Defining Myself

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what defines us as individuals, what our God given talents are, and this made me wonder who I am, and how others perceive me. Then I realized it doesn’t really matter how others perceive me, what is more important is what I think of myself.

My self-definition could be many unlimited things because I am completely different from anyone else. It’s all in our own diversity. Physically I may appear to look like others, but inside I am not the same.

Am I defined by being a 49-year old white American woman? Does being a happily married woman, a born again Christian, a daughter, a mother, a grandmother, a sister and a friend define me? I don’t believe material possessions have anything to do with who I am. I am not defined by a title from an employer or by initials behind my name from my education, or from my passion for reading or my DNA.

Do my dreams and aspirations play a role in the person I will become?

I am defined by being true to myself – a child of God.

I feel that my roots, my life experiences, religious beliefs, decisions and mistakes I’ve made have each enhance the woman I am today. Every day I face new choices, challenges, and this in turn keeps me constantly changing. I am thankful I am not the same person I was a few ago, and I am sure I will not be the same person in the months and years to come.

I think my self-definition has more to do with my personal beliefs, the way I treat people, and how I’m treated, and my reactions to others. I hope I never stop this constant journey of exploring the woman I am, while learning, and growing to becoming a strong confident individual and be all that I know I can be.

I think it’s important what I choose to believe about myself, my character, and what Christ wants me to achieve in life.

But in the end, all that really matters is what God thinks of Debi.

He is Risen

I know that Christ is alive because He lives deep within my heart.

Happy Easter to you and yours.

A Family Emergency

Three days ago, my sweet, elderly mother-in-love has suddenly experienced an intracerebral hemorrhage, or a "bleeding stroke." This was caused by a burst blood vessel in the brain. Mom is almost 86 years old, and needs all the prayers she can get right now.

The doctors recommended that she be transferred from our local community hospital to a specialty hospital in Philadelphia for surgery to remove the pressure off of the brain. However she declined it. She doesn’t want to endure this procedure, even though her prognosis is very poor. There is a 50% chance the bleeding will continue. We were told the surgery would not prolong her life.

Mom is extremely confused, with slurred speech, and her right side is very weak to the point of almost being immobile, her blood pressure is through the roof it is so high. It breaks our hearts seeing her lie helpless as she is.

Today she has been transferred to a stroke rehabilitation hospital. By working with speech, occupational, and physical therapist we’re hoping this will help her learn to talk again and hopefully regain some muscle strength in her right arm and leg.

Please lift our family up in your prayers and good thoughts at this time.

We are indeed facing some strong winds in our lives these days.

When the Wind Blows Through Your Life

My husband often says “I will sleep well on a windy night” and until the underling meaning to the phrase was explained to me, I did not understand it completely. I do now.

Can you sleep when the wind blows?

Years ago, a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. “Are you a good farm hand?” the farmer asked him.”Well, I can sleep when the wind blows,” answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man’s work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand’s sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, “Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!”

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, “No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows.”

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down.

Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

When you’re prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. Can you sleep when the wind blows through your life?

The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm. We secure ourselves against the storms of life by making the necessary preparations and hanging on to our faith in our God. We don’t need to understand, we just need to trust and to have peace in the middle of storms.

-author unknown-

I hope you enjoy your day and you sleep well tonight, I know that along with Eric I will sleep well also, even as the strong winds are blowing in our lives right now.