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I have a saying for you–actually, I have a couple of them:

Good moms have sticky floors, dirty counters and happy kids.
Not my circus, not my monkeys.
Get on your knees and pray, then get on your feet and work.
Life doesn’t always go the way we expect it to…..Thank God.
I make the world go around.  What do you do?
Sorry I’m late-I didn’t want to come.

Yes, I realize they have nothing to do with each other.  I am just able to see each and every one of them while sitting at the bar in my kitchen.  I LOVE inspirational little plaques. And dish towels. And boxes. And mugs. And tin signs. And pillows. And cuff bracelets. If I had my way you’d walk around my house constantly running into things because your eyes would be forever reading tiny little life-changing sayings all over the place. Alas, I have run out of room (and my spouse has run out of signage tolerance) and I shall have to settle for simply changing the ones I have every now and then.

Obviously I am not the only one who has a slight obsession with these things. Stores, catalogs and internet sites are full of them! People can’t get enough of them! Some are just downright funny–their unexpected pops of humor can make you snort out loud and cause people farther down the aisle to look at you in alarm (Oh come one, don’t try to tell me that hasn’t happened to you!). Others make us smile a little as we apply them to something in our own lives. Still others make us stop and think for a minute about the way we are headed and what’s in store for us.

I suppose in a way all of these little sayings in my house are like my own rigged version of the Magic 8-Ball or a pre-stuffed fortune cookie. They say what I want them to say and give me the emotions I want to feel. Nostalgia. Comedy. Hope. Strength.

Needless to say, when I go out and about I always keep my eyes open for more of these little wordy treasures. Doesn’t that statement seem like a pretty good parable for life? People tend to spend a lot of time searching for things to give them direction or to validate the pathways they’ve already chosen. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked God to “give me a sign” about something; how many times I’ve scoured billboards, read numerous “verse of the day”‘s or scrutinized lyrics in songs to see if my “answer” is being delivered. I’ve learned that God certainly does answer prayers….and while He may occasionally use a sky writing airplane to deliver the message….that’s not the norm. Sometimes you have to listen a little more carefully for His answers and use some prayerful discernment to see exactly how He’s talking to you.

Sometimes I wonder if maybe I fill my house with all of these things so that I can find answers everywhere I turn. Then I think–Nah. I just like the smiles they bring. The answers I really want are going to come from God. I don’t know what form they will come in…

Maybe scripture….
Maybe dreams…
Maybe other people…
Maybe open door….
Maybe doors that slam in my face.

The answers will come if I keep asking….in one way or another. Meanwhile I’ll enjoy my little sayings and just keep humming this tune.  Come on…..you know you want to sing along!

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(I found this one at Hallmark.  It was really big.  I’m going back for it…surely my husband won’t notice?)

What are some of your favorite signs and sayings?  We’d love to hear!

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