i really feel like their are words out there that are overused so much that the immensity of their meanings have diminished. words like love, for example. "i love that shirt," "i love that restaurant." love has been attached to so many things that we almost need another word to express a true feeling like love. i know i am not the only person who believes that words like this are being overused, in fact i have many conversations about this topic with like-minded individuals. however, over the past few years i think i have discovered there is a new word that needs to be added to the overused word bank...friends.
i am begining to believe that all too often we use the word friend to describe someone who in fact, is not really a friend. i'm not saying that these people aren't good people or people that are difficult to get along with. on the contrary, these people are ones whom you can joke with and be amicable towards, however, are they really your friends? even people you "hang out" with on occassions, are they really your friends? as i began thinking about this i actually looked up the word friend in the dictionary, lame i know, but this dictionary describes a friend as "a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard." it later describes friend as "rare." i also looked up other definitions of friends. "a true friend would be loyal not matter what the cost"..."someone to laugh, cry and feel with. they are an inspiration, a person who will lend a helping hand"..."a true friend stabs you in the front"... i thought that last one was funny. while all of these definitions of friends are good, i wanted to turn to the one place i knew would really tell me what a friend should be. "For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friends.." Job 6:14. "...a friend loves at all times..." Proverbs 17:17.
while reading all these definitions and thoughts about what it means to be and have "friends" i realized that we do in fact overuse the word friend. i think the dictionary was right, friends are rare, very rare. as i read the descriptions, especially from the bible i realized i haven't had very many real friends and more importantly, i haven't been a real friend to many people. we are all selfish, granted some are more consumed by it than others, but the true question is how can we actually become a friend to others? someone who loves unconditionally, no matter what the cost? that's a heavy load, but one that we should strive for and is totally worth it.
during the process of creating this post, the people who fit this definition have been placed in the forefront of my mind and sadly there is only a small number of them. over the next few days i'm going to tell those people how much i appreciate them being a true friend and i will spend the rest of my life asking God that he will help me be a real friend to others so i'm not just another person someone overuses that word for.
peace and love (and hopefully "friends")
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Race for the Cure
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
this bible verse from timothy appeared on the back of my cheerleaders t-shirts for race for the cure this weekend. when thinking about what to put on the t-shirts i came across this verse and thought there couldn't be a more perfect verse for the occasion.
we are trying to make participating in the run an annual thing within our cheerleading program. breast cancer is something that affects everyone, but it is especially close to our hearts. not only has my mother been inflicted with this disease, but one of my cheerleaders lost her mother as a result of this cancer. while the girls were all smiles for the most part, there were still plenty of emotions hanging in the air that day. they announced that there was over 12,000 people registered to run that day. the mass of humanity that poured out that morning was enough to make anyone begin to get misty. as i began to look around at the survivors tent, i began to feel truly overwhelmed with thankfulness that my mother is a survivor and yet consumed with sorrow for this young teenage girl next to me who's mother wasn't.
i decided to run in the race this year, which was a feat itself. i am not a runner and needless to say my body is still telling me all about it today. nevertheless it was something i really wanted to do. as i was moving along and quickly growing weary, i just kept chanting that bible verse over and over through my head. then i would think about mom and then silently pray that it would never be my daughter running in this race for me. after about a mile and a half i was almost completely exhausted when i got an extra special boost. as i approached a church i began hearing a familiar and comforting voice. shane and about 40 of his cheerleaders were on the side walk cheering the runners on. as i approached shane began yelling words of encouragement directly at me and his girls all cheered really loud. i can not tell you what that did for my soul. coming to the end of the race was probably the worst part. i could see the finish line and yet everything in my body was screaming for me to stop. again, i began rattling off all the names of the women i knew had been struck by this disease and again i chanted the verse. even though i felt sick and weary after the race, inside it was one of the best feelings i have had in a long time, and again the emotions flooded in.
my mother is so precious to me and i did this for her first and foremost, however, we must realize that all women are precious and together we must fight this disease for our grandmothers, mothers, girlfriends, daughters, ourselves...all women. i just encourage all those who are either battling the disease themselves, or dealing with a loved one who is, to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith. God is mighty to save.
peace and love.
this bible verse from timothy appeared on the back of my cheerleaders t-shirts for race for the cure this weekend. when thinking about what to put on the t-shirts i came across this verse and thought there couldn't be a more perfect verse for the occasion.
we are trying to make participating in the run an annual thing within our cheerleading program. breast cancer is something that affects everyone, but it is especially close to our hearts. not only has my mother been inflicted with this disease, but one of my cheerleaders lost her mother as a result of this cancer. while the girls were all smiles for the most part, there were still plenty of emotions hanging in the air that day. they announced that there was over 12,000 people registered to run that day. the mass of humanity that poured out that morning was enough to make anyone begin to get misty. as i began to look around at the survivors tent, i began to feel truly overwhelmed with thankfulness that my mother is a survivor and yet consumed with sorrow for this young teenage girl next to me who's mother wasn't.
i decided to run in the race this year, which was a feat itself. i am not a runner and needless to say my body is still telling me all about it today. nevertheless it was something i really wanted to do. as i was moving along and quickly growing weary, i just kept chanting that bible verse over and over through my head. then i would think about mom and then silently pray that it would never be my daughter running in this race for me. after about a mile and a half i was almost completely exhausted when i got an extra special boost. as i approached a church i began hearing a familiar and comforting voice. shane and about 40 of his cheerleaders were on the side walk cheering the runners on. as i approached shane began yelling words of encouragement directly at me and his girls all cheered really loud. i can not tell you what that did for my soul. coming to the end of the race was probably the worst part. i could see the finish line and yet everything in my body was screaming for me to stop. again, i began rattling off all the names of the women i knew had been struck by this disease and again i chanted the verse. even though i felt sick and weary after the race, inside it was one of the best feelings i have had in a long time, and again the emotions flooded in.
my mother is so precious to me and i did this for her first and foremost, however, we must realize that all women are precious and together we must fight this disease for our grandmothers, mothers, girlfriends, daughters, ourselves...all women. i just encourage all those who are either battling the disease themselves, or dealing with a loved one who is, to fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith. God is mighty to save.
peace and love.
Think Pink
this weekend was the annual susan g. komen race for the cure. in order to show our support, at the football game friday night, my cheerleaders donned pink ribbons and pink bandanas. even our lettermen painted up for the cause. i will write more about the race on saturday, but for now enjoy the pictures from friday night.
peace and love.
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