OUR CHILDREN

Unlike my Facebook page, my blog is rarely political, but this week my soul will not be quiet.  As hard as I have tried to not write this, I must.  

I am not a prophet, but sometimes I can understand how the prophets in the Bible felt. I post often on Facebook and it seems as if I am speaking to the wind.  Things I see so clearly, as a threat to the very foundation of our country, others shrug off.  Why can’t I just shake my head and continue on to the next post which is funny or sweet?  Why can’t I just stop posting when I know people go, “Oh, Mary is on a rant again.”  I hold my faith above all.  My family after that.  My country next.  And through each of these I value children.  I have taught children’s Sunday School, led a Brownie Troop, worked with a Kid’s Club, and advocated for children through CASA.  But now my heart breaks for our children and as I listen to the news of the beheading of children in Israel, the tears cannot be held back.  Children are no longer valued.  They are now a political commodity to be killed and mutilated.

Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: And the fruit of the womb is his reward.

Psalm 127:3 KJV

How did this country – this world – get to the place where babies can be aborted up to the time of birth?  An unborn child has such little value that one breath means the difference between death and life.  The fruit of the womb is no longer a reward.  This heritage of the LORD has become something to toss in the trash.  And my heart breaks.

There are voices being heard in support of the actions of Hamas.  The killing of children -- The raping of women -- The murder of men, women, and children is being justified by the terms “right to resist” and they should not be condemned but understood as “a desperate act of self-defense.”  The actions of Hamas have nothing to do with resisting or self-defense.  The actions of Hamas are pure evil.  Life has no value.  Life is now political, to be discussed in the halls of political power, universities, and on the street.

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27  NIV

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

Psalm 139:13-14  NIV

I believe in the 27th verse of Genesis 1.  God created them; male and female.  I also believe in the 13th and 14th verses of Psalm 139.  Each of us is fearfully and wonderfully made.  And yet, based upon flawed studies, now called scientific fact, we are allowing our children to become sexual objects.  Our children, our very young children are now being taught they can be any gender they want and are encouraged to make decisions as the wise age of 2 or 4 or 6 or ….. years old. And the world is falling in step.  Parents no longer have the right to make medical, emotional, or mental decisions for their children.  They can be imprisoned and have their children taken away if they do not agree with the decision of a 2 or 4 or 6 or … year old. 

Children, who should be playing with toys and wiggling their toes in the mud and protected from evil, are being given drugs that will change their bodies in ways no one yet understands.  Children, who should be amazed at the birth of puppies, are being taught that they are a sexual being and can pleasure themselves.  Young girls are being allowed to mutilate their bodies by having their breasts removed and young boys are advised on surgical procedures to forever change their bodies.  And business makes profits and hospitals rake in the dough and politicians and educators jump on the new god bandwagon:  transgenderism.

And I wonder, “How did this happen?  Where did reason and common sense go?  When did we turn our children over to such teachings?  Why do we allow this?”  And my heart breaks.  The tears fall. 

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Unlike my Facebook page, my blog is rarely political, but this week my soul will not be quiet.  As hard as I have tried to not write this, I must.  Why?  Because I fear for the souls of those that no longer value our children.  I fear for the souls of those that have allowed our children to become a political commodity, to be sexualized, to be mutilated, and to be killed.

“If anyone causes one of these little ones – those who believe in me – to stumble,

it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck

and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 

Matthew 18:6  NIV

 

 HI.  I AM ….

How do you introduce yourself?  Or how would others introduce you?

Since 1965, Bill has introduced me as, “My wife, Mary.”  When the kids were in school, I was Bill’s mother or Terri’s mother. I became someone’s grandma.  Before hubby retired, I was known as Bill’s office manager.  When I worked auctions, I was Mary, the cashier.  I am sometimes introduced, “This is my sister, Mary.”

I am introduced as my wife, my mother, my sister, my grandma, or my friend.  At church I am introduced as our Sunday School teacher, our social media manager, and our Mary.  I really like that “our Mary.”  Bill calls me “My Mary.”  Those make me feel special.  Like I have an identity that is not connected to a skill or activity or family.  Just ME.

Now don’t get me wrong.  I like being honored with the tags wife, mother, sister, grandma, or friend.  I appreciate that the people in our Sunday School class are willing to recognize me in public.  And I was darned good at being an auction cashier.  But I have hit an all-time low…

Our mailman started attending our daughter’s church.  Last Sunday he went up to our son-in-law and said, “Hi.  I know Norman Frog.”  He did not say, “Hi.  I know your in-laws.”  No -- he says NORMAN FROG!  When being introduced, I now rank below a stuffed frog.  For anyone who does not know, I have a stuffed frog with an Instagram account.  (norman_frog)  He has more followers than I have Facebook friends.  He sends Christmas cards to people in 23 countries.  How does Norman introduce me? He says, “This is my human.”  If he has to admit I am the one that sends those cards, he calls me his assistant.

