The Organic Way.

I love my job. 

being a nanny is so much fun.

from rushing out the door to make it to school on time, to folding our hands and bowing our heads to say our goodnight prayers and everything in between. 

The chaos.

The crumbs. 

The cute smiles. 

Recently as I was par oozing through the aisles of Whole Foods with one of my girls Presley (4) we were filling the cart with the family necessities. 

yogurt- check

milk- check

fruit- check

We quickly pass aisle by aisle crossing the items off our neatly, organized, categorized list. Prelsey is such a good help and loves to stand on her tippy toes and grab the milk and hand it to be proudly as she accomplished something a "little" girl couldn't do. 

We approached the meat counter and I glanced at out list to read "Organic Chicken Breasts (3)"

The gentleman asked me what I would like and I quickly told him "3 organic Chicken Breasts please" hoping that while Presley was pre-occupied I could quickly make my order without her wanting to order it herself. 

As I placed the chicken in our cart, Presley quickly squints her eyes my direction, grabs to meat out of the cart swiftly, asking "Brookie WAIT! IS THIS ORGANIC?!?!?"

I said of course Presley! Brookie knows what mommy likes! She was then comforted and held my hand as we took off to the checkout. 

Funny thing, as I thought about this, Presley knew that if the meat wasn't Organic that it would not be what mommy would want. That it would be "less" then what mom wanted. She had a look that almost said "that would do harm if it's not!" 

A lot of people settle for the processed, when they could have the Organic. 

What I mean is that even in my own live, I settle for finding my worth in males, or attention.. then the King of affection who is constantly pursuing me. That I lay awake at night and wait for that guy to text me, when I have a love letter from the God of the universe collecting dust on my shelf. 

That we go through life with a check list of accomplishments we hope to cross off (which isn't a bad thing) but that's all we live for. It is just the "processed" view of life. To be real, to be Organic, means to be free. If you think about it Processed foods are caged, filled with hormones, and fed the very cheapest of ways. When we go through life with out Christ, we are constantly going to be searching for some sort of fulfillment-- being caged. We settle for a life of a good job, nice cars, a house, 2.5 children, a dog named spot and that's all. God wants you, while you're living on this earth, this short life you have, to live a life of fulfillment. He wants the best for His children just like mommy wants for Presley. She knows that though she pays more, her return is knowing her children aren't being filled with things that could possibly do harm. Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, so that His children could live a life of joy, and completeness in Him. Don't settle for the second best, God has sacrificed His best so you could live your best life! 

Beauty of the Heart.

Saturday. 

The day when you can sit in your sweats and watch movies and consume sweets and not feel guilty about it all. 

As I pry myself out of bed; reluctantly, to get ready for work... I quickly washed my face. Blindly reached for a towel to dry my eyes enough to see my reflection in the foggy mirror. I looked back at my mascara run, puffy, barely opened eyes and thought: 

"who is this girl?"

Have you ever had one of those "deep thought" moments? well, this was one. 

I thought... I can't walk out of my house without makeup on... My closet is over flowing with the latest name brand fashions-- and I happily spend lots of money on them. I have a car, my own place... two jobs, my split ends are minimal, my bank account has some cushion. I'm feeling pretty okay these days. But am I really okay? The thought of looking deep in my eyes and seeing past this facade I put on oh so well is kind of frightening. Scary to say the least. 

Who am I really? "Who is Brooke? What are her dreams? What is her heart like?" These were the questions flooding my conscience. Behind all the things that one day fade... behind the jewelry I adorn myself with, what is the true treasure of my heart? What am I living for? Myself? Who I want people to see me as? What kind of name I can make for myself? 

How empty of a life, to constantly have one's eyes focused solely on oneself. 

I quickly remembered who God says I am: 

I am virtuous, I am capable, I am loved, I am cherished  I am beautiful, I am worth dying for. I am lovely, I am wanted, I have a joy that goes beyond circumstance.. (Romans 6:6 Romans 8 Proverbs 31)

Thinking about who God says I am is far beyond what my outer appearance can offer anyone. I want to be constantly aware of those around me and their needs. Be sensitive to who they are and take the focus off of me. 

B.O.B and Taylor Swift's song "Both of us" says it pretty clearly:

"And sometimes I wonder, why we care so much about the way we look.
And the way we talk and the way we act and the clothes we bought, how much that cost.
Does it even really matter?
Cause if life is an up hill battle
We all tryna climb with the same ol' ladder
In the same boat, with the same ol' paddle
Why so shallow? I'm just asking
What's the pattern to the madness
Everybody ain't a number one draft pick
Most of us ain't Hollywood actors

But if it's all for one, and one for all
Then maybe one day, we all can ball
Do it one time for the underdogs
Sincerely yours, from one of y'all"

If our life is but a flash in the light of eternity, I say we take some time and really make sure our focus is pointing towards a purpose. It's okay to wear makeup-- of course, it's okay to have a nice house, it's okay to have a nice car, it's okay to like fashion and express yourself. But where is your heart in it all? I am saying my heart gets so distracted, so caught up, so entangled in adorning my outer appearance I forget I am only on the earth for a short time, and I want that time to be a time I made a difference in every life that crossed my path. 

:)