What Makes Me Cheer

“Sister. 

She is your mirror, shining back at you with a world of possibilities.

She is your witness, who sees you at your worst and best, and loves you anyway.

She is your partner in crime, your midnight companion, someone who knows when you are smiling, even in the dark.

She is your teacher, your defense attorney, your personal press agent, even your shrink.

Some days, she's the reason you wish you were an only child.”

 - Barbera Alpert

Feeling like a little black and white this week and catching up with some random images of my girls.

These days they fight like it's in their job description. Tim and I sigh with exasperation at their bickering, knock back another cup of coffee, and wonder if we're the only family with constant fighting! 

Of course, there are peaceful moments - when the girls will share with each other, say kind words and protect each other without us asking them to.

In those moments, I silently cheer - and catch a glimpse of God's heart for us - His deep desire for His children to love not only Him, but to love one another. 

How He must grieve at those times when we refuse to share, refuse to love and refuse to care for each other - when we let petty things divide us and jealousy, insecurity, pride, and selfishness break our relationships.

"...I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 

There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called;

one Lord,one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Ephesians 4:1-5

Challenging, but worth pursuing...worth getting up, dusting off your knees, and trying again after completely failing at it. (I know I have).

After all, as a parent, there is nothing more beautiful than seeing one child, truly remorseful, apologize to the other, and trying clumsily to play together again.

Hope this stirs up something within you as it did with me~

Looking forward to sharing more on the blog soon~