For all my accomplishments, I am most recognized as a stuffed frog’s assistant.  Now doesn’t that just knock me off my pedestal?

All this to ask a question:  When talking to family, friends, and strangers, how do you introduce God?

 TURN UP THE VOLUME

As I was getting ready to enter the MRI, the technician asked, “Do you have a choice of music?”  I immediately answered, “Neil Diamond.”  When I came out of the MRI, the technician said, “I just knew you were not going to lie still when Sweet Caroline came on, but you did.”

It was hard to lay still!  I could direct almost every Neil Diamond song.  I know the breaks and when the verses begin.  I want the radio cranked up when Cherry Cherry or Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show or I Am I Said or Cracklin Rosie or … You get the idea.  I am a fan!

The first time I saw him perform was in 1996.  Bill and I had tickets to fly to Seattle and then I saw it.  NEIL DIAMOND WAS PERFORMING IN INDIANAPOLIS!  On the night we were to fly out.  (Big sigh.)  Things have a way of working out.  We changed our airline tickets.  Although the concert tickets were not the best, I GOT TO SEE HIM!!  Our tickets were almost behind the stage, I saw more of his butt than I saw his face.  I told Bill, “Doesn’t he have a great butt.”

The next morning’s headline, in the Indianapolis paper, read:  Women rate Neil Diamond’s butt a 10.  I am not kidding.  We saw him perform two more times. 

I turned a page in the Guideposts* and there he was.  A picture just like I remember him.  The story was about Neil Diamond raising $1.8 million to help the residents of Oak Island, a suburb of Houston, Texas.  What connection did he have with this community?  In 1966, at the beginning of his career, he flew into Houston for his first Texas gig and realized he had left his money in New York.  As he was trying to convince the rental car clerk he would pay later, his song A Solitary Man come on the radio.  He said, “That is my song.”  He sang a few bars and the clerk welcomed him to the great state of Texas and handed him the keys, no charge. 

Fast forward to 2008.  Neil Diamond returned to the area and saw Hurricane Ike’s devastation.  He donated the merchandise proceeds from his remaining shows, along with his own money, to help rebuild the community.

Often a kindness is given and there is no expectation of a reward.  I am sure the rental car clerk had no idea that her one act would result in a $1.8 million gift.

We are never sure when the smallest thing might have a big impact.  A smile might change a day for someone who thinks no one cares.  A card might give encouragement to someone who is grieving.  An invitation to church might save a soul. 

*Taken from the article: Solitary Man, by Kimberly Elkins and Adam Hunter, June/July 2023 Guideposts

 

NORMAL?

That is a word not usually associated with me.  I have been called not-normal, unusual, unique, and strange.  Those words are usually associated with the way my mind works.  To that I say, “And proud of it!”  The thing is, I like normal.

Normal is a routine that makes life easier.  Normal is having an alarm set that encourages you to start your day.  Normal is … Oh for goodness sakes, THERE IS NO NORMAL!

People my age - aka old - grew up watching Leave It To Beaver and Life With Father.  The wives wore dresses, pearls, and high heeled shoes.  The kids got in trouble but each infraction was a lesson.  The husband would come home from work, change from a suit coat to a sweater, and relax by reading the daily paper.  Then all sat down to eat supper together.  We thought this was what normal life should be.  NEWS FLASH: IT WAS NOT NORMAL THEN AND IT IS NOT NORMAL NOW.

My dad was a trucker.  We never knew when he would be home.  He wore work pants and a shirt.  No suit and tie for him.  Mom was a stay at home wife and mother.  She did the cleaning, cooking, sewing, gardening, canning, and laundry.  Us kids had chores and were to do as we were told without any argument.  We were to go to school and do our homework without being told. 

That was my normal.  Was it a good normal? Sometimes.  Sometimes not.  But it was normal for me.

The trouble is my normal lacked a lot of things.  My neighbor always had new clothes.  I had her hand-me-downs.  When it was daylight at 9:00 PM, I could hear the neighborhood kids still playing.  I had a bedtime.  In high school, other kids went to restaurants for lunch (we did not have a cafeteria).  I walked home for lunch or took a sack lunch.  Other girls were allowed to go here and there, but I had a whole list of places I could not go.  I saw fathers hugging their children and I saw mothers listening with compassion.  I had parents that were not huggers and a mother that did not listen.  I wanted what other kids had.  What other families had.

You see, I wanted the normal other kids had.  I wanted new clothes.  I wanted to go to bed when I was ready.  I wanted to go where I wanted.  I wanted a father that was home regularly.  I wanted a mother that would listen.  I wanted …

David saw Bathsheba and he wanted her…

Lot’s wife wanted to look back at what she was leaving…

Ananias and Sapphira wanted to keep money for themselves…

- - - - - - - - - - - 

This started out to be a blog about being normal, but somewhere it took a bit of a turn.  I realized my life was normal for me.  It was just not the normal I wanted.  I realized I wanted what my friends had.  I think they call that coveting.

