by Lisa B on August 18, 2010
It started in the ’80s. Maybe the ’90s. My memory has left me to early in life. But you know what I’m talking about. The commercials. The ones showing kids in other countries with just skin on their bones. Oh, and the flies flying around their faces. You remember. Don’t you?
I grew to hate those commercials.
Every time one would come on, I’d close my eyes, stick my fingers in my ears and sing “la-la-la” as loud as I could. This was before the days of remote controls. Yes, I’m that old.
I’m a fixer. I want to fix things.
I don’t know if it’s because I’m a fixer or because my heart literally hurts when I see someone hurting, but those commercials broke my heart. I was overwhelmed. They’d throw out big numbers — so many children needing food and medical supplies. I never could fix it for all of them.
So I continued to close my eyes and change the channel.
At my first She Speaks 2 years ago, there was a Compassion booth setup. I refused to look at any of the pictures. I was not going to let my heart break or feel the pain of these children around the world that I couldn’t help. My buddy Robin heard Compassion was going to send some bloggers to India, and she wanted to go. Not me. I wouldn’t even walk at to the table with her to support her. I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
I have never in my life had a desire to go outside the country. Ok, maybe a few times in French class I’d dream of Paris, but really? I’m a good ol’ country girl who would rather go to vacation in the mountains here than across the ocean. But this wasn’t a vacation. This was a trip to see kids who are sponsored through Compassion, kids who aren’t sponsored and how Compassion works through the local people there to share Jesus.
Technically Robin didn’t make me do it, but inspired me to do it.
Around my birthday last year, after reading about Robin’s experiences in India, I decided to sponsor a child. I sort of peeked through one half-open eye. Fingers still in my ears. I figured I did my part. I’m sponsoring a child. But really? I didn’t want to get attached. I don’t want my heart broken. Pretty selfish huh?
Fast forward to this year’s She Speaks. Same Compassion table, just a few down from the She Seeks table where I sat with my buddies. Except this time, I didn’t really have a choice but to go by the table. Our She Seeks team met with Shawna and Laura and talked about how we could help inform others about Compassion. There were only 2 thoughts that crossed my mind — one, I did not want to admit that I had sponsored a child about a year and a half ago and never written her a letter. Two, I did not want to go on a trip.
This week one of my She Seeks buddies, Shannon, and Shawna are in Columbia. Please pray for them on their trip and also check out Shannon’s blog. She’s writing stories every day. But most importantly, pray about sponsoring a child. And if you do sponsor a child? Sit down and right them a letter — TODAY. I mailed mine Friday.
by Lisa B on August 4, 2010
And she rested.
This is my 3rd year attending She Speaks and each year has been a huge blessing in its own special way. I had signed up for sessions, but I didn’t go to any. By the time the actual conference rolled around, I was already brain-dead. I found though I was always in the place I needed to be in. I sat at the She Seeks table and helped ladies find where they were going or get them information. I had many God-conversations in the hallways where I got to meet new friends, hear their stories, and tell them part of my story. When I got home, I found I was actually energized to write again. I don’t think I’m called to write a book, an article or a poem. I am called to write online.
One of many special moments had to do with my She Seeks team. Last year before She Speaks, I agreed to work on the She Seeks website to set it up. That was essentially how I got myself and Especially Heather to the She Speaks conference.
At the time I thought I was just going to setup the site, do a little training, and then turn it over. Little did I know the plans God had for me in working on the site. I post everything that goes up — I setup the inspirational entry for Monday. Then we added a vlog every Thursday. I moderate comments and make other changes as necessary. In the beginning, I didn’t have much interest in the site because it was for 20-something women, and well, I’m not 20-something 
Haven’t been in quite awhile!
But the inspirational entries continued to touch my heart anyway. There is no age limit on what was written or shared in the vlogs. I got to know the other ladies on the team, and at She Speaks last weekend, I got to hang out a lot with them all.
Our team leader, Lisa Whittle, gathered us in her room and gave each one of us a present. I had the honor of going first, so I cautiously opened the box she handed me. When I opened it, there was a beautiful necklace with a silver plate (don’t know exactly what you call them but I know you’ve seen them!) with exodus 17:10-13 imprinted on it. She began to tell me a little about the verse and why she chose the verse for me. Oh did I want to bawl and I’m not a crier ya’ll!
10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. 11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. 13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.
During a time where I’ve been praying for God to use my talents, gifts and abilities where He would like to see them used, Lisa told me that I was their Aaron — I am their support. I hold their hands up so they can do the work God’s called them to do.
Confirmation I am right where God wants me to be.
by Lisa B on May 20, 2010
If any of you know me in person, you know I’ve been playing a lot of softball lately. It seems to be winding down as our co-ed team is in tournament play and Tuesday night my ladies’ team finished the last regular season game.
The game Tuesday? Was frustrating and painful. We played the first place team. Please don’t get me wrong – I wasn’t frustrated with anything anyone else on my team did. I was totally frustrated with me. I hit to the first baseman twice and made it very easy for her to get outs. Then I hit to the pitcher but somehow managed to beat out the throw. I was mad. I was determined to get there. And when I did beat out the throw? Something I never would have been able to do before I started to workout? I was still mad because I hit it back to the pitcher. I couldn’t even give myself credit for running hard.
Wednesday morning came and I was still down. I really tweaked my quad muscle and it hurt to walk. Our co-ed team was supposed to play our next game in the tournament and I didn’t feel like going. Duck’s group (which I run sound for) was supposed to be playing at a church service. He wasn’t going to the game which was disappointing because we were missing a few other players too. We had decided the group could do without me so I could go to the game, but the way I hit Tuesday, I didn’t have any confidence to go play.
Then the wonderful news came. Ball game canceled. I could let my leg rest. Our players would be back for the make-up game Monday. This was great news.
So I got to go to the church service. And. Oh. My. Did God show up and give me a reality check. See, this was no regular church. At least, not like you and I know it. This church is part of an intermediate care facility for the mentally retarded – profound, severe or moderate mental retardation.
Many were escorted in wheelchairs. Many were just escorted. I fought back tears as I realized how amazingly blessed I am to have 2 fully functioning arms and 2 fully functioning legs (even with a pulled muscle!). How blessed I am to be able to hold a bat, grip a ball or run the bases. I realized softball is just a game and it’s supposed to be for fun.
The biggest realization came when Duck’s band played “He’s got the whole world in His hands” — because it was then that I realized how truly mentally handicapped I am. Here were many who were doing the hand motions and singing as best they can — and they were truly worshiping God. They weren’t worried about what anyone else thought. They weren’t worried about what anyone else was doing. They just sang and bounced and had a grand time! I should be like that when I worship God! A child-like faith.
I thank God He had us right where He wanted us to be last night.
Tonight my ladies’ team plays the first place team again as the first round of the tournament starts. My prayer is that I will realize how much I am blessed to even be out there on the field and win or lose, have fun playing the game.
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