As you may or may not know, my "theme verse" for photography is Luke 2:19 which says
I have been reading through an excellent book and I came across a paragraph in it that was about Luke 2:19. It says
A simple English definition of "treasure" is "to prize, to hold dear." And I love the words the Greek translates it to as well. Preserve. Keep close.
As I read the description of a hectic life, I realized that how much this described me! My life is so go-go-go-GO! And while I love it, and love everything I am doing, I have to make sure that I am not losing sight of the most important things. I need to make sure that I am consistently grateful for my life. I want to make sure I treasure the little things and don't let them fly by unnoticed.
I have to post some of the things from this past week that I have specifically treasured.
"Running."
"You are going running! Are you going running here? Or are you going to the pool too?"
"Just get of my room, ok. I need to get ready."
A minute later, God allowed me to look out my window for just a second. I am so glad He did.
Lauren was dressed in her adorable little running gear and was stretching in the front yard. I took a couple pictures, then went out. Both girls jumped up when they saw me and asked if they could run with me, and they promised to not get in my way. I felt like the worst sister ever. Hahah. I wanted to whisk them up and hug and kiss them and figure out some way to let them know how much I love them. Even when I am mean and busy, I really really really do love them.
So, we ran :D They went a marvelous 0.2 miles, but we ran and chatted and they told me about their day. And Lauren giggled adorably at something she was saying. And Shannon jumped when the neighbor's dogs barked - and she almost fell over she was so startled. Those few minutes of running with them was better then any distance I could have run alone. Thank you, God, for reminding me to treasure them.
A different day, I was driving home - I don't even know from where. I was just thinking about all the things I needed to do. The radio was on and some annoying voice was telling me about a mattress I needed to buy. But the noise in my head was so much louder than the radio. As I drove through my neighborhood, God gently wow-ed me again.
It wasn't anything spectcular, but, it was so, so spectacular. It was a quiet, beautful evening. I stopped my car. The radio instantly turned off. I just got out a looked at where I lived. It was silent. It was beautiful. I literally was stopped dead in my tracks - I am a blessed, blessed girl. I really am! Thank you God for reminding me to treasure all I have been blessed with!
And, lastly, the fair. Oh boy. The fair.
I was able to go with a group of friends on Monday night and I can't exxxxplain how wonderful it was. I was walking in and started to cry. I mean, it just hits you sometimes that your life is amazing! Not everyone gets to go outside on warm, silky, summer nights and laugh and play at the fair! Some are hiding from enemies, some have no water, some are miserabley sick, some have been abandoned. But for some reason I am not!
(pc: Lydia Jane)
My life is just amazing! Anything I think is hard, is NOT hard. Anything I can complain about is NOT worth complaining about. I have a family who loves me, friends who care for me, a job I love, a church I adore and a God who pours out His kindness on me.
Even the night of the fair, I was fighting such a terrible attitude, because my dad wanted me to come home and have dinner with my family! I was being asked to feast on delicious food, that I didn't pay for, with the people I love the most, and Iiiii wanted to go to the fair earlier.
It's ridiculous how easy it is to lose focus on what matters most!
(pc: Lydia Jane)
But, thank you God, for reminding me to treasure my life. Each and every little thing.
(Photo credit for the fair pictures goes to the AMAZING, and FANTASTIC Lydia Jane!!!!!)
So, please, find something today to treasure :D You'll be glad you did.
"Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
I have been reading through an excellent book and I came across a paragraph in it that was about Luke 2:19. It says
"The word 'treasured' translated in Greek means 'to keep carefully; to preserve, keep safe, keep close.' In the midst of having many responsibilities... Mary took time to contemplate what was happening in her life and to meditate on what God had done.