Thou shalt not covet they neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet they neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is they neighbour’s.             Exodus 20:17

I was blessed in my not normal home.  I had a father that provided for his family.  I had a mother that managed a home and took care of us.  I had clothes, a bed, and food.  I had restrictions that made sense to my parents.  The problem is, instead of seeing my blessings, I saw the blessings other people had.  And I wanted them.

RANDOM “AHS”

What is an “AH”?  The dictionary says it is a less common spelling of “aah” and, since I am a lousy speller, I will stick with “ah.” 

Ah:  intransitive verb – to exclaim in amazement, joy, or surprise

I like that definition.  One important thing is that “ah” moments cannot be planned.  We had one such moment a few nights ago.  We were sitting on the deck playing a card game when I looked up and saw this. 

A cross!  Right there in the sky!!  Now you can rationalize that two jet trails formed this.  You would be right.  BUT, for me, it was a very big AH moment!  Of course, when I posted this on Facebook, one grandson said it was a sign of intervention and grandpa was to win the card game.  It was a sign, but not for a card game.  I beat him.

Ah number two only lasted a couple of seconds.  We were coming out of a restaurant and everyone coming in the door had eyes straight forward…. except for one little tyke.  That child was waving!  A smile and a wave for everyone.  Children give more ah moments than adults.  Adults have forgotten how to look at strangers and acknowledge them.  Not children.  They like to wave and they bring joy with their smile.

Ah number three was seeing the surprise on the faces of the congregation last Sunday.  I am not sure if they had a look of surprise or that “deer in the headlights” look.  I gave the message and the last part was congregation participation.  They were not expecting that.  BUT they took a deep breath and first one and then another answered my question.  Thank you to the congregation of Urbana Yoke Parish for being willing to get out of your comfort zone. 

Ah moments are fleeting and we have to be ready or we will miss them. 

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.  And as he was praying, heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove.  And a voice came from heaven:  “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”  Luke 3:21-23

Now that would have been something to see.  A really, really big ah moment.  What if you had your back turned and were drying off because you had just been baptized?  What if you had left to get supper ready?  A fleeting ah moment and you missed seeing Jesus baptized.

(The disciples wanted to send the crowds away to get food.)  Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat.”  Matthew 14:16

Now that would have been something to see.  A really, really big ah moment.  What if you had left early because the kids were getting restless, you were tired of sitting, you were impatient, and you were hungry?  A fleeting ah moment and you missed being fed.

<  <  <  <  <  <   >  >  >  >  >  >

Many parables tell us we have to be ready.  Ah moments are fleeting and we have to be ready or we will miss them.  We do not know when the BIG AH is going to happen. 

(Jesus speaking to his disciples.)  “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also maybe where I am.”

This ah moment will be at a surprising time and will be amazing and joyous.  This is one ah moment you do not want to miss.  Be ready.

 

BROKEN

What will break next?  I think if one more thing breaks, I will scream!  You are not going to get the whole list of the things that have broken in the last year and a half….  only part of the list. 

A few months back, I took something out of the oven and it was cold.  Yes, I had turned the oven on.  It even said it was at 350 degrees.  I called and they came to check the oven that was residing in a 23 year old gas range.  The diagnosis was quickly made.  As suspected, the oven was not working.  Duh!  As expected, it was going to cost over half the price of a new range to do a repair.  A new range was ordered and would be delivered in approximately three months.  THREE MONTHS!  Thankfully the burners worked.  The range was delivered and I wrote a check.

On a Monday morning, before I had my first cup of coffee, Bill informed me, “The fridge is not working.  Everything is warm and thawed.”  I poured my coffee and took a very large gulp of caffeine.  Everything was thrown out and the repairmen (who know exactly how long it takes to get to our home) arrived.  “The refrigerator that you bought 23 years ago has a blown compressor.  We brought a loaner just in case.”  Out with the old, in with the borrowed, and an order was placed.  You guessed it —- to be delivered in about three months.  I will be writing a check, hopefully, in October.

“Bill are you listening?”  He replied yes but I wasn’t so sure.  I know he has problems hearing, but is it getting worse?  Could it be the hearing aids are no longer working?  Off to find out.  Of course!  Besides, there are new and improved versions….  he picks up his new hearing aids Monday and will hear, “Cash, Check, or Charge?”

Hang in there.  I am almost done.  We were eating lunch and a very old filling was no longer attached to Bill’s tooth.  The dentist will be able to make the proverbial “boat payment.”

I swear, if one more thing breaks, I am going to scream.

“My child you are broken.”

Au contraire.  I hate to disagree with God, but I am not broken..  I am REPAIRED. 

“Mary.  Mary.  I love your sense of humor.”

I am not trying to be funny.  I was broken!  Now I am repaired. 

