"YOU CAN HATE ME IF YOU WANT...."

 THIS IS A REALLY NEAT STORY.. THOUGHT YOU WOULD MORE THAN LIKELY ENJOY IT! AND I SURELY HOPE SO.. I KNOW I DID!

September 4, 2013 Loved No Matter What Micca Campbell

"We love because he first loved us." 1 John 4:19 (NIV)

I don't recall what my son did wrong. I just remember his reaction to my husband Pat's discipline. It was unlike any time before.

"You're not my dad!" Mitch screamed with rage. "I hate you, I hate you!" he ranted between sobs.

I was shocked watching the two of them battle out their affections. Our son hadn't behaved that way before. He was completely out of control and overwhelmed with anger, fear, and pain.

Mitch was a baby when my first husband, his biological father, died in an accident. Now, standing before the man who had vowed to love him as his own, Mitch wasn't certain he trusted his stepfather's heart.

Pat fell to his knees and embraced Mitch. My little boy continued to fight him. Without letting go, Pat spoke calmly, "You can hate me if you want ..." Pat struggled to keep his arms around Mitch as he tried to pull loose. "But you're my son, and I won't let you go. I will always love you—no matter what."

With every word Pat whispered into Mitch's ear, and as my husband held our child tight, Mitch's fears began to melt away. Suddenly, his body relaxed, and he returned his father's embrace.

It was a defining moment for us all. In that instant, our cheeks wet with tears, we realized Mitch had let down his guard. He began to trust this man who had promised to be his father, to accept his father's love, and to offer love in return. Mitch didn't do it because Pat was his playmate or because his stepfather filled a certain role in Mitch's life. He did so because he knew Pat loved him, even though he had rejected that love at first.

Pat mirrored the character of our heavenly Father when he vowed to always love Mitch and never let him go. Pat was saying to our son, as God says to us, "No matter what, I'm here for you."

What a beautiful picture of 1 John 4:19, "We love because he first loved us."

Our heavenly Father is not some far away God. He is near to us, and we can approach Him, regardless of what needs we come with. Our Father wants to be involved in every detail of our lives. He wants to know and share in our joys and our pains because He loves us.

I find it interesting that the word "Father," referring to God, is often translated "Papa" or "Daddy" in Scripture. These expressions of endearment comfort me as I equate them to my earthly dad. But perhaps you've never had an earthly father to turn to in times of celebration or sorrow.

Maybe your dad was absent and uncaring instead of loving and available. If so, you've discovered that not all people love sincerely and you've been hurt. When this happens, it's easy to think God acts in the same way. But because He is trustworthy and never changes, we can be assured that His love is unconditional and always present.

The comfort of knowing Pat loved him gave Mitch the confidence to love his stepfather back. Today, let's renew our love for our heavenly Father as we rest in the knowledge that He loves us—no matter what.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your unconditional love. Please give me the grace I need to stop fighting and to receive Your love. In Jesus' Name, amen

