Monthly Archives: January 2019

Thoughts on Visits, Rest and Mamas

28 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in Prayer Life, Reflections, The unexpected

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A Visit

I visited Mama this afternoon. Oh, it was so wonderful to see her looking so well; productive, happy, and in good health. We talked a bit and I helped her find the missing part of a small crib she had about finished putting together. She was holding a little baby and it was for that baby that she was assembling the crib. Someone who looked familiar walked through the house where she had lived on Miller Ave, called my name and left, and she was trying to tell me who it was. He wore a large black fireman’s hat. My husband walked through next, in a red jacket. (Yes, we do dream in color.) Then I woke up.

Needs:   I wanted to get this written down before I had time to forget this happy feeling I have from my dream. I no longer feel depressed like when I lay down for a nap this afternoon, nor do I feel quite as dissatisfied with myself as I did. Not normally a depressed person, I had chalked it up to mid-winter ho-hums, even though it was a beautiful sunny day. I wanted something; but couldn’t put my finger on it. I felt torn between funeral home, hospital, hospice and shut-ins, and a strong desire to sleep. Several people I know have passed away lately, and some others are hanging on the edge of eternity, so I felt sad about those situations. I think I wanted to be in so many different places at once, that I just crawled into the middle of it all and went to sleep. Or, maybe I just needed sleep. My sister says I’m a real mess when lack of sleep takes over.

Retreats:   Now, where was I going with this? Oh yes, sometimes we just have to retreat. Pull the quilt over it all and leave with Winkin, Blinkin and Nod. Life’s a battle as well as a journey. Scripture says the battle belongs to the Lord and that He has planned our journeys, but as we live it, effort and emotions can take their toll so God said rest. I admire those folks who seem to never wind down, energizer bunnies, who amazingly make it to every wake; visit, cook and care, spreading themselves among their communities tirelessly. God still said rest. I’m thinking those industrious people must know their own limits, though we can’t see it, and still make space for rest.

Rest For The Weary:    One of those who we’ve lost this week is Dr. Ron Wuest. He cared for his patients in body and spirit. My family and I have missed him very much since his illness forced him out of practice. Missing his wake and funeral, I felt like I had let him down. But I know he would be right in saying, “when you feel you need to rest, rest!” Another one gone is a friend’s mother, also a sister in Christ. Knowing they are saying goodbye to her is likely what triggered my dream. Besides those two, there is sweet Peggy Carraway, who decided her battle here is about done, and is now at the hospice house. She has a bright eternity to look forward to, and deserves a rest, but it is just one more reminder of the brevity of life. There are so many good friends suffering now in many ways, and I carry them in my heart. I pray for their peace, comfort and healing. In the past, when I carried a load of concerns I could always park it at my Mama’s house, and it would be much lighter when I picked it up to leave again. Now, with her gone, I forget now and then that I need to unload. I do pray, and always feel comfort there, knowing God hears and will answer. But sometimes there is that something else; God knew and I didn’t. I really needed my Mama lately and He gave me a beautiful dream – a visit and a rest. Indeed, I thanked Him for it when I awoke.

Now, if I get to helping myself to too much rest, I hope somebody will rescue me and put me back on my hamster wheel! Have a great week friends, and don’t forget to rest when needed.

I’LL TAKE A SIDE OF FAITH WITH MONDAY’S MEATLOAF

21 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in Faith, MONDAY MUSINGS

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Sweeping over an icy crust of snow, the 20 degree wind made quite a statement. Dear friends had just made their 0700 exit out of the driveway for their eight-hour trek home. The house pulled its quilt of quiet over my ears, and I felt secure, knowing my God hears my heart and would take Kim and her family safely home; and that I could retreat into a warm house and begin plans for the day. Priority #1, another cup of coffee with my fur baby and the newspaper. How suddenly that security can flip.

On my way through the hall, I tripped on a small bag that my friends had forgotten. Calling to see if I could catch up to them, I received no answer. A couple more calls and texts, coupled with finding out their family back in West Virginia knew nothing of their visit to Kentucky,  left me feeling a bit less secure. Another hour later I had imagined them knocked in the head and their car taken along with daughter, phone and Lifesavers! Whoa, how fast I can go from “God’s going to take care of them” to “they’ve met with disaster’!  A look at the newspaper was NO help – headlines of shootings, accidents and the like. Oh ye of little faith…

When Peter asked Jesus to command that he walk on the water to his Lord, his faith and the Lord allowed him to do so – walk on a boisterous sea! Even then, while accomplishing that amazing feat, Peter saw the contrary winds tossing the waves, and he began to doubt. He feared. And began to sink. Thank Goodness, Peter cried out to be saved, and grasped the extended hand of the Lord. Jesus said, “Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14: 28-31)

