I saw this accidentally. If you like dogs this will give you a few laughs!
Month: July 2026
Judgement Day
Awoke singing this. Memory from the past? Foretelling the future? Just a fact, Jack? Do not know, but it hangs in my brain this past week.
Very Last Day
Peter, Paul and Mary
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day
Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away
Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Oh-well, you can sing about the great king David
And you can preach about the wisdom of Saul
But the judgement falls on all mankind when the trumpet sounds the call
All equal and the same, when the Lord, He calls your name
Get ready, brother, for that day
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day
Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away
Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Well, one day soon all men will stand
His word will be heeded in all the land
Men shall know and men shall see
We all are brothers and we all are free
Mankind was made of clay
Each of us in the very same way
Get ready, brother, for that day
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day
Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away
Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Oh-well, the law is given and the law is known
The tale is told and the seed is sown
From dust we came into dust we'll go
You the know the Lord once told us so
Each brother takes his hand
Heed the meaning of the Lord's command
Get ready, brother, for that day
Everybody gonna pray on the very last day
Oh, when they hear that bell a-ring the world away
Everybody gonna pray to the Heavens on the judgement day
Written by: Noel Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow
Album: In The Wind
Released: 1963
Gratitude Has A Good Effect
Find gratitude in your life story. Wake up every morning and say to yourself, “I made it here from where I started, and I am so proud of that.” When we do this, we bless ourselves and feed ourselves with the love required for us to flourish and keep going no matter where we come from or what we have been through. Cleo Wade
Can you find gratitude in your today? When Bob worked in the hospital one of his duties was to draw blood samples from patients in the early morning hours. He routinely asked the patient how they were doing? One man answered, “Well, I woke up on the right side of the grass!”
I hope you can find more to be glad about than what side of the grass you are on. Or perhaps you were hoping to graduate to the other side of the grass? I have a few friends who would not object or hesitate if the Lord called them home this very day.
What about YOUR life story? Can you find things to be proud about? Can you find ‘things to bless and feed yourself with the love required to flourish and KEEP GOING ON’ as Cleo writes?
What have you been through that is extraordinary in your life? Can you give yourself credit for where you have come from to arrive here?
Taking stock like this, reflecting upon our very own life is essential for a full rounded view of who you are and who you have become. Your struggles are not just like the struggles of anyone else. You are valuable just because you are you. God walks with you whether you recognize the Holy Presence or not.
Rest in that thought. Delight in the accomplishments so far. Set your sights upon what is to come. And never give up, even if this hour is drippy with tears.
Routine?
It used to be that the most distasteful thing I had to endure regularly was when the insulin pen ran low. Then I would use one needle to inject the remaining fluid from the pen and endure another needle to inject the remaining dose out of a new insulin pen. That might sound petty since the needles are so tiny, but when you feared needles as a child of three years old, two needles, no matter how small, are at minimum a psychological challenge. Now even that routine will need to change. Seems the pharmacy can no longer stock the insulin pens I know as routine! Waiting to hear from Doc what to do next!
Then I twisted my knee on my good leg. The twist was bad enough that when I would try to stand I was grinding my teeth in pain. That made things so that I needed to use a wheelchair instead of the knee roller.
Oi, yoi, yoi – frustration, exasperation. A friend who is a retired physical therapist brought a raised toilet seat that was even higher than ours, and much easier to use. She taught me how to move so I could avoid that awful knee pain. Bob bought me a compression brace for my knee (which I am still wearing). Another friend brought me her fancy knee brace which the doctor approved. Two weeks later, yes my knee is better, but I do not quite trust it yet.
About the only routine I have right now is almost no routine. Bob has gotten in the habit of setting up the dining room table for me to drink coffee, read my devotions, etc. I am able to fix my coffee and get the milk out for it. He is kind to return it to the refrigerator for me.
From there the day is determined by who is coming over, what my to-do list looks like for them, whether Bob needs to go some place or not. He is exhausted from doing all the shopping, etc. My day is mostly determined by how much time I can tolerate having my surgery foot on the floor.
Do you recall the post I made not too long ago about an ordinary day?
Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, savor you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow. –Mary Jean Iron
Oh yes, that normal day of the not too distant past was a treasure indeed! I looked at my foot this morning and could not imagine how I will ever get it in a shoe again. But that too, will eventually become normal and routine.
Cherish what seems boring and normal and routine today. You never know when it will change as if a tsunami has hit your life!
Be willing to praise God regardless of the current circumstances. Years ago someone asked me how I was doing. I replied something like pretty good under the circumstances. They asked in what they likely thought was an encouraging voice, “What are you doing under the circumstances.” That truly was not helpful. To me a more Scriptural stance is to praise God in every circumstance.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NRSVUE
I freely admit there have been a few times the last few weeks when I have lost sight of the presence of the Lord. Melted into a puddle of tears and some self-pity. But the Lord is always at my right hand and willing to comfort me if I will but reach out, upon the Trinity, place my trust there.
