One Night with Family…in a far away land
Not too long ago I spent the night at a dear friend’s house. At this house, I am a sister, Anti, daughter, friend, teacher and student. I have sisters, brothers, nephews, friends, neighbors and even parents’ that have called me daughter. So this time was a true gift. My family has once again extended. We are family from two very different places, but or hearts speak the same language.
Our time went something like this…
We laughed.
We talked.
We listened.
We danced.
We watched wedding videos.
We sang.
We cooked.
We ate.
We cleaned.
We teased.
We celebrated a birthday.
We told jokes.
We served each other.
We said funny things.
We read.
We played UNO.
We watched dramas.
We giggled.
We watched the sunset.
We took pictures.
We dreamed.
We told stories.
We shared.
We told each other’s quirks.
We blessed.
We laughed until we cried.
We hosted her family.
We just played.
We looked at pictures.
We made videos.
We “ratted” each other out.
We watched the news.
We were moved by compassion.
We slept little.
We acted silly.
We cried when necessary.
We gupshopped.
We sharpened.
We said goodbye.
Moments like this are too costly to purchase with the things of this earth.
Things I should have blogged
Had I blogged in the last month and a half, these are things that I would have written about…
1. An Aunt Again
2. A Cat, A Rat, A Bird, A Reindeer
3. Friends + Chips + Salsa + Dessert = My Birthday
4. Three suitcases Three cities Two Countries
5. Perplexed but not Despairing
6. Normalized
7. Hints Not Taken
8. Me a Sofa and a Mouse…who wins?
9. Busting a Village
10. Rose Water
11. Entrusting the Lost
12. Immersed
14. How to Stop the Bleeding
15. Bless this Food
16. Ice Skating Mishap
17. Why I haven’t Blogged
So see I have had great intentions. Those intentions stayed just that, intentions. So perhaps I will play catch up on these last blogs or perhaps I will just pick up where I left off. I haven’t decided yet.
Slightly Embarrassed
So I’m ashamed at my lack of attention to my blog over the last few weeks…well month and a half. I have many things to say, but…well frankly I just have not taken the time to write them down. So my faithful few blog readers, please identify yourselves because you my friend deserve an award.
Replaceable
First you need to know that it is culturally appropriate for a man to accompany a woman when she is out. Generally the escort is a male family member, but a male worker also qualifies. And when I say a male family member, it is perfectly fine and appropriate for a 10 year old boy to lead, escort and protect a 27 and 25 year old. He walks in the front-ish and we follow behind-ish. When necessary, he will do the talking. I do not mind this so much because I see young boys growing into chivalrous boys and one day very honorable gentlemen and leaders. This is a very good thing.
With that said, one day last week S and I wanted to go to the local neighborhood shops. One of the boys decided that he was up to the task of escorting us both. Well before leaving, the boy’s father reminded him to watch out for the girls and to protect them. A classic response followed when he said, “I know. I know because if something happens to J and S then it will come out of my allowance. I would have to find girls to replace them.” I laughed knowing that no such terms had been discussed, but in his mind it was as easy as that…you know, just get some more of those girls! I said, “You must get a lot of money for your allowance.” He just laughed. We went on our way under his care. He did a great job!
So apparently a ten year old boy’s allowance can easily replace two girls. Hmmm.
I am posting soon. I haven’t stopped to actually write, but I’ve been thinking much. So don’t give up on me friends. Wait for it because it is coming.
I never have to question…
I don’t have to question whether or not He is good, strong enough, able, powerful, gracious, understanding, holy, intimate, merciful, sovereign, omniscient, just, forgiving, sufficient, trustworthy, true, faithful, kind, patient, loving or any other attribute that He has kindly shown me through His Word and through life because I know Him. And I know that He does not change. He is the same as He was yesterday, as He is today and as He will be tomorrow. So though I may not understand the details of His masterpiece and my heart may be sad and I may ask questions, when it comes down to it I KNOW who He is and that should always be more than enough for me.
Psalm 9:10 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LRD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
GD of Our Yesterdays by Redman
When we were in the darkest night
And wondered if our eyes would ever see the light
You were there, LRD
When we were in the stormy gale
And wondered if we’d ever live in peace again
You were there, LRD
You were there in the struggle
You were there in the fight
You were there all the time
We praise You – the GD of our yesterdays
We praise You – the GD who is here today
We praise You – our GD as tomorrow comes
So whatever lies ahead
Whatever roads our grateful hearts will come to tread
You’ll be there, LRD
We will fix our eyes on You
And know that there is grace enough to see us through
You’ll be there, LRD
You’ll be there in the struggle
You’ll be there in the fight
You’ll be there all the time
We praise You – the GD of our yesterdays
We praise You – the GD who is here today
We praise You – our GD as tomorrow comes
We thank you – for grace in our yesterdays
We thank you – for peace in our hearts
We thank you – for joy, as tomorrow comes
We will trust you, GD
You’re always closer than we know
Always more involved and in control
We will trust our lives to You -
The One who was and is and is to come
“All My Praise” by Selah
I will follow you through green pastures
And sing hallelujah to your name
I will follow you through dark disaster
And sing hallelujah through the pain
Even in the shadow of death I will praise
Even in the valley I will say
Holy, my GD
You are worthy of all my praise
Holy, my GD
You are worthy of all my praise
You are seated on Your throne in heaven
And you see all of us down here
And you have promised you will not abandon
So I shall not fear
Even in the shadow of death I will praise
Even in the valley I will say
Holy, my GD
You are worthy of all my praise
Holy, my GD
You are worthy of all my praise
You made every star
And you taught it how to shine
You knew my name before there was time
And all this was just part of your glorious design
Hallelujah, hallelujah
“Yet I will Praise You” by A Park
I will praise You LRD my GD,
Even in my brokenness
I will praise You LRD
I will praise You LRD my GD,
Even in my desperation
I will praise You LRD
And I can understand all that
You allow I just can see the reason
But my life is in Your hands and though
I cannot see, I choose to trust You
CHORUS
Even when my heart is torn
I will praise (trust) You LRD
Even when I feel deserted I will praise You LRD
Even in the darkest valley I will praise You LRD
When my world is shattered and it seems all hope is gone
Yet I will praise You LRD
I will trust You LRD my GD,
Even in my loneliness
I will trust You LRD
I will trust You LRD my GD,
Even when I cannot hear you
I will trust You LRD
And I will not forget that you hung on a cross
LRD you bled and died for me
And if I have to suffer
I know that you’e been there
And I know that you’e here now
CHORUS
Power of His Word, Depth of His Comfort
I love the power of His Word. Over the last two weeks I have been simply amazed again and again at the immediate comfort that has washed over me and a friend at different times with different circumstances, changing the very countenance of our faces as one or two verses of His Spoken Word were read. I testify now to His power in sharing two stories.
