Lauren Sparks

The Sparks Notes

Happy Birthday to Me

by Leave a Comment

My birthday was last weekend.  And I get a little down every year on my birthday.  I don’t know if I’ve ever told anyone that before, because it seems stupid.  So every year, I just feel sad and stupid.  When you are young, everyone makes such a big deal out of your birthday.  Party, presents, cake, friends and family.  Especially when you are a twin – twice the party.  I’m not sure when it happens – but slowly, over time, turning one year older ceases to be so exciting.  But I still have this romanticized idea about how special and magical my birthday should be.  So I always get disappointed when it doesn’t measure up.  I have never really analyzed this, because it seems too selfish and small; but this year I gave it a deeper look.  You see, my love language is gifts (if you haven’t read Gary Chapman’s book on this subject, I would highly recommend it).  People always seem suprised by this – as if it’s unchristian for gifts to mean “love” to me.  Let me explain what that means for me:  I feel most loved when someone has thought about me when we aren’t together.  This doesn’t have to translate into big, expensive gifts (although I don’t turn those down).  It can be as simple as writing me a note, sending me a card, or picking up a knick knack that made you think of me.  Soooo, when my birthday isn’t acknowledged with a card or a gift, I feel unloved.  I know it’s not reasonable or rational.  It doesn’t even sound very grown-up, but its how I feel.  Until now…
I have recognized it for what it is – the bad and the ugly.  So now I refuse to wallow in it.  This birthday, the thought occured to me that instead of judging my friendships and my marriage by this one day a year, I should consider the merits of the relationship the other 364 days a year.  Now THAT puts things in perspecitive.  I have the blessing of a kind, commited husband; fun, loyal friends; generous and engaged parents, and sweet sisters.  I’m going to try to remember this when September 25 comes around again, and live in gratitude for the people in my life. 

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

by Leave a Comment

I love the life we have here in the DFW Metroplex.  We have a wonderful church, great schools, good jobs and fantastic friends.  We don’t have plans to go anywhere else.  But being in Midland last week reminded me that there are some great things about small town life.  As we traveled toward the cemetary where Chuck’s grandmother would be buried, I watched cars pull over to the side of the road and some even get out of their cars in 105 degree heat to show R-E-S-P-E-C-T to the loved ones of the deceased.  It made me realize how rarely I see that courtesy now in the big city.  Then we passed a local high school whose football team was outside practicing.  I watched every young man and coach on that field take off their helmets and caps and take a knee until the entire procession had passed.  I cried all over again.  That’s how I spell respect.  But most of the time, we are all too busy to show respect for others.  We are too wrapped up in ourselves to give others much thought.  And I, sadly, must include myself.  “I can’t pull over for a funeral procession.  I’m already 5 minutes late as it is!”  “I can’t attend a funeral because I would miss a day of work or school.”  “I can’t honor my parents with a visit or respect their wishes because it would inconvenience me.”  
However, the air feels different today.  On the 10th anniversary of 9/11, many are taking time out to show respect to those who lost loved ones and those who served us.  Most people have stopped criticizing our government for one day and are exhorting our nation for rallying together and finding the strength to press on.  Those things are important to me, but I would be lying if I said that “pride” is what I feel today – as some are expressing.  10 years ago, I believed we were on the verge of a great revival in our nation as a result of this tragedy.  People appeared to be turning to God in their time of need.  But it was short-lived.  It didn’t take long after the dust cleared for our nation to decide, once again, that we could do life on our own.  God was forgotten.  It makes me sad to think about it.  As I sat in church this morning, I imagined that instead of the whole world stopping today to reflect on this act of evil, that the we were dedicating a day to remembering the goodness of God.  What if all believers dedicated one day to remembering the day of their salvation?  What if all the news stories today were about God moments – those bigger than life encounters with the Most Holy God?  The rescues, the blessings, the valuable adversities, and the truths revealed.  What would the air feel like today?  How would our world be changed?  
“A song of ascents.  I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”  Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

Categories

Archives