In 1992 I made a trip to my home town in Arkansas to visit family. My cousin and I wanted to see a movie and Pure Country was playing at the dollar theater. This was our first real exposure to George Strait, and although he may not be an Oscar caliber actor, he’s quite a singer and easy on the eyes, too. We made such a big deal out of it that our mothers went with us to see it again the next night.

When my dad heard our story, he calmly said, “You know you could have met him at the fair, but he was country.”

My dad tuned pianos for the concerts at the Arkansas Oklahoma state fair during my childhood and met many famous artists. As a teen, however, I was too cool for country and apparently had turned up my nose at the chance to meet George Strait.

“Couldn’t you have shown me a picture?” (Yes, I acknowledge this is a shallow comment, but I made it nonetheless.)

My collection now brims with George Strait CDs, and yes, I eventually attended a concert (although not with the backstage pass my dad could have provided once upon a time).

Sitting here listening to “I Saw God Today,” I wonder how many things in life I miss because of preconceived notions or prejudice, because I’m too stubborn to see beyond a label.

When my daughter spilled today’s mail across my bed this morning, the first thing that caught my eye was an envelope from Robin (Pensieve). I won one of her contests last week during the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival! Look at my awesome goodies: $10 Starbucks giftcard & Mary Engelbreit surcies.

I confess I spent quite some time rummaging through Robin’s archives searching for a definition of the word “surcee.” I found that there are several ways to spell it and that it’s a very Southern term, which obviously means I needed to learn it, now didn’t I?

If you haven’t visited Pensieve, Robin’s blog is a lot of fun and very interactive. We “met” when we discovered that we share George Clooney as our “celebrity soul mate” (some goofy quiz), but we keep finding additional things we have in common. I can almost guarantee we’ll meet IRL someday.

Next I saw that I had an envelope from Compassion International with “Message from Your Sponsored Child” printed on the outside! In February I told about Guadalupe, the little girl we’ve recently sponsored. Although I’ve written and sent a picture, this is the first contact we’ve had from her. The letter was actually written by Guadalupe’s (or Lupita, as her mother calls her) mother, since she is only 3-years-old.

I was reading aloud to the kids, but when I got to “For Lupita and for me it was a great joy to know she has a sponsor. It is an answer from God,” I got all choked up and couldn’t continue. How many opportunities do I have to make such an impact on another person’s life? I know that Guadalupe and her family benefit much more from our $32 a month than we would. I also discovered that Guadalupe has a twin brother. I wonder if he has a sponsor?

The most touching thing was the picture drawn on the back of the letter. What a treasure! I love how excited our whole family is about this little girl so many miles away from us.

To find our more about sponsoring a child through Compassion International, click the button in my right sidebar or follow this link.

Isn’t is amazing that the essence of human relations can be so thoroughly explained and condensed in 11 little verses? To live it is the challenge!

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

~Luke: 6: 27-38

“The Bible is the greatest benefit which the human race has ever experienced. A single line in the Bible has consoled me more than all the books I ever read besides.” ~Immanuel Kant

My sweet Aunt Mayme donned her angel’s wings a week early as she hovered over Atlanta last Monday night, life-flighted by helicopter from one hospital to another. She quickly became a favorite with the hospital staff, this tiny almost 96-year-old woman who had not been to a doctor since breaking her ankle in 1961, and was was so outspoken about what treatment she would and wouldn’t allow. After experiencing both a massive heart attack and massive stroke last week, she was transported to a hospice facility on Monday evening. Our family was blessed to spend an hour with her Tuesday evening; although she slept, we held her hand and whispered our love to her.

On the way home I received the call that the dying process had begun. My husband took our children home and I returned to the hospice. Aunt Mayme passed from this world at 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday morning and I was blessed to be beside her as she took her last breath. Although she never had a husband and children of her own, she was loved and adored by her natural and church family and will be greatly missed. Our pastor conducted a sweet service during the funeral home visitation last night here in Georgia, and the burial and graveside service will be in Arkansas tomorrow.