One of my friends had not slept the night before because of many difficult life circumstances. This one particular morning, she shared her heart as we often do. Her face and eyes displayed the same story. Immediately we turned to His Word because this is wisdom and counsel spoken from Dad himself. I have nothing else to offer. I wanted to share one specific passage with her. In that moment, my mind forgot where in the book it was located. So as I flipped the pages, I came to another passage that I was impressed to read with her. When we indulged ourselves in His Word in utter desperateness to hear from Dad, he spoke. I saw a face of distress and tired hopelessness of a never seeming to change or end circumstance immediately transform to a countenance of hope and joy. A heart comforted in a matter of two verses.
My story is similar. Leaving out the particulars again, I had a difficult day with difficult circumstances. I knew that night my mind would race. I knew that I would not sleep. I knew that I would be up late wrestling with the happenings of the day because it was served with a generous side of my feelings. Therefore, I needed to determine what was Truth and what was a lie spoken by the evil one. In my mind, this struggle was big enough to last an entire night. Well, I knew wrong. That night a friend sent me one specific verse to read. Though I was alone in my room, had anyone observed my face at that desperate moment, they would have witnessed it go from despair to hope; from sadness to joy; from insecure and anxious to a confident unexplainable peace. One verse in one desperate moment transformed my every thought and again, I could see clearly. Before the final text came that night, I had fallen asleep only to wake up the next morning with His Word still clutched in my hands. I woke up asking the Father to give me a deeper desire to clutch tightly on to Him because truly, my very next moment is dependent upon only one.
According to the standards of the world, neither of these circumstances should have hope or confident unexplainable peace, but let us not forget to whom we belong or the Hope that we cling to. Let us not forget the power of His Word. Every word is written and inspired by Him. Though circumstances around us will change, His Word lasts forever.
Dupata Drama
Dupata defined: an often colorful or sparkling piece of material which single purpose is to drive me crazy….I mean to allow me and other women to remain honorable and virtuous, not causing men to stumble. It must be worn at all times; however, in the case that you are at your own home, this piece of outfit matching material must be worn covering your shoulders and your chest. This is virtuous.
Conclusion: A dupata must be worn at all times, including when one engages in activities that are proved more difficult with one. So just for fun, here is a fun lists of dupata dramas.
Yard work presents dupata dramas. . .
- It could get stuck in the lawn mower
- It will fall off constantly, driving one to tie it in the back (which helps slightly).
- It will get very dirty and will need to be washed after even just one wear.
- It will smell funny because it is just hot
. - It will snag on something and perhaps it will then tear.
- It will make a great hand or face wiper or cell phone holder when hands are dirty.
- It will fall inevitable fall in to the mud multiple times as you are pulling weeds from the just watered flower beds.
- It will cause you to sweat more because it is almost like wearing a sheet over your clothes—oh wait that is what it’s like.
Cooking presents dupata dramas. . .
- It may catch on fire if you are not paying attention.
- It is not thick enough to use as an oven mitt.
- It may fall into the food that you are cooking.
- It will get wet while washing dishes.
- It will fall off while serving food, especially when serving it on the floor.
- It will inevitably get dirty when cooking for long periods of time.
- It will not stay on.
- It will smell (as will the person) if in the kitchen using the stove for a long period of time because during the summer, the kitchen is an oven itself!
Playing presents dupata dramas. . .
- One cannot run as fast as one could while wearing it.
- One cannot shoot a basketball as well because it gets in the way.
- It will fall off, causing one to stop, pick it up and resituate which is not good in any game.
- It will likely snag on something while running.
- It will cause you to become hot faster.
- It will restrict the movement of your arms, especially when, in attempts to keep it on, one ties it in the back.
- It gives you an additional tail that someone can then grab in a game of tag and say, “I got you.”
- If you have to wear one, it means that you are a woman and automatically cannot play sports in public anyhow.
Head coverings and I have a special love hate relationship. But in the end, I love it because I don’t stand out AS much and it detracts from stares (not to mention, they can really add to the outfit). So though it drives me crazy when it restricts, I suppose it is a necessary evil! By the way, after almost 6 months, I am already a little more quirky because I feel rather immodest when I don’t wear one! Oh the joys of contextualization!