“Repaired.  I like the sound of that.  My repaired Mary.”

You know the part I like?

“What part do you like?”

That you called me “my Mary.”

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I want you to turn off the TV, put your phone on silent, read the rest of this sentence, and then close your eyes and listen.  Did you hear God call you by name?

Never forget.  God knows your name.  You are His.  And He loves to repair broken souls.

YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST

MOSES HEARS VOICES

Just in from Midian:  An Angel of the LORD appeared to Moses.  Moses, the man who killed an Egyptian and fled, seems to have seen the Angel of the LORD in a flame of fire that did not consume the bush.  If that doesn’t make you wonder exactly what funny mushroom Moses had eaten for breakfast, this will.  Hold onto your tunic.  Moses, a killer, seems to have heard GOD.  Yes, GOD!

The LORD, according to Moses, asked him to deliver the LORD’s people out of the hands of the Egyptians.  Conveniently, Moses was the only person there and his story cannot be confirmed.  That is unless you can find a sheep that can talk.

The Pharaoh could not be reached for comment.

Remember, you heard it here first.  The Egyptian Observer

JONAH MISSING — LAST SEEN GETTING ON A BOAT TO TARSHISH

Just in from Joppa:  Jonah missing after fleeing to Tarshish after the LORD instructed him to go to Nineveh.  We do not know what the LORD wanted Jonah to do, nor do we know why Jonah ran away.  Please notify us if you see this prophet.

Update:  The crew, of the boat Jonah bought passage on, reported that there was a great storm and Jonah said it was his fault for running from the LORD.  They threw him in the sea and the sea became calm.  I guess this proves you should not mess with sailors.

Update:  Jonah is walking the streets of Nineveh.  It seems he is telling them to straighten up or be overthrown.  It also seems the local fabric store is sold out of sackcloth.

Remember, you heard it here first.  The Nineveh Post

DAMASCUS ROAD CLOSED AFTER STRANGE ENCOUNTER

Just in from Damascus:  The men traveling with Saul, well known persecutor of those that profess to believe in Jesus, reported that Saul was blinded by a bright light and they also heard a voice.  They said they could not see a person, but the voice said, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”  The men led Saul to the house of Judas.  I must add a disclaimer:  I did not interview Saul and the men, making this report, seem to have spent a bit of time in the local pub.

Update: It seems that Saul can now see and has been seen with the disciples.  Saul is also preaching in the synagogues about Christ being the Son of God.  To escape the Jews that want to kill him, Saul went to Jerusalem.  I am told he is now using his other name: Paul.

Remember, you heard it here first.  The Synagogue Weekly

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Do you read the paper?  Do you watch the news?  Do you believe what you read and hear?  Sadly, the news is no longer the news.  It is written to lead the reader in a certain direction. 

The word killer was used twice to describe Moses and the reference to finding a talking sheep was used to discredit him.  This was certainly written to influence your impression of Moses.

Jonah ran away.  He was weak.  Jonah put everyone on the boat in danger.  He was self-centered.  Jonah walked the streets of Nineveh and sackcloth flew off the shelves.  BUT there is no mention of the people turning away from their ways and no mention of Jonah sulking.  This left out the true meaning of Jonah’s actions and made him look like a crazy, religious freak.

Saul had a conversion.  The Light blinded him and he heard a voice.  Saul went from persecuting believers to preaching about Christ, the Son of God?  Now who does that?  Besides, those reporting the story could be a bit tipsy, a perfect way to make the reader doubt if the story is true.  This would diminish the impact of Saul’s conversion.

You can have fun with the scriptures and the stories can be told in many ways.  (My talking with God on my blog or a children’s Christmas play come to mind.)  There are millions of books, blogs, newspaper articles, TV shows, magazines, learned scholars, and google which want to tell you what the Bible says.  Many of these are written or preached to influence the reader/hearer in a certain direction.  What point am I making?  Read the Word for yourself.  When reading or listening what others say, make sure they are Biblical. 

Now, go read about Moses, Jonah, and Saul/Paul and discover the truth. 

THE PROTECTOR  

I wanted to call this THE PROTECTOR.  Then I looked up the word.  Protector:  one who protects.

It has been a very long time since I sat in English class, but I do remember my teacher saying, “A definition should never include the word or the root word.”  There went the title THE PROTECTOR.

THE GUARDIAN

My second choice was THE GUARDIAN.  I looked up the word.  Guardian: someone or something that guards.  (My English teacher just rolled over in her grave.)  The second definition of guardian was better.  Guardian:  someone who has the care of the person or property of another.  Drat.  That really did not fit either.  There went the title THE GUARDIAN

Why was picking a title so hard?  This is a simple story about a boy and a dog.  A dog that was paying close attention. 

MINDER:  looks after someone or something; bodyguard; one who protects another person from danger.  We have a title.

