THEY SERVED

MEMORIAL WEEKEND — a time to honor those that served to protect and preserve our freedoms and served to give others the opportunity to be free.  Thankfully, most soldiers came home to their families.  Sadly, too many soldiers gave their lives. 

My father and father-in-law served during WWII.  My brother and two nephews served and now two grandsons are serving.  To each I am eternally grateful.  Their service allows me to worship and speak and live in freedom.  I pray the freedoms so hard fought for will never be taken from our country.

I honor, respect, and appreciate the service of all in the military.  I also honor, respect, and appreciate the others who served.

THEY ALSO SERVED

During the wars, soldiers departed in groups from every small town and city across the USA.  During peace time, soldiers depart, one, two or three at a time, to go to basic training.  At the end of training, the families come to see them graduate and the soldier moves to the next assignment.  During COVID, soldiers were sworn in, went off to basic, and graduated as their families watched from home.  Today, please read the following as if loved ones could be there in person.

Every soldier, who boarded a bus, a train, a ship, or a plane to begin their service, waved goodbye to those that also served. 

Standing proudly, trying to hold back the tears, stood a mother and father waving and smiling.  Their pride could be seen as they stood there, back straight, head held high, and each being strong for the other.  Then they would slowly turn and go home.  They would open the door and realize there would be one less at the dinner table.  They would go on with their day.  The father would go out and mow the yard.  He needed to do something.  The mother would stand in the doorway to an empty room.  She needed memories to give her strength.  They also served.

The young woman asked for one more hug.  One more kiss.  She waved goodbye, turned away, and allowed the tears to flow.  Her husband — a word that still seemed new — would return.  She knew that.  She had to hang onto that word.  Return.  She also served.

Trying to keep the children close to her, the woman bravely told her husband they would be fine.  Yes, she would remember to rotate the tires.  Yes, she knew how to change the fuses.  Yes, she would remember to buy that mitt for their son’s birthday and the bicycle for their daughter’s Christmas.  Christmas.  Would he still be gone at Christmas?  As she tried to hide the tears from the children, she took their hands and they walked to the car.  She also served.

Being strong, he touches the cheek of his bride of ten years.  How hard it was going to be to go to bed that night.  Her side would be cold and empty.  He had a feeling the kids would often occupy that spot.  They will miss their mother.  They understand why she has to go and are already talking about the packages they will send.  Soldier….  his wife is a soldier.  They both have fears.  He fears for her safety and prays that those she stands beside, will stand beside her.  Women in the military ..  but she felt called to serve her country.  And he is proud of her.  She fears he will not hear the alarm and the kids will miss school.  She knows he will have a hard time telling them no.  And he will be lost helping them do math.  She could do math … One more hug and he and the children go home.  He also served.

Child after child..  sons and daughters … watch as their parent waves to them one more time.  Their lives are about to change and they do not totally understand.  They are proud of their parent, but they will not be there to see them dance or play ball or run in the door with all A’s on the report card.  They will not be there when they are bullied or happy or having a birthday.  They are scared.  Will their mother be able to be a mom and dad?  They throw one final kiss and turn away.  They also served.

And every day wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, and children will pray they will not see two officers walking toward their front door.  They also served.

And every day wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, and children will see their loved one running toward them.  What a beautiful sight.  They also served.

MEMORIAL WEEKEND

a time to honor those that served

AND

those that also served.

FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART

THANK YOU

 

 GOING TO THE DOCTOR

Going to the doctor -- boy has that changed!  Mom used to send us to the doctor ONLY if we were about to die.  Other than that, we would go to the doctor’s office with a dollar – yes, $1.00 – and get either a package of green lozenges for a sore throat or a package of half blue/half yellow capsules for a cold.

Just thinking about those lozenges makes my throat go numb.  I think my throat got better out of self-preservation.  The blue/yellow capsules came with instructions to take two immediately and then one at the prescribed times.  Those first two gave that ole cold a double whammy.  I do not know what was in them, but the cold packed its bags and left.

