Teens- They Really are Listening

“Pass down values every day through your actions, your words and your time with your kids.”
~ Robert Frank

Source:Google Search Images

(www.hothardware.com)

My 17 yr old daughter has a lot of guys who are showing interest in her. She’s been working out in the weight room, so of course they are watching her. The first thing they notice is her outward appearance. Some just linger there and never bother to get to know what’s in her head and heart.

Ever since she was in elementary school, I’ve had talks with her to forewarn of superficial guys.  She’d ask me “How can you tell?”

In Spite of Fear of Heights

“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.”— 2 Samuel 22:33 

Zugspitze at 2,962 meters (9,843 ft)

Source: http://www.zugspitze.de/

Fear is something we all deal with at different levels and times in our lives. The thing about fear is that like a nightmare, it exists for a limited time, and only while we sleep. Once we decide to awaken from it, it no longer has power over us. Overcoming something we fear takes one act of faith on our part. If we are conscious in the moment of the fear, we can acknowledge it’s scary, but decide in spite of the fear, to do it. Overcoming a fear doesn’t mean you don’t feel fear in the moment. It means you are acting “as if” you don’t fear it. You are doing what you would do if you didn’t fear.

I have a fear of heights.

Thoughtful Email Reflections

Source:Google Search Images

In the world of internet dating, I respond or initiate an email only if after reading his profile there’s something in his words that moves me. I won’t respond “Nice profile,” and leave it at that. That’s such a lazy email. You might as well not say a thing. It’s obvious you didn’t read it, or worse, that you have nothing between your ears or in your heart. 

Teen Moment at the DMV

(Source: Google Images- charlotteareadrivingschool.com)

“My life sucks!” exclaims an exasperated 17 year old, which happens to be my child. It doesn’t matter that I’ve raised her with encouragement, a can do attitude, accountability, positive words of affirmation……that all goes out the window when the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) road test instructor tells her, “You’ll have to reschedule. Your appointment was for 3:45. I waited until 3:55.”

In teen language this translates into, “There’s NO WAY ON EARTH YOU’RE GETTING A DRIVER’S LICENSE TODAY!”

Hot Mess!

(Image from womanincredible.com) 

As a single parent one can very often experience exhaustion, seeing as there is never a shortage of challenges. While married, one typically can rely on our spouse to support and step in to reassure, in moments when one feels weak, or just plain overwhelmed. But when one is spouseless, sometimes one can feel helpless. 

Online Dating Pastor

A couple of yrs ago I met a guy who was a divorced pastor. Strangely enough he recognized me from a photo in an online dating service. I only put 1 photo on the site, as I typically do, to minimize being recognized out in public. Ironically, that was enough for him to pick me out of a sea of people in a very large crowd, one Sunday morning.

As the large slow moving crowd piled out of church, I noticed this good-looking guy standing next to me, smile at me. So, I smiled back of course.

Saying Good Bye to an Unhealthy Relationship

Infinite vastness

Infinite possibilities

        Awaiting us as we step

               Forward in faith

                        Reaching for God’s hand

                                    To steady our fears

                                                           —Ella Venezia

Copyright © 2011 by Ella Venezia, All Rights Reserved

(Image from lh4.googleusercontent.com)

Though we know better and cerebrally formulate how we need to lean on faith and trust, when the storms and trials of life arrive, we tend to duck into a cave, even if only for a short while. We take refuge in things that give us comfort, it could be comfort food, it could be sleep, it could be any number of things.