I'm in Love... Under New Management

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

I am so in love ya'll... I can hardly contain myself!!! What better time to share the details & joy of this great union than on Valentine's Day. I've known him for a long time but in the last few years, our relationship has grown deeper & much more intimate. He's so loving, compassionate, and giving. Its hard to even comprehend the sacrifice that he has made for me. He knows everything about me yet accepts me just as I am... flaws, imperfections & all. Even at my worst, he sees the very best in me. I thought I knew love before but I was just kidding myself. This love is on a higher level... its the greatest love of all. I never knew that love could truly be unconditional until him. He's my first thought in the morning & my last thought at night... I can't help but to think about him even throughout my day. When I need him, he's there without fail or hesitation. Talk about "ride or die" -- come hell or high water, he has my back! I trust in him completely. If I'm feeling down, he wraps me in his loving arms and comforts me like nobody else can, like nobody else ever has. When I do wrong, he forgives me without throwing it back in my face but instead helps me to become a better me. Even those times when I didn't/don't love myself, he loves me. He's better to me than I ever am or have been to myself. He treats me like I am the apple of his eye. Ya'll, he truly makes me feel special... I told him that he makes me feel like a million bucks but he told me that I am PRICELESS! Every day he blows my mind!!!! He is the one... I know because he makes me whole. The mere thought of him & his greatness brings an overflow of tears to my eyes. I want to shout it out at the top of my lungs for the world to know! I just can't keep it to myself... Lord, I love you!!!! (Who did you think I was talking about? LOL) God, I thank you!!!! You are Alpha and Omega... the beginning and the end. You are Jehovah Jireh, my provider... Jehovah Shalom, my peace. With you, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26) & nothing is impossible with you (Luke 1:37). Can't nobody hold me like you can, can't nobody love me like you can. Falling in love with you is the best thing that I've ever done. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for keeping me. Thank you for protecting me Lord. If it had not been for the Lord on my side, where would I be? You are my everything. Without you, I am nothing.

With my whole heart Lord, I love you.

Happy Valentine's Day!

WHY I WRITE...

It has been a month since my last blog, certainly not for lack of thoughts that I haven't written. I'd actually prepared a blog to send out on last week but wasn't led to press the SEND button... The more I edited the entry & considered its content, the more I realized that the message presented simply served no purpose at this time (but someday). Instead, I believe that it is more necessary to take a moment to fully explain why I write. Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved writing. My Grandma worked at Wake Medical Center and often times brought home green & white lab paper and boy did I enjoy writing stories or scribbling all over that. Twenty years ago (at the age of 11) I began to write poetry which has grown into a fairly large collection. Before blogging per se was even invented, I'd often times write "random thoughts" that I would share with family & close friends. Out of pure boredom last year around this time while being snowed in, www.theinfamousbackseatdriver.blogspot.com was born.

Writing has always been an outlet for me. It's therapeutic. There may be things that I am unable to speak aloud or share verbally but if given a piece of paper & pen, I am capable of expressing every thought & emotion beautifully and clearly. My PRIVATE notebook is a safe haven. It keeps my secrets. It allows me to truly be myself. While I am also allowed to express myself honestly on this blog, I am careful about what I release publicly which is why last week's entry was not distributed.

Many times I may write not about myself & my own experiences but about the experiences others have shared with me. While writing is indeed therapeutic, I realize that my poetry & writing is able to bless others. I cannot count how many times I've written on this blog or shared a poem through email to have someone reply about how much they love it, how it fits into their current situation, how it's a perspective that they hadn't considered, how it brought a smile to their face or tears to their eyes, and/or brightened their otherwise gloomy day. It does my heart well to know that I made a positive contribution to someone's day... a meaningful deposit into someone's life.

Understand that it is always with much thoughtfulness & care that any of my thoughts/writings are shared. We sometimes underestimate the power of our words. It is said that words don't hurt but the truth is that words do many things... words hate, words love, words do in fact hurt -- whether we admit it or not. It is never my intention to be hurtful to anyone in my writings but it is always my intention to be truthful. I appreciate those of you who actually take the time to read my writings. Know that I am not at all offended if the time is not taken to do so.

I write because as crazy as it sounds, I love how words look on paper. I love how words are clustered together to form something clever or different. I write because its an easier way to come face to face with pain but there's also something beautiful about how the story is written. Writing makes me happy! I write because it is so liberating, honest, & raw. It helps bring me back to the very essence of who I am. I write to inspire. To encourage. To expose. To uplift. To give God glory and praise. It is a gift... a gift that I am blessed to share with others & I appreciate your allowing me to share this gift with you.