I can remember walking into the doctor’s office.  The nurse knew my name, where I lived, what grade I was in, and if I had gotten into trouble at school.  (Gotta love small towns.)  She would take the dollar and hand me the little white envelope.  The doctor might not be in.  He could be off on a house call or delivering a baby.  If you were about to die and had an appointment, you would either wait or come back the next day … if you were still alive.  Yes, I am stretching that a bit, but only a tiny bit. 

Oh, how simple it was!

Going to the doctor – boy has that changed!  I am writing this while I wait to get in for my annual wellness check.  Now why would you go to the doctor if you are well?  Makes no sense at all.

First hurdle is to reach the office.  Everything is done through a call center or online.  I hate call centers!  The person answering the phone has no idea who I am or anything about me.  And I pray I never forget my birth date!  Why can’t the local clinic answer their phone?  Since I am on a roll about the call centers, why do I have to receive a call, followed by a text or email, to remind me that I have an appointment?  I WROTE IT DOWN!  I KNOW I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT!  I WILL BE THERE!  AND I DO NOT GET TEXTS ON MY FLIP PHONE!

Heaven forbid I try to get a prescription without seeing the doc.  Even if I have taken it before and describe what is wrong in easy to understand words.  Look at my chart – oh right.  This is the call center.

They always ask, “How are you feeling today?”  I want to say, “I feel terrible or I wouldn’t be here.”  Then there are three pages of questions.  The same questions I answered last time.  Couldn’t they have a form that says nothing has changed?  Finally, I am taken back to the room.  Where the nurse goes over the questions just to make sure I answer them the same.  And then the doctor comes in…..

Going to the doctor has changed.  I am very thankful that I have a doctor who cares about me.  Who listens to me.  Who allows enough time so I do not feel rushed.  Who answers all my questions.  Who smiles at my answer to the question:  Do you snore?  My answer?  Hubby says I do.

But sometimes, I wish I could just take a dollar and get a package of those throat numbing lozenges or blue/yellow capsules from a nurse that knows my name, where I live, and if I have been in trouble lately. 

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There are many kinds of healing and today’s medicine has ended a number of diseases.  For that, we should all be grateful.  Hopefully, the future will hold the cure to many more.

BUT.. we often question why one person gets better and one does not.  We ask why a loved one is sick.  We ask God why am I sick.  Why me seems to be the question when anything bad happens.  Should it be?

I wrote Why me Lord? for my very first lay speaking class.  The basic ideas were:

Why me Lord?  Why did an illness take my loved one?  Why is a mind lost in time?  Why?  Why?  Why?  What I realized is that I was asking that question in the wrong way.  I needed to ask, “Why not me?”  At birth, there was no toe tag saying, “Nothing bad will happen to this child.”  I am no better than anyone else, so why would I think only bad things should happen to other people?

I also realized I was asking this question at the wrong times.  I began asking why me Lord when I was given a special blessing.  I am no better than anyone else, so why am I so fortunate?

Why me Lord? – When do you ask this question?

 

 

AND I DIDN’T TELL THEM

I love to see families enjoying and celebrating each other.  Parents totally focused on their children and children actually enjoying being with their parents.  Siblings sharing inside jokes.  Phones are somewhere.  No iPads.  Just family.

I see this often at our local swimming pool.  I will watch as a mother teaches her son to swim or as a father watches his child do yet another crazy dive.  And I remember times with our kids and grandkids.  We swam in the rain.  We swam in the dark.  Our daughter learned to jump off the diving board because she wanted her turn at catching the Frisbee.  Our son was part fish.  I was totally drenched as I stood under the bucket with a youngster too young to stand there by himself.  And I floated on my back as the kids swam under me. 

Memories popping into my heart as I watch families being together.  Enjoying life.  Making their own memories.