 WELL, FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT MAY HAVE HEARD.. NORMAN WAS IN A THREE CAR COLLISION TODAY.. HE WAS FOLLOWING A LARGE LTD, THAT WAS FOLLOWING A SCHOOL BUS (that was making stops here and there) AND A TEENAGE GIRL REAR ENDED THE TRUCK, WHICH MADE HIM HIT THE CAR (L.T.D.) THAT WAS IN FRONT OF HIM.. THANKFULLY THE BUS WASN'T CAUGHT UP IN IT! HE SAID THAT THE GIRL WAS SCARED, BUT NOT HURT.. THE LADY IN FRONT COMPLAINED OF HER NECK AND SIDE.. BUT DIDN'T GO TO THE HOSPITAL EITHER.. HE WAS RIGHTFULLY SHOOK UP (IT WAS A HARD IMPACT!.. AND CATCHING IT FROM BEHIND THEN IN FRONT ALSO.. he said he couldn't keep from hitting the LTD) BUT, NO ONE LEFT IN THE AMBULANCE BUT THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN IT.. HE SAID I SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT.. THERE WAS A FIRE TRUCK, AN AMBULANCE, AND A POLICEMAN ).. HE SAID THE GIRL DID OKAY UNTIL HER DAD ARRIVED, THEN SHE CRIED LIKE A BABY.. SO UPSET.. BUT, I SUPPOSE THAT'S WHY THEY CALL THEM ACCIDENTS! THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT! THANK YOU GOD! 
RECENTLY, WE GAVE AWAY 38-40 CHICKENS.. THEN HE HAD ME TO POST TO BUY 7 BUFF HENS (TO GO WITH THE FIVE HENS HE KEPT FROM THE OTHERS.. MAKING 12)... BUT, INSTEAD, GOD SENT US A NICE COUPLE THAT NEEDED TO GIVE THEIR 1O HENS AND 1 ROOSTER AWAY (because something had just killed 8, and they wouldn't go into their chicken coop).. THE CHICKENS (AND ROOSTER) ARE ALL IN REAL GOOD SHAPE.. AND VERY PRETTY.. SOME RHODE ISLAND REDS.. A COUPLE OF SILVER LACED WYANDOTTES, A COUPLE OF GOLDEN LACED WYANDOTTES,    A HEN AND ROOSTER ARAUCANA (some call Easter egg chickens.. they taste the same.. but the shells are colored).. FIRST DAY, WE ALREADY GOT A COUPLE OF EXTRA EGGS.. (sometimes it takes awhile for them to get used to their new home).. ANYWAY, WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THEM! THANKS SCOTT AND ANGELA... WE APPRECIATE THEM, AND WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM.
GUESS HE WASN'T HAPPY WITHOUT ALL "THE GIRLS".... LOL



THOUGHT I WOULD PITCH THIS IN FOR A COUPLE OF GIGGLES.. HOPE YOU SEE THE HUMOR... NOTHING LIKE A GOOD LITTLE GIGGLE! ENJOY



REMINDS ME OF ANOTHER PICTURE FROM DAYS GONE BY.. A HEN WAS JUST SITTING ON HER NEST.. HEAD THROWN BACK.. SWEAT POURING DOWN HER FACE.. CACKLING TO HIGH HEAVENS (TRYING TO LAY HER EGG) THEN ABOUT THAT TIME THE ROOSTER WALKS IN.. REALIZES WHAT SHE'S DOING, AND SAYS VERY CALMLY....
"AH, SHUT UP... IT'S BEEN DONE BEFORE!" LOL, SOUNDS LIKE A MAN, DON'T IT?

WELL, IT'S COMING READY OR NOT .......

AUTUMN, THAT IS.. ACTUALLY BY THE CALENDAR IT STARTS SEPTEMBER 22.. BUT THE SIGNS ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW UP ALREADY! AND THEY ARE PRETTY!

I KNOW THIS IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE.. BUT .. IF THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT.. LET GO AND LET GOD! I AM LIKING THIS PRAYER MORE ALL THE TIME... GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE, COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN, AND WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.

JAKE, FRANCES, EVAN, JENNA, BETTY, TIMMY, KRISTIN, PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURS.. THAT GOD WILL BLESS YOU WITH HEALTH, HAPPINESS, CURES, AND INNER PEACE.. PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURS, YOUR PRAYER LIST AND UNSPOKEN PRAYERS...AND PRAYING FOR OUR FAMILY, EXTENDED FAMILIES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS, AND CO-WORKERS.. MAY GOD WRAP HIS LOVING ARMS AROUND EACH OF AND BLESS US SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND WITH HIS WONDERFUL, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, INNER PEACE, GRACE, MERCIES, GUIDANCE AND A SPECIAL BLESSING THAT ONLY HE KNOWS THAT WE NEED. PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND THE SERVICE PEOPLE THAT ARE RISKING THEIR LIVES FOR EACH OF US.. PRAYING FOR ALL OF THE INNOCENT EVERYWHERE THAT ARE BEING ABUSED, MISTREATED, OR KILLED.. PLEASE GOD HELP OTHERS TO LEARN ONE RULE.. "hands off"
AND FATHER, TODAY AND ALWAYS WE WANT TO THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO.. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING EACH PERSON SAFE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THAT WRECK.. THANK YOU FOR NATURE AND ALL OF ITS BEAUTY.. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND WE GIVE YOU OUR LOVE, THANKS, HONOR, PRAISE AND GLORY IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN.