Building Relationships

Photo credit: iprole/www.sxc.hu

Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh!" he whispered. 

"Yes, Piglet?" 

"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's paw.

"I just wanted to be sure of you."

~ A.A. Milne

When I was nineteen, I spent the summer working as a server at a local family restaurant to help pay for college. I met some interesting people, especially while working third shift. 

One night while pouring coffee for some friends, a man walked in wearing white pants and a blue and white striped shirt. He went to the restroom, and then sat at the counter. Oh. My. Heart. I told my friends, "I don't know who that man is, or where he's from, but I'm going to marry him."

As I poured his coffee, I figured he'd be able to see my heart pounding through my chest in a cartoon sort of way. Wide shoulders, military hair cut, and gorgeous blue eyes. We made small talk, but I kept watching him as I did my work.

The next night, he came in again, and sat in my section. It was the weekend, so, of course, the place was much busier. I learned he had worked at the same restaurant prior to joining the United States Marine Corps. He knew several of the other servers and cooks. We chatted as I did my work. 

As he was leaving, he asked if I'd be interested in having a Marine as a pen pal. We exchanged addresses, and wrote back and forth for two months. You have to remember this was back in the olden days--late 80s--before cell phones & email. I looked forward to those letters that started out gradually, and then increased in number.

My Marine pen pal planned to come home on leave to go fishing with his dad and brothers. He asked if we could get together.  The night he walked through those doors into the restaurant, my heart raced. My tongue twisted around my teeth. I developed a sudden case of the dropsies. You see, we had developed a relationship through those letters. When he came home on leave, I was head over heels in love with this man.

Thankfully, he felt the same way. On July 14, 1988, we had our first date. I had dated several guys before him, but as soon as I met him, I knew he was the only man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. On Saturday, this handsome Marine and I will celebrate twenty-one years of marriage. 

But my happily ever after doesn't end there.

I thought this Marine was the only man who could steal my heart with such a deep love and passion. I was wrong.

In February 1997, I became reacquainted with a man I knew a long time ago. Through heart-wrenching pain and anger, I pushed this man out of my life. I wanted nothing to do with him, but he continued to love me. He whispered my name on that cold February evening, and I answered. Our reunion was full of love, tears, and he filled those vacant holes in my heart with his unconditional love.

His name is Jesus. 

Today, my love for Him strengthens my love for my husband, my son, my family, my friends. On those days when I'm not feeling very lovable, He refills me with His grace and compassion.  

Building relationships is about getting to know each other gradually, sharing memories, sharing secrets, and feeling secure in that relational love. They take time and trust. Whether you're building a relationship with a friend, a family member, or potential spouse, allow yourself time to get to know that person without smothering. Don't allow assumptions and preconceived notions to color your blooming relationship. Respect one another. Trust one another. Love one another. When you build relationships with others, sharing your love, you're demonstrating what True Love is all about. 

"Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 NIV

Preparing for Nanowrimo

Each November, NaNoWriMo inspires writers to crank out that rough draft in thirty days. Chris Baty, author of No Plot? No Problem!, initiated NaNoWriMo—National Novel Writing Month—back in 1999 with twenty-one members. Today, over 165,000 writers participant. 

In 2003, I participated in NaNoWriMo for the first time, writing furiously for thirty days. At 11 p.m. on November 30, I wrote two words that caused me to burst into tears—The End.

I did it. I wrote a book.

I was a real writer.

My husband said, “I guess you’re serious about this writing stuff.” and bought me a laptop so the rest of the family would have a chance to use the computer.

Participating in NaNoWriMo takes pre-planning. Carving out writing time isn’t always easy while juggling a job, family, church, and extracurricular activities. With a bit of scheduling, it is possible.  

To read the rest of this post, head over to MBT Ponderers where I give suggestions to help find writing time. Leave a comment for a fun giveaway!

The Awareness of His Touch

The title sounds like something I'd write in my heroine's point of view about her hero. I write Christian romance, so there is appropriate touching that impacts the characters emotionally. Writers are encouraged to  add dimension to their scenes by incorporating the characters' senses--sight, smell, sound, taste, touch.

However, that title doesn't refer to my novel and using characters' senses.

Yesterday, we had a substitute pastor for our worship service. Rev. Roy Miller, founder of The Better Place and author of My Gospel: The Adventure of Partnering With God to See His Kingdom Come, used the phrase "the awareness of His touch" during his pastoral prayer. As Rev. Miller prayed, his words touched a tender part of my heart.

The awareness of his touch. The Awareness of his touch. The Awareness of His touch. The Awareness of His Touch.

Imagine having so much faith that knowing a single touch of Jesus' garment would be enough to heal your infirmities. Or knowing without a shadow of doubt that God had complete control of your life.

But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." Luke 8: 46-48 NIV

How many times do we go through our days, placing God lower and lower on our list of priorities, but at the first sign of trouble, we're quick to shove Him to the top? Yes, I'm guilty of that. Sometimes I have shaky faith. I worry. I fret. I spend too much time "what iffing." I get frustrated because I know my will may not be in alignment with God's will.

As a parent, I have to make decisions that meet the needs of my children. Those choices may not mirror theirs. That's how it is with God. His will may not match my will. Now, instead of praying for my will to be done, I've been praying for Him to change my heart so it's in alignment with His will for my life.

I need to be stronger in my faith. I need to remember He has a plan and a purpose for my life. His will rules over my will. I want the faith of those who knew a single touch would be enough to heal them. I want the Awareness of His Touch in every facet of my life.

Are you aware of His Touch in your life?