THE MINDER

Routines keep life orderly and many are for safety.  Such was one routine that was to be strictly followed many years ago by a small boy.  Grandson Nathan obeyed this one routine, until the day that he didn’t and this routine was a safety routine.

When we would arrive at our home, I would pull the car into the garage.  The garage was not connected to the house and Nathan was to walk straight to the back door and wait.  He would wait until I got my purse and other stuff that needed carried in.  He would walk straight to the house and wait.  Except for the day I heard:

“GRANDMA HELP!  GRETCHEN IS SITTING ON ME!  GRANDMA!”

I quickly dropped everything and ran out of the garage.  There lay Nathan, in the driveway, with the dog sitting on him.  He had not gone to the house.  He had started down the driveway towards the road.  And the dog, a German Rottweiler, became a minder. 

Gretchen was looking after this boy who was not following the routine.  Gretchen was being a bodyguard.  Gretchen was protecting a little boy from danger.  And Gretchen looked at me like, “Do I have to do your job?  You were not paying attention.”

I stopped.  I smiled.  I tried not to laugh, but I couldn’t help it.  Poor Nathan laid there with the dog sitting on him.  I told Gretchen to get up.  She did and slowly walked away.

Now for the question:  Who is your minder?

Who will look after you when getting out of a routine could get you in trouble?  Who is your bodyguard?  Who will protect you from danger?  Who is your minder?

RIVER OF LIFE

I do not understand the Book of Revelation and probably never will.  I am not sure anyone really understands.  There is one part that I go back to and, even with my imagination; the picture in my head is never complete. 

Oh, I love the part about all tears being wiped away and no more death, sorrow, crying or pain.  That is not the part.  To be with the Alpha and Omega is something that stirs my very soul.  That is not the part either.  Jasper.  Gold.  Sapphire.  Topaz.  And pearls big enough to be a gate!  That, also, is not the part.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 

And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”  And let him who hears say, “Come!”  And let him who thirsts come.  Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.

Revelation 22:1 and 22:17

I remember, as a kid, a free flowing well on the way to my aunt and uncle’s house.  We carried a collapsible cup, which all six of us drank out of, and always stopped for a drink.  The water was crystal clear, cold and satisfied our thirst. 

On one of our trips, we saw a sign:  The Beginning of the Colorado River.  Well, who wouldn’t want to see that?  We followed the signs.  Then there it was.  The beginning of the mighty river that created the Grand Canyon.  Except it wasn’t so grand.  As a matter of fact, it was a very small amount of water bubbling out of the ground and a trickle of water flowing from there.  The power of water!  From a trickle to a flow to a small stream to a river to a lake to a larger river to joining another river to flowing right into the Gulf of Mexico. 

Waking up early is not the norm for me.  Except when we are by the ocean or the Gulf.  Then, give me a cup of coffee, a balcony, a chair, and I will watch the sun come up.  I will listen to the waves.  I will breath with the tide.  In.  Out.  In.  Out.  And my being will calm and my soul renewed.

And he showed me a pure river of water of life,

clear as crystal,

proceeding from the throne of God

and

of the Lamb.

Even with my imagination the picture in my head is never complete.  Oh, I can picture the water.  I picture raising it to my lips.  What I cannot picture is the throne of God and of the Lamb.  Nothing I have ever seen.  Nothing I have ever felt.  No amount of imagination – can bring the THRONE into focus. 

But one day …. one day .. I will see it.  And I will no longer have to use my imagination.

A QUESTION

Questions come at us from every direction.  What is your name?  What is your address?  What is your password?  (Okay, don’t answer that one!)  What is for dinner?  Have you seen my __fill in the blank___?  (Especially if you have a male living in your home because they can never find anything.)  When will the project be done?  Can you stay and work late?  Are the cookies ready for me to take to school tomorrow?

Questions are especially fun at the doctor’s office.  What do you want to talk to the doctor about today?  (Why go over this on the written form, with the registering nurse, and then the doctor?  Just let me tell it once!)  Do you have __check mark a million questions ___?  (Could they just ask, “Has anything on this list changed since your last appointment?”)  Do you feel safe at home?  (This is a question that should be asked of every patient.  Asked when there is no one else in the room or when no one can see what answer you are checking.  I can answer that question YES I feel safe, but many cannot.)

I saw the pain doctor a week ago and filled out the required form.  The medical side was easy.  The shot helped and my pain level has come down from a 9/10 to a 4/5.  Yes, my back still hurts and if I stand very long it really hurts.  Medications are the same.  Then I turned the sheet over.

There are new questions I have never been asked before.  Maybe these are questions related to how I am handling pain.  Have you ever contemplated suicide?  NO!  Do you suffer from depression?  NO!  Do you have someone to talk with?  YES!  Do you feel useless?

