Posted on in Book quotes, Nature, Spiritual growth

Simple to Read, Harder to Do!

In her book 1,000 Gifts Ann Voskamp quotes Chesterton:

“Thanks are the highest form of thought  and gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”

When I read this I saw thOUGHT. This is how I OUGHT to think. This is what I OUGHT to do. The part of the earth where I live is gloomy today. No sunshine in sight. This is one reason our best friends moved to New Mexico! Much more sunshine there.

The gloom is accentuated by naked deciduous trees. Somehow they look even skinnier this morning. The ground is mostly brown and gray, too. The recent record breaking rain is slowly making the grassy areas “green up,” that is unless the ground has just turned to mud as in my friend’s driveway! Mushy brown muddy goo.

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Gray sky, brown and gray tree skeletons, but this also reminds me that with this New Year turning of the calendar, I am also supposed to be renewed and resting. One young friend told me she had prayed the Lord would give her a word for the year 2019. She suggested I ask Him also. It seems He already did in my recent journaling and seeking His face. “Be still.”

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Except for the recent wind storms here, the trees are still. No leaves fluttering, not much fluid moving up and down the trunk. No fragrance of newly mown grass outside. The rose bushes are dormant. Even the snap dragons that were holding out with leaves and a few flower buds in the garden are looking shabby and going dormant.

How can I be still and just rest in all of this? Bob’s procedure is coming up in a few hours. But fretting will not help that. Me being still would create a better atmosphere for all. I learned from a recent hospital test he endured that I can accomplish little while the doctors are working their magic upon his body. So perhaps I can take that opportunity to practice being still. Not running out into the future of “What ifs” or the past of “If onlys.” Still in the present moment.

Thanks and gratitude in the stillness. Making that list of 1,000 Gifts to be thankful for feels forced and corny in the beginning. Later it becomes a lifestyle that enriches awareness and has the potential to bloom into gratitude. Help me be still and open my eyes and ears to thanks and gratitude.

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Posted on in Aging, medical treatment, Spiritual growth

A Calendar Quote

From my 2018 calendar produced by Sounds True, this quote from Kelly McGonigal:

“Our capacity to notice suffering, be moved, and respond is not just a form of caregiving or love – it is a form of courage.”

In February of 2018 this was the page on my calendar. As I learned more about my husband’s suffering from a critical illness I also learned more about caregiving, my capacity to notice suffering and the courage required to walk through that awful illness and recovery. Every day the calendar spoke to me and helped me.

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Similar calendar page

 

Recently we were made aware of the suffering of a 78-year-old widow. Living alone she had slowly let herself stop eating and drinking, falling into a deeper and deeper depression. When her family discovered her condition, she told wild tales of falling down the stairs. Said she did not want to bother anyone after she fell. She evidently waited three days to tell anyone. Weird thing was there was no bruising on her. No stairways that would let her fall head first, though maybe bounce on her bottom. CT scan showed no brain bleed or other problem. Her isolation, mental habit of worry and fret, lack of exercise and nutrition likely all contributed to her condition. She was hospitalized for several days to rehydrate her and get her stabilized. Then moved to a care facility to work on her strength, physical stability and mental capacity. They will eventually move her to a small apartment in the same complex.
When we went to help the family make sense and put into order her condo, everyone was stunned. The mailbox had not been opened for about 2 months. The dishwasher was overflowing with dirty dishes as were the kitchen sinks and counters. Broken and burned out light bulbs were in several places. When the light was returned to the laundry room, empty bottles of laundry soap, fabric softener and piles of soiled laundry along with broken glass were deep on the floor.
My first response was fear. Oh my! I better get back to walking or being in the pool at the YMCA or this could be my future. Especially if something happens to my husband. Then pity that she let herself despair to this point. I too suffered a bad bout with depression several years ago. When I worked my way out of it with therapy and loving care, I vowed to never let myself do that again. No matter what others do or how they behave, my mental health would be my #1 priority.
Then I was angry at her. And we are not even related. It has taken  a reminder from the calendar quote to bring me back to the point of noticing her suffering and having the courage to go see her. I want to be loving and non-judgmental. I do not live in her head, so I really do not know exactly the components of her suffering.
God help me to respond and be moved with Your love and the courage of the Lion of Judah.

Posted on in Family

Been Busy

I am married to Mr. Tidy. He knows I call him that. We are not quite alike in this matter, though he has trained me fairly well over 48 years!

So the Christmas tree come down December 25 as we were finished with the family celebration. And the mantle decorations changed to winter instead of Christmas. Table is being changed over, also.

Why all the rush? Well January 3 Bob is being admitted for a scheduled surgical procedure. The critical illness of January 4, 2018 left him with damage to one of the heart nodes that regulate heartbeat. His pulse is often 38 whereas mine can run 100. Normal is 60-100 beats per minute.

This is basically the same way the doctor showed the pacemaker to us in his office. Bob will be admitted after the procedure for overnight monitoring. They want to be certain that everything is regulated properly.

Everyone assures us it is a simple procedure. That sounds fine until it is your heart (or the heart of a loved one) they are talking about! Bob is looking forward to warmer hands and feet, more energy, less dizziness, fewer headaches, and overall feeling better.

More energy?! Not certain how I will keep up with him then!! He is scheduled to return home January 4. We are hoping this is the end to the illness that nearly killed him January 4, 2018. May the year 2019 be much healthier and calmer. Lord, hear our prayer!

