Just Be

Tonight I was thinking about my mom; how I miss her; what I would want to do or say to her if she were to somehow magically appear before me for a few hours.  Would I ask her questions about heaven?  Would I tell her what she's missed in the past 8 years?  And I came to this conclusion:  I would just want to BE with her.

Like my first visit home from college.  I say I was homesick only because I know of no other way to convey the fact that I was next-door to crazy with missing my mom.  My parents moved me in on a Saturday; said goodbye on a Sunday, and I thought I would actually die of heartache before I could get home again that Friday night.  Yes.  I made it a whole 5 days.

My mom hugged me a lot that weekend, and for the last hour or so before I had to leave on Sunday afternoon, we just sat on the couch together.  Actually, she sat, and I laid there, with my head on her lap.  She smoothed my hair back.  Tear slipped silently down my cheeks and soaked into her jeans as I tried to brace myself for the return to college.  We didn't talk.  I drew strength and courage from her for the journey.  We were just being together.  I needed to be with her.

If I could have her back, even for an hour, I wouldn't ask her anything.  Or tell her anything.  I would just want to be together again.

And as I was thinking about that truth, it occurred to me that this is what God wants of me.  He wants me to feel about Him the way I feel about her.  He wants me to want to just be with him- not to always ask him for things, as if he were a divine genie.  Not to always tell him stuff, as if he needed catching up on my life.  He wants me to want to be with him.  Just be still.  Enjoying each others' presence, and resting in the comfort of knowing that here- here is someone who knows me inside and out, and still couldn't love me more if he tried.  Someone whose feelings about me don't change- not when I fail, and not when I succeed.  Here is love and acceptance that is steady, just like the one who offers them.

He wants me to be with him; to draw strength and courage for the journey from him.  Just be.

Who Wants My Marital Advice? Anyone? Anyone?

Hey Kids,

You can read my latest artcle for Inspired By Family Magazine HERE.

He Almost Arab!

In my beginners class today, I told my 11 Saudi Arabian students (all men) about the history of Thanksgiving.  Because they're beginners, the story was drastically simplified, but it seemed that they were getting the general idea.  At the end I asked for questions.  One student asked if this holiday was celebrated in other countries.  I said that lots of countries have days to give thanks, but maybe not all with the same story as in the U.S.

He thought about that, then said that the two Muslim holidays are about being thankful to God, too.  Having taught Saudis for over a year now, I'm familiar with the holidays, so I said something about the holiday that marks the end of the Ramadan fast, Eid Al Fitr.

One of my newer students exclaimed in surprise that I knew the name (though I pronounced it poorly).  Another student, whom I've taught longer said, "Of course he know.  He almost Arab."  In the midst of the laughter, a third student corrected, "He IS Arab!"  A fourth student chimed in authoritatively, "SHE is Arab."  Satisfied now that their sentence was grammatically correct,thanks to their group effort, the class all turned to me, smiling and nodding.

I couldn't help chuckling to myself that the "Arab" part was not considered to be an error.

Oh, dear...

So it seems that I haven't posted a real post in awhile.  Now I have two Inspired By Family alerts back-to-back.  Alas.  Well, in any case, my latest article is up here http://inspiredbyfamilymag.com/2012/10/27/fear-anger-and-bitterness-keep-me-company/

And I will try to get are real post on here soon.  I just don't feel inspired, really.  But I'll try.  Feel free to attempt to inspire me in the meantime.  :)