“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”. – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Tag Archives: Love
A Redemptive Story
A few months back, I wrote a post called “I Struggle With Porn.” In this post, I led you to the story of Chris and Cindy Beall. I really do hope you were able to read their incredible story of redemption. Since that post, God has been taking their story to a whole new level – allowing them to minister to so many marriages crippled by pornography and infidelity.
Also, since that post, Cindy Beall has become a dear friend. I know. Right? Okay. Enough name droppin’.
Cindy has added a new author on her blog.
Mr. Chris Beall himself.
Yesterday, Chris posted a video answering many questions about their story. It’s a little lengthy but worth the viewing. I wanted to encourage you to hop on over there and listen to Chris. I also want to encourage you to share their story with others. Not only will you appreciate Chris’ transparency, but you will see a man with a heart after God.
Chris and Cindy like to use the phrase “better than new” as it relates to what God did in their marriage. And, they have no doubt whatsoever, that He will make your marriage better than new, too.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Mr. Chris Beall.
Our Christmas.
We’re not busy one single bit during the holiday season. Right. We do tend to make our rounds, but I love making those rounds.
Christmas morning, two little heads peeped in to see what the fat man in a red suit delivered. Santa was unprepared Christmas Eve for the ten million stickers and parts that made the Barbie Party Cruise possible. He, or SHE rather, was exhausted by the time she made her way back up the chimney.
Oh, how I love those sleepy faces on Christmas morning.
We enjoyed lunch with Bryan’s family {John Henry’s dad}. We like to say that we put the FUN into dysfunctional. Except, we don’t call it dysfunctional. Just our normal. And, we like our normal.
Above is Bryan’s dad. Look at sweet Paw-Paw lovin’ on both my children.
I am asked so often how we do what we do. In other words, how our blended family dines together, laughs together, does life together. Simplest answer?
LOVE.
Our Christmas. Well, it was special. And yours?
For unto YOU….
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:8-14
I highlighted the “you’s” in this scripture to illustrate why God sent His son. It was for YOU. God loves us so much that He became flesh. John 1:14 tells us that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.” In Jesus, we see the glory of God’s grace and truth.
John 1:17 goes on to explain that “the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ.” So God came – Jesus was born – not only to show us His grace but to give us His grace. He wants us to receive it and experience it.
This Christmas, experience this grace. This grace that forgives all of your sins and takes away all guilt.
He came to earth for you. And, He loves you more than you know.
Have a joy-filled Christmas. May peace and love be your portion this holiday season.
Love, Kris, Dusty, John Henry & Anna
Where is your heart?
This little man, dear friends.
Has quite the heart. And, sometimes, he amazes me with the bits of wisdom that oozes out of his little spirit. He must get it from his momma. Or his daddy. Or his other daddy.
At the dinner table, John Henry asked, “It’s Jesus’ birthday. We have to get Him a present. But, He has everything. What do we get Him?”
I responded, prepared to give him Mommy’s wisdom, “Do you know what Jesus wants more than anything?”
And, before I could answer my own question, John Henry said, “He wants our heart.”
I was going to answer with “love one another.” He answered with the greatest commandment.
Our heart is where our treasure is. It’s where we invest the most time and energy. It’s where our first dollar goes. It’s in our daily routine.
There are times I am quite certain that Jesus has my whole heart. Other times, I give Him just a wee bit, because I’m busy with less important things like my recent Twilight Saga addiction. Which, of course, has been a catalyst for me asking Kris various questions about vampires, and Kris responding with “You do know that vampires aren’t real.” Then, me assuring Kris that if he were a vampire, I would want him to bite me so we could be together forever.
It’s all very sick. I love it.
Back to you, God.
But, He wants my whole heart.
More than anything.
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. Matthew 22:37-38
Love and Marriage.
Kris and I recently had one of those sit down, let’s talk about our relationship talks. No need to go tellin’ tales out of school. We are doing just fine. We’ve just let a few of those important marital-like things fall to the bottom of the list. And, no. I’m not talking ‘bout sex. I am talking about those moments where you shut down computers, cell phones, and children and just enjoy each other. You know. Connect.
It’s so easy to let life go by and time pass in a marriage and not have conversations with your spouse that make you pull in the reins, breathe deep, and take care of the things that really matter. Each other.
Monday night, we had a little date night. We ate sushi and didn’t even talk about airplanes or children or if my jeans made my hiney look big. ‘Cause y’all know he is going to mess that one up, albeit unintentional. Then, we laughed together through Four Christmases.
It’s funny. That little conversation gave our marriage a lift. We immediately returned to taking the time to connect. Kris is good with those conversations. He is just as comfortable sharing his heart with me as he is in a cockpit. I love that about him. He takes good care of us.
Hmmm. What’s a good scripture to put here? Oh, I know. “He who finds a wife, finds what is good,” (Proverbs 18:22.) Tee-hee. I’m just funnin’. Okay, not really. But, let’s make this fair.
Oh, never mind, I can’t find a scripture I like. Wait. That didn’t come out right.
I’ll just end the way my daddy has concluded every wedding ceremony for the past thirty plus years.
“Let not your voices lose the tender tones of affection, nor your eyes forget the tender ray with which they shown in courtship’s day. And, greatest of all, let God be enthroned above all else at all times.”
What do you and your spouse do to connect?
* Keep it clean. This is a family blog. Most days.
Across the Atlantic – Part Four
I know the past few days have been heavy. They’ve been even tougher to write. Writing a story of such magnitude while praying you are honoring a family is no easy task.
