Category Archives: guest blogger

Broken: The Shell -By Patty (Guest Blogger)

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On a recent trip, Karla and I took a walk down the sandy shores of Panama City Beach. As we strolled, we talked about many things. On this particular day, Satan was accusing me of being a bad parent. This is a fear that haunts me daily and torments me when I allow it. Feeling broken, I bared my soul to my dear friend. We would occasionally stop and pick up a seashell that drew our attention. Through my teary eyes, I searched that sandy beach for the perfect shell.

Later after we had returned to the condo and showered, I gazed in amazement at a little shell that Karla had given me. It was a beautiful Calico Scallop. It had pink and white tones and was just perfect! But then, I began to look at it closely, marveling at the workmanship. As I examined it, I noticed a crack here and a chip there, and finally, I saw that it was not perfect. The shell had been out in the ocean, being pounded and beat into the shore. Despite all the storms it had endured and the cracks that it had acquired, it was still beautiful and was serving its purpose: to glorify God.

I am Broken

Suddenly, I was this shell. I saw myself in the ocean being beaten and tossed about in those strong waves. My mind reflected over the many storms that I had gone through and the times that my heart had been broken. Tears flowed as I thought back to the day my biological mother left me at nine years old to be given up for adoption. Painfully, I thought of the adopted parents, who after nine years of living with them told me that they had done everything they could for me, I was now on my own. I remembered the day that the man I loved walked out on me and our week-old baby.

Sadly, I thought of how I had been chipped and cracked and even rejected by those who passed by. I had been broken and cracked and felt useless to others. Then, I remembered that this is how God found me, broken, chipped, and scarred. But He picked me up anyway.

No Such Thing as Perfect

My thoughts went back to the many shells that we passed by because they did not make it through the harshness of the ocean. They were broken and useless. This is how the world often views us. They look at our chips and our cracks, and they do not have any use for us. The world does not care that we are beautiful despite our environment. You see, the world is looking for that perfect shell. Webster’s dictionary defines perfect as “Complete in all respects; without defect or omission; sound; flawless.”  Well, that is quite a definition to live up to. Especially since there is no such thing as perfect in this world.

I smiled through my tears as I realized that there is a God who looks at me through perfect eyes. When Jesus found me, I was broken, weak, and useless. But that’s where I had to get to allow Him to pick me up and to make use of me.  I still have the chips and cracks that the world left me with, but I know that God uses those imperfections so that I can encourage others with similar wounds. Far from perfect am I, but I am no longer useless. I am fearfully and wonderfully made by the same God that created that shell (Psalm 139:14). The shell and I have the same purpose: to glorify God by being who He made us to be.

If you are feeling broken and cracked and beaten down by the ocean, don’t despair.  All you have to do is ask Jesus to pick you up. He will gladly do so. Take courage, you are useful despite your cracks and chips. He will use you to do what we were made to do: Glorify Him by being us.

-Patty

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Wedding Plans -By Teresa (Guest Blogger)

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Donna and I are basking at the beach this week.  We’re excited to have our first guest blogger while we are having fun in the sun.  Please enjoy my friend and co-worker Teresa’s thoughts about wedding plans.
 
Wedding Plans- by Teresa
Growing up, I always “knew” what my future would be. I would marry the man of my dreams in a huge church wedding. We would sail off into the mountain sunset leaving our reception in a huge, multi-colored hot air balloon. I would be “Suzi Homemaker,” like my momma. We would have three beautiful, intelligent children – two girls and a boy and live in a quaint cottage style house surrounded by a white picket fence. We would, of course, have a dog.

Wedding Plans: Bridesmaids

As I became a teenager, my mom and I had many arguments about my wedding. I have always been blessed with an abundance of close friends. Naturally, they would all be in my wedding. Rattling off my long list of bridesmaids my mom attempted to be the voice of reason. I couldn’t see the problem. I had it all planned out.“You can’t have that many bridesmaids, Teresa. That will cost too much money. You will have to cut some of them out,” she’d say.
 “I can’t cut any of them out,” I countered. “I have to have Donna, Lisa, and Sheila because they’re my family. Tina has been my best friend since sixth grade. Beverly and I have been close since I was at Sand Hill. I just can’t have a wedding without Becky and Pattie. Pam, Jan, Laura, and I are the four musketeers. Brinda and Rena are like my sisters, so they have to be in it. Jo absolutely has to be my matron of honor. You can’t expect me to exclude any of them!”

Wedding Plans: Flower and Music

These silly arguments about wedding plans occurred countless times, never ending in a resolution. In the meantime, I was busy planning the actual ceremony. Since teal is my favorite, that would be my main color with baby pink as an accent color. There would be gobs of fresh flowers: hydrangeas, roses, and lots and lots of baby’s breath. Uncle Wayne would perform the ceremony. The bridesmaids would wear teal dresses with matching shoes. The matron of honor’s dress would be pink. The groomsmen would wear black tuxes with teal cummerbunds and bow ties.
The songs would be “Two Less Lonely People in the World” by Air Supply and “We’ve Only Just Begun” by the Carpenters. My dress would be a flowing white gown with a ridiculously long train as I walked proudly down the aisle on my daddy’s arm with him beaming from ear to ear. My handsome groom would be standing there waiting for me with tears in his eyes. It was all set.

No More Wedding Plans

One day, in the middle of one of these discussions with my mom, I finally said to her, “Momma, I don’t even have a boyfriend. There’s no point in us talking about my wedding and arguing about my bridesmaids until I am at least dating someone!” So, we stopped having these bridal battles. Still, I continued to plan my future in my mind. To this day, I have a Hallmark card that I bought for my husband-to-be. I planned to give it to him the morning of our wedding day. I’m sure by now it is yellowed from age and probably sounds cornier than it did when I bought it way back in the 80s.
 

No Prince Charming

I didn’t marry Prince Charming. There was no fairy tale wedding, the one I argued so passionately with my mother about. I don’t have three beautiful, intelligent children, nor do I live in a cottage style house surrounded by a white picket fence. As it turns out, I am still single. I live in a condo with the love of my life, a gorgeous little furry girl with four legs named Graci. (See, I did at least get the dog!) Please don’t feel sorry for me though. I live an extremely full and happy life. I have an amazing family made complete by “Pride” and “Joy,” my nieces. I have more wonderful friends than I deserve.
As a veteran teacher of almost 30 years, my job has allowed me to influence and make a difference in the lives of countless children. Graci and I love our home. There is no place on earth I’d rather be. What I didn’t realize back when I was fervently planning my future was that God had plans of His own for me. I truly believe I am living the life God intended for me to have, the life that is the best life for me, the life God knew all along was ordered by Him.
 
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord…” (Jeremiah 29:11 – NIV)
—Teresa

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