As soon as they walked in the door, their faces lit up in surprise. Everyone shouted "Happy Anniversary," and showered them with congratulations and hugs.
Throughout the evening, I watched all the happy people gathered around my grandparents. I watched my grandparents renew their vows and cut the cake. And it was such a precious surprise party -- because it was my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary.
They've spent the past five decades together. Together they survived raising five children. They survived a motorcycle accident that left my grandpa in a wheelchair. They've gotten through fifty, whole years together. Fifty years of laughter and pain, sorrow and joy. And on that evening, they sat surrounded by children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews -- so many people who love them.
They're giving us a legacy of love, strength, and commitment to God and to each other. It's beautiful, and I won't forget it.
-Aylin
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Forgiveness
Forgiveness...
That's the beautiful, painful reality. It's truer than I'd like to admit, sometimes.
Because sometimes I've just got to let go. And I usually don't want to. I'd rather let my anger and disappointment grow. But, the truth is -- bitterness is like drinking poison, and expecting it to kill someone else.
-Aylin
Even when the jury and the judge
Say you gotta right to hold a grudge
It’s the whisper in your ear saying ‘Set It Free’
That's the beautiful, painful reality. It's truer than I'd like to admit, sometimes.
Because sometimes I've just got to let go. And I usually don't want to. I'd rather let my anger and disappointment grow. But, the truth is -- bitterness is like drinking poison, and expecting it to kill someone else.
-Aylin
Monday, October 15, 2012
"I'm sorry. It must have slipped my mind..."
"But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his plan to unfold." Psalm 106:13
The Psalmist sings about Israel, and how God's people forgot about His goodness. God did powerful, amazing miracles for them -- and they still forgot. Hardening their hearts to the things God had done, they chose to turn to the temptations of envy, idolatry, and discontentment with their bounty.
They chose to ignore the overwhelming might of God's power. They decided to cast a blind eye upon His grace. The great Yahweh had just delivered them from the oppression of four hundred years of slavery at the hands of the Egyptians -- yet they chose to worship a cow.
God was leading them to a land of plenty that He had carved out among the nations just for them, yet they dared to complain. They were jealous of Moses' position. They worshipped other nations' gods.
How our Father must have wept.
He still weeps. We, His people consecrated through grace, still choose to "forget." We decide to ignore the glorious might of His power in our lives. We choose to run after things that mean nothing. We envy those with power and authority when we have the awesome might of Almighty God living in us. We'd rather chase after shadows than have the real life-giving existence God has mapped out for us.
And, yet, He still extends to us His grace and mercy.
How soon we forget His goodness to us.
-Aylin
The Psalmist sings about Israel, and how God's people forgot about His goodness. God did powerful, amazing miracles for them -- and they still forgot. Hardening their hearts to the things God had done, they chose to turn to the temptations of envy, idolatry, and discontentment with their bounty.
They chose to ignore the overwhelming might of God's power. They decided to cast a blind eye upon His grace. The great Yahweh had just delivered them from the oppression of four hundred years of slavery at the hands of the Egyptians -- yet they chose to worship a cow.
God was leading them to a land of plenty that He had carved out among the nations just for them, yet they dared to complain. They were jealous of Moses' position. They worshipped other nations' gods.
How our Father must have wept.
He still weeps. We, His people consecrated through grace, still choose to "forget." We decide to ignore the glorious might of His power in our lives. We choose to run after things that mean nothing. We envy those with power and authority when we have the awesome might of Almighty God living in us. We'd rather chase after shadows than have the real life-giving existence God has mapped out for us.
And, yet, He still extends to us His grace and mercy.
How soon we forget His goodness to us.
-Aylin
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Knit for Kids
Today I'd like to talk about hats. And children. And children who need hats.
Like children living in poverty in Chicago -- children who are cold in the winter time. But, we can help them! My sister and grandma have been knitting hats to give to children in need through Vogue Knitting. Vogue Knitting is working with World Vision to knit hats and scarves for children who need them -- from the smallest preemie to children in elementary and middle school.
I think it's a really neat idea, and I'll probably do some soon. Even though Vogue is knitting hats to give away now, you can knit all year round and send it directly to World Vision. It's a great opportunitiy to help kids in need!
-Aylin
Like children living in poverty in Chicago -- children who are cold in the winter time. But, we can help them! My sister and grandma have been knitting hats to give to children in need through Vogue Knitting. Vogue Knitting is working with World Vision to knit hats and scarves for children who need them -- from the smallest preemie to children in elementary and middle school.
I think it's a really neat idea, and I'll probably do some soon. Even though Vogue is knitting hats to give away now, you can knit all year round and send it directly to World Vision. It's a great opportunitiy to help kids in need!
-Aylin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)