Recognize...

First of all, I want to give a huge thank you to everyone who send me messages, comments, emails...

Our hearts were so touched to know that even though we're hurting, we know we aren't alone in walking that path...knowing others can sympathize with you is a comfort... thank you for your sweet words...

& now, I'll give you a warning... I'm reading through the book of John. 
We kinda gave the youth kids that challenge with a book we are handing out to everyone - I mean EVERYONE ... the kids are passing them out to all their friends, around their school... everywhere... so I figured I would read the book of John myself...

If you don't know me well yet, know when I read the Bible, I see things that stand out to me... I write down ideas, questions... so the warning is you may get a LOT of thoughts about the book of John in the next few weeks... You've been warned...
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Recognize...

& dang it, now when I hear that word, I think of Honey Boo Boo where she says, "Redneckonize"...

I may watch too much TV for me to know this term

Ricky & I were running in the Papa John's 10 Miler back in March.

Just got to mile 2 & that's where the crowds are.  You are weaving in & out of people, trying to get in the groove of things, feel your pace... trying not to think that there's a long distance ahead..

I always see people I know in these races... whether it be friends from church, or people that I've met along the way running other races... familiar faces. 

Familiar faces are good... especially in things where you need encouragement...

So someone runs by Ricky & I & does a double take & then says, "Oh my gosh - its you two.  How are you?"

We both waved & looked shocked back in return at seeing this lady & said we were good & exchanged quick pleasantries & then she was off...

I looked at Ricky & said, "I have no idea who that was"...

I actually looked like this because I run in pony tails

He just shrugged his shoulders too...

We got about a quarter mile & Ricky had his Ah-Ha moment... I KNOW WHO IT WAS...

It was our neighbor who used to live next door to us...

She was an avid runner.
I mean Chicago Marathon, New York Marathon, BOSTON MARATHON kinda runner...

When she lived there, I never even thought of running - but would see her go out in the sub-cold to run, or the hottest humid day... a dedicated runner...

I'm sure for her to see us out there running had to be a shock for her...

But I hadn't seen her in awhile... at least 5 years...

I knew I knew her face, but I just didn't recognize her.  Couldn't place how I knew her...

Reading the first part of John, it talks about Jesus coming to earth...

He was in the world & though the world was made through him,

 the world did not recognize him. ~John 1:10

I immediately think, come on, how do they not recognize Jesus?  God in human flesh?
You'd think it would be so easy to see...

But then I think how often I get so wrapped up in things, I don't see what's right in front of me...
or time goes by & I forget a face & how I know them

Its easy to get distracted
Its easy to forget

But as we remembered that face that ran by us... some people had that realization who Jesus was...

Yet to all who received him, to those who BELIEVED in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.... ~John 1:12

Today, let's be thankful that God gives us that chance to let things click...
to remember...
to receive....
for the right to become children of God