It is then that I walk over and tell them, “It is such a pleasure to see families focused on each other.  Your children are enjoying being with you.  You are giving your children valuable gifts – your time and attention.  You are being wonderful parents and I just wanted to tell you that.”

I have done this a number of times and the parents always smile.  A very big smile, as they stand a bit taller, with surprise in their eyes, and say, “Thank you.”

Until the other day.  Three young children jumped right in the water.  You could tell they were friends and instantly knew this was not their first time at the pool.  They were quickly joined by their mothers.  The mothers got wet.  They threw the basketball and, much to the delight of the kids, they missed.  They played with them.  They smiled.  They watched their kids having fun.  It was a pleasure to see children being more important than a phone or a book.  More important than worrying if they would look silly to others.

And I didn’t tell them.

I try to keep my blog political free.  I am vocal enough in other areas of my life.  But at that moment – as I started to walk toward these ladies and tell them the same thing I had told other parents, I stopped.  Why?  Politics and today’s belief that everything said has a racist undertone.  I stopped because I worried about their reaction.  Would they appreciate being told how great it was to see mothers and kids having fun … making memories?  Or would I hear, “So you think black mothers cannot be good parents?”  And there is the problem.

Do I see color?  Of course!  But this time … color stopped me.  And that has never happened before.  I look at people and, at this age, know that there are good people and there are … let’s just say, there are not so good people.  I talk to everyone.  I try to judge people by their actions and honestly, I do not care what color of skin they have.  Until this time … color stopped me.  And I have felt guilty ever since. 

In that moment, I allowed the bullies that cry “racism” to win. 

 

I hope I see these mothers at the pool.  I will tell them they are giving their children valuable gifts – their time and attention.  I will tell them they are wonderful parents.

I will not allow politics and today’s belief that everything said has a racist undertone to bully me into silence again. 

 

SOWING THE SEED

Last week, I used this parable as an example:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.”  Matthew 13:1-9

Jesus later explained the parable to the disciples.

“Listen then to what the parable of the sower means:  When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.  This is the seed sown along the path.  The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy.  But since they have no root, they last only a short time.  When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away.  The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.  But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it.  This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what is sown.”  Matthew 13:18-23

This tells what happens when people hear the message about the kingdom, but how does this apply to me?  Am I the one sowing the seeds?  Am I the seed and this is a warning about how I might react to the message?  Am I the bird, the sun, the thorn, or the good soil to other people?

I hate it when I over-think something, but hubby and I were discussing this and my mind took off in three directions.  Studying the scriptures is just that – studying.  Reading, contemplating, and looking up background information is my usual plan of attack.  Sometimes I just let the scripture speak to me.  This is one of those times and it is coming from three directions.

AM I THE ONE SOWING THE SEEDS?

If I am not, then I need to get my act together.  The disciples were learning so they could tell others.  They were getting insider information to prepare them to – guess what – tell others.  They would soon be the “farmer” sowing the seed.  They were also being told to be aware what could happen to the seed. I am also being told what can happen to the seed I sow.  It is easy to get discouraged. If I quickly tell a person about the showers of blessing, but do not stick around to help them understand, Satan can whisper in their ear.  How wonderful to see someone get it and experience the Joy of the Lord, but that joy can quickly disappear if they do not see my joy and receive encouragement.  Sowing the seed is especially hard to someone who is worried or does not see the need to believe.  But, then a seed falls just right.  I tell the story of Christ and the person’s ears, eyes, and Spirit are opened and they tell someone and they tell someone and they tell someone…

If I am not sowing the seeds, I need to get my act together.

AM I THE SEED?

Yes.  I am the seed along the path.  Sometimes I hear or read the scriptures and do not understand.  No matter how I try, it does not make sense.  Very easily that ole sneaky snake can whisper, “Mary, you are not educated enough.  You are not smart enough to understand.  Why beat yourself up.  Just quit.”  I am the seed on rocky ground and in the thorns.  There are times when I hear a sermon or a song or a verse and my Spirit soars.  Then the mail comes and there are bills to pay and the news tells of another missing child and I burnt the grilled cheese sandwiches.  And then my joy is gone.  I am the seed dropped on good soil.  I hear the story of Christ and my ears, eyes, and Spirit are opened. 

