Tag Archives: John Wayne

Gritty Thoughts

English: Dunes of Erg Awbari (Idehan Ubari) in...

the gypsy mama

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

Grit…

I have to laugh, the first thing I thought of when I saw Grit, was  the movie, True Grit. That led me to thinking about John Wayne.

Then I thought about sand and how difficult it is to clean sand  and grit out of clothes, when one is at the beach.

Thirdly, I was reminded of my days living in the South, and how all breakfast meals are served with a side of grits.

Hmmmmm….. I’m having one of those sort of days. My thoughts are a jumble. Sigh.

Grit…. it’s a great word for life. Isn’t it?  Grit is the rough patches in the daily life. The irritating. The stuff that rubs the wrong way.

We all have to deal with it.

What do I do when life gets gritty?

Go to the one that can count all the grains of sand. All the things that cause grit in my life. The ONLY one that understands it all.

Psalm 139 talks about how God is with me…..and the passage ends with these two verses:

 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
 If I should count them, they would out number the sand.
When I awake, I am still with You.

Thank you, Lord!

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Be Courageous!

Movie theater

Image by JanneM via Flickr

“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” —John Wayne
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Courageous.

That single word, is the title of a movie that just hit the theaters.

No Hollywood schmooze. No pyrotechnics.

Just a good dose of reality, and…

one of the best movies I’ve seen, in a very long time.

Watching got me to thinking…..thinking about parenting. My children. My life.

The father in the story is on a quest to be a man of courage. He wants to be the father that God has called him to be.

That is no small feat, especially in today’s society. Being a father of courage means going against the odds. Going beyond the line of mediocrity, beyond “good enough”, and reaching for the very heart(s) of his children. Our world needs more men of courage. Men that aren’t afraid to tow the line, bear the burden, stand in the gap.

Being a parent is one of the greatest joys and (can be) the deepest of heartaches. It is a privilege that shouldn’t be taken lightly.

God also calls me to a higher standard. To His standard. It’s tough, and I’ve made plenty of mistakes. I’m challenged every day of my life. As a mother, I’ve known, and understood the closest I’ll ever come to unconditional love. I’ve cried tears of pure joy and I’ve been frustrated beyond belief as I look into the face of my child and know that he is JUST LIKE ME.

What does God call me to, as a mother?

Am I willing to take the challenge?

What will my legacy be? The memories I leave behind?

How will I make a mark on my children? On their lives? On the lives of their children?

Yes. The challenge is huge.

But, it is worth it.

Be courageous.

Always.

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For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.  2 Timothy 1:7 NIV

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13  NIV

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

But those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31 NIV

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. John 15:16  NIV

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As a mother, a wife, a daughter, a friend… my hope is in the Lord.  Through all of life’s challenges… He teaches me how to be courageous in my walk.

Courage

A friend printed this quote on Facebook:

From Braveheart: William Wallace: “Now tell me, what does that mean to be noble? Your title gives you claim to the throne of our country, but men don’t follow titles, they follow courage.”

For whatever reason this resonated with me. Courage.
I’ve been thinking about courage a lot lately. Sometimes in life we all are called to be courageous, even when our knees are knocking, and our tongue is tied.
Sometimes we have to step up and speak out. Do the right thing, even if it runs against the grain. Even when you know what you’re saying is right, it can be scary.
Scary to be the voice.

To quote a famous and much loved cowboy, John Wayne, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
Enough said.