So even if you are not able to give thanks in all circumstances, at least circle back to knowing the Lord is with you and resume praise and prayer.
So just spoke with pharmacy and doctor’s office. I will need to learn how to use syringe and insulin vials as the back order is to at least Mid-August. After pharmacy sells me Rx I need to make an appointment with the RN for education on how to do this method.
Also, the child how hated stitches, just removed two pieces of black stitches from the top of her foot and her heel. Gross! And large!! I give thanks for the stomach to remove those stitches. I am grateful I live in a country where insulin is available to me. Whew!!
Enough?
There are t-shirts and bumper stickers about declaring, “You are enough.” An essential message for those struggling with mental health.
In her devotional Amy Carmichael quoted part of the following hymn this morning.
July 7 "Translated from the old German of Ter Steegen have been in my heart:
Am I not enough, Mine own? enough,
Mine own, for thee?
********
All shalt thou find at last,
Only in Me.
Am I not enough, Mine own, I, forever
and alone, I, needing thee?
YouTube had this rendition
Yes, God is enough to get me through this. God can see you through your difficulties and challenges, too. I am determined to remember the message from the Lord through Ter Steegen that yes, God is enough!
I am weeks away from existing as a human Do-ing; I am more at peace if I rest for now in Be-ing. Christ is enough to help me get through this, but the neighbors and church family have certainly helped! Food Train threatened to become food flood. Flowers and flower bed helpers. Watermelon, soup, an entire meal just dropped at the house. People have come to help me with little chores and putting away my laundry, getting a load of wash started, getting things out of the dryer for me to fold.
Early this morning I saw a buck with two does walk through the neighbor’s yard. A baby bunny appeared out back. Then this afternoon I saw the buck again in a different area. He is a young buck, but a buck indeed. What a blessing! The Lord did not have to let me see that animal. It did cheer me up though! I cannot sit in my prayer chair. It is too low and right now too hard to get out of.
I am reminded there are people who will live the remainder of their lives in wheelchairs. Hopefully, this is just temporary for me. It certainly changes perspective on life. I was sitting in the kitchen one evening and Bob asked me what I was doing. I was thinking how easy it would be to just get up and walk to another room. And then remembered I may not. I want this surgery to be successful. I want the healing to go well. I am working hard to keep my glucose levels even and low. It is tempting though to give in to emotional eating. Not good thinking Molly Lin. As some used to call this, “Stinkin’ thinkin’!” That will get me no place good.
So please continue to lift us and others you know who are not up to their usual activities. We all need grace and all the help we can get. Prayer works. God can provide for us and through us. I will do this well, with God’s help.
Must be Getting Better!
I wrote a few entries last week but I never set them up to send. I was preoccupied with improving my state of being and kept waiting for them to show up. Finally, I realized I must not have dated them for sending. Oh well, this week I hope to spend Tuesday morning writing and posting to you!
I must really be getting better, because today I have the itch to write!! But alas, I have a visitor coming at 10 AM. I have Bob assisting me with a shower and Monday morning for writing is not to be.
Amy Carmichael wrote in The Edges of His Ways
“Dr. F. B. Meyer once told me that when he was young he was very irritable, and an old man told him that he had found relief from this very thing by looking up the moment he felt it coming, and saying, “Thy sweetness, Lord.” By telling this, that old man greatly helped Dr. Meyer, and he told it to tens of thousands.
“I pass it on to you because I have found it a certain and a quick way of escape. Take the opposite of your temptation and look up inwardly, naming that opposite: Untruth–Thy truth, Lord; Unkindness–Thy kindness, Lord; Impatience–Thy patience, Lord; Selfishness–Thy unselfishness, Lord; Roughness–Thy gentleness, Lord; Discourtesy–Thy courtesy, Lord; Resentment, inward heat, fuss–Thy sweetness, Lord, Thy calmness, Thy peacefulness.
“I think that no one who tries this very simple plan will ever give it up. (It takes it for granted, of course, that all is yielded–the “I” dethroned.) Will all to whom it is new please try it for a day, a week, a month, and test it.”
This is indeed a wonderful practice. When I want to be some place else besides in a chair, Your Presence, Lord. Yes, right here. Closer than my breath.
Week by Week, Hour by Hour
Four weeks down, four to go.
