So I literally just finished watching Disney's UP for the first time...amazing. I thought it was going to be a little kiddy movie but it was incredible. Not saying little kiddy movies can't be incredible. But anyway, I then realized I hadn't written anything today so that sort of inspired me. Here we go!
Up, up and away!!!
-taye
I've always heard that it's the little things in life that matter most and after a little bit of pondering, I must agree. Though while we are going through the process, we tend to look forward more to the big events: birthdays, weddings, graduations, etc...in the end, once you are looking back on it all, the events that appear the clearest actually are not events at all, they are the little, boring (at the time) simple things that made a difference.
This seems to prove truest with falling in love. When you are in love with someone and you spend time together, it is all the small things that the other person does for you that makes you love them more, not the huge things. Consider it for a moment. When they first ask you on a date what do you remember most? How they asked you. When they propose what do you remember and tell everyone when they ask? How they proposed. Where you were, what the both of you were wearing, what your reaction was, etc... It's the little things that mean the most
Other situations in life, you remember the situation, of course, but mostly you remember how it made you feel, what you were thinking, what else was going on. Therefore, it is indeed the little things, not the big that matter most.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
A Little Less Conversation
I had a very...er...interesting day yesterday to say the least. But rather than get angry about that, I'm going to write a little bit about my personality in a way...so here we go. And yes, the title comes from an Elvis song.
-taye
A Little Less Conversation
To most people, aside from my closest friends, I appear to be a quiet person. Though my closest friends may strongly disagree, if someone were to ask me, I believe that I would have to agree with the majority. Though I may not always appreciate the fact that I'm quiet, I've recently learned to be thankful for this character trait in myself. If I don't always like it, how can I be thankful for it? Because of lessons learned and experiences I have been through.
In an argument, for example, most people might think being soft-spoken would be rather fruitless, however, I disagree. In the case of two people arguing, how much worse would that argument become is both parties are yelling? Quite a bit worse, indeed! Therefore, If one party is yelling and the other is simply listening; trying to hear the other person out; trying to think of some sort of response; trying desperately to think of a way to end the entire disagreement; then the argument is more likely to simmer more quickly (due to the fact the argument is becoming one-sided) and the quiet one will more than likely walk away with a bit less regret than the yelling one probably will. In cases like this, I'm thankful to be in the quiet position.
Another example is a serious conversation with a close friend. Say something upsetting has just occurred that has upset your friend, and they come to you to talk about it. A quiet friend makes a good listener. If one is quiet, they can absorb the entire story--without interruption--resulting in a much more helpful and encouraging friend and problem-solver, if needed.
-taye
A Little Less Conversation
To most people, aside from my closest friends, I appear to be a quiet person. Though my closest friends may strongly disagree, if someone were to ask me, I believe that I would have to agree with the majority. Though I may not always appreciate the fact that I'm quiet, I've recently learned to be thankful for this character trait in myself. If I don't always like it, how can I be thankful for it? Because of lessons learned and experiences I have been through.
In an argument, for example, most people might think being soft-spoken would be rather fruitless, however, I disagree. In the case of two people arguing, how much worse would that argument become is both parties are yelling? Quite a bit worse, indeed! Therefore, If one party is yelling and the other is simply listening; trying to hear the other person out; trying to think of some sort of response; trying desperately to think of a way to end the entire disagreement; then the argument is more likely to simmer more quickly (due to the fact the argument is becoming one-sided) and the quiet one will more than likely walk away with a bit less regret than the yelling one probably will. In cases like this, I'm thankful to be in the quiet position.
Another example is a serious conversation with a close friend. Say something upsetting has just occurred that has upset your friend, and they come to you to talk about it. A quiet friend makes a good listener. If one is quiet, they can absorb the entire story--without interruption--resulting in a much more helpful and encouraging friend and problem-solver, if needed.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Forsaken Love
At first, I was having a little bit of trouble deciding what to write about today, but then it came to me. A couple of days ago, I began reading "Passion and Purity" by Elisabeth Elliot. I have had many of my close friends recommend this book saying it will change my life. Seven chapters into it, my life has already been changed. So here are a few things I've gotten from this book so far and some other things that God has been doing lately.
-taye
Forsaken Love
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."
-Revelation 2:2-4 (NIV)
The latter sentence of this passage in the book of Revelation struck me. Upon first reading it nearly a week ago, I literally sat with the breath knocked out of me upon reading the last words. Why? Because God was speaking to me. It was not any other human being whom He was speaking of, it was I. I was the one who had been so selfish and callous as to have forsaken my first love, Jesus Christ.
