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How perfect...
I get to HOP for joy! It's a blog hop! Hosted by the amazing ladies, Kyra Lennon and Clare Dugmore!
Oh my! So many things give me joy~ my husband, my kids, my critters, my family, my peeps~
but if I had to pick my single most super-special source of jubilus joy, I have to pick this guy:
Yep. That's Jesus.
Well, it's a picture of Jesus. And I love it! It reminds me of when I was a little girl. My church had the huge stained glass windows, and on one of them was a depiction of the happiest, sweetest looking Jesus hanging out with fluffy white sheep.
I loved that scene. Loved it so much in fact, my poor parents had to put up with my incessant demanding, "I wanna play with Jesus!!"
I'm sure they got a little anxious...I mean come on, your normally sweet tempered, angelic child (I can get away with that...my family never reads my blog) is screeching and squirming, interrupting services to be allowed to leave the pew and play with Jesus.
That had to be all sorts of "I see dead people" kind of creepy.
Eventually they realized young blondie just wanted to go climb into the stained glass window and hang out for a while.
Whew! Nothing abnormal about that.
Now, don't mistake that as me saying I am very good at being religious. Or even very good at being good.
Heck, my son's friend came for dinner, paused to bless his food, and I scared the daylights out of him by asking if he had a seizure. No, I wasn't making fun of the kid. I was feeding a bunch of boys...assembly line style...and he took the plate and paused right there, bowed his head, and did his blessing. Me, being the shoddy religious observer that I am? My first thought was, "Oh no! Petit mal!"
Obviously, I'm never going to win the devoutest Christian award, but I am devoted. Not so much to the religion, but to the holy triad...the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He's my buddy.
Ever have a friend who's kinda dorky and predictably screws up, but you still love them?
That's me. I'm Jesus's dorky friend.
(I can see Him now, He's shaking His head and saying, "She said dork and Jesus all in the same post. I'm gonna be pestered by Evangelicals all day long now.")
To wrap it up...and to say adieu to a great man...in the words of Pope Benedict XVI:
"The fact that the Lord can work and act even with insufficient means consoles me, and above all I entrust myself to your prayers."
Brainy Quotes
photo credit: freestone via photopin cc
yay for Jesus!! makes me joyous to see someone stand up for him!!
ReplyDeleteenjoy your weekend!
We can share the joy! Yay!!
DeleteWow. That's cool about that boy. Most kids wouldn't have the courage to do that because they might be made fun of. That's great to hear.
ReplyDeleteIt is rare and marvelous!
DeleteI understand what you mean about the difference between devout and devoted. I'm the same. In fact, the Holy Spirit can be downright snarky with me. :-D
ReplyDeleteLOL. I think it is with me too! Maybe the Spirit comes in whatever voice it needs to in order to get your attention!
DeleteOh yeah I don't doubt it. ;-)
DeleteJesus's dorky friend made me smile a lot :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to smile. :)
DeleteYou know, I also liked Jesus more from seeing a specific picture of him. My thought was "I want to know more about this man." I was not into any church or religion but the picture mesmerized me. I started to chat with him since that day. It was nice.
ReplyDeleteI know it worked on me! Glad to hear you're having a conversation. It's a comfort to have a go-to guy.
DeleteOh my gosh Elizabeth, I liked you before, but now I stinking LURVE you. You are too funny. And I think I'm Jesus's dorky friend too. I also happen to believe, He has a great sense of humor :)
ReplyDeleteLURVE right back at ya lady! I think He has a great sense of humor too. He puts up with my goofiness, so He must!
DeleteI'm so very thankful I don't have to travel this life alone either, Elizabeth. Sometimes I don't see or feel it as much as I should, but I do believe God is guiding me. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteI think we all have those days where we feel like we are in it alone. I know I do. But then something always reminds me...and I'm good again!
DeleteYou don't have to be good at religion or anything, just to love is all. At least thats how I feel about it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
I do believe Love is the crucial part of the golden rule!
