In it for the Long Hull aka Long Haul

While Ryan and Shawntel have been away a few days, I’ve stayed here with their boys. I loved big brother, Bear, his girlfriend, Hannah, and oldest brother, Braden, and his wife, Ruth, hanging out with us. My heart has been filled with love. Four boys in this Wuerch family here in Austin – so I must tell you about the joy and fun it was to have some “girl” time, talking girl "talk". It was easy to talk that talk because of the family wedding this weekend.

Ruth, my grandson Braden’s wife, my “granddaughter”, is a triplet. The last of the triplets married her dream man on Friday here in Austin. Of all the places in the world where these two sisters would end up is here in Austin. The wedding had been planned for a later date, but they couldn’t wait any longer. They married in a sweet and intimate outdoor setting (the groom’s parent’s home) here in Austin. Pictured here is Rebeca, her new husband, Ben, and that’s my Ruth, the Matron of Honor, behind her. Photo with Braden, Ruth, Rebeca & Ben includes the third triplet, Ruben, who is a Navy Officer, with his wife. Covid kept them from traveling.

We three girls oohed and aahed at the tender and precious moments as Ruth played the wedding video for us. Both bride and groom had written their own vows, so beautifully said through tears and laughter. My heart was touched seeing this strong man, cry his way through almost the whole wedding. He was marrying the love of his life. The three of us teared up when Rebeca, while saying her vows said “I must stop a moment so I can make a vow to someone else”. Rebeca walked over to Ben’s younger sister and vowed to love her, protect her, and care for her all the days of her life. That’s when the tears flowed from everyone at the wedding and we three girls who were enamored by the beauty of that special moment.

I always love hearing the words from I Corinthians 13 that most often are heard at weddings. The minister started with these words: “Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way. It is not irritable or resentful. It does not rejoice in wrongdoing. But rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” As soon as the minister started speaking those words, it started to rain and, so the next words were: “I’ve been told on many occasions that rain is a sign that the marriage will be long and enduring. I think we’re looking at a couple who are going to celebrate 75 or 80 years of marriage.” That is when a pause came to reconvene under the patio. Moments they’ll never forget for those 75 or 80 years to come.

Now, with great expectations, Ben and Rebeca have begun their lives together. I’m so faith-filled that I believe their vows before God of loving, caring, sharing, and helping-each-other-reach-their-full-potential marriage will be blessed by God. A beautiful rite-of-passage that once were two hearts, are now one. As I type this blog, I pray those words for my readers today – to remember 1 Corinthians 13, with those love words, and to do a self-analysis. “Is our love still defined by the words of St. Paul? If not – then why not begin again to remember and put those words first place for the long haul? Ben’s last name is Hull – so that was the theme of the wedding “In it for the long Hull”. I pray the long Hull and long HAUL for them and you, too!

All for One -- One for ALL -- "One Another Living"

Maybe we should take the battle cry of the Three Musketeers and make it our motto. That sounds like a lofty goal, especially in the light of all this presidential campaign rhetoric, bitter and contentious words and remarks from both candidates and parties.

If ever Christians needed to become "All for One and One for All", it's today. What does that mean? It means that our lives should become so "light" bearing, that it is so obvious who the Christians are. People need to see Christains who manifest the character of Christ, speaking the truth in love with courage and compassion. I love Rick Warren's statement "God teaches us to love by putting some unlovely people around us. It takes no character to love people who are lovely and loving to you." The more bitter our nation's politics are, the more persuasive OUR witness will be.

No pun intended, but LOVE trumps everything! It trumps gender and ethnic diversity. It trumps cultural differences. It trumps religious preferences. It even trumps political affiliations.

We’ve gotten so consumed with being right that we’ve forgotten about being IN LOVE. That’s right! We are supposed to be in love with each other.

God's love.....Christ’s love trumps all! ALL! I know it’s not polite to yell (all caps), but we’ve got to get this right and soon.