I knew Who it was to whom I prayed; I believed He heard and would deliver. But as soon as I caught a glimpse of a possible situation, I left ‘Amen’ and let ‘what if’ rev up my heart. So I wasted a little time I could have spent in that peaceful morning calm, but was again reminded of His faithfulness and goodness. A sweet text let me know it was a matter of her phone being on vibration, and the other two passengers sleeping. Stopping for gas, she saw my (several) calls and messages, and apologized for my worry. No, Kim dear, it is I who apologize to our Lord for taking my eyes off Him and looking into the world of possibilities. And, yes, we had meatloaf this evening, it is Monday!

Then those who were in the boat came and worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:33 NKJV

 

BEAUTY AND THE DEEP

14 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in MONDAY MUSINGS

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a little beauty mask fun – clean pores and laughter

There’s an innocent little lie that many a young girl was told through the ages. “Beauty is only skin deep” was meant to make adolescence somehow less painful for those of us who saw freckles, crooked teeth and plain hair staring back from the mirror. Which wouldn’t have mattered if we didn’t leave the house and meet the golden curls with a button nose and rosy complexion, and hear how pretty they were but because they were immature enough to flaunt it, that it was only skin deep. Hearing that beauty was only skin deep made me think not only that there was not much under those lustrous locks and long eyelashes, but even worse, with no outer beauty, I was a lost cause. Nothing. Not even skin deep. It’s probably why I love Anne of Green Gables.

Well, I grew up in spite of it; and praise God, His word expounded on the issue of beauty. In fact, it put the old adage to death.

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward–arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel– rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” I Peter 3:3-4

The thing we girls should have been told is “beauty is what lies beneath the skin, in the heart”. Even if I’d been afraid of a ‘skint knee’ bleeding out my beauty, at least I would’ve known it wasn’t all that outward stuff. Anyway, kids eventually realize the difference between flesh and bones, and the invisible heart and soul. Now, don’t get me wrong – I am all for teaching children to appreciate and compliment others for their accomplishments, and there’s no way around recognizing a pretty little cocker spaniel versus a scrawny old mutt. But boy oh boy, have I ever loved some of those mutts! Why? Because we find out real soon that they can be loyal, smart, and clean up real well! There’s nothing wrong with attractiveness, as long as there’s acknowledgement that it is in the eye of the beholder – an opinion, and that true beauty is defined by the Maker – a thing of the heart.

Notice that Peter used the word adornment to speak of outward beauty. But he used the terms heart and spirit to describe incorruptible beauty. Adornment can be changed on a dime. The heart and spirit of a person are developed over time, formed in a furnace of trial and error, and have a way of becoming a permanent fixture. A gentle and quiet spirit, and the inside heart of a girl, not the outside looks; those are the things of beauty. Don’t let the world tell you or your daughters or your sisters that they need a certain body type, eye color, hair style or hip shoes to be beautiful. Point out how beautiful their grandmothers are (yes the ones with wrinkles, gray wiry hair, and chicken wing arms) because of the love they lavish on others. Point out how pretty the mentally challenged child is when her eyes sparkle at ‘hello’. Remind them that babies are so beautiful because of their innocence. When you are looking into their eyes right straight into their hearts, every single day, when they are at their worst – tell them they are beautiful! They’ll know what you mean.

The valuable and virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 has 21 verses of descriptors and none of them say anything of her looks, but one points out that if she does have charm and outward beauty, they are deceitful and passing (vs 30). Yes, girls, beauty may start at skin level, but goes SO much deeper than that. Our grownups didn’t mean any harm, bless their hearts; they were just repeating what they’d been told, I’m sure.

RESOLUTIONS

07 Monday Jan 2019

Posted by in inspiration, MONDAY MUSINGS

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I read yesterday that to submit a photo to someplace or another, it must be of ‘high resolution’ with at least 300 something or others, and I do not know what that all means but I do know where I’m going with it. First, I’ll learn what it means in case I want to use that knowledge; secondly, I am using a play on words, and setting for myself ‘high resolutions’.

Many years ago, I made the New Year’s resolution to never make another New Year’s resolution. I kept it. I was tired of setting new goals or plans just to let myself down by Spring. That was because I had been resolving to the wrong person to do this or that. I’ve grown since then (in more ways than one, and that’s due to some of those lost resolutions). Last evening our congregation was challenged to “turn your world upside down” as a way of encouraging us to reach out to people and do it for the sake of Christ. I have no idea what form that will take, and I doubt if my world looks rearranged, let alone upside down, but my heart is certainly taking on new shape. New resolutions, to the One Who Cares whether or not I do. Not for me, for Him. Jesus. Lord.

