Full

I feel full. I just got home from a “slumber party” with the 6 women who comprise our church ladies board. One of the girls has a log cabin near the Natchez Trace so we all met up in Franklin for shopping and eating. We had lunch at Lillie Belle’s and continued the shopping afterward. We then headed to the cabin to freshen up before dinner at Loveless Cafe’ on highway 100. After a very filling dinner we returned to the cabin donned pajamas and grabbed notebooks and pens to begin a very informal but productive meeting regarding the plans for our 2007 events. Discussion centered on the needs of our ladies and the ways we could most productively meet those needs through teaching and events. Our Spring Seminar will be at the end of March so a lot of our plans will be brought to fruition at that time. I asked for, and was granted, the opportunity to teach on contentment. I am excited about this as it is something that has been on my mind for quite some time. I believe I will focus my own study on Philippians chapter 4.

After the formalities of the meeting turned into personal discussion we relaxed quite a bit and settled down with hot drinks of our choice and enjoyed the conversation. I talked a lot. I stayed up until 1:30 this morning, talking. I never used to consider myself a big talker but over the past 10 years or so…I find that I am hungry to talk. I mean, I really love talking. I don’t enjoy talking on the phone, I don’t enjoy talking about good deals on purses or shoes, but I love talking about my husband and family, my experiences, my past and my plans for the future. I love talking about God and what He’s done in my life and how I want to get to know Him better. This was all talked about, each of us as we desired, with passion and joy we described our relationships with God and family. We listened to one another, gained insight and heard wisdom. There were tears…duh…there was a little gossip…lets just be honest…there was confession…and there was lots and lots of laughter.

This morning we got up and readied ourselves to go out for breakfast and then back home to our families and as we sat on the front porch of the cabin, still content to TALK, I took in the warmth of the sunshine and felt so peaceful. We enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast at Monell’s, where breakfast is an event that lasts until 11:00 a.m. and comes with sweet tea and fried chicken. We sat around our large table and talked some more. As the conversation turned toward the serious side of life, questions were asked and truth was taught. Again, the tears were there, never falling but resting at the top of my cheeks reminding me that life isn’t about what I gain but how much I can keep. I may not have gained as much as some of my peers, or accomplished as many things, or even look as good, but I love who I am simply because I know my Father loves me. I love where I am because I know who got me here and I love where I’m going because I know who will be there before me.

It was refreshing to lay down last night feeling full in my spirit as well as my tummy. So often I lay down at night and can’t sleep for lack of finality. I don’t feel content many times because I haven’t finished loosing what is in me. I have a need to talk, gain perspective from others, rehash the day, sort out the chaff from the wheat and find something satisfactory to hide away in the cavities of my soul for use later. I had much to store up last night and will treasure every bit of it.

This morning as we left the restaurant I hugged everyone goodbye and left with a feeling of fulfillment. I couldn’t wait to get home to my men large and small and I felt encouraged to love them with more passion, with more purpose and with greater joy.