Dear Anonymous who commented on Richard's tattoos,
I was not going to respond to this comment, but after much prayer feel it is only right to respond on Richards behalf. I think you totally missed the point of his story being shared and would invite you to go back and re-read it with a new heart and through the eyes of Christ.
I feel Richard showed much courage in sharing his story with me, his hurts and pain and did so without anger or malice. He was very gracious in talking about the people who had hurt him. He was very sweet and even though I have never been a fan of tattoos, I could most easily look over them to the sweet spirit behind them. He would be much more attractive to me as a worker than someone who was not tattooed and had a wrong and ungracious spirit. I told Richard if he came into my hospital room as a nurse with that sweet spirit of his and had gone through the dedication that it takes to become a nurse, I would have no problem with him being my nurse.
I also believe, and I say this with respect and love, that Richard showed much more courage in sharing his story with me and with the grace and respect that he showed me, than someone who leaves an ungracious remark hiding behind the name of anonymous. I welcome any comments and views as long as they are clean, but I do not like the anonymous name. If I am being vulnerable and my interviewees are being vulnerable, I would like to see my commenters being brave enough to stand behind their words. I would have appreciated it more that way.
I do hope you will come back and see this person with new eyes. May you go through your day experiencing the grace, mercy and love of our Heavenly Father.
Praise be to God that He does not look on the outward appearance but at the heart!
Welcome
Why a blog from me, someone who has never been a writer, someone who has never been articulate or had a solid grasp of the grammar world. Because God told me to write. Several years ago a life storm invaded my family. God kept telling me to write it all down. I argued, but He would not let up. This went on every day for a couple of weeks until one day out of frustration, (I'd like to say it was out of obedience), I picked up a pen and paper and wrote for 7 hours straight! Do you think maybe I needed therapy and God knew it?
I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.
Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.
Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.
I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.
As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
I've been writing ever since and have learned to love it! I started out sharing my stories with friends and family. I've now been published in a Nashville church paper, Our Daily Journey (a devotional site of RBC Ministries), PCCWeb Daily Devotional, Ruby for Women Ezine Magazine, and I am a contributor in the book Alabaster Jars, Life in Abundance Collection 2.
Why Ponderings? During this life storm, God led me to a pond in the woods behind my home. There He met me each time, teaching new lessons, reminding me of old ones, showing His presence and allowing me to feel His love through the surroundings of that pond. I found myself returning over and over to ponder, pray and praise. A healing of my heart took place and out of the experience came my first book, Ponderings From the Pond, then a second book, Ponderings From My Porch, and now a third book is in the works along with a memoir about my storm.
Why am I making myself so vulnerable? Because God has done so much that I cannot keep quiet. I have to share. Jesus's last words to his desciples were, "Go,tell." We are his disciples too and this is just one of my ways of telling.
I'm no scholar but I have heard God's voice in my spirit, experience His love daily, and have a desire for others to experience this also. I would love to share with all who visit and I would love to hear from you. If my sharing gets just one to ponder, to be quiet with the Father, to see and hear from Him or to be reminded of something from Him, then this is worth my vulnerability.
As you visit me, sometimes we will be at the pond, sometimes we will move to the front porch, and sometimes we will just be here, there, and yonder. Thank you for coming and please feel free to come back anytime, you are always welcome here.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14
*****EXCITING NEWS*****
My first book, Ya Know What I'm Say'n, has been released.
Ponderings
Friday, September 9, 2011
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15 comments:
as always, you responded with the love and grace that pleases our heavenly Father. :)
I am sad to say...there was a time in my life I maybe would be that anonymous person...so quick to judge by outward appearance. I pray he/she will find the Grace God and all He has for us...to change our hearts...to start to see with His eyes...feel with His heart...love with His love. You have modeled with well...so glad you are sharing your journey with us.
You gave a very gracious response...left an open door of Grace for who ever wants to walk through.
Blessings~
Very nicely done Kristin...I believe the response that the Lord would have you to give! Keep going and sharing with them and us all the beautiful things the Lord wants us all to hear and to see!!
Blessings to you today...Chelle
I had to go back and find the comment, and I just sighed. I agree with you, Kristin, and would have NO problem at all with a kind and thoughtful and gracious person WITH tattoos being my nurse. I'm getting older -- in my 60's -- so I come from a generation where what you looked like spoke of what you were on the inside. I was TAUGHT that. My parents would tell me to "look like a Christian ought to look." We had dress codes at school, at work, at Bible school, at church, etc. Today???? if there is a code for any of these, I'm at a loss to be able to see it. My church is full of new Christians -- former bikers, addicts, homeless, etc. All with glorious testimonies of God's grace. BUT . . . or should I say AND . . . they come with tatoos, strange dress codes, hair colors, and choices of shoes. Yet, I have learned to hug and love these new vessels of God's love, mercy and grace, and have been PROUD to walk into Applebee's with any one of them. They call me "Momma" and I call them son.
Thank you for your response, Kristin. I'm still praying for Richard.
Thank you.
Fondly,
Glenda
Bless you Kristin for being so Christ-like. You speak truth with love and compassion. It is sad that we are conditioned to judge by the exterior... it takes a lot of grace to overcome this tendency. I am praying for all those who come into Richard's life that they will look beyond to see his heart.
Love you
Amen!
AMEN!!!!!!! If we could all learn to see with our hearts and not our eyes wow what a world this would be. I have learned this from my wonderful, Godly husband who is totally blind.
Well written, Kris, well said!
You know, many of us wear our pasts. Some on the outside. Some on the inside. (You were wise to respond. I do not know if I could have been so gracious. I think I just may have hit the Big D! LOL)
So many Christians act, and sometimes I think "believe" that the lost need to be cleaned up before they approach the cross. None are perfect before or after salvation. We constantly need the cleansing blood of the Lamb, and the grace from God the Father.
Anonymous, your words link you with the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked. Only, but for the grace of God, am I not Richard...homeless, battered, and scared. I wear mine on the inside. If you knew me, you probably would have the same distain. Your words do not reflect the love and forgivness that should come from a follower of Jesus. Maybe you are not. I pray you will know the grace that I have been shown.
I love your series on the homeless and hurting, Kris. Keep writing, sister! I love you!
Ruth
To me, "anonymous" metaphorically represents exactly how the enemy attacks. We never truly know where to expect the next trial, tribulation, or hardship. I think frequently of your mission and posts. You put a story to a face.
I was faced with some prejudice TODAY about people we saw in the city streets. My own response was:
I am pretty high functioning, but if a massive hardship came my way that put me in that situation, Im not sure what I would do to survive...
I think your response was full of prayerful and graceful. Because in reality, all you were truly saying was, "Get behind me, Satan. For you have no power here." <3
Pinks aka Kendra McClure
Thank you for never being afraid to love and share. You are an inspiration to all of us and as always --- you point past yourself and straight to Jesus. You are a blessing.
Mylinda
How easily we judge others. I am always reminding myself and my kids to look at people through the eyes of Jesus.
Well written Kristin!
Amen!
Hi Kristin - amen. Well said and very graciously put. God is concerned with our hearts anyway, not our skin! Great post
God bless
Tracy
Thank you for all you do ....
Love you very much!
~Susan~
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