Yes.  I am the seed along the path.  I know the evil one will try to snatch my faith.  I know I have to stand strong so the world will not consume me.  And I have to stay in the Word so I can tell others and increase the yield of believers of Christ.

AM I THE BIRD, THE SUN, THE THORN OR GOOD SOIL?

I would rather not look at this part.  I so want to believe I am good soil.  I want to know that from the top of my head to the bottoms of my feet I am good soil.  But – don’t you hate the word but?  But I am the bird when my actions do not reflect Christ and non-believers use those actions as proof that my faith is not real.  But I am the sun when I do not want “that type of person” to enter the church and they wither.  I am the thorn when I discourage new ideas. 

I would rather not look at this part.  I so want to believe I am good soil.  I want to know that from the top of my head to the bottoms of my feet I am good soil.  But, sometimes …. sometimes, I am not.

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This is an excellent parable.  Read it.  Read it again.  What does this parable say to you?

 I WONDER

As I read the Bible, I often wonder what it would have been like to walk with Jesus.  Would I have understood him?  Would I have questioned?  Would I have gotten tired while listening?  I bet the disciples were glad when Jesus went off to pray or stopped to talk with the children.  A break!  Time for an extra cup of coffee.  Down time. 

Think about it.  It would be like taking Jesus 101, 201, 301, and 401 all at the same time.  With no textbook!  And no snow days!  No matter where they were, Jesus would start teaching ….

Take the parables, for example.  There sits Jesus in a boat  saying, “A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  Whoever has ears, let them hear.”  Matthew 13:1-9

Would I have ears and hear?  Would I listen as Jesus taught?  Or would it go more like this:

“A farmer went out to sow  (Details.  I want details.  What farmer?  Was it a local farmer?  Do I know him?)  his seed.  (Wonder if he got his seed from ole Jake.)  As he was scattering the seed,  (Scattering?  Was he using a Cyclone seeder?)  some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  (Well, that is certainly not good farming practices.)  Some fell on rocky places,  (Maybe he would want to rent my rock picker.)  where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  (Was this guy ever in FFA?)  But  (What?  Jesus said but – I better pay attention.)  when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  (Oh, I know this farmer now.  Lives next to my cousin.  Grew up in town.  Read a book on farming.  Considers himself an expert.)  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  (With the cost of seed, he should be more careful.)  Still other seed fell on good soil,  (Yup, it is him.  Has one corner of the north acre where there is some good dirt.)  where it produced a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.  (With that yield I should have bid more at the auction.)  Whoever has ears, let them hear.” 

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As I read the Bible, I often wonder what it would have been like to walk with Jesus.  Would I have understood him?  Would I have questioned?  Would I have gotten tired while listening?  The answers --

Would I have understood him?  --  NO!  Jesus challenged everything the disciples had ever been taught.  He told them:  You are to love everyone .  You are to be kind.  You are to care for others.  You are to believe I am the Son of God.  Jesus challenges me the same way.  Jesus challenges everything the world tells me is good and right.  Jesus challenges me to love and be kind and to care for others and to trust Him.  To know with every breath I take that He is the Son of God.

Would I have questioned?  -- YES! – I am sure Jesus often wants to tell me, “Think Mary.  Listen.  Hear.”  What amazes me is that I can read a verse or a chapter and absolutely get nothing out of it.  Later, an hour, a day, a year, I will return to that verse or chapter and it is crystal clear. 

Would I have gotten tired while listening?  Did you read the “or would it go more like this” section?  I am human.  I can only absorb so much at one time.  Tired of listening, no.  But tired while listening, yes.  And hungry.  I would have been excited to see the fish and loaves being passed around.

