To say I am humbled is saying the least. I am overwhelmed.
I know I should just say thank you. But this award has brought forth some ponderings for me. I am all about being real here on this blog. So here I go.
With this award you are saying, I illuminate joy through my posts. And with that I am humbled. But I will be honest when I showed the award to “manly man”, he laughed. But on the other hand I have a sister who calls me her “prayer warrior”. And good ‘ol Mom said “It is what you portray to others dear; this is neat!!!”
So my thoughts to God is, am I not joyful to the ones who are the closest to me? Manly man did not mean the laugh to hurt me, he said congratulations and that he was proud. But it made me think.
What I say and comments I leave are really me, but on the other hand manly man gets to see me when I am down, when I am angry, when I am frustrated and he knows I can partake of the proverbial whine a bit too much also.
So I view this award as a goal in my real life. And one of my fears is portraying myself as something I am not.
I want the ones closest to me to know I am joyful.
I want them to view me as encouraging to them.
I think this blog and my devotions are a different side that he does not see all the time. I have to admit he does not read my blog on regular basis and has not read my devotions on Laced With Grace. But I guess my desire is for him to see me as you see me.
I am so thankful and humbled for this award and that you see this side of me. Now my goal is for everyone to know and see my heart. I realize sometimes it is hard to see the best in a person, when you see the “whole person” worst side, with sins, and all. Through Christ I know he can help me in this. And thank you from the bottom of my heart.
I hope I am communicating this stuff correctly, I fear I may not be. But hear my humbled, thankful heart, and my striving to be more with God at the helm.
Oh and to even be mentioned in the same breath as Vicki at Windows To My Soul, and Kari at Healed Waters is just to much for a girl to take.
Also thank you for nominating me for Best Friend Award, in the same category my friend Jennifer at Snapshot and CONGRATS to Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer.
Blessings.
Thank you for stopping by, feel free to subscribe to my RSS feed!
Related posts:
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I know what you mean..why is it that we are this way to the people we love the most?! It definitely is a choice and something to work on.
Congrats on the award, you definitely deserve it!
Congratulations Laurel. I think I do know what you mean. Your heart is so open and pure before the Lord, and I know He will honor that.
Congratulations! I know I always find the joy when I come here. I do understand what you mean. I notice a different tone on my blog than the one I have in my “real” life. Both are me, but I need to use my blog tone more with my family.
Whew! Thank goodness. You’re human! You scared me there for a minute.
I know exactly what you’re saying and all of us can take this to heart.
However, you are truly, truly deserving of this award and I’m tickled pink for you, Laurel. Congratulations. How blessed I am to know you.
Blessings to my joyful friend who blesses me in every way! You are, indeed, a sweet aroma of Christ. Keep going, girlfriend. The Lord’s plans for you are awesome!
love in Him,
Vicki
I am thrilled you have received the award. Way to go girl!!!!
God has a huge plan for you. I am looking forward to see it unfold before my very own eyes.
Congratulations, Laurel! Well deserved!
Congrats on winning! Just think the ones closest to you know you better and still love you more then even we do:-) To me the biggest blessing is someone being REAL. I don’t want fake joy all the time. I want to see how others react to ALL situations…that is what teaches me. Honey look at the fruit you are bearing! He is the vine and you are the branches…only way to bear it and from where I am sitting I see fruit!
Joyfulness is a wonderful quality to display to others - congratulations!
A few years ago at a church ladies’ meeting we did an activity where broke into two groups and then each group made a list of positive characteristics about the ladies in the other group. Mine was “cool and even-tempered.” When I told this to my husband and mother, they laughed hysterically. People tell me all the time that I’m calm and cool in spite of eight kids, but I always remember how much my family laughed!
Nobody can be perfect all the time, and our families see the best and the worst (wouldn’t you hate to have a husband with whom you couldn’t “let your hair down”?). You bless those around you - keep it up!
Congrats. You totally deserve it. Yes, you’re real on your blog. You have occasionally vented here, but in general a blog isn’t that kind of forum (unless it’s a complaining blog, which some are, but I wouldn’t be reading it).
Joy is not being perky cheerful all time. Joy is trusting God and seeing Him as the source of everything, and praising Him no matter what. You do that, my friend.
On a different note, the 2007 Meditations have been such a blessing to me. Your readers have come and left the sweetest, most heartfelt comments. I haven’t had a chance to read through yet, but I will soon.
Congratualtions!
Congratulations! I agree with Jennifer. Joy isn´t so much an outward thing but an inward confidence, in Him. You definitely have that, and I´m proud of you for showing it so much here.