Recycling.

I'm going to recycle a post. Whoa! Can I do it? Should I do it? C'mon people, I'm going green. Get on that bandwagon. I'm gonna do it -- mainly because I wrote this for a Facebook post last night.

There are some who wear their heart on their sleeve. I'm not really one to "spill the beans" on a lot of personal details or display the racing thoughts that surface in my mind via the Facebook community. (Remember when we called it "The Facebook" in 2004?!) There are pros and cons to both, I suppose. It's finally time to share something personal word wise to all 363 "friends" on here. Mark it in the books, friends -- my very first "note" on Facebook.

This year has been full of growing pains, brokenness, and uncertainty -- not only for me, but for those I hold closest to my heart as well. I know a lot of you friends are going through "stuff", too (One of the few pro's to Facebook over sharing!). To borrow a famous lyric – I'd say we're experiencing the" beauty in the breakdown" -- and trust me, there is something beautiful about a rough patch. I was reminded of this while I stood next to my best friend on Sunday morning. While things have been anything but easy and events that have transpired in the past few months are beyond comprehension -- with outstretched arms she praised her Father. I felt so honored and humbled to stand next to her in a moment of complete and absolute beauty. I adore her.

On a six hour flight -- I had plenty of time for thinking. My thoughts were of Amy's incredible strength and a few complex sentences I had penned down back in 2008. Today, as I read through your status updates -- it only seems appropriate to share a vulnerable moment (con of Facebook sharing). I'd just like to say -- I do NOT have ugly friends. It's hard to think how they could become even more beautiful than they already are -- but it’s happening right before me. They are being pruned and are growing into something even more beautiful.


Embracing Gray

With no clear path cut black or white,

I'll stride slowly as I walk.

I'll stride slowly through the gray.



I'll step one foot at a time.

Forward down this winding road

I'll move forward everyday

and patiently embrace the gray.



When I’m low and need to rest,

When my heart is far from best,

I'll seek shelter in the wing,

I'll embrace the in between.



The day will come when I can sort,

sun from the moon and light from the dark.

I'll move slowly every day,

I'll tip toe through the shades of gray.



Beauty can be left unseen,

perhaps more so in the in between.

These shades of coals and thick opaque,

will one day cease, I will not break.



I'll trudge from black and into white

Humbled by my lack of light.

When I'm there, I'll know to say --

I made it through all shades of gray.

Here’s to the light, our Gardner, and our Glue that keeps us whole,

Becky


"Be patient. God knows what He's doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can't. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays-- all the things that make you ask "why" -- one day it will all be clear in the light of God's love." -Rick Warren