And I answered YES.  I had never been asked that question before.  Do you feel useless?  I was surprised to see I had marked YES.  Why would I mark that?  I do many things.  I have kept busy. (Bless the internet and jigsaw puzzles.)  I teach Sunday School.  I write this blog.  I send cards.  I keep our bills paid.  I research and post things on Facebook.  I usually beat Bill when we play Quiddler.  I still … but since June, I cannot stand long enough to dust – that was my job.  Bill sweeps the floor and I dust.  I cannot stand long enough to cook – that was my job and more than once I have had to ask Bill to finish the meal because I had to sit down.  I cook and Bill does the dishes.  Do you feel useless?  And I answered yes.

I want you to know I have not written this so you would feel sorry for me.  I am dealing with this and know what I can and cannot do.  I am not depressed and I am not sitting around going, “Woe is me.  Woe is me.” 

BUT, before I saw this question, I had been feeling “something” and had not been able to put a word to it.  Once I let that word sink into my head, I could deal with it.  And I realized, “I AM NOT USELESS!”  What I can do has changed, but I AM NOT USELESS! 

A second BUT!  BUT it would be very easy for a person to fall into the feeling of being useless.  When, whether for a short time or an extended time, we can no longer do our “job” our self-image suffers.  How we see our self changes and it could be very easy to feel, “I can no longer do what I did, so I guess I am useless.”  Plus, because we may no longer be able to serve in the same capacity, we fear others will see us as useless.

To the caregiver:  As hard as it will be, allow your loved one to do what they are able to do.  (And yes, I have been on both sides.  It was soooo hard to let Bill go for a walk after he had a very small mini-stroke.  What if he had another one while walking?  What if…What if..)  BUT, honestly, sometimes, you can help too much.  Allow yourself to relax.  Take a breath.  And sit there while your patient, your loved one, gets their own drink or chips or ice cream.  They might struggle, but they will feel useful. 

For some reason, I felt compelled to write this.  I do not know who, but someone needs to know that feeling useless can be a side effect of illness.  If you feel this way, tell your caregiver and your doctor.  Let the word useless float around for a bit until you understand: I AM NOT USELESS!  What I can do has changed, but I AM NOT USELESS! 

I BELIEVE

Have you ever used your own words to express what you believe?  Have you ever put pen to paper and written a statement of your faith?  Surprise, surprise…I have.  I am pretty sure I have used these before, but for some reason, these came to my mind and I am using them again.

I BELIEVE MY LIFE HAS A PURPOSE

I wrote this January 2005, after completing Purpose Driven Life and it is taped in the front of my Bible.

The purpose of my life is to place God at the center of my being and to see God in all the world around me.  To be always thankful and grateful for being created by God to be his child and to know I am important to God.

With God at the center of my life, I want my character to reflect that I am a believer and that I make Christ based decisions.

I want the lives of others to be enriched by my actions and words.  I want to help family, friends and strangers move closer to God because they can see the light in my life and hear the story from my heart.

I want to share in fellowship with other believers so we can worship together, using the talents God has given each of us, to encourage each other and celebrate our faith.

A PERSONAL STATEMENT OF FAITH

This was written, April 3, 2011, when a Sunday School lesson challenged us to write our own personal statement of faith.

I believe Jesus is the Son of God.

I believe Jesus walked on this earth and that he brought the love of God

to all who will accept it.

I believe Jesus can heal souls and bodies.

Although I may have times of doubt or times of disobedience,

I believe the love of Jesus is unending and never fails.

I believe Jesus is my salvation.

I believe Jesus died so my sins could be buried with him.

I believe he arose and is with his Father.

I believe Jesus lived so he could present me to his Father

as a forgiven, cleansed daughter.

I grew up repeating the Apostles’ Creed in church.  Sometimes, we memorize this and no longer think about the meaning. 

I BELIEVE THE APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

God, not a created idol, GOD.  And I believe there is only one God.

maker of heaven and earth

I do not believe in the big bang theory.  I believe GOD made the world.  The universe.  Made me.  I did not come from pond scum nor did I evolve from apes. 

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord:

Only Son!!  Not a prophet.  A SON!

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary,

I accept this as fact!

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

I cannot image the love it took for God to allow this nor for Jesus to accept it, when Jesus was without sin.

was crucified, dead, and buried;

I believe Jesus died on the cross and His body was placed in a grave.

the third day he rose from the dead;

God had sent His Son for a reason; to take away my sins.  Job done!

he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

God welcomed His Son.  God wanted Jesus back beside Him.  What father would not want the same?

from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I so want to forget that I will be judged.  But I will be.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

A part of the Trinity: God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  The part of the Trinity that lives within my soul to guide me.

the holy catholic church,

I believe in the church Jesus built upon the faith of Peter and the apostles and continues to be built by the disciples of yesterday, today and tomorrow.

the communion of saints,

I cannot do this alone.  I must have help and part of that help is the support of others who believe in God, the Father Almighty.

the forgiveness of sins,

This is a biggie!!  I do believe my sins are forgiven.  I believe this because Jesus took my sins to the Cross.

the resurrection of the body

The grave will not be able to keep me.

and the life everlasting.

