Today marks Allison Faith Gilliam's 1st birthday! I remember this day last year vividly in my memory. I remember eating Chinese food with Sara after our final OB appointment. I remember the food making her stomach ache so we went for a 2 hour walk in the gym. I remember her water breaking in bed at 2am. I remember thinking she "wet" the bed & we went back to sleep after changing the sheets. I remember driving to the hospital at 3:30am after we realized it was her water breaking. I remember the 10 hour, no drug, labor my wife went through & thinking she was my hero after seeing how amazing she did. I remember the pure joy of seeing my daughter pulled out of my wife's stomach after an emergency C-section. I remember cutting my daughter's umbilical cord. I remember naming her while our family proudly snapped pictures.
What a beautiful day it was to invite little Allison Faith into the world. We thought she was absolutely gorgeous...yes, even despite the massive cone-head!
No Ally is not so little anymore. She is crawling at top speed, starting to walk everywhere, saying every word she can possibly learn to say, & making our lives incredible by her being in it. She is so much fun to be around. I have not had Ally around anyone who has not said, "My goodness, she is such a happy baby." She is always laughing, smiling, talking, waving, or doing her "tricks" for people. Her new favorite is pictured above. She will stand on her head & look between her legs. She thinks she is sooooo cool when she does it. I'm trying to teach her how to do a somersault as she is so close, but she's not quite there yet.
Ally, we love you! You are such a blessing & a joy to have in our life. We are so excited for all of your new adventures. (Her first one starts today... car seat facing forward!)
Another thought that has had me pondering is the idea of grace. I know grace comes from Jesus & Jesus is quoted as actually saying he IS grace. I got all that. The thing that has Sara & I amazed this week is a simple thought our pastor said on Sunday. He was sharing the story where the Pharasee's where about ready to stone a woman & Jesus said "let you without sin throw the first stone." Great story, but not new revelation. I've heard it a hundred times. Here's the pondering thought. Jesus told her when asked why he did it "you are forgiven! Now go & sin no more." That is the perfect enactment of grace right there. How often in our lives do we say without really meaning to say "now go, sin no more & THEN you will be forgiven." It's like we want a penchant for the other persons sin.
Have you ever said, heard, or thought "I know your sorry, but I'm still hurt at what you did!" It is our self emotion getting in the way of their forgiveness & their release. If someone lies to you, why do we get so offended? If someone betrays you, why do we get so hurt? If someone talks bad about you, why do we get all depressed? Jesus didn't. He said "YOU ARE FORGIVEN ALREADY! Now go & sin no more." Simple, yet profound. If you can truly die to self where you emotions are no longer an issue, things will become so much more clear. Your emotions are what skew your vision. Your emotions are what get you thinking about I & not we. Your emotions are the very essence of 'self'. Emotions can be used for good in so many areas, but only when they are thinking about others. Once your emotions become about you, look out...a selfish moment is coming.
Are you holding a grudge? Are you holding onto past hurt? Are you waiting for someone else to fix the hurt for you? Are you waiting for the person who wronged you to sweep you off your feet? Maybe it's not them who needs to move on. Maybe you are letting your emotions rule?
LET THEM WITHOUT SIN THROW THE FIRST STONE. SEE, I AM FORGIVEN & SO ARE YOU! NO BIG DEAL...LET'S MOVE ON, ENJOY LIFE, & SIN NO MORE BECAUSE GOD KNOWS I WILL SCREW UP SOON TOO.
