The Little Things

Good morning!

And a beautiful morning it is.  Several days of rain have washed things clean and fresh.  Our beautiful, tempestuous Lake Erie is settling down after days of big waves and lovely surf. How I love sitting in my chair, looking out over the lake, and spending time with the Lord and in His Word.  Soon there will be a fire in the fireplace as I sit and drink my morning coffee.  But let's not rush that!

I am a dreamer and a planner.  Give her a goal and watch her go!  Nothing ignites me more than having a goal; I am not sure why but that's how I am wired.  Sometimes I must admit I get so caught up in the going-after that I nearly leave The One Who is the Greatest Planner (who could create a universe without a plan?) behind as I rush on to-I'm not really sure where.  Kind of like seeing the home you want, then building it without a blueprint.  Oh foolish me!

So for now, The Great Planner has me in a period of rest.  This should be good news, but for those of us "doers," it is a most uncomfortable place.  The where's and why's and when's that overtake my thoughts will surely crowd out the peace and joy of this day, if I choose that path.  And just think what I would miss - the lovely moments of this very day.  My Daisy curled up next to me, the taste and smell of that wonderful cup of coffee that I so dearly love, the friends and family that I have the privilege of knowing and having in my life.  And the love of my soulmate, who knows me and loves me just as I am.  Such precious gifts, and if I don't choose well, I could miss out on all of these amazing blessings!  So for today, I will follow the path that the Lord has for me.  And His instruction would be, this: "I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭NKJV‬‬.

Wow, I can't believe I am again writing in my blog!  If anyone reads this, thank you for taking the time.  I stopped writing a few years back, wondering if I had anything even worth sharing. But several people recently have mentioned reading my little blog, and that maybe lives were touched, and so perhaps it is time to start anew.

Lots has happened over these past few years, some good and some not so good, actually incredibly, devastatingly painful, but more on that later.  Time keeps marching on, that is a true statement.  And I find myself asking lots of questions about...well, many things.  As I speak with a variety of people, I realize that each of us has a story to tell.  And for me, each of the stories are divided into chapters.  And each chapter has a beginning and an end.  But what about in between?  So for example, one chapter closes, but nothing of significance happens, and the "next chapter" is placed on hold.  Or maybe it isn't, maybe I just need to look at it differently.  Actually many things have happened in the past year or so, new things, fresh things, important things. But we can grow weary in the day-to-day of life, if we are not careful. And so today, I will stay "in today," and be thankful for the many beautiful things I have in my life.  And one day I will likely look back and realize that my new chapter had already started.  And it will be good, because the Lord is good, and He has promised us good and not bad, to give us a future and a hope.  Again, thanks for listening, for it's good to be writing again.

A Restful Place

Hello! 

Well, it has been awhile since my last entry.  You see I have been on a journey, a wonderful journey, a new adventure, a journey to find rest for my soul.  And for me, who always has a plan, and who then strives to make sure I achieve that plan, this place of rest is new and I must say, rather wonderful! 

Now when I say rest, I am not talking about sitting all day, watching TV and eating ice cream.  Oh no, this is a much better place than that!  For this is an internal rest, a place where my soul, my most inward part, my very being, is at peace.  It is not striving to know what is coming next, nor how I will make something happen, nor, in my not-so-becoming competitive self, making sure that I am The Best "whatever", comparing myself to others in an array of ways. No it is definitely not that, but it is other than that.  It is higher than that.  And it is infinitely better than that.  It is untouched by others, a place to "hunker down" and have peace even in this midst of chaos.  It is a gift, a blessing, a wonder.  It is the rest that only the Lord can give.

"Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. (Jeremiah 6:16)"

And so today, as all of the many things that pull at me for my attention and try to ruffle me and tempt me to go back to that stressful place, I will choose another path, the tried and true eternal path, where the good, old way is, and walk in it.  For this is a priceless gift, a hidden treasure, a delight to my very being.  May you have a wonderful, restful day!

'Tis the Season!

Hello my friends!

Today I want to talk about the Christmas Season!  This is my favorite holiday by far.  I love the hustle and bustle at the malls, the sound of the Salvation Army ringing its bells every year, and seeing the decorations at Crocker Park – these are near the top of my favorites list!  I love going for rides at night with my best friend, my husband, and our precious pup, Daisy, to see all of the light displays, and the businesses decorated and doing their best to draw us in to “come see what we have inside!”  I love listening to Christmas carols on the radio, shopping, cooking and watching the Weather Channel to see if we will have a “White Christmas!”  And I love all of the heartwarming Christmas movies – watching them with a box of Kleenex next to me!  And I really don’t even mind as people complain, “this has become such a commercial nightmare” and that we forget about the real “Reason for the Season,” and I don’t believe that Jesus minds either.  And the reason I believe this is because at this time of the year more than at any other time, we take ourselves outside of ourselves, and devote ourselves to thinking of and doing for others.  And to me, in whatever form that takes, the message becomes the action that continues to be – LOVE.

