The Chipped Cup

Today...I was dragging, and my clouded mind thought it was due to the fact that I did not sleep much last night because of all the heart-racing fun that was going on inside my chest.  But I realized it was probably because of my new habit of going decaf from now on...that started this morning.  I'm not sure why I can't remember that cold turkey is a difficult thing.

But anyway...while I was staring into space in the direction of my computer monitor this morning, an email popped into my inbox.  I noticed it was from my sister so I opened it immediately.  She had written something so sweet for me and it reminded me that our relationships are one of the most important aspect of our lives.  So...my sister, Patti, is my guest blogger today...

The Chipped Cup

When I was in high school I had a boyfriend.  He was wrong for me in every way.  One day I realized that he was crushing my hopes to go away to college, a college I had dreamed of going to for a very long time.  So after much thought, I decided to break up with him.  We were drinking pop (what we called the soda in the fridge at the time) from a glass out of the kitchen.  These glasses were supposedly unbreakable, but when he threw his across the front porch, after I broke up with him, it surely did chip.  After that day you would have thought the glass would have been no good and would have been thrown out, but for some reason it kept showing up in the cabinet with its family of green drinking glasses.  Every time the glass was used it was a reminder of that boy, the road I was headed down with him and the wise decision I had made obviously led by the Holy Spirit.  I assume the glass was eventually thrown away, much like my memories of the bad experience of the break up.

I tell that story because this morning when I watched my cup filling with my yummy coffee I happened to notice a chip in my cup.  The chip made me smile because this time the chip represented a much happier memory.  A while back my sister and her husband had traveled to Austin during a weekend we were away - probably at a swim meet. They stayed at my house and after the weekend was over my lovely sister told me that when she was putting her coffee cup in the dishwasher it had chipped.   So when I use that cup it reminds me of my sister that I miss so much, and of the time she and her husband were making themselves at home in my home.  She was very upset when she told me she broke it and probably even asked if she could replace it.  What my sister doesn't realize is that she added value to that cup that day.  The value in the chip comes from the building of our relationship over years.  I have known her her whole life and have watched her grow and develop into a beautiful, caring person who loves God above all.  Often through the week I will think of my sister and text her a thought, lyrics to a song or just something I wanted to tell her.  It makes me feel in touch and close to her.  Many times when something is eating either of us we will call each other and vent.  Inevitably at the end of the vent session the other will encourage with God's Word.  This relationship is so above and beyond just being sisters.  It is absolutely a gift from God.  To be able to speak truth into her life and receive truth from her has been the secret to many trials with raising a family and being married to the same busy, high maintenance man for 23 years.  I treasure my sister and I treasure the chipped cup because it makes me remember to be thankful for the beautiful blessings God has entrusted me with.  So I sit here and drink my yummy full cup of almond joy creamer in my coffee and I am starting my day with a full cup.  Full of joy and thankfulness.

Patti Thompson
12/4/2012


I love this for so very many obvious reasons.  But, it makes me think, also, about how broken and chipped we all are.  Nicks and cracks caused either by the ups and downs of life, our own past mistakes...or...by someone else.  We are tempted to look at that and wish we were put together better; that we hadn't made that one decision; or that we had avoided that person when we had the opportunity.    It's easy to devalue ourselves and the journey we've walked.  But I believe when God looks at us, He thinks our brokenness adds value.

Crank it up...

I am sitting here watching Christmas movies today, and for that I am elated, because if you know me at all you understand just how much I love the holidays.  Especially Christmas.  However, I am doing all the watching in my shorts and flip flops.  And I'm not going to lie...I just don't know how I feel about that.  It is December.  It is supposed to be cold and the visions of a wintry scene right outside my frost-laden window should not be so far from reality.  But it is what it is...therefore, I will give thanks that I woke up today with the ability to get dressed, attend church to hear sound Bible teaching, and spend the rest of the day with a good, good man who loves me far better than I have ever deserved.

Thankful.

And while I'm on the subject of Thankful, our Thanksgiving holiday was fabulous.  I had the whole week off work and it was the sweetest gift of time.  I cooked and baked and laughed and rested and was able to crank up the Christmas music while I decorated my tree and mantle and other stuff.  And the fact that I said 'crank up' is a dead give-a-way as to where I'm from.  Anyway...we split our actual Thanksgiving day between the hubs side of the family and mine.  Here are a few snapshots of our time with them.

 We ate a LOT!!

And I am even more excited because I just saw on Twitter today that Beth Moore will be leading a year-long scripture memory venture again in 2013.  I participated in this in 2011 and let me just say that it was the most life-changing practice I've ever implemented in my life.   I have always been very prone to a negative thought life and for so long I lived in defeat because of it.  I never understood how to overcome that, and well...I'll tell ya...I found when I did this that scripture memory is powerful and is crucial to transforming your thought life.  And if I can do it...anyone can.  So I am going to participate again in 2013.  Please join me.  You won't regret it.

Happy Sunday.