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I’ve Been Thinking
When it comes to people, I find that ….. It’s not about what we see. Often, it’s more about what we don’t see. It’s not about what is said. Often, it’s more about what is not said. It’s not about what we hear. Often, it’s more about what we don’t hear. Sounds simplistic. But, this is where relentless faith steps in…it’s about believing the best about others regardless of what we see, what we hear or what we thought we heard. It’s seeing the good even when it seems as if we are witnessing the not so good. When we meet others where they are and view them through eyes…
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Crying, but Not Sad
You know what? I cry a lot now. Not boo, hoo, ugly sobbing tears; but tears that just fall. I can be looking outside, and the tears come. I can think about something that happened last week, last month or last year and I cry. It can happen anytime, anywhere. It can happen when I’m alone or in a crowded room. It’s happening now as I type this… I think about my life. The wonderful life God has blessed me with…my husband, my daughter, my family, my friends. As I’ve gotten older every breath becomes a prayer of thanksgiving. Not an elaborate prayer, but a quiet, genuine reverence for this…
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Pulling Weeds and Mr. Let Low’s Farm
For the past eight weeks I have been pulling weeds for my husband, Larry, with his lawn maintenance service. Friday, September 27, was my last day; my husband is semi-retiring on September 30. Now, I didn’t mind pulling weeds every Friday for six to seven hours in the hot sun because I knew it was temporary. I knew there was an end in sight. I usually said pulling weeds was a labor of love because I was helping Larry. And it was. But I was also pulling weeds because he couldn’t find anyone willing to do this type of work. It’s understandable. So, here I was sweating buckets, bending, crawling…
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My True Time saver
I had a lot to do today; I wanted to finish cleaning the vacant rental property so I could call for an inspection. So, I jumped into doing stuff before I took time to follow my usual routine of prayer, Bible readings, incense, harp music, hot tea and sitting. And, you know what happened? Nothing! I didn’t accomplish one thing. All I did was spin emotional wheels. I felt uneasy and out of sorts. My mind was all over the place. It felt like pure chaos. Then, it dawned on me; something was missing. So, I started self-talk (right now this sounds better than talking to myself.) “Just stop,” I…
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God Answers
“God, please help me make it through this!” Tired and exhausted, I tried my best to keep up and hang in there, but I was feeling sick to my stomach. This was the third day of a four-day hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in Franklin, North Carolina. For twenty years I’d talked about hiking on the trail and had put it on my bucket list of things to do. But, as a retired, 68-year-old teacher, I’d pushed this item farther down my list. In fact, it might as well have dropped off. I hadn’t even discussed hiking the AT with my husband or daughter. My husband was busy…
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Allow Faith to be Stronger than Fear
“For God did not give us a spirit that makes us afraid but (He gave us) a spirit of power and love and self-control” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NCV) When we read the headlines in the newspaper or listen to the news, it’s so easy for fear to riddle our bodies. Fear so painful and so paralyzing that it can literally know us off our feet. Fear that makes our mind race with countless questions. Fear that makes us question going out. Fear that makes us suspicious of other people. When I read or hear about mass shootings, bombings, fear pops into my head. But, I try to to pop that…
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God is in the Midst of all Things
I had my annual mammogram August 6, 2019. I wasn’t nervous. I expected a good report. But, as I sat waiting for the results, I started reflecting upon what the doctor might say. I started thinking about family members, friends and even strangers who have sat in this same chair waiting for results. I thought about them, people just like me waiting, waiting for news that would impact our lives; positively, negatively. Slowly, I felt an inner feeling of love and gratefulness welling up inside of me. A soothing cloak of peace and love seemed to whisper, “regardless of what she says, everything will be alright.” Just as I…
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Give Your Dreams Wings
…You knew there were better things waiting for you… Hebrews 10:34 (NLT) I discovered that once I write down the dreams I have in my heart, read them out loud, pray over them and then release them; I always feel calmer and lighter. It’s as if a load has been lifted and my dreams take wings. It reminds me of the caterpillar that is transformed into a butterfly. It goes from being earth bound as a caterpillar to upward bond as a chrysalis suspended in the air and then in divine time, this elongated ball is transformed into a beautiful butterfly with wings. It’s the same with my dreams.…
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Give Your Dreams Wings, Part 2
“When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.” Psalm 145:16 (NLT) After I wrote yesterday’s post “Give Your Dreams Wings,” it was placed on my heart that I neglected to mention a very important practice; the practice of tithing, giving the first tenth of our income. Growing up, my mom, Essie Mae Brown Chever, always said that “if you hold your hand too tightly, nothing goes out, but nothing comes in.” My mom was the most generous person I know. She was always giving from fixing a bologna sandwich for a neighborhood boy who knocked on the door at 11:00 pm saying…
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Friendship
The older I get, the more I cherish my friendships. I have been blessed to have several long-term friendships. My friend, Zsuzsanna, of 27 years lost her sister and her mother within three days of each other. I promised her if anything happened, I would travel to Hungary. Now, here I was flying solo over 5000 miles and two airports to Hungary. Friendship has a way of removing fears and allowing faith to take over. To me, friendship means going the extra mile, removing personal barriers and doing whatever it takes to keep a promise.