Carrying the Weight

The next few days, I will be typing excerpts of a book entitled "Give it All to Him" by Max Lucado.

 

This chapter is called "Carrying the Weight"

"The woman flops down on the bench and drops her trash bag between her feet. With elbows on knees and cheeks in hands, she stares at the side walk. Everything aches. Back. Legs. Neck. Her shoulder is stiff and her hands raw. All because of the sack.

 

Oh to be rid of this garbage.

 

Unbroken clouds form a gray ceiling, gray with a thousand sorrows. Soot-stained buildings cast long shadows, darkening passageways and the people in them. Drizzle chills the air and muddies the rivulets of the street gutters. The woman collects her jacket. A passing car drenches the sack and splashes her jeans. She doesn't move. Too tired.

 

Her memories of life without the trash are fuzzy. As a child maybe? her back was straighter, her walk quicker...or was it a dream? She doesn't know for sure.

 

A second car. This one stops and parks. A man steps out. She watches his shoes sink in the slush. From the car he pulls out a trash bag, lumpy with litter. He drapes it over his shoulder and curses the weight.

 

Neither of them speaks. Who knows if he noticed her. His face seems young, younger tha his stooped back. In moments he is gone. Her gaze returns to the pavement.

 

She never looks at her trash. Early on she did. But what she saw repulsed her, so she's kept the sack closed ever since.

 

What else can she do? Give it to someone? All have their own."

 

All 5 chapters start out with a story about a woman with a trash bag. The story continues every chapter, going a little further than before. 

 

This chapter talks about how we never know how we accumulate the trash. It just shows up. Everyone has one, but no one knows how it came to us.

It talks about the ship the Pelicano. Since 1986 it's been an unwanted ship. The problem is not the boat, ownership, or crew. So what is the problem? The Pelicano is full of trash. In 1986, Philadelphia's municipal workers went on strike and the trash piled up.

 

It's interesting how Max Lucado compares everyday things to trash in our lives. Anger. Guilt. Pessimism. Bitterness. Bigotry. Anxiety. Deceit. Impatience. It all piles up. It really does.

 

Why do we let those things pile up? I have no answer.

 

I carry my own bag of trash. I carry anger, regret, and a little bit of guilt. Why can't I "Give it All to Him"? I feel like I can take it on myself. I feel as if I can handle everything. But cruel reality says otherwise. I can't handle it. Nothing is going the way I hoped it would.

 

I want to "Give it All to Him". How do I just let it go? "Here's my trash, Lord". "I'm giving it to you". Seems lame...but it works, I think. Maybe. Hopefully.

 

Hoping,

katie

Ray of Sunshine

 

Kali Nichole Sparks                 November 7, 1987 - May 28,2008

Kali was involved in the FL crash with the AR passengers.  She was badly injured and on life support for a week before going to be with her Heavenly Father. 

 

I've known Kali since Pre-School.  She was always loved and always well thought of.  She was incredibly beautiful as you can see by the picture above.

 

 

Kali wrote a poem in 8th grade entitled "Comfort Me".

I don't think this was an accident.

Mr. Wesson was our band director at the time.  He read Kali's poem and asked if he could put music to it.  She gave her blessing and he now plays that song at his church.

   

Prayers were lifted in Kali's memory by friends and family.

   

27 out of 87 of the class of 2006 

 

The stone plaque that Belinda Shelton had made for the dedication.

 

Beautiful words for a beautiful person.

 

Until another time.........

-katie-

I Have Been Changed For Good...

 

The very beautiful Emily Mae Woodell! I took her senior pictures a couple of weeks ago and they turned out beautifully!!

 

Emily has been there for me so much! She's always there to listen or cry or talk with me. I can always count on her for anything. We can read each other even over text messages. I don't know where I'd be without her. 

 

"I thank my God every time I remember you." --Philippians 1:3

 

I love you, my dear sister!!

-katie

Rest and Trust

"Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed." --Psalm 57:1

 

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." --Psalm 91:1-2, 4

 

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. But you, O God, will bring down the wicked into the pit of corruption; bloodthirsty and deceitful men will not live out half their days. But as for me, I trust in you." --Psalm 55:22-23

 

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. The will soar high on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary they will walk and not faint." --Isaiah 40:28-31

 

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." --Matthew 11:28-30

 

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." --John 14:1-3

Happy Mother's Day

So Sunday was Mother's Day!

 

 

I have the most wonderful Mom, no matter what anyone says. My mom has endured so much in my life--especially in the last 3 years.

 

Not only did she endure my Dad's first major scare in January '99 (Colon removal). Then in the same year in September opening a little 50's Drive-In. Running that for 6 years. Losing that business. My dad's last fall in Jan '06 and then my dad's death nearly 3 weeks later. the visitation, the funeral, finding a new place to live, getting a job, getting me through the rest of high school (3 months), working that job while grieving, getting me off to college, letting me come back home, celebrating birthdays (big ones, 18, 20, 21, 50), nannying, supporting me going back to college, letting me come home again, nannying again, and supporting me in all I do--ALL without my dad.

 

 

She is a single mom, knowing that I'm raised enough. I'm no where near where i probably need to be, but she doesn't need to make sure that i've been fed, bathed, or slept.

 

She's the best Mom that I could've asked for. She does so much for me and I wish there was more that I could do for her, I really do.

 

 

She's my best friend. I cannot thank God enough for pairing the 2 of us together.

 

Until next time.....