Pat Strickland

What is Beautiful?

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jo.mantle

Ms. Pat, your house is so beautiful. 

People who don’t have kids have beautiful houses. 

Our house is not pretty” Jada said.

I responded, “Well you should have seen my house when our boys were your age we had toys and shoes and stuff all around and it was not beautiful.”

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I thought of my house a few weeks ago with the pantry stuff all over the living room. That was not beautiful.

Out of the mouths of babes!  This precious seven year old observed the lack of toys and kid stuff and saw beauty.

The beauty I saw was the love and security this little girl and her sister were experiencing in their Grammy and Pappy’s home.  The girls came to live with their grandparents several years ago because of their parents’ problems.

Each February we have a reunion gathering of friends from a Bible Study group.   Seven years ago, Jerry and Lois brought their three month old grandbaby Jada and her five year old sister Natalie to the gathering.

Over the years we have watched the girls grow not only physically and socially but also spiritually.   We observe them at church sitting with their Pappy as their Grammy sings in the choir.

 That is true beauty to sacrifice your lives for others.

Now Jerry and Lois have custody of the girls
and are blessed to be raising them in a godly home.

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Jerry & Lois with Jada (sitting)
My husband John and I ( standing)

I love to have nice things and am privileged to have friends who help me decorate my home.   (Thanks Jo!)

However, there is nothing as beautiful as a child who feels loved and secure and knows that God loves them.

Prayer:  Lord please help me to sacrifice myself for others and spread your beauty to those in need of love.

A Living Sacrifice
Romans 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Ecc. 3:11 – He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. –
Isaiah 52:7 
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  

22 responses to “What is Beautiful?”

  1. Bretta Honaker Ogburn Avatar
    Bretta Honaker Ogburn

    Sweet words about special people!

    Reply
  2. Carole Maddox Avatar
    Carole Maddox

    Great post, Pat! I’ve read your previous ones and you do a good job–talented writer.
    Hugs, Carole

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks Carole. Appreciate you reading.

      Reply
  3. Chalonda Avatar
    Chalonda

    Great post!

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks sweetie.

      Reply
  4. Betty Freeman Avatar
    Betty Freeman

    I always enjoy reading good things about people I know.

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks Betty.

      Reply
  5. Lois Rich Avatar
    Lois Rich

    Dearest Ms. Pat – You have obviously spent some quality soul-searching time, reaching deep inside to produce this wonderfully written journal. It is very gracious and kind, and I love the way you encapsulate Jada’s perception of beauty being a lack of scattered toys. Your pictures well-illustrate your message of true beauty, as well.

    Natalie and Jada are a source of joy for Jerry and I. And while life gets chaotic at times, they adorn our home with beauty, mercy and much grace.

    Jerry and I thoroughly enjoy our February reunions with you and John, and trust the girls will do as Mickey’s son and continue through their adult years.

    Thank you so much for loving our sweet girls enough to ponder their expressions and pen such a heartfelt work of art. You are a Godly woman and much admired.

    Lovingly….

    PS – Thank you, Bretta! You’re pretty special, too!!

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Bless you my sweet sister.

      Reply
  6. Tony Avatar
    Tony

    Pat,

    Thanks for your insight of beauty& having the eyes to see it.

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks Tony.

      Reply
  7. Lynn Van Wyk Avatar
    Lynn Van Wyk

    Very good Pat.

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks Lynn.

      Reply
  8. Lynda Parker Avatar
    Lynda Parker

    Thanks for sharing beautiful word from the inside of a beautiful heart.

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks Lynda.

      Reply
  9. Tim Strickland Avatar
    Tim Strickland

    Very well written there Mom. Love seeing and hearing about all the “Christ Like” moments you and Dad have in your lives and others. Awesome stuff. Love you, Timmy

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks, Tim. God has blessed us with many special people in our lives.
      Excited about my new blog site. Had more response last two days than I have had in a year.

      Love, Mom

      Reply
  10. Delores Perkins Avatar
    Delores Perkins

    I love your blog and will share the contents of a poster hanging in my son and daughter-in-laws’ home……PARDON THE MESS! MY CHILDREN ARE MAKING MEMORIES!

    Reply
  11. Dottie McIntosh Honea Avatar
    Dottie McIntosh Honea

    Thank you for sharing this heartfelt post, Pat. Could it really have been 7 years since the Rich’s brought those precious children to church for the first time? Seems like only a couple of years ago. I loved what Jada said about your “beautiful house” but I, too, see (and miss) the beauty of a home well lived-in by children. Now, I get to enjoy the beauty of my grandchildren. God has richly and truly blessed us all, hasn’t he?

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks Dottie. We are blessed.

      Reply
  12. Nikki Avatar
    Nikki

    Thanks for sharing. What a wonderful article!

    Reply
    1. Pat from Georgia Avatar
      Pat from Georgia

      Thanks Nikki.

      Reply

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I’m Pat, mom to two, nana to three and hopefully encourager to those who visit here. Join me as we discover how “much more valuable” we are when we follow and trust instead of lead and worry.
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