My everlasting life began the minute I accepted the Son of God.  Part of that life is now.  Part of that life is yet to come.

AND JESUS SAID:

A question I need to be able to answer:

But what about you?  Who do you say I am?  Luke 9:20

A question of my faith:

Do you believe that I am able to do this?  Matthew 9:28

Who I am to worship and serve:

It is written:  'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'  Luke 4:8

When I am tired:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.    Matthew 11:28-30

When I feel like I cannot do life:

My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.  Matthew 26:39

How I am to love:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hand on these two commandments.  Matthew 22:37-40

Who I am to help:

The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'  Matthew 25:40

A warning:

I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.  But I will show you whom you should fear:  Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell.  Yes, I tell you, fear him.  Luke 12:4-5

Be alert:

No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.  Be on guard!  Be alert!  You do not know when that time will come.  Mark 13:32-33

What I am to do and Jesus' assurance:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28:18-20

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What do you believe?

 

NO WAY! 

No way!!  They are adults!  Adults?  When did this happen?  They should still want me to read to them.  They should be playing with the Roly Poly Bear.  They should be sound asleep, with their head resting on my shoulder.

 No.  I am not talking about my kids.  I am talking about my grandkids, ages 19 to 28.  No more stories to be read.  No more Roly Poly Bear.  No more sleeping with their head on my shoulder.  Six babies that are all grown up, employed, taller than me, and four of the six are involved in serious relationships.  What happens when adult grandchildren came to celebrate changes in their lives?  What happens is that the parents and grandparents sit back and listen as they start to tell stories.

 

They had been warned to prepare a story.  And tell stories they did!  The funny part is that they told everyone’s favorite stories.  Kailyn played hide and seek without telling anyone.  Matthew talked about the goats.  Joshua told how texting can cause confusion.  Nathan told how older cousins convinced him the mints were poison.  The story of Noah blaming his brother (who happened to be in China at the time) for getting the toys out so he didn’t have to pick them up is a classic.  Poor Timothy, the youngest, took the blunt of having stories told about him, but he told about how eating angel food cake caused him to get a broken leg.

Stacia seems to scream if she and Nathan wake up at the same time and are staring at each other.  Megan is temporarily staying at her brother’s apartment and was surprised to find the sink was not attached to the drain.  Bridgette explained how a red marker in the hands of a three year old boy could increase the sales of Mr. Clean Magic Erasers.

I am having a round of sciatica and was amazed Sunday.  The grandkids knew we would have stuff for sandwiches, chips, and homemade ice cream.  They knew they were to provide everything else.  And those babies walked in the door with food!  They also jumped into action when it was time to set stuff outside and when it was time to clean up.  And, miracle of miracles, they did not have to be told to put their phones away.  They enjoyed each other.  They listened to each other.  They laughed and told story after story after story.  Then those babies got into cars and went home.  And my heart was filled to overflowing.

Every family has their stories.  The ones that make us smile the minute we hear, “Do you remember?”  Too often today, instead of telling stories, everyone is looking at their phone.  It is also hard to get everyone in the same place, at the same time.  We need to keep making the effort.

Children.. grandchildren.. great-grandchildren.. do not stay young.  They do not stay babies.  They turn into adults.  I do not know what stage of life you are in, but I have a suggestion.  Enjoy your children as adults.  Enjoy your grandchildren as adults.  Sit back and watch them laugh and share and tell the same stories over and over and over.  Allow them to be adults and bring food.  Allow them to be adults and join in the joy of serving each other.  Too often, especially the women want to take care of everything and tell them, ‘No, I will do that.  You go sit down.”  The problem is they are no longer children to be taken care of.  They are adults.

I am thankful we celebrated and it was wonderful to see the adults each grandchild has become.  But I really do miss reading them a story or playing with that Roly Poly Bear or holding them close.

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I wonder if God looks at me and thinks, "She turned out to be a pretty good adult.  BUT she is still my little girl and I hold her close in my heart."

PUNCTUATION IS POWERFUL

How many punctuation marks are there and how good are you at using them?  Do you know the proper place for a question mark?  That one is really easy.  How about an exclamation mark?  Quotation marks can be a bit tricky.  When to use a colon and when to use a semi-colon creates a real problem.  Thinking about punctuation might take you back to the horror of getting your composition marked in red. 

Period:      the full pause with which the utterance of a sentence closes: end, stop

Comma:    a punctuation mark, used especially as a mark of separation within the sentence: a pause, interval

Colon:       used chiefly to direct attention to matter that follows

Yes, I know.  My blogs are full of punctuation and grammatical errors.  Spell check hates my fragment sentences.  I consider my blogs as very, very casual English.  BUT there is a problem with being very, very casual when we read.  We make a comma a period and, therefore, we miss the point of the sentence.  We stop at a colon and do not finish reading the important part.  Or, we do not read the whole chapter and miss the conclusion.

