Mother and Daughter

Saturday, at the API Team Roping, I ran into a young friend with her newborn daughter.  She was watching her husband, her daddy and her uncle rope.  This mommy and daughter were beautiful together. They were surrounded by both sets of grandparents, and an aunt and uncle. (The family that ropes together stays together!)

I’ve known this young lady and her family for years.  I’ve watched she and her sister grow up and mature to be beautiful, responsible adults. I know their parents are so proud of both of these girlies, and this new little one has captured all their hearts.

I was asked to have my camera with me yesterday to take winner photos, and snagged a couple of shots.  When I uploaded these images last night, my heart swelled again to see the love this young mother has for her beautiful daughter. I thought you'd be blessed to see the love, as well.  

I am so very thankful that the Lord has given me eyes to see, and the talent to capture what I see. 

Matthew 13:16  “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.

Right On Time

Tears flowed around here last night for a bit.  One of our friends is in town, and we were catching up.  She has a new job, and we were talking over the last week's activities specific to her new position.

The tears were healthy tears.  You see, ThatManILove had just given our friend what we call a Position Statement. 

Sounds bad, doesn’t it?  It’s not.  A Position Statement is just that.  It’s a position. It’s a clear, concise view of how you see that person, in that moment.  And this is what he said to our friend:

ThatManILove: “I have a Position Statement for you.”

She sat up straight on the couch.  I held my breath.  (Isn’t it funny, how we always brace ourselves for bad?)

She said, “Okay.”

ThatManILove:  “Girl, you got this.”

I breathed.

She breathed, or tried to breathe.  When she could, she said, “Thank you for caring enough to share.  I promise to weigh it carefully.”

And then, she burst into tears.  I did, too.  In saying those few words, ThatManILove affirmed that she was in the right place, at the right time, and doing the right thing.  He spoke right into the very core of her being.  She grabbed each of us, hugged us, and thanked us for our portions in her life, and for our encouragement and counsel.

This young woman has scaled mountains.  She has come up higher in her relationship with the Lord, and He is her everything.  The Lord is prospering her, in every single facet of her life, her family, her job, and most importantly, in her minute to minute, hour to hour, day to day relationship with Him.  With Jesus.  With God as her Father.  As the Lover of Her Soul. With the Holy Spirit.

And she is blooming.  Her joy, contagious.  Her zest for life, uncontainable. As it should be.

As it should be.

I look at her, and I am encouraged.  Growth is encouraging. And inspiring.

Thanks, my friend, for being open to what the Lord is accomplishing in you today.  You're right on time.

For who knows whether you have come to the Kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

For my readers:  I hope this post has encouraged you.  We all struggle...and Jesus lives to intervene on our behalf.  Turn to Him.  He will hear your heart cry.  I promise.