I wanted to conclude with a few things I think we can all take away from Andrew’s story.
1. When life knocks you completely flat on your face, get up. Even if it’s slowly, just a bit at a time, get up.
2. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Enjoy it.
3. We never have an excuse to say, “No, I can’t.”
4. Savor every moment with the ones you love. No one has been promised tomorrow.
5. Love deeply.
6. Stop focusing on things that don’t matter. Invest your time into things that will matter forever.
7. Hug your children. Every.Single.Day.
In Andrew’s words:
“The only reason I can carry on is I have no guilt – no guilt for the time that they were here, because I gave it everything. At the weekend, my phone was always switched off from work. Have we all got jobs that are so important that it cannot wait until Monday? If I had not done that I would not have the memories I have today. And, those are the only things I have left….
If there is one thing I could tell people, it is never to take your family for granted, never make excuses that you have to work to provide what you think they need. All they really need is your time and that costs nothing. All the toys and presents that I bought have all been thrown away. All I am left with are my memories. And, the only reason I have those is that I spent the time with them.”
I cannot pretend to comprehend Andrew’s loss. But, I can say that his life is a testimony to what it means to invest into your loved ones and what it means to move forward. It is also a reminder to us all that every single second counts. It doesn’t make the pain less. But, perhaps, more bearable. I am humbled by his strength and his permission to tell his story. And, I am proud to call him my friend.
Andrew continues to inspire me from thousands of miles across the Atlantic.
I hope his story has inspired you to live in the moment.
What is keeping you from enjoying today? Are you letting things that have no eternal value rob you of investing into what really matters?
What will you take away from Andrew’s story?
Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered – how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath. Psalm 39:4-5
Filed under disappointment, life, Love
Across the Atlantic – Part One
This series of posts will no doubt be the hardest I’ve written thus far. The subject is difficult. And, the story is real. This is the story of my dear friend, Andrew Gitsham. And, with his permission, I’m telling it to you.
I’ve known Andrew for more than twenty years. A true Brit from Worcestershire, England, he came over to the States as a teenager to experience American life for a couple of years. That is when he became a part of my life and the lives of a few of my friends. We always enjoyed Andrew – even his British confidence became endearing. And, the fact that he thinks he speaks “English” while I speak “American” is…..well, let’s just say it’s tolerable. When he left to go back to England, we kept in touch, albeit infrequently.
I visited him in England in 1994 then again in 1998. It was my last visit that he introduced me to Stacey.
Stacey was a beautiful girl who stole Andrew’s heart – a feat many of us doubted would happen. Andrew has always loved life – living it as large as any human being possibly can. So, settling down just didn’t seem in his blood, if you will. Much to my surprise, this handsome Englishman finally tied the knot with Stacey in 2001. On June 27, 2003, they gave birth to Joshua (the namesake of a mutual precious friend who had passed away in 1998.) Two years later on September 19, 2005, a baby girl made them a family of four. They named her Georgia – a name reminiscent of Andrew’s time spent there.
Andrew had become a real, live family man. And, he could not have been happier. He could not have been more fulfilled. But, on December 8, 2005, his life changed forever.
On a Thursday afternoon, Stacey, his two year old son, and his 11 week old baby girl, were all killed when their car burst into flames after having been hit by a truck on England’s A1. At that moment, everything was taken from him. In one brief moment, his worst nightmare stared him cold in the face.
I learned of Andrew’s loss three days later. I remember going out for a family lunch that Sunday afternoon and being filled with grief for him. I looked across at my own three year old and 1 year old and tried to imagine what that kind of loss feels like.
But, I couldn’t.
I don’t think any of us really can. To even put ourselves there mentally is too much. Just trying to wrap my brain around that kind of devastation makes me grasp for my own breath.
Shortly after, I finally spoke with Andrew on the phone. “Dusty, we were so very happy,” I recall him telling me.
The days that followed would not be easy ones. And, you can imagine the days where he wondered what there was left to strive for.
But, he kept striving anyway.
To be continued…
Filed under disappointment, life, Love
There’s a new Takle in the house!
No, not this house. I do apologize for yesterday’s slack. But, I have a good excuse. Really, I do!
I thought it might be appropriate to blog on the election. Since, after all, today IS the day. But, seriously. Do you really want to see or read any more of the democratic process? Me either.
Talking ‘bout love is so much sweeter.
So, let me tell you a little story.
Once upon a time, there were two brothers.
One found love with yours truly. (That would be the one on the left.)
The other, well, we just hoped and prayed he would find that girl. (That would be the one on the right.)
After much waiting (and wondering), Dr. Takle (you KNOW that’s the one on the right) did just that. Both boy and girl traveled long roads to find love in each other. And, this fabulous girl brought with her the most beautiful package. TWO.PRECIOUS.DAUGHTERS.
She embraced him and all of his medical talk that we usually just nodded our heads to as if we comprehended every single word. He loved on her with the kind of love you read about. And, he gave two little girls a safe place to fall, a safe place to be held, and safe place to be loved.
So, the day came (that would be Sunday) for the two to become one. Tears flowed through the vows. And, before we knew it, they were a family.
It was a perfect day.
They rode off into the sunset. And, happy days are sure to follow.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Dr. Leiv & Lindsey Takle. And, their two beautiful daughters, Macie and Bella.
God is good.
See? I told you I had a good excuse.
Don’t ya just love love?
DustyTakle.com 