tidbits: Wounds from a Friend - Nov. 6th

Proverbs 27:6 – “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”

When the wound from a friend is fresh, I am in complete disagreement with this verse. It hurts when a friend points out my… uh… shortcomings. Looking back in hindsight, however, I am allowed to realize the value of these "wounds" and more importantly, the friend.

There is one moment burned into my memory that reminds me of the truth of this verse. Early in my marriage, I was out with two friends. One friendship was on a much deeper level than the other but the three of us were out together nonetheless. We were enjoying some ice cream and conversation. (I believe that was what I was doing. The ice cream part is fuzzy to me but seems to be a likely choice.)

I don’t remember exactly what it was that I was saying. I simply remember that my words were not very encouraging about my husband. It might have even been one of those “husband bashing” moments. My girlfriend (who has been one of my very best friends for years) lent a listening ear. She’s great about that. That’s one of the reasons I love her so much. The other friend (who was really more on the level of an acquaintance at the time) lent a listening ear but then had the audacity to touch her fingers to her lips as she spoke to me. “Be careful about the words you allow to come out of your mouth about your husband. The way you speak about your husband will affect your feelings toward him. Make sure you speak kindly to others about your husband.”

To say I was furious would be an understatement. I did not understand where she got off telling me what I should say about MY husband. Was she even invited to join my actual friend and myself for the evening or did she invite herself?

Hindsight changed my opinion. Today, I am thankful for this dear friend. We have begun scheduling dates on the calendar for breakfast to catch up. I look forward to my time with this friend who took the time to call me out. She is someone I now actively seek advice from. She’s had more experience in life than me and I am interested as to how she has handled different situations.

The confrontation with this friend changed my life. It told me how much she valued me. She believed in me enough and in my marriage to risk the potential friendship at hand. I often remember her words as I talk about my husband. Oh, sure, I still have my moments of complaining, but more often than not, I remember to speak positively about my husband. True to her words, I feel better about my husband after 14+ years of marriage than I did early on. It probably has a big part to do with finding the positive about him and sharing that with others.

That best friend who simply listened to me that night still listens. We’ve come a long way in our friendship and she has often "wounded" me to make me better as well. This only makes her friendship more valuable.

It may be painful in the moment, but the wounds from a friend certainly are better than the empty flattery of someone else. I am thankful for the wounds from sincere friends because it reveals how very much they care.

Thankful Tidbits - November 5

Tonight I am especially thankful for Rocky Road ice cream. Oberweis to be exact.

Thankful Tidbits: Moms - November 4th

I often wonder if God did the right thing by blessing me with three little girls. Not that He should have given me something else; just that I may not be the best for them. I’m fairly critical of myself in my job of motherhood. Life easily overwhelms me and I am not great at being intentional with my children. Oh, sure, I have good moments. I am by no means disqualified to be a mom. I just get caught up in the comparison game too often.

That is why I am thankful for my mom and mother-in-law. My mom regularly comes out once a week to give me a day to spend time doing whatever it is I want to do. My mother-in-law is pretty good about taking the girls overnight or babysitting when we need her to. These breaks from the mundane allow me to be a better wife and mother. There are many reasons I am grateful for our moms. This week, I am thankful for how very much they help me.

So moms, as Ande would say, “Thank you much!”

Thankful Tidbits: Seasons - November 3rd

I think I am one of the rare few who actually enjoy living in the Chicago area. The weather this past October was just about perfect! At the same time, I welcome the way November is boldly warning us that winter is quickly approaching. I love the way the chilly breeze fills my lungs. The fragrance of burning wood floating from the chimneys and permeating the outside air brings back fond memories that pull at my heartstrings. And my children are certain to help me anticipate the holidays and the first snowfall of winter.

Although fall is my favorite and I love the white covering in the winter, I am usually very much ready to welcome spring when it arrives. The heat of summer is also a nice break from the rain. I welcome the dry weather so I don’t have to wonder if the dog will get muddy when I put her outside. I enjoy each of the seasons and welcome the change that they bring.

I am thankful for the changing seasons. It is only when the freeze of winter is keeping me couped up inside that I look forward to the summer. In the heat of summer I remember the relief of the other seasons and remember to enjoy the opportunities to swim outside and bask in the sun with my girls.

It’s the same with life. The changing seasons allow us to say goodbye to the past and look forward to what is to come. There is time for reminiscing and a time for hope. Each season has a purpose and I am grateful for the seasons. Sometimes I wish one could last a little longer or that one would be cut a little short but it is in the one season that I learn to appreciate the others.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven."

Thankful Tidbits: Founding Fathers - November 2nd

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

I am grateful to our Founding Fathers. I am grateful that not only did they believe all men are created equal and declare our rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, but that they understood where all of these “rights” came from. “They are endowed by their Creator.” I am grateful that even though our country screams for separation of church and state in a way that was never intended by our forefathers, that our country was founded on Godly principles. It comes down to the core. We have a Creator. Life starts with Him and therefore, He knows the best for my life.

Psalm 19:1-4 - “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth and their words to all the world.”

Romans 1:19-20 – “They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”