Daddy, please plant roses…

Can I talk to dads and daughters for a little while?

Do you know the beauty of roses?  It’s not the unique hues or the softness of the petals or even the curvature of the flower as it bends away from the stem.  No.  It’s the resilience of the bush and the protection of the thorns.  The thing about rose bushes is that they can survive some of the harshest weather.  The petals may be stripped away and the stems broken, but the bush will survive and the roses will come back even stronger the next year.  The thorns are there to protect the delicate flesh of the flower.  The closer you get to the bud, the smaller and duller the thorns become.  The rose figures that if you can get through the tough, sharp thorns furthest from the flower; then you must not mean the bud any harm.

What does all that have to do with dads and daughters? 

Dads, I encourage you to plant roses in your daughters.  Give her the tools that will make her resilient and protected.  Shield her just enough that she has a first-line defense, but knows when it’s safe to let someone get close to her.  Let her know that she is strong enough to survive any storm.  But that even if she feels a little broken and somewhat exposed, she will always come back stronger.

Daughters, KNOW YOUR WORTH.  Even if your natural father couldn’t plant roses, know that your Heavenly Father has planted something in you that no one can destroy…it’s called purpose.  When it seems as though your colors are fading or too many petals are being plucked away, remember; you are not defenseless.  As long as your roots survive, there is always the chance to come back solid and finish strong.

©2017 #thatblessedgirl All rights reserved.

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.” Isaiah 40:8 (KJV)

You have memories…

Facebook has become very good at reminding me that I have memories.  I have memories with family, friends, new strangers.  I have memories of love, joy, anger, praise, defeat, worship.  One thing I know for sure: I have plenty of memories.  I’ve spent much of this day in quiet reflection.  I felt the need to spend some one-on-one time with My Father.  It was just over 1 year ago today that I realized the magnitude of the battle I had been chosen to fight.  The enemy declared an all-out war on everything I “knew” to be true.  I was thrown off-balance because I didn’t initially want to see it coming.  Today, I still have memories about the prayer I prayed… “God, let me see clearly.  Allow me to walk in humility.  Speak for me and speak through me.  Whatever the outcome, I put my trust in You.  You know the desires of my heart, but I surrender to Your will.  Not my will, but Yours be done.”  I didn’t understand the journey.  I didn’t know what the outcome of the process would be.  The only thing I “knew” for sure was that my life was about to be forever changed.  I will give more specifics in the days to come, but for now I’ll talk about some things I “knew”.

I “knew” I was as strong as I could get…I had to learn to confess my weakness.

I “knew” there was nothing else that God would allow to happen in my life.  I mean, hadn’t I been through enough?  I had to learn that when it looks like you’re down to nothing, God is indeed up to something.

I “knew” I had a close relationship with God, but He showed me how to draw even closer to Him.

What I know now is that even when I wanted to let go, God proved to me that His grace is sufficient and His strength made perfect in my weakness.  I had heard that scripture my entire life, but there’s nothing like the realization that He is you strength, breath, life, and endurance.  I am and will be forever grateful that My Father does not treat me as my sins deserve.  That’s grace and I’m walking in it!

I learned that there were some things that the enemy didn’t know either.  I don’t underestimate him, but I don’t give him too much credit either.  He didn’t know that he couldn’t threaten my religion because I had already lost it.  He didn’t know that I had gotten to know the God that I was introduced to almost 34 years ago.  He didn’t know about my relationship.  He didn’t know that even at my lowest, weakest point that I would say while on my face in the bathroom, “is that all you got?”  He didn’t know that through all the heartache, all the tears, all the questions, all the uncertainty that God was speaking to me more clearly that He had in my entire life.  And just when I cried out to God that I had nothing left… God thought enough of me to give me victory!  It didn’t look like I imagined.  It was better…exceedingly, abundantly… My imaginations became visions.

Yes, I have memories…of war, of weakness, of strength, of grace, of those who were present for the journey but will be absent for the destination.

I am #thatblessedgirl

Sometimes I walk

Sometimes I fly

Sometimes I crawl

Sometimes I cry

Sometimes love unconditionally

Never dream without a plan

Always believe in God

Surrender to the Master’s hand

Gave me super for my natural

Extra for my ordinary

Victim turned victor

A test turned testimony

Beauty for ashes

Ready to take on the world

Called and now chosen

I am #thatblessedgirl

©2016 #thatblessedgirl All rights reserved.

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)