Before going any further, I am sure you are thinking, “But I have favorite verses and you often only use one verse at the end of your blog.”  We all have our favorite verse/verses.  I often go to Psalms 139.  When I pull a verse for my blog, I make sure the meaning in the Scripture is the same as the meaning in my blog.  Now back to how stopping at a comma, colon, or semi-colon can change the meaning of passages.

What if we read Romans 3:9-31 and do not read in the commas, semi-colons, and colons?  Or what if we only read verses 9-11 and part of 20?

What shall we conclude then?  Do we have any advantage?  Not at all!  For we have already made the change that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin.  There is no one righteous, not even one.  Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight.

By picking some verses, parts of verses, and stopping mid-sentence, these verses sound like doom and gloom.  No hope whatsoever.  Using just these verses to make a point or present a message would be wrong.  Why?  Because the meaning of Romans 3 is completely distorted.  Please read the whole chapter where you find sentences like this:

·       The righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

·       There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Comma NOT a period) and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 

·       For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 

There is no doom and gloom in Romans 3.  Yes, we are all sinners, BUT God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement.  That is LOVE.  Jesus shed his blood.  That is SACRIFICE.  God is the God of Jews and Gentiles.  That is ONE GOD. 

When reading the Bible, read the whole chapter.  Know what happened at the end of the previous chapter and see how the chapter carries to the next one.  And, don’t change the punctuation.   Stopping at a comma means you might only read the doom and gloom and not find the redemption.

PS:  How many punctuation marks are there in the English language?  Good luck finding the exact answer.  There are 14 or there might be approximately 14.  There are 16.  There are 26.  Take your pick.  Plus, watch out for the decision on using the Oxford Comma.

 

Ouch

Who moved the footstool?  Who put it in my way?  As if having sciatica wasn’t enough, I stubbed my toe.  Is it broken?  I do not know, but it sure is black and blue and it hurts!  Woe is me.  Woe is me.

There is one problem with my opening sentence.  I know who moved the footstool.  There are only two of us and … and … (big sigh) I am the one who moved that footstool.  And it is a big footstool.  It is not as if it can hide.  But (Funny how often we use the word “but.”) But my mind was on at least three things and the aforementioned footstool was, obviously, not one of them.  Turn around, move foot forward, and contact.

If you are laughing, it is okay.  Laughter is good for us.  As a matter of fact, a very good friend, Sharon, and I had lunch the other day and I am surprised they didn’t ask us to leave.  We got the giggles.  We laughed out loud.  Very loud.  We had tears.  All because I told two old stories.  But (there is that word again.) But aren’t the old stories sometimes the best?

Many, many moons ago, I left hubby in charge of the kids and off I went to a meeting.  When I came home, they all began speaking at once.  Kittens.  Yarn.  Fireplace.  Giggling and laughing.  Finally, I got them to slow down and tell me the story about the kittens.  Trying not to laugh and giggle, they began:

“The two kittens were playing and daddy had a bright idea,” one said.  The other picked up, “He tied their tails together with yarn.” Back to child one, “They were so fun to watch.  They were rolling on the floor and batting at the yarn….” Bill chimed in, “It was funny, until …”

“Until what?” I asked.  They all three said (as if they had rehearsed it), “Until the log fell in the fireplace.”  “And then?” I slowly asked.  Laughing and looking at each other, “And then the kittens ran in opposite directions with the yarn holding them back.  It was hilarious.  The yarn was pulled tight.  Dad used his knife to cut the yarn.  The kittens went flying!”

With that my friend, a cat lover, began to laugh.  Picturing this, she laughed harder.  If you tell a cat story, you have to tell a dog story.

The kids were older and we had a Saint Bernard: Priscilla.  Prissy was a neighborhood favorite with all the kids.  I would look out and there would be someone’s child, quietly petting our dog.  But the story I told Sharon was about the day I was working in the garden.  I could hear the kids laughing and they were in the basement.  I wasn’t sure what they were doing, but they sure were having fun.  Then the back door opened.

I heard, “Mom.  Mom.  Look!”  Five kids filed out the door with the Saint Bernard bring up the rear.  AND — are you ready?  AND the Saint Bernard was dressed in long johns.  Shirt on the front.  Pants on the back, with her tail sticking up through the fly.  And I laughed until the tears flowed.  I wished I had been there to watch them put their dad’s long johns on a very big, very patient dog.

By now, Sharon was literally leaning over in the seat.  The waiter looked our way.  Diners were wondering if they could move to other tables.  Tables away from two old ladies laughing so hard they had tears.

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad.  Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.  Ecclesiastes 8:15

Laughter! Joy!  What a wonderful gift God has given us.  Today find joy.  Find something that makes you laugh until the tears roll down your cheeks.