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Brenda Bradford Ottinger

Encouraging Women to Live Rooted in the Sacred

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Tomorrow’s Yesterday

Exhausted, I stopped to catch my breath; the distance that I’d traveled was significant. I recognized the path; it had been a while, but I’d taken this route many times before. This time, though, the road was split…each side going in opposite directions. One side familiar and well-worn, the other side brambly and unbeaten. Miles of fickle sod in sight, one side moving forward, one side moving backward.

This marathon took place in a nearby, yet illusive, place. A place called Time. The setting – a winding, scenic thoroughfare in Time – a street called Memory Lane.

My exhaustion that day wasn’t due to running a race of distance, but to running a race of nostalgia.

You see, I was finally tackling a long-overdue task—sifting through umpteen boxes of all-things-maternal. These boxes held yesteryear so pristinely, so honorably, waiting for…this day. I’d originally saved these keepsakes out of necessity, as I had children growing into and out of them. Later, as the years grew, I felt paralyzed as to how to let them go in a way that would provide closure for this sentimental heart.

Truth is, I needed supernatural strength to make this trip. The fact that these boxes lay waiting for me all of these years was never lost on me. I’d long felt a heaviness of heart at the thought of having to go through them and remember. Remember bygone days of young motherhood…remember baby snuggles, and pajama-footed toddlers…remember sweaty young boys learning to ride their bikes. There are times when I feel this intrinsic bond with Jesus’ mother, Mary—often we’re told how she “pondered all of these things in her heart.” So many things a mother carries in her heart—a gracefully heavy thing, a mother’s heart is.

With traveling mercies granted, I nostalgically meandered along Memory Lane, removing the contents of each box, one by one…

Twenty-seven months of maternity clothes—clothes that I eagerly waited to fill out.  And, eagerly waited to – not fill out.

Itty bitty baby clothes—the same tiny outfits I’d mooned over while pregnant, dreaming of the cherub who would fill them.

Baby bottles and sippy cups—a faded generation of beloved preschool characters displayed on them, frozen in precious time.

Plush pastel blankets in miniature—some homemade, some not.  Blankets that quietly cradled my young, in Dreft-scented comfort, as they tiptoed through dreamland.

Tattered clothes of active elementary boys—my mind’s eye warmly welcoming glimpses of each of my children donning these favored play clothes.

Many a year of picture clothes—clothes that eternally grace the walls of my home; clothes that my sons wished would vanish from existence.

Man-child clothes—the ones that hold young men with deep voices; young men whose eyes I must now look up to meet.

So many miles I’ve traveled along Memory Lane— ever so gently transferring these treasures of another lifetime into donation containers, praying for the homes that receive them.

How ordinary days transform into years is a mystery to me. Once again, another year bounds in; they’re sneaky like that, rushing in before we’re ready—rushing out before we’re ready.  As this new year unfolds, I want to honor the irreplaceable beauty of the past, while still setting fresh footprints on the other side of Memory Lane…the side of Time that moves tenaciously forward.

Will you meet me there? On that side of time that has yet to be consumed by yesterday—to celebrate the fleeting breath that is today? As we ponder fading yesterdays, and uncharted tomorrows, let us refuse to cheat today out of its blessed place in time. May we set out to redeem the ordinary moments in 2015, and resolve to spend them in a manner that brings glory to the Gatekeeper of Time.

Only God is privy to our tomorrows; that’s one street in Time that is inaccessible. No doubt that this year will follow the footsteps of its predecessors, relentlessly pressing ahead. Psalm 90:12 offers this fitting reminder: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. Let us embrace today, with all of its precious chaos, knowing full-well that it offers something that no other place in time can offer. It offers us this hour, this minute…this very second to actively make a difference.

