Sweetness

A friend of mine posted this a while back, and I've wanted to blog about it for awhile. So here ya have it!

"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even thought the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place."

I don't know how well you can read it, but there is a line in this that says "Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness" And I LOVE that!

This world is bitter. There are bitter people. Satan has some really nasty stuff here on earth that can just harden a heart and give you a sour attitude. It is so difficult and sometimes takes every ounce of my strength to love people and just be kind. There are so many days where I would rather sit alone with Maddie at lunch rather than sit with some kids that desperately need some loving. It would be so much easier to space out and fake compassion rather than really sincerely listen to their stories and what is going on in their lives. 

But I do NOT want this world and Satan's tactics to steal my sweetness that God has given me. I refuse to let this world and sin take way the gift of love and compassion God has given me. This world, no matter how messed up it may be, is beautiful. It is beautiful because a beautiful God created it, and He shows us His love through it in so many ways.

On another note, I am reading this book, Jesus Is by Judah Smith, and it is fabulous! I would strongly suggest this for anybody. In one chapter he is talking about messing up and failing and what God thinks of all of that.

He describes how when we fail, God does not focus on the failure like we do. God rejoices and CHEERS because we tried. He went on to describe how when he (the author), watched his son walk for the first time he was hootin' and hollering and cheering him on. He was crying he was so proud of his boy. Sure, the toddler only took 2 wobbly and shaky steps before falling on his butt, but he tried! And that is how God looks at us. Cheering and beaming in pride because we tried. He doesn't focus on the sin and the failure because thats what Jesus died for and His grace and mercy covered up! How cool is that?

And then Judah Smith goes on and creates such an encouraging image and says

  "I picture God up in heaven. and I think that he must yell "HEY! GUYS! (referring to the angels) LOOK! He is trying! He is trying to love! He kinda sucks at it, and its kinda back firing! But look! He is trying to love people!" And the angles must think "Uh... What do you see in this moron? He can't do anything right and constantly disobeys you." And all God says back is "Yea... He is goofy and kinda pathetic. But HE IS MINE!"

And honestly, I just think that is so cool. Of course that is what God is thinking. Cause God is a Dad. And Dad's cheer loud and encourage with all they've got. They hoot and holler loud and they tell you they are proud of you. Dad's dont care that it wasnt a professional performance or that it wasn't the best. They are just proud because you are theirs. 

So there are some of my thoughts as of right now. In conclusion, I am completely in awe with God and falling more in love with Him as the days go by. Life is good my friends, life is good.