My Parent’s 40th Year Anniversary

Forty years ago today, my parents- Robert and Karen Pompell- promised themselves to each other, for better or for worse, in richness and in want, in sickness and in health-till death do they part. I have seen them faithfully love each other in each of those circumstances, and have been deeply blessed by both the delightful and the difficult aspects of their marriage. I asked them this weekend what sort of lessons they have learned over the 40 years, and here’s what they had to say:

• Mom said she learned…

  • He cannot read my mind, he cannot read my emotions, and so if I want him to know what’s on my mind or how I feel–I have to tell him!

  • He doesn’t do stuff to particularly make me mad–that’s just my perception, and I had to learn to let it go and believe the best about it

  • Just because we see the same thing, doesn’t mean we see the same thing

  • I’ve learned to love him more, to be a friend, to be a confidant, and to enjoy his company.

  • I’ve learned to support him in all his endeavors

  • I’ve learned that it is never good to say negative things about the man you’re married to in front of your children, or in front of friends.

  • I’ve learned I DO need a confidant, but you have to pick that confidant very carefully

  • I have learned what true human unconditional love is. ❤

  • I’ve learned to replace negative thoughts playing in my mind with positive thoughts and to let God’s spirit shine through me in our marriage

• Dad said he learned…

  • As you grow older together, there are different stages you go through in life, and you adjust to meet each others needs and changes

  • If you love unconditionally, she just gets more beautiful every day

  • When I feel my worst, she gives me her best. She is a great encourager to me and is supportive.

  • Over the years, we learned how to become better communicators

  • We had to keep God at the center of our marriage. When we depend on him-in prayer and in Scripture-he takes us through the storms and helps us stay focused in our love.

  • There may be times you don’t like each other-but you still have to love each other

  • With love, comes true forgiveness. When you have your disagreements- you don’t say “Remember when” , that’s not forgiveness. Forgiveness is the way Christ forgives us-it’s gone! It’s forgotten!

  • Don’t dwell on the past, focus on the present, work on the future together.

  • Holding her hand or rubbing her feet is a love language I have learned over the years. It means just as much as me looking at her and saying “I love you”>

  • There is nothing she loves more than getting her feet loved-so she gets her feet rubbed everyday

  • We are going to mess up and get mad at one another, but it’s the forgiveness. And keep working at pleasing one another

  • Prayer together, keeping Christ at the center is when our marriage is the strongest

  • You need friends you can confide in, to talk to, to pray with you, to encourage you, when things are not going so well. Don’t share it with everyone, but find believers you can trust and pray for me. I have seen so many miracles in our marriage!

  • My wife is the ultimate gift I. I have been so blessed. I could not ask for more beautiful, loving wife. Not always been easy, it has been difficult, very difficult at times, but my love never wavered and I just thank God every day for every day that we have together. I think no matter what comes our way, all I can say is “thank you”.

Thanks for your wisdom, love, honestly, and example Mom and Dad! Happy 40th wedding anniversary! I thank God for you and pray He gives you many, many more!

Love,

Betty

Cannot Stop Laughing

This. EVERY. Time.

 

Enjoy 🙂

 

-Betty

Make ’em Laugh

Growing up, I LOVED watching old musicals! Among my favorite songs were “Bless Yore Beautiful Hide” from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, “The Chimney Sweep Song” from Mary Poppins and “Make ’em Laugh” from Singing in the Rain.

In the 1952 film starring Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor -“Make ’em Laugh”- was performed perfectly by the character Cosmo Brown and enamored my brother and I at young ages with the skill of physical comedy.

Make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh,
Don’t you know ev’ry one wants to laugh?
My dad said, “Be an actor my son,
But be a comical one!”
They’ll be standing in lines
For those old honky tonk monkey shines
Oh, you could study Shakespear and be quite elite,
And you could charm the critics and have nothing to eat,
Just slip on a a banana peel, the world’s at your feet
Make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh, make ’em laugh!