The past few nights, as I have delved into the heart and mind of Elisabeth Elliot through her book "Passion and Purity" I have been coming to the sad realization of what the world views as true love. I have friends who have lost count of the number of boyfriends they have obtained in their lifetime so far, some of those friends being younger than I am. In the section when Elisabeth Elliot describes her first date and the days that followed wit the man that would eventually become her husband, I could see where I and the world fall short of what God has planned for true love. True love is completely impossible without knowledge and understanding of the indescribable love that Christ has for us, His children. He created love, so wouldn't one think that He has it figured out how one can truly love another? One would think so, but the world does not agree.
I was pondering this morning how people could believe in evolution and ended up with a pretty good analogy that made me chuckle. Say you went to your biological parents one day and told them: "Mom, Dad, I don't believe that I was born through you, I believe that my fish Nemo conceived and birthed me." Would your parents not nearly die from laughter? The theory of evolution, in a way, can be related. It's like looking at God and telling Him, "I don't believe you created me or anything else in the earth." God loves us abundantly, let us not continue to forsake our first love, especially when He is willing to give us a second chance at loving Him.
-taye
Forsaken Love
"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for My name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love."
-Revelation 2:2-4 (NIV)
The latter sentence of this passage in the book of Revelation struck me. Upon first reading it nearly a week ago, I literally sat with the breath knocked out of me upon reading the last words. Why? Because God was speaking to me. It was not any other human being whom He was speaking of, it was I. I was the one who had been so selfish and callous as to have forsaken my first love, Jesus Christ.
The past few nights, as I have delved into the heart and mind of Elisabeth Elliot through her book "Passion and Purity" I have been coming to the sad realization of what the world views as true love. I have friends who have lost count of the number of boyfriends they have obtained in their lifetime so far, some of those friends being younger than I am. In the section when Elisabeth Elliot describes her first date and the days that followed wit the man that would eventually become her husband, I could see where I and the world fall short of what God has planned for true love. True love is completely impossible without knowledge and understanding of the indescribable love that Christ has for us, His children. He created love, so wouldn't one think that He has it figured out how one can truly love another? One would think so, but the world does not agree.
I was pondering this morning how people could believe in evolution and ended up with a pretty good analogy that made me chuckle. Say you went to your biological parents one day and told them: "Mom, Dad, I don't believe that I was born through you, I believe that my fish Nemo conceived and birthed me." Would your parents not nearly die from laughter? The theory of evolution, in a way, can be related. It's like looking at God and telling Him, "I don't believe you created me or anything else in the earth." God loves us abundantly, let us not continue to forsake our first love, especially when He is willing to give us a second chance at loving Him.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Little Ballerinas
So, the other day, I was watching my best friend teach her dance classes for homeschoolers at our church...the program is called Steps of Faith. I was technically supposed to be writing a speech for my class, but instead I wound up writing this...it's titled "Little Ballerinas."
Little Ballerinas
As I sit here and observe a ballet class full of little girls, I can see the joy of the Lord. Though some of the girls lack passion, I see some that are as passionate about dancing as I am, though obviously in a different way. Even the disobedient ones, once they begin skipping I start to see glimpses of joy in their laughter and the giant smiles on their faces.
Alongside the joy, I see Christ’s love—the love that He has for His children. I see it from the way the young teacher praises each little girl as she finishes a step, regardless of whether it was executed correctly or not. I also see His love in the way one little girl hugs another when she came into class upset. Also accompanying the joy and love, I see patience. I see patience as the teacher waits calmly with a fake smile on her lips for each girl to join her in a straight line to do chassés.
Aside from the joy, love and patience, I see so much more. In the eyes of each little girl I see something different. In the eyes of the newest student, I see eagerness to learn and drink everything in. In the eyes of the angelic looking little girl with the blonde curls, I see pure happiness. The eyes of the perfectionist: determination, the eyes of the youngest: freedom. And in the puffy eyes of the little one who began class with tears and sniffles, I now see the epitome of a little girl having the time of her life.
Little Ballerinas
As I sit here and observe a ballet class full of little girls, I can see the joy of the Lord. Though some of the girls lack passion, I see some that are as passionate about dancing as I am, though obviously in a different way. Even the disobedient ones, once they begin skipping I start to see glimpses of joy in their laughter and the giant smiles on their faces.
Alongside the joy, I see Christ’s love—the love that He has for His children. I see it from the way the young teacher praises each little girl as she finishes a step, regardless of whether it was executed correctly or not. I also see His love in the way one little girl hugs another when she came into class upset. Also accompanying the joy and love, I see patience. I see patience as the teacher waits calmly with a fake smile on her lips for each girl to join her in a straight line to do chassés.
Aside from the joy, love and patience, I see so much more. In the eyes of each little girl I see something different. In the eyes of the newest student, I see eagerness to learn and drink everything in. In the eyes of the angelic looking little girl with the blonde curls, I see pure happiness. The eyes of the perfectionist: determination, the eyes of the youngest: freedom. And in the puffy eyes of the little one who began class with tears and sniffles, I now see the epitome of a little girl having the time of her life.
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