Author, Wife, Busy Mom, A Woman after God's Heart.

Tag: #iamreal

What do tweezers and an inspired writing distraction have to do with each other?

I’m often asked where I get ideas for my blogs. Honestly, it is the everyday, mundane occurrences. I welcome the “inspired distraction.” Helps me to be creative.

Today, unbeknownst to myself, I was inspired to write this post because of an interesting incident.

I was at a stop light in the left-turn lane. It was late afternoon, and I was en-route to the grocery stores and my two daughters were with me in the backseat. I was tired, and the ticking sound of the left-turn signal was soothing and hypnotizing when suddenly, my youngest daughter asked me to clarify something. It went like this…

“Momma, what is that lady doing in the car?”

“What lady?” I didn’t want to take my eyes off the road because any moment the light would turn green.

She pointed. “There, next to our car?”

In a car on the right of us, was a woman staring intently into her visor mirror.

My eyes bugged out at what I saw.

Calmly, and without inciting any emotion, I replied. “Well, it looks like she’s plucking hairs from her chin.”

“Eww…!” Was the unison response from the girls.

The light turned green and we inched forward. As the disgusted grumblings continued, I couldn’t help but feel different. In fact, just before I drove off, I noticed that the woman had a booster chair and a baby car seat, both empty. As we turned, the woman sped past us.

I drove and found myself thinking that her beauty regimen was ingenious.

Ingenious? Yes.

Hear me out. You have the visor mirror really close to you (I mean really, what’s it there for?), you don’t need much time to locate and extract those yucky facial hairs, and you can do it anywhere. Even at a stoplight. Better than texting. Plus, you are safely inside a vehicle with the doors locked so no one can bother you.

You can argue and say, why do it on a busy street where people can see you do this private chore? And to this, I say, who cares!

Everyone these days is in a hurry heading somewhere and will forget what they saw…usually. Except me who thinks it was a brilliant move and my daughters who are grossed out.

I’m not suggesting that we should dress, shave, and groom ourselves in our cars. What I’m getting at is that this woman found a moment to use her time efficiently because she may have too much on her plate to think of herself and do these womanly duties. She may have a full or part-time job and juggle motherhood. Even ladies without children can relate: the climb up the career ladder is just as difficult.

So, kudos to the woman plucking her facial hairs. You look like you utilize your time efficiently.

Still, I have a few things to say…

Slow down. Take time for you. Don’t cram everything in one sitting. Your children will appreciate you regardless. Your spouse may have other thoughts, but that’s not my problem. Whatever you do, take the time for YOU.

And if nobody has told you lately…YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.

Oh, one more thing…Thank you for today’s writing distraction. (Wink)

The Thanksgiving Tree Branch

tree_leaves

UPDATED NOVEMBER 23rd, 2020.

I found this post a few days ago. It was written back in 2015. At that time, we didn’t have an uncertain post-presidential election, nor the Covid-19, the deadly virus, and global pandemic sweeping the world. There were other issues then, as there are now.

I realized something though. The issues, the diseases, the uncertainties, and everything that can go wrong in the world, will continue to fail and disappoint. We live in a fallen world. Sin and pain go hand-in-hand. But, also, good and love go hand-in-hand too.

We are all lost to something. Each one has his/her path to walk through. We are in need of a good shaking. We need to wake up and stand for the things that are right and morally just. We need to be true to ourselves, so that we can be true to others. And yes, there is a potential to get hurt, but if we are honest to one another, maybe there is no need to pretend and lie.

Hoping and praying for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving to you all even if your traditions have to be a little smaller this year.

God bless!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________

In a few days most Americans will be sitting down together eating turkey and watching football. Prayers will be said and some will go around the table sharing what they are thankful for.

A few hours later, many will join the obsessive price saving shoppers heading to the malls and stores for Black Friday sales. In a blink of an eye, one will go from family gathering to business as usual. Thankfulness forgotten and the frenzy of every day back in stride.

Why is it that we only allow ourselves the minimal hours of gratitude and peace, but spend years incubating in a world filled with greed?

I think (my personal opinion) we’d rather hide behind the masks of our jobs and created busyness instead of letting others see us—the true “us” with our human flaws.

We’re like trees. Leaves colorful and bright on the outside, but underneath we are just branches—bare branches.

The 2015 year has been a tough one. We continue to be racially divided, exposed to cowardly school shootings, saddened and confused by suicides, and made to fear terrorist attacks. The most recent in Paris.

I wonder if we were all just more truthful, honest, and kind to one another, maybe there wouldn’t be so much suffering and we’d see ourselves as we really are – bared branches in need of loving leaves. In need of random acts of kindness, in need of more smiles, more human connection, and more tender words.

Call me naïve, but why is it more difficult to be honorable and kind, than to be rude and hurtful?

It’s time. Where is the real you? Time to let the leaves camouflaging the branches fall to the ground and be blown away.

 

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