I also wonder if Jesus ever got tired of the disciples.   Being around someone 24/7 can be a bit of a challenge.  Maybe that is why he sent the twelve off to drive out impure spirits and heal every disease and sickness.  Of course, there were rules.  (Matthew 10:5-42)  I can almost hear him saying, “A few days by myself.  What shall I do?”

I also wonder if Jesus ever gets tired of me?  Nope!  Positive Jesus would be thinking, “I haven’t heard from Mary today.  Mary being quiet usually means she is either trying to figure something out or getting herself into trouble.”

“Mary, what are you doing?”

Writing my blog.  How is it?

“You nailed the part about how you listen when I am trying to teach you something.  Your mind does seem to wonder.  I am glad you realize I never get tired of you.  Or any of my children.  Now those disciples… they could be a handful.”

Worse than me?

“I wouldn’t go that far.  Let’s just say they could be a bit dense at times.”

Like me?

“No.  Not that bad.”

You’re teasing me again.

“Am I?”

 

 

KNOCKING

What is that noise?  It stopped.  No, there it is again.  What in the world could it be?

And then I see it —- a bird.

That crazy bird would not stop.  It would walk back and forth.  It would look in the window.  It would peck at the window.  It would fly up. 

I walked to the window and it would fly away.  Then it came back and didn’t care if I was there or not.  I pulled the blind down and thought that would work.  Nope.  Started flying into a higher window.

It was getting very annoying.  It was making marks on the window.  It did this for hours.  Plus I had a sinus headache!  GO AWAY BIRD!

The bird was landing on the roof area over the fireplace.  I put aluminum foil over that area. 

It might look strange, but the bird must be afraid of the aluminum foil.  It is gone.  It is quiet now.

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“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”               Revelation 3:20

When it was finally quiet, I wondered if that is how we treat Jesus when he knocks at the door of our home, our church ….  our soul?  What do we do to chase Him away?

Do we keep the door closed hoping He will get tired and go away?  Do we draw the blinds so we cannot see Him?  Do we tell Him, by our actions and beliefs, that we do not want Him in our church?  Do we put down a “go away” mat?

How do we act when Jesus is knocking at the door to our home, our church … our soul?

BUBBLES

I love to blow bubbles.  They float higher and higher.  The colors swirl.  They pop.  You can even blow bubbles in the winter.  They start freezing, turn white, and shatter.  Oh yes, I love to blow bubbles.

There must be a couple gallons of bubble stuff in the garage and I always have a bubble wand handy to give away.  Kids love bubbles! I guess this means I am still a kid.

Through the years, bubbles have been my “go to” to settle the kids down and to help release my stress level.  Bill used to say if he came home and saw me sitting on the steps blowing bubbles, he knew to go around the block again.  He knew my day had not gone as expected.

I have a bubble theory and used it often when our kids were having a bad day.  You know those times — they cannot settle down.  They will not listen.  They want to calm down but have themselves locked into a mood.  And I would start blowing bubbles.  They would watch and then, without realizing it, they would start chasing the bubbles.

When I volunteered with CASA, family visits could be extremely stressful.  The parents were trying to establish a better relationship with their child/children.  The children never knew what to do or say.  And all the time the visit supervisor is taking notes and the CASA lady is observing.  Yes, family visits can be extremely stressful and can quickly fall apart.  I always had bubbles.

MY BUBBLE THEORY — This is my theory.  There have been no research studies.  No university has published my work.  This theory has evolved from personal experience, but it works.

Think about it.  You have had a really bad day.  Your mind is exhausted and your body wants to shout ENOUGH.  Grab the bubble stuff.  Take wand in hand.  Take a deep breath.  Blow.  And, slowly, as you take the next deep breath and the next deep breath, your body starts to relax.  (Those deep breaths begin the process.) Inhale.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Now, you might be thinking, “I don’t need bubbles for this.”  Yes, you do!