Back to "All for One -- One for All". In Galatians 5:14, Paul wrote, "For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” I think what Paul is talking about here is the kind of love of neighbor that the Musketeers had for each another. We can learn from their unity and loyalty. As followers of Jesus Christ, not only do we strive to serve, protect, and love God, but we are ALSO called to serve, protect and love each other.

Today, I'm thinking of ways that we can join our hands and hearts together to be a part of something greater than my 4 and no more -- greater than "What's in it for me?" What if we began to pray and humble ourselves to become servants that live a life of ONE ANOTHER LIVING? "What can i do for you? What can i do for the cause? What can i do for the team? What can i do for others that helps them to win?" We're ALL on the same team -- we're God's kids, and we represent our Father Who WILL WIN and win BIG TIME (yes, I'm yelling again) in spite of who this nation's next president will be! Everyone will know us by being on the LIGHT side by our love for one another. All for ONE -- ONE for all.

Doing the Right Thing

After 18 years as a Real Estate Broker, today, I will be completing my Real Estate Broker-in-Charge requirements for another 3-year term. My sweetheart had over 30 years under his belt when he went to heaven. After obtaining my initial R/E Associate License, he urged me to obtain my Broker's license to further assist him in our Sonlife Properties R/E Company. At the time, it seemed so unneeded (better said, UN-wanted -- it meant I had to use a lot of brain power to learn so much), but I am so grateful he was relentless in encouraging me to finish strong. Now I know why. The blessings, for both of us in our years of real estate, have been so many, and since he went to heaven, it has served me so well.

I always learn so much when I attend these continuing education courses which are also "refresher" courses. These few days have been no exception. So many rules, regulations, do's and don'ts, attention to details, ethics, standards, laws, codes, provisions! Ugh! Laws....all those things that restrain us, keep us from fun and living it up. OR, is it those things that FREE us and PROTECT us and give us a meaningful, blessed and prosperous life? In these classes, plenty of tragic stories are heard of how negligence or lack of integrity destroyed a family's life. But, at the same time, we heard stories that "saved the day" because of law-abiding, generous, kind and thoughtful actions that were taken.

Whether it be in real estate, or any profession, or being a good citizen who adheres to the laws of the land, we will be known by our actions. J.C. Watts said, "Character is doing the right thing when nobody's looking. There are too many people who think that the only thing that's right is to get by, and the only thing that's wrong is to get caught." And, the Apostle Paul said in Matthew 7:20 "You will know them by their fruits."

Our reputation of honesty and integrity is worth its weight in gold in all of our business relations, our human relations, and our relationship with God. There will be so many opportunities in our life to take a shortcut or do the wrong thing or even to justify bad behavior as a reaction to someone else’s bad behavior. Let's live our lives in such a way that when each day comes to a close we can look in the mirror and say, “Today I did the right thing.”

Are the LITTLE Things.....Really the BIG Things?

Are the LITTLE things..... REALLY, the BIG things?
* You might remember that the head of a company survived 9/11 because his son started kindergarten.
* Another fellow was alive because it was His turn to bring donuts. * One woman was late because her alarm clock didn't go off in time. * One was stuck on the NJ Turnpike because of an auto accident.
* One of them missed his bus.
* One spilled food on her clothes and had to take time to change.
* One's car wouldn't start.
* One couldn't get a taxi.
* One took the various means to get to work, but before he got there, he developed
a blister on his foot. He stopped at a drugstore to buy a Band-Aid.
That is why he is alive today....

These "little" things became the BIG things to those people. Doesn't that give us reason to respect the little things that may seem like annoying inconveniences to us? What if those "little" things were God's way of protecting us from harm and calamity? I promise you, God's Word is so true. I know I harp on it a lot, but I sincerely believe, "ALL THINGS -- (little and big) work together for good to those who love God......" Romans 8:28

So, the next time our morning seems to be going wrong, the children are slow getting dressed, we can't seem to find the car keys, we have to turn back to answer a ringing telephone, we hit every traffic light....all those little things that come our way, if we think to ourselves, "It's okay. This is exactly where God wants me to be at this very moment." Just remember....He's looking out for His kids -- let's let Him!