Katie Maurice... It makes me smile whenever I think of this name. She's a sweet, spunky young girl with bright red hair who's incredibly understanding. She knows just how to listen- probably better than anyone you've ever met. When you laugh - she laughs; when you cry - she cries; when you hurt she hurts with you. Often I've found myself envying her sweet ways and personality.
Katie's my oldest friend. I met her when I was about 8 or 9 and we've never lost touch. Proverbs 17:17 says "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Katie's definitely been there with me through everything. Our conversations are filled with her challenges to better myself, hold on, or straighten up. Just like anyone else - she's not perfect but her ability to empathize is incomparable and her honesty is sometimes brutal in its truthfulness. Sometimes this is what I need - sometimes it isn't. Her counsel can range from Biblical - to an echo reinforcing my deepest fears. Katie has the ability to build me up or tear me down better than anyone I know. She knows everything about me (all my mess and success)and has no qualms about telling me just what she thinks. Sometimes all I want to do is get her to shut up!
But there's something strange about Katie. Through all her encouragement and consolation - sometimes, when I look in her eyes, what I see scares me. She has an intensity about her that is close to unfathomable. When I look in her eyes and see them darken... when she looks back at me and I know she knows more than I realized... it all but steals my breath. It's almost as if sharing something with her intensifies the experience or emotion I was feeling to begin with. It's almost as if she's telling me "I know you and I can make or break you at my will."
Please don't think ill of her for this! The thing is - she's right. She can.
If there's anything I've learned from Katie it's the dangers of listening to others for my self worth. But more than that- she hasn't just taught me the dangers of listening to others for my self worth - she's teaching me the dangers of listening to ME for my self worth. The reason I know Katie can make or break me faster than anyone is because Katie Maurice, is me.
"I used to pretend that my reflection... was another little girl. I called her Katie Maurice..." ~Anne (from Anne of Green Gables ch. 8)
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Second Impressions
Haha. Wow... You know that really guilty feeling you get when you have something happen, you make a snap judgement, and you come to find out later that you're wrong? Not the best feeling in the world (though it can be relieving if you were under a bad impression and it was overturned by a good one.)
I started working a new job and didn't get off on the best foot when I met my immediate supervisor (via miscommunication). I thought is was going to be a mess and I was going to have an awful semester all because of one aspect of my job that I couldn't escape without making a scene.
Thank God for second impressions! I came into work this morning determined to make the best of it despite my poor footing and my supervisor seemed to not remember a thing about my first day. She may still not be the easiest person I work for, but I've come to realize that I made a bad choice when I decided to snap judge and become defensive instead of taking it to the Lord and taking a deep breath.
I firmly believe that if I would stop being so difficult and start learning from other's experiences - maybe I wouldn't run into half the trouble I do! So I share this in hopes that it is helpful or encouraging to you. If not - at least you got a laugh out of my rash faux pas. ;)
I started working a new job and didn't get off on the best foot when I met my immediate supervisor (via miscommunication). I thought is was going to be a mess and I was going to have an awful semester all because of one aspect of my job that I couldn't escape without making a scene.
Thank God for second impressions! I came into work this morning determined to make the best of it despite my poor footing and my supervisor seemed to not remember a thing about my first day. She may still not be the easiest person I work for, but I've come to realize that I made a bad choice when I decided to snap judge and become defensive instead of taking it to the Lord and taking a deep breath.
I firmly believe that if I would stop being so difficult and start learning from other's experiences - maybe I wouldn't run into half the trouble I do! So I share this in hopes that it is helpful or encouraging to you. If not - at least you got a laugh out of my rash faux pas. ;)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
God is Good
Hey! Well... It's been a while, but don't hate me! I was out of country over Christmas break!
