Let’s think about this for a moment, our life as a mosaic.  I know, some will think I’m korny, but when you publish your thoughts you must expect a little persecution.  I have told my oldest daughter Aimee, that “our friendships are a reflection of who we are”, when she would be discouraged by an unmet expectation of one of her friends.  I would tell her that no one person can be everything we need.  Some friends we are serious with and tell our deepest secrets, some friends just know how to make us laugh and get our sarcasm and still others our are counselors or encouragers.  Rarely, but on some occasions we might find that “bosom” friend (that was for all of the Anne of Green Gables” lovers out there).  Where am I going with all of this, I guess because family is like that too.  I have 2 sisters and a brother.  My big sister and I have experienced the tragedy of our past together, and fought with each other to adulthood.  But even in all the disagreements, we always knew that if one of us was in battle, the other would be there by our side.  We are tied by that deep bond of shared pain.  Now my little sis, who is 12 years my junior, she was my introduction into motherhood.  Now you may ask, but I thought she was your sister.  She was, but being 12 and being the youngest, I was thrilled with the “idea” of being an older sister.  Of course, I didn’t have any idea what it was going to mean to be ousted as the “baby sister”.  I had to give up my inheritance and my place of “princess”.  After the hours of babysitting and getting past those awkward adolscent years, I came to appreciate what a joy my “lil sis” was.  I always tell her she got her sense of humor from me.  She is the one I can joke with and make sarcastic comments and she gets it.  We can play off one another and just be silly together, none of that serious stuff.  Now my brother, he is a whole other story.  I could tell you some stories about the would really embarrass him.  Just to name a few, Barbies, baby dolls, and pillow speed boats.  I wonder if he would ever admit remembering those things.  We were actually pretty close growing up, but we in adulthood, have taken different paths. 

Between the influence of our families and friends and those who God allows to touch our lives we become a spectacular mosaic.  A mosaic that reflects the beauty that God places in each of us.  Those beautiful shards of glass in their various shapes and sizes, pieced together to create something wonderful to look at.  When we allow the gifts that God has placed in us to touch others and their gifts to touch us we become the reflection of His glory to the world.   

Next to God, I have to thank the wonderful woman who birthed in me my many gifts, and gave most of the woman in my family, the desire to express themselves through their literary gift.  Some of my fondest memories with my mom are that of us laying in her bed and her teaching me to read by pointing out the keys words like “the”, “and”, “it”.  Those were the “G” rated words, as the books she liked to write were not always “G” rated.  Nevertheless, she birthed in me the desire to read and introduced me to a world of imagination.  A world that can take you places you never imagined you could go.  Places that are beyond financial restrictions and are only limited by what I could imagine. 

I have always liked writing and I could only hope that one day in this journey of life that I could be inspired to write something so meaningful that it would in turn inspire someone else to do things greater than they could have ever imagined.  To touch someone so deeply as I have been touched and to energize them to try to attain the impossible.  I have heard that “words” are containers and in the very essence of creation, there are the most powerful of “words”.  As God spoke “let there be light” and “there was light”, he demonstrated to us the power of words.  Jesus also said “say unto this mountain be removed”.  If only I, we collectively could understand the power and potential of our words.  Words to build, or tear down.  Words to inspire, or crush.  How many of us have been haunted by stinging words of criticism and contempt, but who also have been comforted and cheered by words of encouragement and hope. 

As I begin my journey, I can only hope that those who need encouragement will find it in my story of trial and tribulation, triumph over tragedy, victory over challenge.  I personally invite you to join me on my personal journey of self discovery.