Hi friends,
I was out shopping the other night and I don’t know if I was just super sensitive or if it was something God was showing me on purpose, but I was heartsick over what I witnessed. People were fussing with one another. Openly, just walking in the mall...loudly in the department store. I overheard exchanges between people that triggered something in me.
The first one was a married couple in Lord and Taylor.
The man says to the woman in an agitated tone, “Look! How many times do I have to tell you. He doesn’t want one of those."
She says, “But I just thought----“
He interrupts, “Well you don’t know what the h____ you’re taking about.”
I saw another couple in the mall with hands in the air in disgust. He says to her, “Just shut up!” and then walks away from her. She just stands there for a second and then silently tries to catch up with him.
It was contempt in action. This kind of thing is not a little thing to me. If someone that I am in relationship with talks to me like this I am done. Shut down. Humiliated. Hurt. Ashamed. And done. I lived like this for too many years in unhealthy relationships. I wasn’t respected. I wasn’t treasured and I wasn’t honored. And it damaged me.
Watching it from afar, I could feel that hurt all over again. And honestly, this is the thing that terrifies me about “being in love.” I long to be in a fulfilling, beautiful marriage with a godly man. I long to be romantic, close, and willing to serve someone. But when I see this, it triggers the pain of the past and the fear of ever going through that again.
Don’t get me wrong. I know people who love one another will disagree and have difficult times, but there is never an excuse or reason to treat the one you love with contempt.
And I wonder where did it start? Were there signs of this when they dated? How did it get to the point where this kind of behavior was accepted?
I find myself at 46 yrs old where I never thought I’d be. Single. Longing for love, but pretty happy just as I am most of the time. And ironically, the Lord has me mentoring young girls and women who want nothing more than to find Mr.Right.
But their desire to be in any relationship is stronger than their desire to be in a good relationship. What they are willing to accept as normal, what they are willing to put up with, just astounds me.
We teach people how to treat us. If you allow them believe that it’s ok to humiliate, disrespect and shame you now… what makes you think that they will all of a sudden be wonderful to you if you marry them?
It was the love of Jesus that turned it all around for me. If He could be so kind to me...so tender...so full of compassion, grace and mercy...if He could consistently want good for me and put me first and value me so much that He would die for me, knowing how wretched I really am...and He is God...
Then...how could I possibly put up with a mere man treating me like a dog?
I can’t and I won’t.
My dearest sisters, settle for nothing less. Don’t let your desire for romance get in the way of real love.
Instead of just asking for God to bring that man into my life, I am praying also, Lord make me the kind of woman who loves the way You have loved me.
I have a long way to go, but in the meantime, I am single and loved perfectly by a God who knows what I need.
His Beloved,
Tracey
What I Won't Put Up With
If I Had To Live My Life Over
Here's the poem from Erma Bombeck that we read this morning. There are many versions of this on the Internet, but this is the version she wrote in her column on December 2, 1979. Enjoy and cherish those sweet moments!
If I Had My Life To Live Over
Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.
My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.
If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I’d have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.
I would have eaten popcorn in the “good” living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have burnt the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.
I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television...and more while watching real life.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.
I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.
I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day.
I would never have bought ANYTHING just because it was practical/wouldn’t show soil/ guaranteed to last a lifetime.
When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now, go get washed up for dinner.”
There would have been more I love yous...more I’m sorrys...more I’m listenings...but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it...look at it and really see it...try it on...live it...exhaust it...and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.
© Erma Bombeck
Dan Cathy, COO of Chick-fil-A, Visits Us!
...And The iPad Goes To...
Congrats to everyone who qualified to win by listening to our show, Lara Scott during the middays, and Jack & Erin in the afternoons! We thought you'd like to hear Jack & Erin give the iPad away...so listen away!
Flipping the Switch!
Hi friends!
Check it out Flipping The Switch here (note: you do need to be on Facebook to participate).
Attack of the Plants!
Sneezing, wheezing, nasal congestion, coughing, itchy watery eyes, runny nose, itchy throat, stomach ache, and itchy skin, hives, fatigue, and irritability - Is this you? Then you are one of the 67 Million people that suffer from allergies!
A wet Winter and Spring can make for a big allergy season. We know we are feeling it already! So, we have found a great website - Pollen.com - to help you know what days are going to be bad and what you can do lessen the effect of pollen on your life.
Check the allergy forecast for your zipcode by clicking on the map!Make You Jealous?
We just got this from Tracey...she's sitting on the beach of St. Thomas. Cruel. Just cruel.
Breakfast Casserole
Hi friends!
This is our family's traditional breakfast every Christmas morning, but we also make it on special occasions. I'd call a blizzard a special occasion, wouldn't you? This along with some homemade blueberry muffins and scalloped apples with cinnamon... yummmmmmm.....
In HIs Love,
Tracey
Linda's Breakfast Casserole
Ingredients:
6 slices of bread, crusts removed
Butter (to lightly coat the bread),
1 lb of bacon (or your choice of meat like sausage, steak, chicken, etc),
1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (we like shredded cheddar),
6 eggs,
2 cups of milk,
salt & pepper to taste
To Make:
Grease a 13 x 9 inch pan. Butter the 6 slices of bread and place in pan butter side up.
Fry bacon (or meat you desire) and crumble over the bread.
Sprinkle cheese over the meat and bread.
In a bowl, whisk together 6 eggs, salt & pepper to taste, and 2 cups of milk. Pour over top the bread, meat, and cheese.
Cover with foil and place in the fridge overnight. The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pull casserole out and let sit on the counter for 15 minutes (very important if you are using a glass pan!). Uncover and bake for approximately 45 minutes. Let sit for 5 minutes and enjoy!
Movie Reviews, Jimmy Page, and Josh Wilson
CLICK HERE to listen to our interview with Josh Wilson. We talk with Josh about the Newark airport sing-a-long that changed his life!
CLICK HERE to listen to our interview with Jimmy Page, Heath and Fitness Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, continues the conversation from last week about making exercise fun...by yourself.
Dirty Car Contest - And The Winner Is....
...Skip Lee!!! Mike says it looks like Skip painted his car to look like a salt landscape. Tracey agrees that Skip's car may be even dirtier than hers. Skip wins The "Gold Package" wash from Ritchie Car Wash in Brooklyn Park!Congrats and thanks to all who sent in pictures!
Your Family Safe Movie Review & More!
MORE INTERVIEWS FROM THIS MORNING
CLICK HERE to listen to the family safe movie review from Bob Waliszewksi of Focus on the Family's Plugged In.
CLICK HERE to listen to Jimmy Page, Heath and Fitness Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, share healthy weight loss resolution goals.
CLICK HERE to listen to us convince Aaron Shust why he should switch to being a Ravens fan now that the Steelers are out of contention.
CLICK HERE to listen to Henry Cloud's tip #9 for New Years resolutions.
CLICK HERE to listen to Henry Cloud's tip #10 for New Years resolutions.
National Day of Prayer
Things to do on a rainy weekend
Looks like we are going to have a soggy weekend around the region but that doesn't mean you can't go out and find some fun!
The Maryland Kids Page has a great section of places to visit across the state. The list is broken down by counties to make it easy to find something close to home. Bonus: many of the places can be visited at little or no cost. Click HERE!
So, grab the kids and the umbrella and have some fun this weekend!
March For Life - Maryland
You can join the Annapolis march and rally to support life in Maryland. The program kicks off tonight at 5:00pm and you can find all the details plus related links HERE!
Make sure you say "Hi!" to Tracey as she is honored to be your MC for the evening. Please remember to pray for all who will be marching and for our legislative leaders.
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