I learned so much and continue to be challenged as I have gotten back and am getting back into the swing of things. Life seem crazy and hectic but promising and calm at the same time. Yes - I realize that's contradictory. I've been going through and continue to go through things that have seemed overwhelming. I've been looking at a lot of changes in a short period of time and I've gotten scared. But when I take a second to slow down, I'm being reminded that my strength- or at least any that I have - comes from God - and soley from Him. You see, sometime's I'm guilty of getting short sighted and I forget God. Sometime's I'm guilty of getting to far sighted and being overwhelmed and I forget God. Sometimes I say I'm praying about it - but I don't truly give it up. How many things have I laid at His feet - only to take them righ tback up when I "left" His presence? How many times have I whined about fighting before I ever actually fought? How many times have I given up before starting and thought I'd be happier if I just quit? How many times have I made myself the victim and God the distant guy in the sky who has too much to worry about to notice me? How many times have I sold myslef short because I listened to Satan instead of listening to God - then blamed God for "not speaking louder than Satan" when in actuality - I'm just not taking time to listen? The answer to all of these, unfortunately, is too often.
Thankfully, God brought a friend back into my life who has offered to team up in accountability with me. I am super excited and greatly look forward to this alliance and re-established friendship. My biggest thing right now is just remembering this - God is good. God is many things and I am thankful for all of them and they are all wonderful. But right now - my focus is working on the daily consciousness that God is good. :) When life is hard- God id good. When life is crazy - God is good. When life is wonderful - God is good. When life just is - God id good. God isn't good because of circumstances - and God isn't good sheerly despite circumstance. God is just... good. And he loves me. And He loves you.
I just wanted to share what I've been working on (or am begining to start working on)in hopes that maybe it would encourage you too. Then I wanted to challenge you a little too: where's God working on you? One thing I've learned and it's gone from my head to my heart - God is active - and if you're not - then you might just want to get to work on that. God is wonderful despite our awareness of it - but it's a lot more helpful/useful if we'd wake ourselves up and be intentionally conscoius of what God's up to.
So - with that, I wish you a happy new year. May it be one in which God draws you closer than ever and reveals Himself in wonderful new ways to you and grows your faith and trust to a whole new level!
In Him,
Meag
I learned so much and continue to be challenged as I have gotten back and am getting back into the swing of things. Life seem crazy and hectic but promising and calm at the same time. Yes - I realize that's contradictory. I've been going through and continue to go through things that have seemed overwhelming. I've been looking at a lot of changes in a short period of time and I've gotten scared. But when I take a second to slow down, I'm being reminded that my strength- or at least any that I have - comes from God - and soley from Him. You see, sometime's I'm guilty of getting short sighted and I forget God. Sometime's I'm guilty of getting to far sighted and being overwhelmed and I forget God. Sometimes I say I'm praying about it - but I don't truly give it up. How many things have I laid at His feet - only to take them righ tback up when I "left" His presence? How many times have I whined about fighting before I ever actually fought? How many times have I given up before starting and thought I'd be happier if I just quit? How many times have I made myself the victim and God the distant guy in the sky who has too much to worry about to notice me? How many times have I sold myslef short because I listened to Satan instead of listening to God - then blamed God for "not speaking louder than Satan" when in actuality - I'm just not taking time to listen? The answer to all of these, unfortunately, is too often.
Thankfully, God brought a friend back into my life who has offered to team up in accountability with me. I am super excited and greatly look forward to this alliance and re-established friendship. My biggest thing right now is just remembering this - God is good. God is many things and I am thankful for all of them and they are all wonderful. But right now - my focus is working on the daily consciousness that God is good. :) When life is hard- God id good. When life is crazy - God is good. When life is wonderful - God is good. When life just is - God id good. God isn't good because of circumstances - and God isn't good sheerly despite circumstance. God is just... good. And he loves me. And He loves you.
I just wanted to share what I've been working on (or am begining to start working on)in hopes that maybe it would encourage you too. Then I wanted to challenge you a little too: where's God working on you? One thing I've learned and it's gone from my head to my heart - God is active - and if you're not - then you might just want to get to work on that. God is wonderful despite our awareness of it - but it's a lot more helpful/useful if we'd wake ourselves up and be intentionally conscoius of what God's up to.
So - with that, I wish you a happy new year. May it be one in which God draws you closer than ever and reveals Himself in wonderful new ways to you and grows your faith and trust to a whole new level!
In Him,
Meag
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