DeleteGood stuff today, Elizabeth. In the midst of watching my mom deal with my gram on a daily basis, I needed this. :O)
ReplyDeleteHugs Jessie! I'm glad this helped, if even a little. Our mortal bodies can be such a hassle. I pray your grams has healing. (((Jessie)))
DeleteOh, I do love you! Thank you for doing exactly what the hop is intended to do - making me smile! :D
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad!!! We all need to smile more. They're free, and in this economy, that's a plus!
DeleteJesus' dorky friend - that made me laugh! Hey, we don't have to be perfect, right?
ReplyDeleteI certainly pray we don't!!!
DeleteLove this! Love Jesus, and you know, I don't think Jesus ever thinks we're dorky - I bet he smiles and thinks you're awesome whenever he thinks of you. :-)
ReplyDeleteAwe, you're a sweetie! Such a nice thought. I'll be sure to think it!
Deletehaha. Jesus' Dorky friend. I'm sure He thinks you're super cool though.
ReplyDeleteNutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Me super cool? Hehe...my kids will never buy it!
DeleteLovely :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, such a cute and funny story! And what a brave teenage boy to stop and give thanks for this food in front of his peers. You don't see that every day.
ReplyDeleteYou most certainly don't! (Which is why I scared the kid when I asked, "You okay? Are you having a seizure?" Poor guy. He still comes over, he evidently doesn't think I'm too crazy!)
Delete*turns on monk voices in back round praying * that was endearing girl! Even your son's prayer causing shocker! Gotta remember the one that helped us all! *hugs you with turquoise necklace I won on*
ReplyDeleteHugs back with all the love and sweetness you share with the world! *awesome lady!
Delete"I wanna' play with Jesus." That is so cute!
ReplyDeleteMy mom would tell that story all the time. When I was in my tweens, I hated hearing it. Eventually I saw the humor in it!
DeleteI bet there are a lot of folks having seizures.
ReplyDeletehttp://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2013/03/back-from-future.html
:)
DeleteJesus is a great source of joy!
ReplyDeleteHe loves us exactly as we are! And I truly believe He has a sense of humour!
I'm counting on it Michelle!!!
DeleteHa! Well, my dear, that must make me Jesus' other dorky friend. Or maybe his dorky pirate friend. :B
ReplyDeleteWe can be dorks forever in eternity!
DeleteHaha. What a great post. It sounds like I too have a lot of friends in the 'dorky friends of Jesus' group :)
ReplyDeleteBeing a dork has its perks.
DeleteI think I'll make a bumper sticker out of that. Guess it could give the wrong impression, but I'm a great dorky member:)
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Oh heck, let's get the sticker. The humorless can just grumble alone!
DeleteThanks for taking part in the hop. This post was really inspirational. You're the type of Christian I love - honest and a little dorky, rather than spreading unfounded hate.
ReplyDeleteThere is no place for hate...though I have no love for haters.
DeleteWhat a wonderful post. Every post needs a little dorkiness. :)
ReplyDeleteI have plenty if anyone needs to borrow some ;)
DeleteI'm not religious at all, but I do love the idea of hanging out with fluffy white sheep :D
ReplyDeleteThey are cute and adorable...even if they are a bit smelly.
DeleteAwesome post and all I can say, Twinny, is:
ReplyDeleteAmen, Sister Seckman, amen :)
LOL. I don't know that I'd EVER qualify as a sister. That sounds very proper. But I will add an amen happily!
DeleteHaha... if only they'd had buddy christ back in those days. Then you could have actually played with him. Although, I do distinctly remember having a Ruth Barbie doll at a younger age, complete with matching Ester outfit and crown. That is a nice happy thought to start off the day though.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know they had one now. I may have to get me one!
DeleteHa! You said it. And I love those early childhood memories of church. I can remember exactly what our childhood building looked like right down to the color of the pews and the shapes of the water stains on the ceiling. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd since we ALL fall short of the glory of God, I think in most cases he's just happy we're trying.
And Sunday school. I loved Sunday school! I had the very best teacher. Sweetest lady on earth. Yep, good memories.
DeleteBeautiful post, lady!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely are devoted! And I know Jesus loves every ounce of your dorky self, lol! Actually, I bet when the days are super dark, down here on Earth, He seeks you out because He knows you'll make Him smile, and I know He's proud of your bright light. Keep shining, pal! :)