Reading back over these lines and watching this clip- I just thank God for the gift of humor! He didn’t have to give us funny bones, but HE DID! Graciously, brilliantly, and loving-he gifted the world with laughter.

Remember that God is the giver of EVERY good gift-including humor. In thanksgiving and love,  be careful not to make light of and laugh at the things that break God’s heart.

 

Another Puritan Prayer

Sometimes, I don’t know what to pray. In those moments, I allow pre-written prayers of saints gone by to minister to my spirit and remind me how to pray.

O Lord,

Whose power is infinite and wisdom infallible, order things that they may neither hinder, nor discourage me, nor prove obstacles to the progress of Your cause.

Stand between me and all strife, that no evil befall, no sin corrupt my gifts, zeal, attainments. May I follow duty and not any foolish device of my own. Permit me not to labour at work which You will not bless, that I may serve You without disgrace or debt.

Let me dwell in Your most secret place under Your shadow, where is safe impenetrable protection from the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that walks in darkness, the strife of tongues, the malice of ill-will, the hurt of unkind talk, the snares of company, the perils of youth, the temptations of middle life, the moumings of old age, the fear of death.

I am entirely dependent upon You for support, counsel, consolation. Uphold me by Your free Spirit, and may I not think it enough to be preserved from falling, but may I always go forward, always abounding in the work You give me to do. Strengthen me by Your Spirit in my inner self for every purpose of my Christian life.

All my jewels I give to the shadow of the safety that is in You—my name anew in Christ, my body, soul, talents, character, my success, spouse, children, friends, work, my present, my future, my end. Take them, they are Yours, and I am Yours, now and for ever.

Amen

When God Gave Me a New Bedroom Set

I love writing notes to people. Often, I will type it up on a word document, and then transfer it to pen and paper once I have it saying exactly what I want it to say! Tonight I found this draft of the letter I wrote almost 3 years ago! It was encouraging to read and remember the gift that was given to me by God and his servant. And so I share it with you with the hope that it encourages you to be creatively and wonderfully generous, and also deeply grateful for every good thing God sends your way!

Dearest Marian,

As you are faithful and generous to the people God has cross your path, He uses your generosity in their lives in many ways. I am sure that many times you are never aware of how He uses you, but for this instance, I would love to share with you the blessing God brought into my life through your giving.

I had been dating (and hoping to marry) a young man for almost 4 years. He bought a house a few years ago and we have been working on it together. I never bought “house items” for myself, because in the back of my mind, we were going to be married any day and I wouldn’t need my own furniture, décor, etc. Well, just as Proverbs 19:21 says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”. The Lord seems to have hardened his heart against me, and gave him no peace about marrying me.

But in God’s foreknowledge, just weeks before our breakup, He moved me out of my duplex with unbelievers, and into a new and beautiful home with 2 godly young women. In this beautiful space, God used YOU to provide a “fresh start” to my bedroom. My bedroom, instead of being filled with memories of my ex, was now a steadfast reminder of God’s gracious provision and kindness in my life. Because of your willingness to be generous, I have a night stand filled with my Bible, journal, devotional book, and prayer list by my comfy “new” prayer chair! I call it my “Jesus Drawer” and get to comfortably meet Him each morning in my room. I have already journeled many times of my gratefulness for such an inviting atmosphere to commune with God. It truly is a gift! In fact, each of your gifts can remind me of a different truth about our God:

My lamps: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105

My pillows: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17

My bed: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-29

My night stands: “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matt. 5:15

My blankets: “The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” 1 Peter 4: 7-10

All this to say thank you for allowing me to be the recipient of your bedroom set and desk-because in receiving it, I gained more than furniture, I received the gift of encouragement. Encouragement that God knew what my heartbreak would be and he provided for it before it even happened. Encouragement that God knows how much I love ambiance, and though not necessary, He graciously allows me to have a beautiful bedroom that brings me joy.

With Love and Gratitude to the Lord,

Betty