Forever Friends

“For there is no friend like a sister, in calm or stormy weather, to cheer one on the tedious way, to fetch one if one goes astray, to lift one if one totters down, to strengthen whilst one stands.”
-Christina G. Rossetti

This post is dedicated to my sisters.

I am incredibly blessed with the family that I have, especially with my two older sisters.  Now, I have one sister that is ten years older than I am, and then the other is almost three years older.  I just happen to be the baby.  I do remember that when growing up, I had a harder time connecting with my oldest sister due to the different stages we were at in life.  But, that was a part of growing up.  But then, my other sister, we have been close, but we've also ran in different circles.  We had different friends in high school because she was an athlete and I was the choir geek. 

As I have gotten older, I think back throughout the years of the many experiences that I've had with each sister.  I specifically remember a time in elementary school that I was being bullied by some punk 5th grader, and both of my sisters confronted this punk.  I felt so cool to have older sisters protect me.  I've also grown up seeking their respect and approval.  I've always wanted to make my sisters feel proud to have them call me their sister, just like how proud I am to call them my sisters.  my sisters are my best friends.  We have always said, "There is something about a Stratton girl..."  We always seem to attract trouble where ever we go.  We've had many laughs and many tears.  My sisters are strong, beautiful, women.  They both have over come many obstacles in their lives, and each time, I see them come out stronger in the end.  Each time, they have become an encouragement to me when I see how they become better people.  I see how many lives they have impacted. 

I am proud to have R and A as my sisters.

V-Day

In one week, we are to celebrating a day of love.  Not to be cynical, but Valentine's Day can kinda kiss my butt.  Valentine's Day is the last holiday that I've been worried about when it has come to the winter festivities.  I've made it through Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Eve, my birthday, and now, it has come down to this.

I've been doing a lot of thinking and a lot of praying when it has come to V-Day.  It's been a struggle for me, considering that I've never really had a good Valentine's Day ever, of course with the exception as to elementary school when you were essentially forced to give everyone a Valentine's Day card.  See, I've been trying to get in to the mindset on what it could mean to me as a single woman.  I've been so focused upon the hurts of my past that I've been dreading this upcoming love-fest that I've forgotten what true love is about:  It's not about me.  When i am so focused upon myself, I forget what the Bible says about the meaning of true love: 

"Love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails."

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for his friends."

Can we say, "Guilt trip?"  Yeop.  Why does it have to be about couples?  Is it not a choice to make it just about two people in love?  Can't Valentine's Day apply to all of us, one way or another?  Well, I sure am making that choice!  I am making the choice that Valentine's Day isn't about it.  It will be about showing the people around me the love that God has given to me.  It may be cheesy, but why not go back to the elementary school days where you had a Valentine's Day card to give to them?  Even in the simplest gesture of love, we can make an impact on someone's life. 

I think this will be my best Valentine's Day ever.

The L-Word

“Love is not a place to come and go as we please.  It’s a house we enter in and commit to never leave…to some love is a word that they can fall in to, but when they’re falling out, keeping that word is hard to do.”  Those are to the lyrics of a song that was placed at my wedding for the unity candle.  It’s called, “Love is Not a Fight,” by Warren Barfield.   The song is still on my MP3 player, but every time it has come up, I usually just skip it.  Tonight was actually the first night that I’ve really stopped to listen and assess my feelings about the song.  

See, before tonight, I’ve usually just skipped it because I’ve been afraid of what emotions would surface.  I’ve done the “Christian thing,” and given everything over to God, so then, why would I be afraid to listen to a song that was part of a journey in my life that was supposed to last a lifetime?  Probably because I was afraid I would have to deal with those emotions all over again and start from square one.  

Well, I got courageous, and I sat down to listen to it.  What first inspired me to actually listen to it?  Ironically, it was because I was on a date with someone and we were starting the movie, “Courageous,” and the filmmakers of “Courageous,” made “Fireproof.”  So, those previews came up, and of course, “Love is Not a Fight,” was being played.  When I started to hear the song, I had the immediate instinct to switch to the next song due to my habit on my MP3 player.  So, I just sat there quietly, listening to the portion of the song they had during the previews, and the movie started.  It made me realize that was the most I had listened to that song in over a year.  I tried to quickly assess my feelings, but refocus back on my date.  

So, I am assessing the feelings now.  I actually just pulled it up on Youtube to listen to it.  Here are my feelings when I listen to this song.

• We shouldn’t take love for granted.  It’s something that is special and we shouldn’t just be throwing the L-word left and right around as if it was the most common thing in this world.  (And when I speak about “love,” I don’t mean family/friendship love.  I mean the type of love between two people in that they want to spend the rest of their lives together.)   
• When you say that you love someone, you commit to it.  You are saying that you have realized that it is not about you, but that it is fully about the other person, aside from God being first.  Love is supposed to be self-less, right?  So, see previous statement.    
• Love isn’t about being the one who wins the arguments; it’s about who knows when to let go first.  Some people think that love is just some sort of emotion you have for another person.  I’m sorry, but I find that completely false.  Yes, you do feel certain things for another person when you’re all oogly-googly, but emotions change.  That’s why I firmly believe love is always an action, in that you show love, not just feel it.  

So, what is the point to my rambling?  The song has officially taught me a lesson about love, and I'm OK with it.

I think I'll listen to that song again.