Tag Archives: grace

Confident Boundaries with Children

Confidence, Life, , , ,

Picture a white picket fence around a beautiful home, this is the analogy Henry Cloud gives In his books about Boundaries to create an image of our responsibilities in life. We each have a home. We may share our home, but within our common space there are times and places of privacy. Our lives are not easily separated from our family’s lives and often the responsibilities of life are ours to share.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ…. for each one should carry their own load. -Galatians 6:2, 5 

Giving up our time and possessions for our spouse and children is not poor boundaries; it is bearing their “burden” as long as we are each taking responsibility for our own “load.” My daughter’s homework is not my responsibility, for example, but helping her get the material she needs to do it is, since she is still dependent on me for rides and finances. She is still living within my home.

It feels good to be needed. 

The younger our children are, the more we need to sacrifice on their behalf. Our infants need us to sacrifice our needs in order to meet theirs. It doesn’t matter how tiered we are, we must get up in the middle of the night if they need us. As our children grow less dependent upon us we would be wise to adjust our boundaries. While it is proper boundaries to stop everything to care for the child who cannot even burp on her own, it may not be healthy to Continue reading Confident Boundaries with Children →

What Makes America Beautiful?

Beauty, Confidence, , , ,

Denali_Sunshine_-_Mountain_-_Alaska

Katherine Lee Bates said it well: America the beautiful. Our spacious skies, fields and mountains certainly are majestic, not to mention the music-hearted seas that grace our beautiful shores-but really, every nation has some kind of beauty to be appreciated. Perhaps America’s greatest beauty is the very thing we celebrate this weekend: our independence.

When I was eleven, my family set out on an adventure to begin a new life in Maine. On my first day of school I had kids snubbing me because they thought I was rich (kind of ironic, don’t you think?). I remember going home and asking my mom, “why do they call me ‘rich girl’? We live in a tiny shack, I don’t even have my own room!” Mom’s response baffled me. “Honey, that’s because we come from Cape Cod. People travel from all over the world to vacation there.” Call me naive, but I had no idea I had grown up in a resort area.

 During my junior year of high school, we returned to the Cape and I found myself dumfounded at my friends’ lack of gratitude for our surroundings. I guess it’s not uncommon to take for granted the beauty that is right in front of us-until it’s gone.

I never intend to move off-Cape again; I enjoy every break in landscape that gives a glimpse of the water and I miss it even when I go away for a week.

But I take my country for granted all the time because I don’t know what it is like to live without all that America has to offer. Scenic views may be what draws tourists to places like Cape Cod, but it is the freedom to BE and LET BE that draws so many cultures to the USA. We would all do well to remember that this weekend, as we celebrate Independence Day, because God-forbid we should ever have to go without it.

Independence makes a country beautiful, but it also what makes you beautiful! To celebrate the Fourth of July, I am giving away a copy of my devotional book, Supreme MakeOver, to anyone who buys an autographed copy of Confident Beauty (from my website). Why? Because I was born on Independence Day and I want you to be able to declare your independence from all the Confidence Conflicts that you face, and these two books are designed to bring Confident Beauty, which doesn’t wear off like makeup does!

 

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Catrina Welch is an inspirational author and speaker whose personal experience with overcoming rejection, betrayal and loss–as well as her expertise as a cosmetologist, image consultant and Biblical life-coach–is empowering women to BE and LET BE.

Her latest book, CONFIDENT BEAUTY: Reflecting the One Who Made You, with the Images in your Mirror and in your Soul, is now available in your favorite bookstores. Autographed copies of all her books are available on her website at www.CatrinaWelch.com

 

Becoming Confident About Convictions

Confidence, Faith, Life, , ,

batman faceWhat a joy it was to help Faith Assembly of God with their celebration of Palm Sunday! I learned so much while painting the adorable faces of children from all over Hyannis. Some of their requests cracked me up. These kids were either adamant about having me create what they struggled to communicate, or they were timid and fearful to ask for what they wanted. I especially loved the little boy who wanted to be a vampire (even after I reminded him that Easter is about good defeating evil) and the older girl who asked her mom for permission to get a heart on her hand and then needed mom’s approval for the color it would be. Precious.