Posted on in Family

Presents in Contrast to Presence

The first year we were married I was so excited to give Bob his Christmas gifts. I hoped to surprise him. He sat with each gift, examined it, and proceeded to guess each one before he opened it. I was so disappointed!

Many years later his sister came to visit us in Ohio from California around Christmas time. She had taken a Southwest flight into Indianapolis. The day she was due to fly out Bob was working and the kids were in school. I drove her back to Indianapolis. Our house was already decorated and the gifts were under the tree. When I returned from the airport, Bob was home from work. He ran out to the driveway and declared, “I felt your presents!”

I was instantly angry. It took a moment for Bob to realize that I heard him say “Presents” and he meant “Presence.” He was apologizing profusely.

He does not guess what is in his gifts any more. If he does, he does not say it out loud!

Posted on in Faith, Humor

Christmas Humor

In the grocery store our children and grandchildren often embarrass us. What might have been funny at home or in the car makes us cringe in public. Sometimes those same children can bless others tremendously. I think it is lovely when a preschooler is riding in a grocery basket singing “Yes, Jesus loves me!”

A few years ago I had the opportunity to be blessed by a child who obviously attended church. Whether he had recently learned Revelation 4:8 in his Nursery class or at home I will never know. We are told in that passage that around the throne of heaven there are four living creatures and day and night they never stop saying “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

So here is this kiddo, with dark hair and bright eyes, riding in Mom’s car hollering: “Holy, holy holy is the Lord!” I was in the next aisle over and enchanted to hear such a thing in the grocery. When they caught up with me in a few minutes in yet another aisle, he was still praising. Mom wanted to put her hand over his mouth and was trying to sush him a bit. I reminded her that the Psalmist said through the praise of children the Lord established a stronghold against the enemy! (Psalm 8:2) I encouraged her to let him go 😉 She was visibly relieved that someone appreciated his enthusiasm.

Wonder what would happen if all the believers declared such praise with such volume at the grocery store? A flash mob of joy!!

Posted on in Faith, Humor, Memories

Ten Years Ago

I take opportunities to teach the Gospel whenever I can. Every year stick on decorations are made for sliding glass doors, etc. I had one I used for several years for our Grandkids to play with. They could arrange and re-arrange the pieces if they wanted to. 

One year I picked up our youngest Grandgirl from nursery school and brought her home for lunch at our house. They had been learning about farms and farm animals. Old MacDonald was a new favorite song for singing in the car.

As she was eating her lunch she looked at the sliding glass door. 

“Look Grammy, there’s Jesus,  right in that barn!”

What a joy to have young’uns among us!

Lord, help me always to see with the eyes of a child. Help me celebrate You right in that barn and in my dining room! 

Posted on in Faith, Humor, Memories

Another Christmas Memory

The particular winter I am thinking about was approximately twelve years ago. It had been a windy autumn, more wind than usual. One neighbor had begun to decorate for Christmas. In their tradition, the Jesus baby was not put out until Christmas Day. 

As we drove down the street, our oldest Grandgirl, then about five years old, noticed the figures. She said a classic line!

“I see Mary, and I see Joseph. I guess Jesus blowed away!”

We have mentioned her comment every year since. Such innocence and astute observation! If you can’t find Him, perhaps you can explain His absence?

May you know an increased awareness of Christ this season and throughout the coming year! Blessings to you.

“I see Mary, and I see Joseph. I guess Jesus blowed away!”

Posted on in Family

One Christmas

Christmas time was upon us and Emily, at 3-1/2 years, was fueled by excitement. We had recently purchased a plastic creche set which she was allowed to play with. Both Boba nd I had explained to her the true meaning of Christmas, and she was enchanted by Mary and Joseph and the baby Jesus. Perhaps the baby Jesus was so fascinating because she had a baby in her life, too, in the form of her younger brother, 5 month old Jeffrey.  In keeping with the family tradition of new clothes for Christmas we had purchased something entirely new for Emily, her own. purse! As Christmas Eve approached I tried to teach her that her purse was for tissues, her offering, and things she might need while away from home.

It seemed a feat of circus proportions getting our family ready for church service that evening, Jeffrey, bundled against the winter weather, was none too happy to be overheating as I grabbed my coat and Bob got Emily into the back seat of the car. I finally drew a deep breath as Bob drove us to church. I reminded Emily that we were going to church to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. She thought that was  great idea!

We placed Jeffrey in the nursery where he could make as much noise as he wanted. the service was refreshing after all the turmoil of getting there intact and on time. As the congregation began to sing “Silent Night” I noticed Emily fumbling with her purse. I asked what she had in her hand, fearful it would be some loud toy or worse yet, something gooey. SHe open her palm to show me the plastic baby Jesus in His manger bed. She looked up at me with dark brown eyes glistening and said, “I thought He ought to come.“


 “I thought He ought to come.“

               Just imagine that tiny hand opening!

No creche will ever be the same for me. She understood the message about Christmas! And even in the excitement of a new purse, she brought Jesus to church for His birthday. Thank you Emily for a wonderful memory!

Posted on in Family

Trains!

One adventure our Grandson loves is going to see the train layouts at the Cincinnati Museum Center. It reopened this year after a major remodeling project. There is a small train the children may ride and ring the bell as they go around. One year we thought we would never get him off the ride!

Well this year, sadly, he was too tall to ride that train! He did display his feelings with the magnetic build-it-yourself snowman! Then we moved on to view the massive train layout with Pop.

So moving to a huge room with almost countless tracks there were my guys oohing and ahhing again.

Hoping your traditions are joyous, also!