Your Complaints are My Prayers

"Every rose has its thorn." 

Poison so accurately made this claim in their 1988 song, and this little cliché line is so true.  The greatest blessings in life often come with their own troubles, yet, lately, I seem to hear so much about the thorns that I wonder if people even remember they have the rose.

Don't get me wrong; I'm just as guilty as the next person. We all have our bad days where we vent and grumble to any listening ear. However, ...

It is so hard to empathize with a person's THORNS when you're staring straight at their beautiful ROSE! 

Let me explain.

In the past few weeks, I've listened to several people tell me the woes of their children. I tried to listen wholeheartedly to their distress, but my genuine concern began to fade as the complaints piled into view (on a very touchy subject):

• We're expecting a child earlier than planned. I'm so bummed.
• My children consume so much of my time. I never have any time to myself. 
• I'll be so glad when my children are out of the house; they're so expensive.
• I never seem to get sleep anymore because of my child.

...and the list goes on

One even said, "Courtney, be so thankful that you have all this free time without a child." 

Please know that I care deeply about the conversations I have with others, but it is SO HARD to empathize with your woes as I'm staring at your rose. You see:

• We're expecting a child earlier than planned. I'm so bummed.
  As I look at your cute bump after losing our planned child, I'm so bummed.
• My children consume so much of my time. I never have any time to myself.
  The children of others consume my days, as I long for one of my own. I never have time to myself.
• I'll be so glad when my children are out of the house; they're so expensive.
  Words cannot explain the cost of losing a child. Cherish this time; you'll miss them when they're gone - trust me, I do - and I only had mine for 9 weeks.
• I never seem to get sleep anymore because of my child.
  I go to sleep and dream about one day having a child; my dreams are your reality.

In essence, YOUR COMPLAINTS ARE MY PRAYERS.

 

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Oh, how that simple phrase seems to haunt me now! Sometimes life's circumstances can really open our eyes, and I've realized lately just how much I've done the same to others. How in the world can they sympathize with my thorns as they're staring at my beautiful blessings?!

I complain about bad days at work;  

I once spent 8 months pleading to God for a job.

I complain about being cold when the air won't cut off;  

A sweet inner-city child prays for her power to not be cut off.

I complain about the house not being clean;  

The older gentleman down at the Salvation Army just wants a place to call home.

I complain about a bad hair day;
My precious friend is thankful to have beat chemo and have hair again.

I complain about eating the "same 'ol thing" again;
The student cherishes lunch, knowing that the next meal won't be until after the weekend.

I could go on and on. 

I've realized just how painful it is to hear others complain about the VERY thing you are fervently praying for, and I shamefully realize just how much I've added to others' pain. 

May we all remember,
someone else is praying for the very things you take for granted.

Life can be difficult, that's for sure, and I'm not saying we should hide our struggles... but complaining has never once solved a problem - action has. 

Sometimes, we just need to take action and know when to Shut. Thy. Mouth.

So, I leave you with this... 

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Until next time... 

Commander Life Apparel - Release Party

My husband and I were recently given the opportunity to attend the Commander Life apparel release party hosted by the Robertsons themselves! 

Duck Commander/Buck Commander has been more widely known since the A&E series Ducky Dynasty has aired on tv. Phil started the business, Willie expanded it, and now the whole crew joins in the fun. While Willie and Korie's oldest daughter began the Duck & Dressing (higher-end)clothing line, the family wanted a clothing line that truly combined their love of the great outdoors with faith, family, and fashion - thus resulted the new Commander Life line of clothing. 

Sportin' our Commander Life apparel

Paul and I received samples of the clothing line to keep, and I must say that I give it two-thumbs up! The clothing is very practical, versatile, and well-made. I hate cheaply made clothing that is higher-priced simply due to a logo; that is NOT the case with this line. With the name also come quality, and each piece can be adapted for many different outfits/styles. LOVE IT!

So....

How did we get this incredible opportunity? 

We know the right people. ;) haha 
Actually, they are called very generous friends who let you tag along when they win an amazingly cool opportunity such as this.

Paul's best friend Coy submitted a video to the Duck Commander Superfan Contest. I don't think he ever really thought he would win, but apparently being normal (sane) pays off. His video made it to the finals, and he was one of ten winners. When they told him he could bring three people with him, we were happy to oblige his request. -- It was such a tough decision! (insert sarcasm)

I. WAS. PUMPED.

We traveled to Monroe, Louisiana and stayed from Thursday to Sunday. During that time, we were able to:

• Eat @ Willie's Duck Diner (which has the BEST crawfish gumbo I've ever tasted!)

Willie's personal dining room @ the restaurant

• Meet Korie's parents, the Howards. They are the sweetest, most genuine  people, and I sincerely hope I can look like Mrs. Krys when I have grandchildren of my own. We were able to sit and chat with them quite a bit throughout the weekend, and they were so kind as to find us at church on Sunday, as well, just to say hello again.
  
• Go to the Robertsons's Family Farm (where John Luke was married) for the fashion show/reveal party of the Commander Life apparel line.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Hang out  in the family barn while eating yummy desserts (Coconut Cream Pie - delish!) and casually chatting with the crew -- Willie, Korie, Sadie, Little Will, Bella, Rebecca, Godwin, Martin, etc.
  
  
• Get a HUGE gift bag (which they called a swag bag) for each of us that contained a wide variety of various items including hats, apparel, and other odd-n-ends. I could not believe the generosity of how much apparel we received from the new clothing line - especially when I saw the retail cost. I know it did not cost them as much, but I still have to emphasize that the Robertsons are VERY generous people.
  
  
• Visit the warehouse of Duck Commander/Buck Commander and hang out a bit with Uncle Si, which involved many, MANY laughs, laughs, and more LAUGHS! He also signed our duck calls.
  
  
• Get Martin to personally make my dad a duck call for his 50th birthday! He even signed it!
  
  
  
• Go canoeing out on the bayou with our dear friends who let us tag along! -- and a couple alligators. I may or may not have freaked a little when I saw the end tail of the gator slide into the water beside our canoe.
  
  
  
  
• Eat at the Warehouse, no. 1 - a yummy restaurant inside a renovated warehouse on the river.
  
  

  

  shrimp n grits, yummy!

  
  
• Spec out the barrel racing at a rodeo that was in town for the weekend.
  
• And finally attend church at Whites Ferry Road Church of Christ (where the Robertsons attend). I loved the passion in that church, and it was SO refreshing to see Willie & Korie, Jace & Missy, and even Mountain Man just worshiping God. I know they lead busy, blessed lives, but they are certain to make God a priority. Also, with Willie and Korie sitting just two rows behind us, I did get to witness them greeting visitors, praying with people, and just being an uplifting church member, just as the rest of us strive to do.
  
  
  
  
  After our time spent with the Robertsons, I can tell that they do not put on a show for the cameras. What you see is what you get; in fact, I think you get better in reality. Si really is that funny jokester in real life (although he hates sweet tea; his is indeed unsweet). Willy is so much more humble in person than he might appear on tv. Sadie is just as sweet in person, regardless of the fact that she has her own Live Original campaign, was on Dancing With the Stars, and is filming a movie. Mountain Man really talks like that, like for real. And Martin and Godwin are the most down to earth men with a great sense of humor and precious wives (I was so glad we got to meet and talk with them). Godwin just wanted to find the dessert table!
  
  We had a great trip, and I'm just so thankful for the opportunity. It was such a reminder to not let the things of the world (even successes that promote Christ) get in the way of serving Christ first. The Robertsons do just that!
  
  

  

  Paul hanging out at Willie's desk...

  
  
  Until next time...