These kids made me think of my life as I have grown in my faith. There was a time that I thought face painting might be wrong and I was like the older girl–fearful of doing anything that might break the rules. I also had convictions–or desires–like the little boy (although mine were more in line with my nickname of “goodie two shoes”) that I would put my foot down and speak my mind about as if I knew it all. Take divorce, for example, I used to make people feel so guilty for their failed marriage. “You can always work it out; have some faith!” Then my (first) husband left me and, after I did all I could to keep him, I learned that I have no jurisdiction over anyone else’s choices and what happens in my live does not have to define me.

Life has a way of tweaking our convictions, doesn’t it? I know we can become more judgmental, bull-headed or timid if we allow our circumstances to build our fear, but I prefer to believe that if we are learn from life and work out our faith, confidence begins to conquer those fears and we become more balanced and peaceful. Kind of like the little boy who decided he didn’t want to be scary after all and had me paint Batman on his face instead.

If you are feeling the pressures of other people’s developing convictions, be careful to guard your heart from taking offence to their immaturity. Think of them like you would a child who is still figuring out what he believes and give them the grace to grow. After all, someone was patient with you in your developing years.

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Catrina Welch is an image- and life-coach whose message is not as much “what not to wear” as it is, “Know Who You Are,” which is the title of her book of guidelines for your personal image identity. Catrina has also written a Bible study to help women overcome their confidence conflicts; it is titled Supreme MakeOver: a Rich and Refreshing Devotional Experience. Her other books include Footprints Through the Sand: a Consolidation of Life-altering stories about Loving and Losing our Trisomy-18 Baby and Confident Beauty: Reflecting the One Who Made You with the Images in Your Mirror and Your Soul, which will be available in book stores this spring. All of these books are available now at www.CatrinaWelch.com

Grace covered Lives

Life, ,

IMG_5266I love a beautiful landscape. Cape Cod beaches. Manicured lawns. Beautiful flower gardens. Wintery days like today.

As I sit home without a reason or desire to enter the fridged storm I can’t help but enjoy my backyard more than usual.

After breaking my back 14 years ago I really can’t do the bending that I used to. Weeding is a painful exercise for me. I can’t say I never do it anyway, but when I do I suffer for some time after. The older I get the more I am ready to just let it go… which I almost did this year. Its just so hard to admit that I simply can’t do it. I’m young. I’m strong… not so much any more. Ugh! I guess I could trade that in for confidence strong enough to have someone else do it for me.

But today I don’t need to think of my weakness as I look out at my un-kept flower garden. There is more than a foot of snow covering my overgrown bushes and weeds. No one can see my un-kept flowers and un-mulched ground. I have total peace as I gaze at this pure, white beauty.

Kind of like salvation.

God’s grace is like deep snow over our un-kept lives. His justification covers our shame so that all that is seen is pure and holy. Just as if I never sinned.

Ahh, another fresh start to this new year.

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Have you ever asked Jesus to let it snow over your heart? Why not ask Him today? His grace is always hovering over you, waiting for you to make the choice to accept it. Make yourself vulnerable to Him. Tell Him you need Him, you want Him, you accept Him. And then enjoy your beautiful new landscape!

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Catrina Welch is an image- and life-coach whose message is not as much “what not to wear” as it is, “Know Who You Are,” which is the title of her book of guidelines for your personal image identity. Catrina has also written a Bible study to help women overcome their confidence conflicts; it is titled Supreme MakeOver: a Rich and Refreshing Devotional Experience. Her other books include Footprints Through the Sand: a Consolidation of Life-altering stories about Loving and Losing a Trisomy-18 Baby and Confident Beauty: Reflecting the One Who Made You with the Images in Your Mirror and Your Soul, which will be available in book stores this spring. All of these books are available now at www.CatrinaWelch.com

If you are interested in having Catrina come speak to your friends, colleagues or ministry you can contact her on facebook or by email at catrina@catrinawelch.com.