The hurried, hectic, harried pace of our culture can be addictive and intoxicating. Many of us find ourselves giving into the temptation to to fill every waking moment with noise and activity. We get in the car and turn on the radio; we walk in the house and turn on the tv or computer or pick up the phone. E-mail, voice mail, cell phones, music and mass media threaten to fill every bit of available space and leave us emotionally and spiritually shallow.... We must take time to be quiet - to be still - to ponder and reflect on God and what He is doing in and around us."A simple English definition of "treasure" is "to prize, to hold dear." And I love the words the Greek translates it to as well. Preserve. Keep close.
As I read the description of a hectic life, I realized that how much this described me! My life is so go-go-go-GO! And while I love it, and love everything I am doing, I have to make sure that I am not losing sight of the most important things. I need to make sure that I am consistently grateful for my life. I want to make sure I treasure the little things and don't let them fly by unnoticed.
I have to post some of the things from this past week that I have specifically treasured.
I am training for a triathlon and have been very focused and determined when it comes to training. When I go to the pool, its to swim my 400 meters and then jump onto a bike. I used to bring my siblings with me, and play with them, afterward, but that has fall by the way side.
One day this week, I was going to only run. I was on a schedule, I had somewhere to get to, and I was not in the mood for little children asking little questions. I was basically ignoring Shannon and Lauren who I hadn't seen all day.
"Where are you going Kristen?!?""Running."
"You are going running! Are you going running here? Or are you going to the pool too?"
"Just get of my room, ok. I need to get ready."
A minute later, God allowed me to look out my window for just a second. I am so glad He did.
Lauren was dressed in her adorable little running gear and was stretching in the front yard. I took a couple pictures, then went out. Both girls jumped up when they saw me and asked if they could run with me, and they promised to not get in my way. I felt like the worst sister ever. Hahah. I wanted to whisk them up and hug and kiss them and figure out some way to let them know how much I love them. Even when I am mean and busy, I really really really do love them.
So, we ran :D They went a marvelous 0.2 miles, but we ran and chatted and they told me about their day. And Lauren giggled adorably at something she was saying. And Shannon jumped when the neighbor's dogs barked - and she almost fell over she was so startled. Those few minutes of running with them was better then any distance I could have run alone. Thank you, God, for reminding me to treasure them.
A different day, I was driving home - I don't even know from where. I was just thinking about all the things I needed to do. The radio was on and some annoying voice was telling me about a mattress I needed to buy. But the noise in my head was so much louder than the radio. As I drove through my neighborhood, God gently wow-ed me again.
It wasn't anything spectcular, but, it was so, so spectacular. It was a quiet, beautful evening. I stopped my car. The radio instantly turned off. I just got out a looked at where I lived. It was silent. It was beautiful. I literally was stopped dead in my tracks - I am a blessed, blessed girl. I really am! Thank you God for reminding me to treasure all I have been blessed with!
And, lastly, the fair. Oh boy. The fair.
I was able to go with a group of friends on Monday night and I can't exxxxplain how wonderful it was. I was walking in and started to cry. I mean, it just hits you sometimes that your life is amazing! Not everyone gets to go outside on warm, silky, summer nights and laugh and play at the fair! Some are hiding from enemies, some have no water, some are miserabley sick, some have been abandoned. But for some reason I am not!
(pc: Lydia Jane)
My life is just amazing! Anything I think is hard, is NOT hard. Anything I can complain about is NOT worth complaining about. I have a family who loves me, friends who care for me, a job I love, a church I adore and a God who pours out His kindness on me.
Even the night of the fair, I was fighting such a terrible attitude, because my dad wanted me to come home and have dinner with my family! I was being asked to feast on delicious food, that I didn't pay for, with the people I love the most, and Iiiii wanted to go to the fair earlier.
It's ridiculous how easy it is to lose focus on what matters most!
(pc: Lydia Jane)
But, thank you God, for reminding me to treasure my life. Each and every little thing.
(Photo credit for the fair pictures goes to the AMAZING, and FANTASTIC Lydia Jane!!!!!)
So, please, find something today to treasure :D You'll be glad you did.