And then I read
“Be joyful though you have considered all the facts.” Wendell Berry
The challenge now is getting my strength back. I have stretches to do to strengthen my legs, knees and ankle, but overall getting my strength back to where it was previously is a daunting challenge. One morning I did too much and did not even read during my afternoon nap. Just plain fell asleep from exhaustion. VERY unlike me!
I find it difficult to pace myself. Then gravity convinces me to go sit down, elevate and ice my foot. Yikes. I was never so aware of the pull of gravity than after foot surgery! Two plates, nine screws and ZOWIE that knows how to ache!
I am trying to remain joyful even in the face of this long recovery. I had planned to learn a little origami, but so far if I get energy to be up and about I just want to help take some of the responsibilities of running the household off of Bob. Balance? not so much.
Stitches are out. Steri strips are off. Rubbing Aquaphor into the incision. Trying to be a good girl. That only works sometimes.
The surgery is over. The healing has begun. Before I know it I will be up and at ’em. For now, I will do my best to be joyful to sit and do what I can from the chair.
Be like a seed
Imagine how this bouquet would look if the seeds had not given way to the earth and the rain?
This quote spoke to both Bob and me as our once organized routine lives have been upended by the chaos of this surgery and recovery.
“When the earth opens up under your feet, be like a seed. Fall down; wait for the rain. Alexander Chee
Yep! That is how we are getting through this turmoil. Sort of like riding the waves and being seasick. Trying to get a bearing and swooping down into another trough. (Is that the right word, Dan?)
Be like a seed.
Fall down.
wait for the rain.
The word of the Lord is like rain to my soul.
I wait for direction and ideas on how to cope.
The rain comes. I soak it up. I sprout.
Years ago I wrote about (I misspelled about and autocorrect put in snappy. Ugh!) I wrote about growing squash in a box.I will search for the post . Don’t trust myself to quote it correctly just now. Amazingly I found it!! Click on this and read https://treasures-in-plain-sight.org/2025/03/12/imbibition-part-3/
I just re-read it and I have been strengthened by the Word of God. May this day bring you courage that when the bottom drops out of your life, you will be like a seed, drop down. Wait for the rain and let yoru soul be given new life.
Megan Preston Meyer
The Forward Day by Day entries for June are written by the author noted above. June 21 she wrote about the distance between her prayer chair and her desk.
“The inspiration, aspiration, and conviction take is breathed into me while I sit quietly in the corner of my office seems to fade as soon as I open my eyes. I want to tell in the light what is said in the dark, but sometimes, it seems so big. How can I possibly do it justice? How can I even start?“
This woman is living my experience! The Holy Spirit assures us both that we will be given what to say. I have been having difficulty holding my prayer/mediation experience and carrying it into my day.
So this morning I am trying to relate to you what it is like to recover with weeks and weeks ahead of me with no weight bearing on the left surgical foot. Well, I have bad news for my doctor. The no weight bearing part is not going to happen.
I had a setback in the doctor’s office last week. At home I had been scooting on my foot in the bathroom, wearing a sock as I navigated the tiles to get to the toilet. It was working really well. Sort of scoot right heel left, scoot right heel right to position my body while holding up me left leg. I did not wear a shoe the whole first week.
WordPress not letting me edit on this iPad. I know the last sentence sounds like a pirate. “Holding up my left leg”
The day we went to the doctor I put on a shoe. When it was time to get on the xray table I got off the scooter. I forgot I had the shoe on. Tried to scoot my foot and Wham! I twisted my knee on right leg. It popped so loudly, the xray tech and I both heard it. Went instantly to pain. He got the pictures he needed. I began to cry from the pain. Had to regain my composure before I could mount the knee roller again.
Managed to get back to the exam room. PT came in and got me an ice pack. She put it on my knee with an ace bandage. I was a mess.
Doctor changed soft huge bandage to smaller bandage with a boot. Only wants non weight bearing, but that has been impossible with this other knee. So I use it as little as possible, yet I have indeed stepped down in it. I TRY to only use it for balance.
Long story short i could not use the knee roller without pain that made me grind my teeth. A friend who is a retired Physical Therapist came over the next day to teach me how it move without so much pain. It was eventually decided I should let a wheelchair do the work and give knee a rest and time to heal up. Doc had said if it did not improve by Thursday appointment he would put me in a brace. We bought a compression brace and another friend lent me a fancy brace.
So I can finally get to the bathroom on my own again. It was quite a set back though. Emotionally as well as physically. I was doing well getting around on the knee roller. Yes, it tires me out, but at least Bob was freed up from having to do EVERYTHING for me!
Please pray for Bob as his energy wants long before his to-do list is finished. We are quite a couple here!
I am going to end here before I throw this iPad across the room. Was trying to type his energy wanes long before his to-do list ends. Prayers needed and all warm thoughts!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 