Madison Sanders Writes

© Tammy Sanders Lushness contrasted with the wooded walkway. To the naked eye, it was nothing more than a way to get from point A to point B. I saw something different. The green foliage intertwined with the worn walkway to create something beautiful. This reminded me of our journey through life. When it seems like our life is like a weathered plank, there is something around the corner to make it beautiful. After Mama showed me the pictures, I noticed lights in several places. We are called to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). We all have places in our lives that are like that foliage. Some places are overgrown and messy, but when coupled with something to help you get through the mess, your life takes on a whole new meaning. Like the walkway, we need to make sure we are "walking" over the bad places in our lives. Don't get tangled up in unnecessary drama or stress. Stay on the path.

Geology 5 © Sean Carpenter  via freeimages.com I am having trouble being content with where I am physically. I am doing far more than I was a year ago for sure. "But I just want to get up (from my wheelchair) and start walking a lot. I want to get up and tell my body 'Let's go!' I said to Mama. "You should be content with what you are doing now," she said. I should be, but I know what I could be doing. I could be walking several days a week. I could be chasing my nephews around. I could be... How many times do we let the "could be's" in life stop us from seeing and celebrating what we ARE already doing? I am walking with my walker some. I am sitting up more. I am able to do some simple exercises. I am working on my book. I am helping more at church. I am making progress. I am being consistent with doing all that I know to do. I know that at this stage in life it's not about how much I do, it's about

Butterfly © toniambs  via freeimages.com I wrote this for The Celebration blog several years ago. It has been on my mind for a few weeks, so I decided to post it here. I am still being changed! Every day I become a little more like Jesus. I will never be perfect, but just to know that I don't have to stay broken and discouraged is so amazing! Watching my mom flip through magazines gave me something to focus on as I completed the exercises in physical therapy. (This was several years ago.) Suddenly, she stopped on one page. "Look at the stages of the butterfly. Maybe that would make a good post." I nodded and filed that away in my memory bank for later. The butterfly begins as an egg. It doesn't look like much to begin with. Guess what? When we are babies, we have much to learn! After a while the egg becomes a caterpillar. A caterpillar's main job is to eat. As young Christians, we, too, are hungry for the Word. The Word gives us life and promises that help us