to my son...

I've been thinking a lot about the heart lately. Mary's heart and how she felt about her son...Jesus. Also, Joseph's heart. Pastor Daren preached the other morning on the Inner Struggle of Joseph and how he must have felt when he found out Mary was pregnant...when he wasn't the one that impregnated her. He talked about Joseph's struggle of being let down...his struggle of public opinion and his struggle of mental anguish. When it's Christmas time...people's focus is mostly on the birth of Jesus...which is what Christmas is all about, but I've never really thought about Joseph at this time and what he must have went through. 

heart (haart)

1.  blood pumping organ: a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood around the body, in humans situated in the center of the chest with it's apex directed to the left

2.  basis of emotional life: the source and center of emotional life, where the deepest and sincerest feelings are located and a person is most vulnerable to pain

My son...your heart is amazing! One of my prayers for you is that God will keep your heart strong...not just physically but emotionally. That he won't allow your heart to be burned by public opinion. I pray you will be confident and proud of what God has created in you. Guard your heart, but please don't ever hide your heart. Don't ever let your insecurities or pride portray you as someone your not. When Jesus looks at us...he doesn't see our failures and insecurities ..he sees our heart. It's very hard for us to see people the way Jesus does and sometimes I think it's just as hard to show people the real us. When your proud of who you are...you're not ashamed to show people what God sees. I think if we would...maybe people would understand us a little better. I am so proud of you! You are sensitive. Not just emotionally...within yourself...but you're sensitive to other peoples feelings. You...and everything in you...is precious to me and always will be. I love you more then words could EVER say!

I am holding every second I get with this little man...not just near to my heart...but inside of it. I think it's important as a parent to not just be there to teach our children, but to learn from them as well. I love sitting in the background and watching him.

Quality time with E's favorite deputy...Woody...

Please don't ever lose sight of what or who should be number one in your life. I love the saying...put yourself in their shoes. Praying that God will help ME to do more of that. Pastor Daren said something the other morning that really struck my heart...and is something I want to teach my children.

"Don't allow public opinion to shape your future, and don't allow public opinion to shape what you think of someone else. If you don't have all the facts...keep your opinion to yourself. If you don't know the whole story...just pray about it. Let it go and let God. You can not control what people think about you, say about you. Those who are in the center of God's will need not fear public opinion. It doesn't matter what people think...it doesn't matter what they say, and it doesn't matter what they believe about you. Keep living for the Lord, because you are never going to please everybody. You will never measure up to some peoples' standards, but THEY are not your concern GOD IS! What God thinks of you is all that should matter to you because he sees every moment of your every day."

MFC Today - Inner Struggle Part 1