The breathing slows your body down but the bubbles are the key.  They float away.  They distract you.  They seem to carry your worries, anger, and frustration higher and higher.  And the children? No kid can resist bubbles.  They forget why they were angry.  Sisters and brothers chase bubbles instead of fighting.  Soon, they are breathing deep — inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale — as they blow bubbles and watch them float away.

Will bubbles make your problems go away? No.  Bubbles will slow you down and help you focus.  I have seen bubbles pull a child out of a meltdown.  I have seen a family blow bubbles and, slowly - one deep breath after another - find common ground.

I have sat on the back step blowing bubbles.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Watching each bubble float away, until I could put the lid back on the bubbles, stand up, and thank God for the invention of bubble stuff.

You need to buy some bubbles, because I am sure everyone will want to test my theory and there will be a shortage.  Store shelves will be empty.  Husbands will be giving bubbles to their wives for Mother’s Day and wives will be putting bubbles on the list for Father’s Day.  Parents will be giving their children bubbles and children will make sure their parents have an unending supply.  Teachers will have bubbles in their classroom. 

INSTRUCTIONS: Open the bottle.  Take out the wand.  Inhale.  Exhale and blow bubbles.  Look up.  Repeat.

Oh, did I tell you that while you are blowing bubbles is a great time to have a talk with God?

 

 

LOOK AROUND

“So, Mary, you liked the sound of the waves when it was really foggy?”

Did I ever.  It was way cool! 

“I am glad it gave you pleasure.  While you were gone, what did you smell?”

Smell?  Well ….. Hamburgers on the grill.  Oh, and the bread the Monk’s baked.  It had been cold and the flowers were not out yet.  Now that you asked, I don’t remember many smells.

“What about taste?”

The key lime pie!  It was more like a cheesecake and melted in my mouth.

“What did you touch?”

The cold water in the pool.  Some sunshine to warm the water would have been appreciated.  Getting in that pool was a real test of determination.  Once in, it did feel exhilarating.  Some people stuck their toes in and quickly pulled them out.  Of course, kids jumped right in. 

“What did you see?”

Wow.  Not that could be a long list.  Where do I start?  The sunrise and sunset blessed each day – except when there was all that fog.  The waves.  The children playing.  Watching people.  The alligators.  But, we could also see sorrow.  Hurricane Sally left people with damaged homes and those blue tarps meant there was much to be done.  Many businesses and churches were still closed.  Seeing sorrow is hard.

I have a feeling there is more, to our conversation, than having me look back at our adventure.

“Of course.  I want you to do me a favor.”

I would like to say, “Wow, God wants me to do him a favor.”  What I am thinking is, “Oh no.  Here it comes.”

“Do not fear.  I love telling people that:  Do not fear!  I want you to tell my people to look around.”

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God has surrounded us with amazing wonders and we do not notice them.  They blend in with our life.  Our routine.  Our normal stuff.

AMAZING WONDERS SURROUND YOU

You do not have to drive miles and cross the state line to be amazed.  You can find God’s wonders in your day-to-day life.

Where are you right now?  Close your eyes and listen.  What do you hear?  Birds?  The sound of cars?  The freezer?  The voice of a loved one or friend?  Maybe you hear the sound of weeping or the sound of a hospital.  Take a minute – listen – what do you hear?

Step outside or, if that is not an option, sit down and look around.  What do you see?  Trees?  Grass?  Flowers?  The color of the walls?  Books?  Slowly look, not a quick glance.  What do you see? 

Stay put!  What do you smell?  This is the hardest one.  Soooo, use your imagination.  How does it smell when dinner is cooking?  What does a baby smell like?  How does it smell during and after a storm?  What does a barnyard smell like?  What do you smell?

The next is taste.  What do certain things taste like.  A perfectly cooked steak.  Chocolate.  Coffee.  Pancakes.  Liver and onions.  Your favorite food.  A kiss.  What taste do you like?

