Category Archives: Random Musings

Swallowing Pride

Posted on by
Reply

Swallowing Pride

 

Most of us, whether we choose to admit it or not, struggle with pride. The issue lies not in the pride itself, but in how we deal with it. Do we miss out on something because we let our pride to have free reign? Or do we take control of our pride and not allow it to control us?

Haircuts can be expensive. For several years I put up with not having a regular stylist because I frequented Fantastics Sam’s for their cheap prices. Many times I left the salon frustrated. Then God blessed me with a personal stylist who came to my home, for free. After she moved away I decided my days of rotating stylists were over. I made an appointment at JCPenney Styling Salon and paid $35 for a haircut. Ouch! My hair only needs cut every three months, but I cringe at the thought of shelling out $35 for a trim. It was time for a haircut and I kept putting it off, unwilling to spend the money. Several weeks ago I entered the Wonderland 5K. There were door prizes after the race. I won a $25 gift card to a hair salon. You would think I’d be excited, a free haircut! I wasn’t excited at all. Change is not in my DNA, it doesn’t work well for me.

This week I decided I had put it off the inevitable long enough. I called my regular stylist and scheduled an appointment. She was booked until Friday which gave me time to think about my decision. Was paying $35 for a haircut, when I had a free one at my disposal, a wise use of my resources? No, but in order to take advantage of the free haircut I had to visit someone’s home, it wasn’t even at a “real” salon. Talk about uncomfortable! Eek. Finally I called and booked an appointment for my free haircut. But, I didn’t cancel the appointment with my real stylist, just in case.

Guess what? All that stress was for nothing. The salon is actually a closed in garage with a separate entrance. The stylist was personable, I was completely comfortable, she actually knew something about curly hair, and she only charges $15! I still have $10 left to put towards my next haircut or my daughter’s prom up do.

Today the win goes to Becky 1 – Pride 0. Have no fear though, tomorrow will surely bring plenty more opportunities for me to swallow my pride.

 

Weeping for the City

Posted on by
Reply

Sunday at River Stone Community Church our pastor taught from Luke 19: 41-48. The passage opens with, “And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it. . . “, referring to Christ weeping over Jerusalem. At the close of service we were given construction paper, crayons and the challenge to draw a picture of what causes us to weep for our city {San Marcos}. As I watched everyone complete their drawings and display them on the walls, I wept. I wept not for the city of San Marcos, but I wept for my lack of compassion over the plight of those in my city.

San Marcos has been my home for seven years and yet my heart is numb to the needs of those whom I live among. Why is that? My numbness does not stem from a hard heart. My heart is tender for many people and circumstances: I weep over disabled orphans in China. I weep over the struggling masses in Haiti. I weep over the sons of a dear friend. I weep over aids babies in Africa. Why do I not weep over my own city?

There is much to weep over in this city: San Marcos High School overflows with pregnant teenagers, young adults struggle with gender confusion, unsure whether they are male or female, casual sex with strangers is considered a sport, elementary school children come home to houses devoid of adult supervision, families rely on the food bank for daily sustenance. Right in our own city there is poverty, domestic violence, high unemployment, along with neglected and abandoned children. Thousands of students come to Texas State seeking an education. Along with that education many of them abandon their Christian upbringing, trading truth for selective morals. Why does none of this cause me to weep?

Unfortunately I do not have the answers. All I can do is repent for turning a blind eye, and make this song my prayer, “Break my heart for what breaks yours, every thing I am for your kingdom’s cause, as I walk from earth into Eternity.” (Hosanna by Hillsong United)