Ice Cream Brings Peace. Day 1.

Peace. It’s the focus, once again, for the next 25 days. When I was asked to be part of this writing/storytelling experience again this year, I agreed without hesitation. I agreed because I like the idea of writing about peace, I like the idea of being in a group that’s writing about peace, I like the idea of creatively bringing peace into the world in my own little way. Peace. It’s what’s for…dinner?

Sometimes, occasionally, frequently my daughter and I have ice cream for dinner. Yes, I know, it’s a horrible thing to have for dinner! It’s also an AMAZING thing to have for dinner :)

I’ve raised two children. My third and final child is no longer a child, but rather a 14 year old young lady. I’ve experienced many battles in the parenting realm over the last 21 years; unfortunately it takes me more than one trip around the mountain to figure things out. One lesson I finally learned—ice cream makes your heart feel better, and sometimes that’s all you can do—just eat ice cream. 

Two years ago my youngest and I experienced a deep, crushing, heart break. We both felt it and we both wondered if we’d ever not feel it again. Hurt has a way of making you believe you’ll never feel anything but hurt. Hurt has a way of making everything worse. One night in particular E and I were sitting in silence on the couch when I blurted out, “We need ice cream for dinner!” And so it began. 

I’m grateful to say two years later our hurt has left, laughter has returned, and love has overcome us. Two years later we see clearly how God has healed, God has led, and God has provided. Two years later ice cream is no longer just for wounds, it’s now become “our thing.” Hey, when you have two women in the house, well, you need ice cream sometimes! You need ice cream for dinner often. Ice cream brings peace.

I know I’ll always be a mom. I also know the role as mom changes as the children grow up. I don’t like to live in the land of regrets, but I do wish I’d done ice cream for dinner when it was the four of us. I think there were times when we needed that kind of peace in our house.  

As you move into Christmas time, and get busy with all the places to go and people to see and things to buy, I encourage you to have ice cream for dinner, and not feel guilty about it. We all need a little more peace in our lives; and I can tell you, ice cream for dinner = peace! 

*If you'd like to follow this adventure of fellow writers for peace, visit https://www.facebook.com/25-Days-for-Peace-1000950843289830/ 

Super Tuesday, America

Tomorrow is a pretty big deal for our country. Super Tuesday. I think it's fair to say the entire country is concerned. I also think it's fair to say the entire world is watching, and frankly just as concerned as we are for the future of our country. 

What happened to America? Where have all the Americans gone too? Because I don't see Americans. I see hate, finger pointing, name calling, and an insistence on "I'm right, you're wrong." If what you stand for isn't what I stand for, then you are clearly wrong. We want equality and yet we fall so short in giving it. 

We don’t want anything other than to be right. Is that America? Is that what we stand for? Is that who we are? A giant jerk who insists on having it MY WAY. I have never been more concerned for America than I am right now and it has little to do with who’s going to be our next President. I am concerned about America because AMERICANS are turning on one another as if we’ve lost our minds and forgotten what it means to be united.

This country fought hard to get to a place of being united. For far too long we were divided, we turned against one another and it seems that we are doing that again—as if the first time around wasn’t bad enough. We aren’t just fighting against terrorism, we aren’t just fighting against Left and Right, we are fighting US. WE ARE FIGHTING OURSELVES. 

We are becoming the very evil we claim to be fighting against. 

If you claim to be a Christian, if you attend church on Sunday and then spew hatred on Monday, if you point fingers and call names…shame on you. Shame on us all for standing in the grace He so willingly gave while insisting another person, another AMERICAN, is less than.

Our country is in a very desperate state and we are most certainly not going in the right direction, but friends please stop and look around—WE make up this country and it is WE than can unit or continue down a path of destruction. We are not puppets, we are not helpless and we are not mean. America is beautiful and we must act beautiful. Be the bigger person, be American. 

May God have mercy on our country, on our people, on our future.