And finally touch.  Walk around and touch a few things.  How do things in your normal, everyday life feel?  The feel of taping on a keyboard.  Clothes coming out of the drier.  A flower.  Touching the hand of a loved one.  A hug.  Holding a real book.  Washing your hair.  What can you touch?

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God has surrounded you with amazing wonders.  He has placed them right in the middle of your routine, normal, day-to-day life.  They blend in but you can notice them. 

Listen, look, smell, taste, and touch.  You   notice and you will realize you are surrounded by amazing wonders.

 

 

PACKING AWAITS

I am writing this on Sunday, March 28, 2021. It is 7:30, in the morning, and I am sitting on a balcony, drinking coffee, and looking out at the Gulf of Mexico. I will make this cup of coffee last as long as I can. When it is gone, I have to start .... packing.

Emotions are funny things. Packing to come to Alabama was fun. We were going on a new adventure — two months in a condo. Two months... we had never been gone two months and we had never rented a condo. How would it feel to be gone that long? Will hubby survive? He is doing this for me and it is way out of his comfort zone. But, now, he is ready to pack. He is ready to go home.

Me? Not so much. Yes, I miss our home, our family and friends, and our church, but I will miss waking up each morning and hearing the waves. I will miss sitting on the balcony watching the sky and water change, as the sun says good morning. Sometimes I sat there in a very heavy sweatshirt because even Alabama can be cold, but it sure beat the 8 below zero back home. I will miss opening the door, in the middle of the night, and being amazed at how the waves sound when the fog moved in. I will miss hearing the roar of helicopters and the Blue Angels as they fly over. (I still want to ride in a black hawk.). I will miss new friends we have made.

I was finger talking (aka texting) with a friend and told him: Never fear.. I can put stuff back in boxes and suitcases. Yes, I can come back to reality, but I sure have enjoyed the change. I think that is what I miss in retirement: Change. Something new. We have moved often (compared to some) and each move was a change and challenge. I have enjoyed the change from routine and the challenge of doing something new.

I am sure you are tired of reading my morning thoughts, so I will wrap this up. Not exactly sure how. There is no big message. There are no big words of wisdom. Or maybe, just maybe ...

There is nothing wrong with routine. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable in life. There is nothing wrong with knowing what tomorrow will bring. Or maybe, just maybe ...

By being open to a new adventure, by getting out of a set routine, and by being willing to unlock the door to your comfort zone, you might —

• See lightening over the water and hear the waves during a storm
• See the stars as you swim in a pool at night
• Watch an alligator laying in the sun
• Have strangers become friends
• See how others live and work
• Read without feeling like you should be doing something
• Be amazed as an osprey flies by with its dinner
• Wonder how the water can change color

Packing awaits. Today everything we do not need for the drive home will be packed and put back into the car. The condo will become impersonal and tomorrow we will head home. But I head home a different person, with a new perspective.

And when, we arrive home and I close my eyes ... as I go to sleep in my own bed, I will hear the waves and be blessed with the memories of this adventure.

 EASTER MEMORIES

A new Easter dress — how wonderful to put on that new dress and feel special.  It would become the “Sunday” dress.  Back then we had play clothes (they could get dirty), school clothes (changed into play clothes as soon as we got home), and church clothes (barely plural, usually two outfits that were reserved for church).

Easter Candy — there were no big baskets of candy.  We put a napkin in the bottom of a pie pan and each of us put our pan in a secret place.  We knew the bunny would find it.  Sure enough!!  One chocolate bunny (but not always) and jelly beans.  When I became a mother, my kids never knew there were black jelly beans.  I love black licorice..  To save any confusion as to what pan had the most red jelly beans, I would sort their candy into piles — green, green — red, red — yellow, yellow — white, white — and the black ones into my stack.  I do think they had baskets a couple of years, but the pie pan worked for me so it worked for them.  Besides, baskets cost more than the candy.