For what is love if not taking our eyes off of ourselves and thinking of ways to make another person happy or to meet their need, or to just spend time with them? It is at this time of the year that families get together, healing takes place, and fellowship abounds.  It is at this time of the year that, whether we understand it or believe it or not, we become what the season is all about – “Love one another as I have loved you.” When we give our change or a few dollars to the Salvation Army, it feels good because we know we are doing some small thing to make another person’s life better.  Other displays of love are shown in caroling at nursing homes and hospitals to bring some joy to those who are hurting; making a food basket for those in need so that a family can celebrate the season; and hearing heartwarming stories of love that abound at this time of the year.  And as we think about how to help another or others, it reminds us of how very many things we have to be grateful for in our own lives.  We appreciate the friends and family we are blessed to have in our lives just a little bit more.  And we are thankful for the simple things in our life, like a good meal and a warm home and a few extra days from work to spend with our friends and families.

So I say, Rejoice, and again I say Rejoice!  Go ahead and decorate the Christmas trees! Bake the cookies! Turn up the music and dance, for this is truly the most wonderful time of the year.  And know that somewhere in the hustle and bustle of this very busy time of the year, the real “Reason for the Season” is still at the heart of it all, for the message from the One Who came as a tiny babe, fresh from heaven, and gave His life to save a lost and dying world still resonates and is celebrated throughout the world – that we love one another- and is that not the real “reason for the season?”

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Ode to Uncle John

Hello, Friends!

Today I would like to share a story about a very interesting family member, Uncle John. A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went to visit Uncle John. Now Uncle John is in his late 90's (our best guesstimate is 96), and while we are not sure of his exact age, we do know that he has lived life to the full. I love our visits with Uncle John; he cannot hear much of what we say anymore (we don't take offense that he is ignoring us!) but his eyes still twinkle when he shares pieces of his life story with us. He tells of the days he and a buddy went hunting in a remote location in Alaska, and that the plane that dropped them off would come back in a couple of weeks for them - if they survived! His garage with an attached room - today it would be called his Man cave- is full of all sorts of heads of animals that he has hunted and captured. He handcrafted his own rifles and guns, and made his own bullets. And many an award was given to John.

He tells of his early years, when he left home, at about 14 years, and hitched a ride on a train, and his wanderlust took him many places as he pursued his life as a hobo (please do NOT call him a bum, for hobo's worked for their money, no begging, making enough to tide them over till they hitched a ride to a new and interesting place), and he laughs as he shares his many stories, and we are glued to his every word. At 90, he complained to us at Christmas that he wasn't worth a darn any more, cause when he went hunting he had to come home by noon!  When Uncle John talks about his time in World War II, his eyes cloud over with sadness, and only recently did he share with us that memories of the war still haunt him, as he fulfilled his service to his country.

And as Uncle John shares His stories, he always near the end of our time says, "I have lived a good life, the Lord has been good to me. I have no regrets," and we are enchanted with his humility and gratitude for the life he has chosen to live. But you know what he has said that buried itself so deeply in my heart and soul? He said, "It is a wonderful life, but it takes work. It doesn't just happen, ya know. You have to work at it." So Uncle John, I take your advice, and on days when I feel down or don't feel like doing much, I “do it anyway,” so that I can create another interesting and worthwhile day in the life of ME. And I am grateful to have had you in my life, as an example of the life I want to look back on at 96 years young, and with a twinkle in my eye, say, “I have lived a good life, the Lord has been good to me, and I have no regrets..."

Everyone has a story to tell

Hello, my friends!
 

I was reading a movie review the other day, and I found this quote by Mark Twain: "There was never yet an uninteresting life. Such a thing is an impossibility. Inside of the dullest exterior there is a drama, a comedy, and a tragedy.” No truer words have ever been said. And there is a huge gift, a great story, wrapped up inside of the person right in front of us, if we take a minute to look, a moment to listen.
 
It is likely no coincidence that this quote found me. As I meet people, and listen to them, or am moved by the look in their eyes, I realize that I am not the only one with a history, a life, a story. And while mine is the one most relevant to me, as I listen, I discover that there are many fascinating stories folks have to share. And you know what? They want to share their story! What an honor, what a privilege, what a momentous occasion it is to hear what each person has to say.
 
Some of my favorite stories come from military men and women, for they have led fascinating lives!  They tell us tales of war, of human interest, or of the daily life of a soldier or sailor. Teachers have many wonderful stories of the children, who are learning and growing and becoming individuals. Proud parents love to talk about their kids as though they were the only children in the world, because in their eyes, they are! Widows tell stories of long-ago days, filled with cooking, and mending, and car rides that took days to go the distance that today would take an hour or two. And if we are so blessed, we have friends who want to share the joys and sorrows of their lives with us, because they know we love them and they are safe to share their darkest and most intimate secrets.
 
Of all of God's creation, we are his masterpiece. Just take a minute to imagine that! The God who created the universe we know and beyond, esteems us as His Highest creation! He says that "we are fearfully and wonderfully made!" Did you hear that? Did you take a minute to think about those words, to begin to let them sink in? This is too high for me to grasp, it is beyond my comprehension. And yet that is what He says. And if He says it, then it is.

So during this wonderful Thanksgiving season, take some time to listen to those around you; look for the twinkle in the old man's eyes, or see the wonder of a new mom as she experiences the miracle of the birth of her child, or even the person who seems slow, and dull, and shy, for all of these folks have wonderful stories to tell. And when you take a few minutes to listen to them, you will grow, and you will learn something, something of value, something of importance, something that may change your life forever. Have a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving, everyone.