A team of bloggers including BooMama and Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer are in Uganda on a trip sponsored by Compassion International. This evening I sat down to read some of the stories of their trip. Sophie (BooMama) posted the story yesterday of meeting the child that her family sponsors, a three-year-old girl who was initially reluctant to even be held, but eventually fell asleep in Sophie’s lap. I saw that sweet little face and I was touched. Deeply. And then I clicked over to Compassion International’s site.

Some of these children have a heart in the upper corner of their picture, indicating that they have been waiting six months or more for sponsorship. I saw a picture of a little girl named Guadalupe. There was a heart on her photo. She is three years old, born between my two youngest girls.

I looked at this little girl and I started to cry. My poor husband was on one of those endless tech support calls with our satellite company, and wondering what in the world was wrong with me. I pointed to her picture on the screen. He asked if something was wrong. I shook my head but couldn’t speak. He knows me well enough to know I was too emotional for words.

We were going out for a two-day-late Valentine’s Day celebration and I went to freshen up before we left, but I couldn’t stop crying. I knew we had to sponsor Guadalupe. Suddenly I was afraid that this child who had spent more than six months on the Compassion International site would be snatched up before I could return to the computer and sponsor her. I just knew that she was supposed to be ours.

Sponsorship costs $32 per month and can be discontinued at any time. In Guadalupe’s homeland, a workers wages average about $113 per month, so our $32 will be huge. In the words of another of the bloggers on the Compassion International trip:

The difference between the Compassion sponsored kids and the unsponsored kids is unbelievable. It is the difference that hope, dignity, clothing and love can make.

If you are interested in sponsoring a child, go here. Go even if you aren’t considering it. I didn’t know it until I saw her face.

Blessings,

This new year has been busy and I haven’t had time to properly sit and make my resolutions. I love analysis, resolving to live better, the feeling of a fresh start (recommended reading in this area includes these posts from my cousin Queen Shenaynay at the Beehive and Sprittibee).

One clear idea that has been laid on my heart is embodied in the following verse of scripture:

“Use hospitality one to another without grudging.” ~ 1 Peter 4:9

The passage of time has laid many family traditions in my hands and at my door, both literally and figuratively. We host Thanksgiving, Christmas, and other family gatherings now because those who hosted before have either passed on or are no longer physically able. Planning a holiday celebrations is out of my hands: those dates are set. Although I love entertaining, I seldom initiate it because of my inability to attain the level of perfection of preparation (both cleaning and cooking) I require of myself.

Two of the best times we’ve had this year were when friends wanted to get together and asked about meeting at our home. On the first occasion, two couples joined us and everyone pitched in together on the food: one brought spaghetti, one bread, I made dessert. On New Year’s Eve we had planned to celebrate with other couples from church. When our attempts to find a babysitter failed, we were prepared to stay home alone; on a last-minute suggestion, the party moved to our house. We had a wonderful time ringing in the new year with our friends and stayed up talking until 3 a.m.!

Here are pictures from special times we’ve had entertaining in our home recently:

My daddy (lower right) is getting married in April (my mom passed away in March of 2004). My new future stepmother, brothers, and sisters are here in this picture with my husband and I, taken last Saturday.

Here’s one with all of our children, too.

And here is our fun New Year’s Eve. Since I have already been asked about the significance of Bryan’s hand on my tummy, I will mention that I am not expecting. He must have been helping me hold in those extra 5 pounds I added in December!

In the most recent edition of Sheila Wray Gregoire’s Reality Check, she states:

Just look at the size of our homes. In 1950, the average house was 983 square feet. In 1990, it had increased to 1500 square feet. And today, in Canada, it’s over 2000. At the same time, our families have shrunk and we entertain far less frequently. We have bigger homes that we don’t share.

I want to share. I want to practice hospitality without grudging, without over-analysis, without reservation; caring more for the fellowship of friends than the condition of my home (loved this post). If you share my resolution, I encourage you to visit 4 Reluctant Entertainers. Sandy is full of advice, inspiration, and encouragement in this area.