Easter Cantata — Christmas and Easter meant the choirs kicked it up more than one notch.  You will find this hard to believe, but I was in the youth choir.  If you have ever sat next to me in church you will know, without a doubt, that the youth choir HAD to allow all youth the opportunity to take music in hand and sing. I always wondered if they changed that rule after the experience of me being in the choir.  The cantata was full of wonder, as it went from the shout of “Give Us Barabbas” to the dark sound of the Cross to the triumphant “He Is Risen.”  The Easter Cantata transformed the voices of our church choir into the sweet sound of angels.  And, of course, the Cantata was over in plenty of time to get everyone home to check on the ham roasting in the oven.  

Easter memories ... but, what I remember most about Easter, has been passed down from the memories of others and now rests in my soul.

I KNOW JESUS IS THE CHRIST CHILD, THE SON OF GOD.

• ““But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.””     Matthew‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW JESUS WAS ABSOLUTELY AWARE OF WHAT HE WAS TO DO WHILE ON EARTH AND HE TOLD HIS FATHER, “NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS BE DONE.”

• “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.””       Mark‬ ‭14:23-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• ““Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”     Luke‬ ‭22:42-44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW HOW TO FIND GOD AND I KNOW MY ROOM IS READY.

• “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”     John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””     John‬ ‭14:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW MY CHIRST DID NOT STAY IN THE GRAVE!  I KNOW MY CHRIST GAVE US ALL A JOB!  I KNOW MY CHRIST IS IN HEAVEN!

• “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ””  Luke‬ ‭24:5-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• “Then Jesus came to them and said, “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 ‭NIV‬‬

• “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”   Luke‬ ‭24:50-51‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Easter memories ... but, what I remember most about Easter, has been passed down from the memories of others and now rests in my soul.

MAY YOUR EASTER BE BLESSED AND MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN YOUR SOUL AND IN YOUR LIFE.

 THE COMING STORM

We had a new adventure during February and March!  We left home and stayed in Orange Beach, Alabama.  I was thrilled about this and Bill went along.  Bless his heart.

I have been to beaches before and we have been to Orange Beach before.  What I have never experienced is a storm on a beach.  Thankfully, not a bad storm like a tornado or a hurricane, but a pretty big thunderstorm.

You need to know that I love to watch it storm.  As a kid, I would sit in the corner of the porch and watch the rain and lightening.  I loved the sound of thunder.  I still love to watch it storm.  I will sit in front of a window and watch the trees dance and the sky turn black.  But a storm by the water’s edge is different.

We had a very small storm when we first got here.  Last night was that storm on steroids.  At one in the morning, YES MORNING, I stood with the balcony door open and listened.  The thunder sounded like it would start way out and then grow louder as it came closer to shore.  No.. it was coming from the west.  No.. the east.  It was like having surround-sound.  The thunder was rumbling in circles.  I know.  Sounds strange, but I don’t know how else to describe it.  The lightening would look like someone was shining a flashlight through the clouds and then a bolt would streak from nowhere.  It is amazing how dark it is when looking out over the water.  Did I tell you how much I love to watch it storm?

When I spoke with a new friend, she said she had gotten up, dressed, and put shoes on just in case.

Sadly, while I was enjoying the spectacular show, towns were being devastated and lives turned upside down by tornadoes. A storm can have such beauty in one spot and such destruction in another.

—————————-

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining.  And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.     Luke 23:44-45

What would it have been like to be there?  The sky turning dark in the middle of the day.  The temperature would have dropped.  The fear would have been strong enough to smell.  The cross.  The hill.  The soldiers.  The believers.  The mother.  

What do I see?  I see beauty.

Did you do a double take?  Did you re-read what I wrote?  Beauty was a surprise to me too.  I have never thought of this as a beautiful sight.  How can there be beauty in Jesus hanging on a cross?  Bleeding!  In pain!  When I look at the Cross, I feel such shame, but I also see my hope.  My redemption.  I see great love.

And that is the most beautiful sight of all.  The beauty is the love of Christ which turns the dark sky to a light so bright we will always be able to find our way to Him.  Find our way to the Cross.