• Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

in Uncategorized

The Stuff That Dreams are Made of…

 

Where is it written that life has to be perfect in order to be blessed?

Today I am feeling very grateful for my imperfect, blessed life.

Would I prefer that my husband wasn’t spending Monday through Friday in Connecticut?  Heck yeah.  I hate this back and forth thing.  We feel like human yo-yos.  It’s rough.  BUT,

I am blessed with a husband who loves me and accepts me for who I am.  A husband who loves our children and takes care of his family.  A husband who laughs with me.  Honestly, laughter is the drug that I couldn’t live without.

This isn’t perfect, but it’s surely blessed.

Would I prefer to not be living in Indiana again?  Umm, well, yeaaaah.  But, I have a beautiful, comfortable home.  One that we built and had the luxury of picking out every detail, inside and out.  A house that affords my children their own bedrooms (hotel living has a way of pointing out the blessing in this).  A home that has the scent of home cooked meals every day.  A home where boo-boos are kissed, games are played, and laughter is heard.

It’s in Indiana, but, it is indeed blessed.

Would I prefer to have all of my children here with me?  So much.  Only God knows why we were never given the privilege of meeting some of our little ones this side of glory, but what a blessing to know that we will meet them one day.  How does one live without the hope of eternal life?  It’s a blessing to be able to look forward to the future and know that there is more…

And, once upon a time…I did dream about being a mother.  I had big dreams.  I don’t always live up to my own expectations, but my children…they exceed my expectations.  Do I wish that they would get along better sometimes? Of course.  Do I wish that they would put on their listening ears more often?  Yep.  Life with kids is imperfect chaos, but, may I never forget how blessed I am to be called their mother.

The little, imperfect things that are whispering while the rest of life is shouting — that’s the stuff that dreams are made of.  flower

 

(Originally written November 2009)

 

Leave a Comment

Thanks for the Company!

Subscribe to receive updates and 15 lovely printables created just for YOU!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

« Threshold
Right on Time »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Thanks for the company!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Tags

(In)Courage But God Callings Children Control Faithfulness Family Fear Fill in the Blank Freedom Friendship Giveaway God Graceful Guest Posts Home Hope If My People Inclusion Marriage Motherhood Nature P31 Pain Prayer Proverbs31Ministries Purpose Quotes Racism Rejection Rest Seasons Sisterhood Surrender Teens
  • Home
  • Welcome
  • Blog

From the Author

Encouragement for Today Badge

Let’s Connect!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Thanks for the company!

Thanks! Keep an eye on your inbox for updates.

Never can there be too many magnolia pictures. . S Never can there be too many magnolia pictures.
.
Says the lens of my eyes; of my soul.
.
(“Not so,” says my iphone storage, but that’s a tomorrow problem.)
.
Every time I leave my house, I can’t not stop, not stare, not take another jillion pictures.
.
This magnolia tree of mine, she keeps a record of time, reaching farther into the sky with each passing year.
.
In all her southern glory, she lifts leaves and limbs toward heaven, pointing to the One on whom all glory rests.
.
Boldly, yet elegantly, she speaks of a Creator who, year upon year, grows lovely things under the banner of His care in the lives of His own.
.
Even in times when life doesn’t feel full of lovely, may we listen to the magnolia’s anthem.
.
She doesn’t question the winter, knowing full well that her Maker has yet to deny spring its beauty.
.
I wonder how breathtaking magnolias must be in the City of God. ✨
.
“Not to us, O, LORD, not to us, but to Your name goes all the glory for Your unfailing love and faithfulness.” Psalm 115:1 💕
.
.
.
#magnolia #spring #beauty #glory #godsglory #wordship #praise #faithfulgod #riseup #showup #christianwriter #ministry #amwriting #leadership #influence #serve #growwhereyoureplanted #pictures #grace #bible #weary #listen #joy #life #lovely #plants #garden #majesty #southern #naturespeaks
The May calendar has a way of turning our thoughts The May calendar has a way of turning our thoughts toward home, doesn’t it?
.
Perhaps, for you, that’s a beloved Home State where the soil smells like childhood and dreams.
.
Or, maybe the humble shelter of your youth, where boo-boos were kissed & fairytales carried you into dreamland.
.
Perhaps you’re like me, and yesteryear’s home holds heartache and rejection, insecurity and confusion.
.
Far too much of my past I spent chasing roots, not sensing an inheritance of belonging within the halls of my kin.
.
Layer by broken layer, though, the Lord is healing me from within, showing me that…
.
What our hearts long for can’t be satisfied with what our lives long for.
.
The temporal can’t pacify the eternal.
.
We’re so prone to searching for home in containers not meant to carry its calling—whether in place or people, title or position, acceptance or belonging—that we seek to satisfy its longing with lesser things.
.
Having a sense of home within our circles is beautiful and sacred, but—it’s a shallow substitute for the inheritance we have in God.
.
No place, no person, no position—no earthly brand of belonging—can ever claim home to your soul like the Haven of Him.
.
Quiet your spirit in the shadow of His covering, dear friend, for never will He stop calling you His own. 💕
.
.
.
#home #mothersday #belonging #longing #rejection #insecurity #questions #confusion #heartache #brokenness #leftout #healing #acceptance #inheritance #haven #soul #rest #childofGod #included #christianwriter #ministry #influence #leadership #amwriting #abandoned #forgotten #loveofgod #youreenough #comeasyouare #faithfulgod
Dear friend, do you feel like you’re etching a p Dear friend, do you feel like you’re etching a prayer into the ear of God, day upon year upon decade?
.
You’re asking “why,” and “when, O Lord,” yet the situation your heart plays on repeat at the altar of God, remains seemingly unchanged.
.
Oh, friend, I understand; me too.
.
Sometimes those miracles we’re waiting for, they come at the expense of years of prayer.
.
Not because God is cruel, but because God is thorough. He phones nothing in; takes no shortcuts with our hearts.
.
The life-mending, soul-touching, supernatural work of God takes time to witness from our perspective.
.
Oh, but take heart, dear friend, for God hears the cries of your heart.
.
That outcome you’re praying for? Your God is already there, working out the details ahead of you.
.
Even when it feels like you’re crying yet one more prayer into the silence, He hears and is moving ahead of you in ways you can’t even imagine right now.
.
Hang on, my friend; keep praying, for those prayers are a worthy sacrifice to the only God who is altogether able. 🙌💕
.
.
.
#questions #confusion #heartache #uncertainty #weary #prayer #miracle #godisalreadythere #faithfulgod #hope #praise #remember #waitongod #trust #faith #patience #ministry #serve #influence #leadership #godisable #christianwriter #amwriting #worthygod #exhausted #drained #grateful #struggle #stress #bible
I wonder, friend, do the demands of life leave you I wonder, friend, do the demands of life leave you feeling downright weary at times?
.
If so, I understand. Me too.
.
Oh, that our souls would rest in remembering that Jesus also knew what it was to feel weary as He walked this earth in human flesh.
.
You are not alone.
.
This one’s for the weary. 💗
.
Head over to Proverbs31ministries.org. to read & join the conversation! 💕
.
.
.
#weary #exhausted #tired #spent #hope #jesus #rest #weariness #busyness #struggle #serve #ministry #leadership #servantleadership #influence #humility #godknows #godcares #legacy #boundaries #wisdom #prayer #makeadifference #sacrifice #peace #faithfulgod #proverbs31ministries #followjesus #itsgonnabeokay #godisnear
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2023 · Market theme by Restored 316

Copyright 2022 Brenda Bradford Ottinger · Log in