It's Official I'm a Fruit!

In fact, when Trish thinks of fruit she thinks of me FIRST!!!

I visited Trish's blog and read this which left me snorting, sniffing, blushing, and tearing up all at the same time. Trish considers me a fruit and has graced me with this graphic (hopefully displayed to the right).

Background: Trish emailed me last week with an "award" she had been praying about and wanting to start. She asked me to be the first recipient. I replied honestly. It made me uncomfortable. I didn't like the idea of an "award", I didn't want folks to think that I was boastful or that *I* have anything really good in me. I don't. I strenuously avoid pedestals. Mike, laughed at me and said that maybe a "humble button" would make me feel better. He told me to share my feelings with Trish. I did.

Trish asked what would help me feel better, because she really had prayed about the idea and knew if I had this reactions others might as well. I shared taking award off the graphic and just letting me use her gorgeous graphic would be great. ::snort:: She shared her heart (click to read). She told me to read my profile. I did. Hmmm...if I want to lead others to an extravagant love relationship with my Lord, I guess I'd best hope they see something worth imitating. We talked about encouraging one another to love and good deeds, about recognizing the work of God in each other, she told me not to rebuff a blessing (I've heard that before).

This morning, I clicked on Trish's blog and read some very sweet comments about myself. I'm now allowed to post the graphic in my sidebar with a link.

I'm also asked to blog about what it means to me that Trish thinks I'm a fruit among fruits! ::snort::

Seriously, I'm touched. Trish knows me. Trish met me in Alaska during a season in my life when I was seriously OUT OF BALANCE. Trish does not have me on a pedestal. Trish helped me make a zillion tea pots when I had a zany idea about giving each mother/daughter a handmade tea pot at our chapel tea. Trish didn't even attend the chapel or the tea. Trish heard me gripe far to often.

It does sort of stagger me that she sees Christ in me. Honestly, it's not ME - its the reflection of grace that would ever cause anyone to see anything of worth in my life. It ENCOURAGES me to know that others are beginning to see, in some small way, the life of Christ manifested in my life...because it's been a heart cry for years....and I'm simply not the personality that you would think of when you think of those ladies Trish mentions in her blog. When someone says something like this to me, when some of you comment on my blog, when Mike makes comments about me....I'm shocked to think that others consider me to be nearing the league of say that Titus 2 chick or the Proverbs 31 gal.... I have spent many years wrestling with the flesh (sometimes it doesn't like to stay crucified) and will spend many more wrestling with it....and it does mean a lot to me that someone who not only reads my blog, but knows me warts and all, would think that they can see the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. I've also come to think in recent weeks that maybe God brings trials into our lives because He is answering our heart's cry and is forming something in us that we simply don't see. Ok - I'm stopping.

Trish really has a heart to recognize blogs that reflect grace, Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit. I may not have explained it all well here...click that graphic in the sidebar and read for yourself. She is asking that you feel free to email her with blogs that you think also reflect the Fruit of the Spirit.

And um....Trish...what should I put for a title above that graphic? That was one of my less silly captions.