May the wisdom that we’ve gained on the beaten path, remind us to number our days aright with a renewed sense of this lone place in Time where we’re able to alter its landscape—making a difference, one today at a time.  flower

 

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This time last year, I was 11 days into what was s This time last year, I was 11 days into what was supposed to be a one-month sugar fast. After going a little sideways on the holiday sugar the previous month, I decided to re-center & nix the sugar for January 2020.
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Fast forward to January 2021, over 12 months later, and I’m sill sugar free.
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Never did  I intend to make this a lifestyle, it just sort of chose me. When I got to February & saw all the valentine candy, knowing my affinity for those dang chewy cinnamon and cherry hearts, it only seemed right to continue my fast another month.
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But, in rolled March being all tempting with her candies of Easter, so I continued through April.
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But, a funny thing happened on the way to May. By May, I didn’t really want sugar anymore. (Mostly.)
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So, here I am in January 2021 still sugar-free. I’ve lost 34 pounds, and feel so much better.
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Friend, who do you want to be this time next year? Whatever that goal is that feels big & daunting, I’m here to tell you that—you can do it!
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What will the “you of January 2022” be thankful to the “you of today” for doing?
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Show up for her! Change is rarely comfortable & easy, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it, or that you’re not worthy of it, my friend.
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We can get so busy with life & family & ministry that we forget to show up for ourselves. It’s not selfish to remember your goals & dreams, friend. Allow those seeds God planted to instinctively guide you as you baby-step your way to success.
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And, if you’ve already fallen off the wagon with your new-year goals, no worries! It’s okay! Brush yourself off, give yourself grace, and begin anew! You’ll be glad you did this time next year!
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You’ve got this, friend; I believe in you! 💗
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#showup #youvegotthis #newyeargoals #goals #resolutions #change #2021 #newyearnewyou #mindovermatter #showupforyourself #nevertoolatetostart #believe #faith #babysteps #ministry #influence #leadership #hope #amwritjng #writersofinstagram #allthingsarepossible #withgod #believeinyourself #trustgod #onedayatatime
Sone seasons of our stories are so challenging, th Sone seasons of our stories are so challenging, they invest themselves into who we become, leaving a clear before and after in their dust.
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We hold these moments close, protective of their scars, as they nestle deep within our personalities, affecting the way we view ourselves and others.
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Whatever the hurts of our lives, our meandering minds aren’t shy about chasing illusions, wondering who we would have been had certain chapters been absent from our stories.
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How easily we question whether our insecurities and struggles might be exchanged for confidence & calm had suffering not inked itself upon our yesterdays.
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But friend, time and again Scripture reveals the Lord’s delight in using broken people, shaping what “would have been” into something full of purpose and abundance.
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Nothing is beyond His redeeming reach , sweet friend.
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Our sorrows aren’t too great for God to find His glory in them.
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— Read the full devotion & join the conversation over at proverbs31.org today! Meet you there, friend! 💗
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#proverbs31ministries #butgod #beautyforashes #sorrow #pain #struggle #brokenness #scars #rejection #tragedy #purpose #hope #grace #glory #redemption #compassion #wisdom #wouldacouldashoulda #imperfect #godsglory #amwriting #ministry #leadership #influence #bible #hope #peace #comfort
Such a lovely study for a fresh year of adventure Such a lovely study for a fresh year of adventure with God.
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The Lord has done amazing work in my life in the area of fear, but even still, it continues to be a stronghold in my life at times. What about you, friend?
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I encourage you to check out this beautiful new study by @katymccown . Together May we step into 2021 armed with tools & truth to smile without fear!
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Praying for you, sweet friend. 💗
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#bookrelease #readersofinstagram #fear #faith #biblestudy #womenintheword #smile #trust #study #quiettime #shesmileswithoutfear #ministry #leadership #influence #bible #god #beautyforashes #reader #amreading #faithfulgod #nofear #nofearnewyear
As the sun sets on 2020, my mind can’t help but As the sun sets on 2020, my mind can’t help but wander to all the loved ones we walked into this year with, who we’ll sadly not walk out with.
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Praying for all who are grieving today. May God meet us in 2021 with joy in unexpected places, and heal our hearts as only He can.
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Happy New Year, friend. I’m so thankful for you! May His favor rest upon your home in 2021. 🥰
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#grief #godisincontrol #hope #joy #happynewyear #faith #2021 #itllbeokay #trust #walkon #beautyforashes #greatisthyfaithfulness #faithfulgod #amwriting #writersofinstagram #love #ministry #influence #leadership #heartache #brokenness #believe #hecares #hisways #trusthim #life
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