I just read this e-mail that I received from my mom and sister and it hit me pretty hard. Lately I've been looking around and contemplating how it is that I fit in. In my world, my life...in my job, my church, my family, my friends, and in this new place I call home. Figuring out who I am is kind of a constant for me. I used to feel so sure about life, and through a series of different events I found that I wasn't so sure anymore. I guess that's the lords way of keeping me on my toes, and it's really helped me to become pretty independent. Most days I don't mind being by myself or having alone time, but there are times where that just isn't enough. Heaven knows I have had plenty of "Susies" in my life. Those people that just get who you are and what you are about without you having to do anything. Sadly, most of my Susies don't live around me anymore-but I know that I can count on them night or day-regardless of how far apart we are. You all know who you are-know that I love you, and appreciate you in a way you will never understand.
"Come with me to a third grade classroom..... There is a nine-year-old kid sitting at his desk and all of the sudden, there is a puddle between his feet and the front of his pants are wet. He thinks his heart is going to stop because he cannot possibly imagine how this has happened. It's never happened before, and he knows that when the boys find out he will never hear the end of it. When the girls find out, they'll never speak to him again as long as he lives.The boy believes his heart is going to stop; he puts his head down and prays this prayer, 'Dear God, this is an emergency! I need help now! Five minutes from now I'm dead meat.' He looks up from his prayer and here comes the teacher with a look in her eyes that says he has been discovered. As the teacher is walking toward him, a class mate named Susie is carrying a goldfish bowl that is filled with water. Susie trips in front of the teacher and inexplicably dumps the bowl of water in the boy's lap.The boy pretends to be angry, but all the while is saying to himself, 'Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord! 'Now all of the sudden, instead of being the object of ridicule, the boy is the object of sympathy. The teacher rushes him downstairs and gives him gym shorts to put on while his pants dry out. All the other children are on their hands and knees cleaning up around his desk. The sympathy is wonderful. But as life would have it, the ridicule that should have been his has been transferred to someone else -Susie. She tries to help, but they tell her to get out. You've done enough, you klutz! 'Finally, at the end of the day, as they are waiting for the bus, the boy walks over to Susie and whispers, 'You did that on purpose, didn't you?' Susie whispers back, 'I wet my pants once too.
'May God help us see the opportunities that are always around us to do good.
Remember.....Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car. Each and everyone one of us is going through tough times right now, but God is getting ready to bless you in a way that only He can. Keep the faith."
This e-mail also brought me hard back to the realization that Christ has always been and will always be a "Susie" for us all. He has made it possible for us to continue on in this world by constantly covering us for our mistakes. Instead of taking the credit, He is frequently waiting in the wings being ridiculed. All the while He goes on loving us and taking all the negative feedback because He too has been there. He suffered for all our sins and we are never alone-because there is nothing in our lives that He too has not faced in His. I know that the Savior Jesus Christ suffered for my sins, and although often times I am not that great at showing my appreciation-I do appreciate Him and all He and my Heavenly Father have done for me. May all my friends have "Susies" in their lives to help them when they are down!
Liz
This year for Thanksgiving we were able to go to my parents and hang out with the whole family. We had a really great time shopping, cooking, eating, crafting, playing, and catching up. We brought this wig that Eric's mom had. Eric had worn it for Halloween and I sent a photo of me wearing it to Amber and convinced her that I had gotten a horrible haircut. Mara tried it on and that started everyone trying it-so funny. We tried to get Mara to do the rock-on sign with it, she never quite got it but we enjoyed watching her try. I wish we were going for Christmas, but hopefully next year everyone can get together again soon.
