Chosen

Today, after leaving MOPS (mothers of pre-schoolers), I was filled with such a sense of awe. See, during our MOPS meeting, one of the other moms (Tina) was speaking about Mary being chosen to carry the Savior of the world. She was talking about how Mary didn't complain when she, a virgin, was told that she would become pregnant and carry the Christ child. She humbly replied, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word". How much did Mary understand? Did she truly understand the greatness her son was destined for? Did she understand what being the mother of Jesus would entail?

(insert you tube video here. i don't know how to upload it. but, i recommend watching it. here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1oHJR2g7Tw&feature=related)

As Tina spoke, her words hit me. She discussed how Mary was chosen to be Jesus' mother. And, she wondered out loud, at whether Jesus was a difficult toddler or whether she ever had to put Him in time-out. But, as she continued to speak, her words penetrated my mind. Mary was chosen to be Jesus' mother. And, each of the women in that room were chosen, purposefully picked out by God Himself, to be the mother of our own children.

At the playground, after MOPS, as Little Buddy played on the toys and I kept a watchful eye on him, I thought about this awesome reality. God chose me. He didn't pick anyone else to be the mother of my little boy. No other mother there was watching his every move the same way I was. No other mother there was reveling in the joy my son was experiencing. God specifically created me for this precious little boy...to love him, protect him, and to cherish him. Even as I drove home from MOPS, I was contemplating this whole concept. I was reminded of what Colleen said in a recent blog, about how she realized that "God sure knew what He was doing" when he paired her up with her husband....how nobody else would quite fit with her the way her hubby does. And, my mind wandered. It wandered through all of the amazing relationships I have. And, I just was awed by the fact that I have been chosen. God chose me to be my hubby's wife. He chose me to be Little Buddy's mom. Nobody else. Me. How amazing is that?! What an awesome responsibility it is to have been chosen for such a task.

I have a friend with whom, for years, we've marveled at the fact that "of all the millions of places and of all the billions of people...God chose us to be friends." How blessed I am to have been chosen, by God, to fulfill a specific purpose in certain people's lives. I pray I live that purpose well. I pray you do, too. Cuz, you know, you've been chosen, too. Be it as a mother, a friend, a spouse, a teacher, a sibling, etc. You've been intentionally chosen for the relationships you are in. I hope we all get that...and that we live like we get it.

Appearances

So, the other night, a friend told me that my life is the "appearance of perfection". At this notion, I think I actually laughed out loud. I thought that was absurd. By no means do I say that to minimize the amazing blessings I have in my life. As you know from the "blessings series" I posted, I definitely know I am blessed. I have an amazing family and I get along with them quite swimmingly. However, perfection? That's a whole different thing altogether. While my friend explained that she knows my life is not perfect, that many women would look at me and see the "appearance of perfection" in my life.
I pondered this idea for a bit. This whole concept was odd to me. I definitely don't want anyone to get the impression that my life is perfect. And, quite frankly, I find it rather hard to believe that people would really think that. My friend assured me that this statement was not a criticism. I didn't take it to be one, but I did find it to be an observation on which to reflect. While I don't go around airing my dirty laundry to every Joe Blow, I don't want to give off any unreaslistic picture of my life, either. Ironically, later in the evening, my hubby and I were reading The Shack. And, I found part of the chapter to tie in very nicely with this "appearance" discussion. Here is what we read:

"Being always transcends appearance--that which only seems to be. Once you begin to know the being behind the very pretty or very ugly face, as determined by your bias, the surface appearances fade away until they simply no longer matter. ...and any appearances that mask that reality will fall away."

Of course, I got all excited reading this, because it struck a chord with me. Isn't it amazing how people who only see you from a distance (meaning, they aren't part of your circle of "deep, authentic friends") see just the appearance of your life, rather than seeing your being, and in the process, often assume you have things together much moreso than they do? Yet, those who know you, don't even notice the appearances anymore because they see straight through to the heart of who you are. They are the ones who can say, "Cut the crap. Spill it. What's really going on?" because the surface appearance of your life has long since faded away and they see the "real you". I'm grateful for the friends in my life who see my being, rather than some unrealistic appearance. And, I'm grateful that my friend who sparked this whole idea is more and more becoming one of those "being" people in my life.