Meltdown on Franklin Street

Tuesday
July 7, 2015

Dear Readers,

Good Morning! It's another beautiful summer's day in North Central Texas. I'm not sure why but all the squirrels that lived in my backyard have seemed to disappear. To tell you the truth, I don't miss them. Since they've left, I have more birds and I love to hear them singing in the morning. They let me know that it's going to be a zip-a-dee do dah day!! Remember Uncle Remus and Song of the South? Probably will be gone before too long too. (Sigh)

Every morning, I wake up and think about my day. I say some prayers, do a little reading, and feed my furry kids. I've always enjoyed waking up slowly ... one eye at a time! Anyone relate? (smile) It's that first cup of coffee that gets my engine started and today is no different.

Last night, I had a meltdown. For days now, my Facebook page has been inundated with posts from the ruling of the Supreme Court on the right for gay couples to marry. I am a Conservative through and through AND I have my own convictions about this. I believe that marriage was ordained by God between a man and a woman. In the Bible, that never changes. For me, that's the crux of the matter end of subject.

Now, that being said, you may believe something different ~ I respect your beliefs and don't love you any less. Our liberal nation is cramming their opinions and beliefs down our throats wanting us to follow them because they think they know what is right for our country. Any beliefs contrary to that are done away with, history erased, and freedoms eliminated.  Our government has become a one way highway to rioting, law suits, and moral decay. What is good about that?

Yesterday, as I was scrolling down my Facebook posts, I noticed a post by a lady that I had considered to be a lovely Christian woman. Gradually, her posts have gotten more and more pointed; and, in my opinion, not in a good way. I read her post and saw the sign St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church had outside their church. Hot tears fell from my eyes and my heart started beating faster and fasteruntil  my tears gave way to child-like sobs ... I hadn't had a PTSD episode in a long while and, I guess, that was the straw that broke the camel's back.

You see, I strongly believe in the sanctity of marriage; yet, I have been married five (yes five) times. I have never been a promiscuous person and, to be honest, I didn't understand why I was marrying men that were abusive. I kept trying harder and harder to be a good wife and couldn't figure out why it wasn't working.  (It had to be my fault because I was flawed) I taught classes on The Power of a Praying Wife, I became depressed, and began to unravel. I was the woman Jesus met at the well and that story made all the difference in my own recovery. I had absolutely no idea of the tapes running in my subconscious and how important they were in how I lived my life. I did not deserve good ... I was unworthy. I kept fighting saying, "I am good, I am worthy." What a vicious struggle I was dealing with.

I am one of the lucky ones. I accepted the "fact" that I was choosing based on a lie and I began my journey to wellness. And, I will add, that God has blessed that journey, placing people in my life to walk beside me and pray with and for me. I have come to understand the triggers that can push me over the edge and I am very careful not to go there. It is okay to protect myself and, I do.

Our human tendency is to judge others because of stereotypes, customs or prejudices. Jesus treats people as individuals, accepting them with love and compassion. Are people to be dismissed as lost causes, or do you see them as valuable in their own right, worthy of knowing about the gospel of Jesus Christ? Because of where I've been, I love with compassion. I know you've heard this over and over in the past couple of weeks but it's true, Christ loves the sinner, yet hates the sin. When we accept Jesus into our hearts, we want to turn from our sin and walk "in the newness of life." I sin every day and, because I do, I need to keep my slates clean. Believe me, I am aware each time I blow it!

There is a song that the Open Range Band sings that goes something like this: Mama said don't you make that man cry... I don't want my Lord and Savior to shed tears over what I am doing. I scour the Bible when making decisions knowing that if I follow God's ways it's gonna be okay. Some have said I traded my "old tapes" for my Jesus crutch. By golly, that's true!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the loving kindness that you show towards your people. You must be sitting in heaven grieved at what the people you created are accepting as good when it is evil. You are such a patient God ~ Forgive our country as it crumbles into moral decay.  I pray that your people would rise up declaring You as our deliverer. Let the freedom to follow You reign!! Protect our history because it's a reminder of our journey. I pray for those on my prayer list: for those who have lost loved ones and are despondent; for those struggling with financial, relationship, and addictions of all kinds; for those who are undergoing biopsies and treatment for illnesses especially chronic diseases and cancer; and, for those who are childless, those thinking about abortion, and those waiting the birth of their babies whether naturally or through adoption. You are Mighty, the Great Physician, the Healer and I call upon You this morning to bless your own. As Christians, forgive our blatant disregard for what is true and good replacing that with ugliness and barbs. In Jesus holy name I expectantly await miracles!!!  Praising you, I say: Amen, it is so.

Miss Dottie

PS  "Jesus of Nazareth always comes asking disciples to follow him ~ not merely "accept him," not merely "believe in him,"  not merely "worship him," but to follow him: one either follows Christ, or one does not. There is no compartmentalization of the faith, no realm, no sphere, no business, no politic in which the lordship of Christ will be excluded. We either make him Lord of all lords, or we deny him as Lord of any." ~Lee Camp, Mere Discipleship: Radical Christianity in a Rebellious World