Dreams

 So I was talking with God on my way to work today and he brought me to an awesome revelation. See, I was talking about a list of things that I am working toward--I want to foster, I want to own my own place to allow for said fostering, I want to help my friends out with theater, I want to publish a book or two that I'm working on, etc.--and I was bemoaning the fact that I just don't feel like there are enough hours in a day to do all the things I wish I could. "I have too many dreams!" I said, somewhat jokingly. And that's when he reminded me, "Remember that time when you didn't have any?" 

So for those of you who know me or have read previous posts where I talked about my struggle with depression you will know that there was a time a few years back when I got to a place there there was no dreaming. I didn't want anything. You could have said, "Trisha you can do anything you want, have anything you want--so what do you want?" and I honestly wouldn't have been able to give you an answer. There was nothing. So it probably now makes sense why I got a little emotional today. 

"I have dreams." I realized. Not just one or two. Not just tiny flickering's of "maybe one day I can..." but things I am actively pursuing and deeply want to see come to fruition. And I had to share how amazingly wonderful that is, so here I am, blogging about it! Isn't God so good? I think this is part of what it means that he has given us hope and a future; and I am SO grateful. I would rather have unfulfilled dreams than no dreams any day. Thank you God for dreams. 

Love and Rules

 I was having a conversation with a friend this past week about Christianity being a religion that is based on relationship instead of rule following and all of a sudden it hit me--why do we see those as necessary opposites? I mean, I get it--just following a bunch of rules for rules' sake isn't what it's about, however any good parent will tell you that there are rules because of the parent/child relationship. Love and Rules actually go hand in hand. 

Psychologist will tell you that children thrive when they have boundaries and that rules help them feel safe. So it makes sense that if the God of the universe loves us and wants to be in relationship with us and adopt us into his family, then there would be rules involved. Do we get it right all the time? No. Does breaking one rule forever damn you? No. But are we expected to follow them... yes. And are there consequences to breaking them... yes. And are they for our good? YES! 

Sure we may not understand all of them, but how many times have you heard a child arguing with a parent because he or she didn't understand the rule? And how many times have you heard a child say "that's not fair!" when in all actuality, the rule is very fair. Or unfair to the child's advantage? And how many times have you seen a child throw a temper tantrum as a parent enforced something that was for their own good?

 Yes, there are parents who abuse rules and punishments, but God is a perfect parent, so he doesn't do that. He loves, and sets rules, and follows through with consequences perfectly. So whether or not we understand it all, we can trust him. He's a Good Father. ☺