Several other things have worked to realign my heart lately. First, my wonderful friend Linda, mailed to me a devotional/journal titled “40 Days of Prayer” and a sweet note that she would like for us to begin January 1, doing this study together. Now that’s inspiration! Forty days, I can do that. Prayer, I can do that, always have. How hard can that be? Well in just 6 days, I am growing in my thoughts and faith about prayer and in the ones Who hear my prayers, that beautiful Godhead three. (John 16:23-24) Next, my husband watched for his first time “The Passion of the Christ” about a week ago, and sobbed, followed by a discussion about what Christ did for us. Then, there are the many needs for prayers just in our circle of friends alone, reminding me daily of the brevity of life, and of what really matters.

So today, when I am usually scurrying about with laundry, cards, pick-up/clean-up house detail and such as will have to be done over and over every week, I am writing. Working on another project yesterday, and mulling over all of the above, (resolution issues), I felt too scrambled to write. But this morning, I knew what it all came to – a daily resolve to pray more personally, do what I do as unto the Lord, and love fiercely.

There’s an exercise class at ten o’clock; I just may make it in time! No promises for a year, or even a week. But today – a day at a time – I will appreciate and use the things God has made available to be a better me for Him. It all takes on a higher resolution when it’s for the right Person!

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 4:20-21 NKJV

 

WHERE DOES THE NEW YEAR FIND YOU?

01 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in Life, Reflections

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Ten fifteen P.M. on New Year’s Eve my date and I have finished a silly movie where Adam Sandler’s character babysits his niece and nephew and they sort of live out the bedtime stories they make up the night before. We have had our tray of cheese, crackers and olives, drank our Diet Coke, and I added on a brownie topped off by a cup of Christmas Wassail. Just the two of us. And our Yorkie. Oh so different from the New Year’s Eves of the past!

Looking back in time, mid 70’s I see us newly wed couples all getting together to bring in the new year. Well, usually we were home by midnight, but it was so much fun! Whether at the Murdock’s, the Doron’s, or others, we had a great group of friends for laughter, games, and food! I learned back then how to make the REAL chex mix, thanks to Debbie Rogers Doron. And Mississippi Mud cake, thanks to Becky Burkeen Nance. I think I usually took peanut butter balls, dipped in chocolate; yep, always love my chocolate! Especially Hazel Carson Morton’s brownies!

After that decade, we were raising children, juggling debts, and working. And working. And working. Sounds like a stuck record? It felt like one too. New Year wishes were a bit more solemn for some of us; we began to be distanced from our friends of younger years. However, I was blessed with the sweetest kids I could have ever imagined having, as well as a fun-loving mother, so new years eve parties were always about family. I recall hubby and I hosting one year when my brother’s wife was expecting their first child. He was serving with the Marines in Desert Storm, and Julie, his wife, was staying with Mama. Julie really enjoyed the food I served, so her abdominal discomfort was at first thought to be the result of my food. The birth of my niece on New Year’s Day proved that theory incorrect!

The 90’s started out no better in the work realm, but by mid decade I had earned my BSN, and began working as an RN so my husband began to feel a bit more relaxed in the bread-winner chair. Still, with my schedule, and our having been out of the socializing habit for so long, we just never again had a group of friends where we felt that ‘couples camaraderie’. That’s probably true for many families; but on New Year’s Eve, I missed the festivities. I grew up in a house where the midnight hour was celebrated, even if my parents were away from home and we were with a babysitter, so I guess the notion carried over. Anyway, other than a few years when the kids and I were part of a church’s food and games evening, we were at home. I recall dropping by Mama’s one year on the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, and her house was decorated so beautifully complete with candles and wonderful refreshments. She was prepared for her ‘girls’ to come over for games and laughs. Those ladies hold important places in my heart. Barbara Ramsey, Jean Bird, Betty Hassell, Frances Hargrove, all such loved friends of my mother’s. I don’t know who all came that night to help her celebrate another year, but those four were almost always in the mix.

Turn of the century! New Year’s Eve 1999, my sister Kathy invited us to her and her husband’s party! We had little plastic ‘champagne glasses’ with sparkling grape juice, some assortment of noise makers and I happily watched a new century drape the calendar in the midst of good people and good fun! Nineteen years later, I am happier than I ever believed I could be, without a party, without noise makers, at home. Just the two of us. Happy NYE texts to our loved ones, from the safety and warmth of our own home, be it ever so humble. By the way, do you younger ones see how fast another decade passed in this paragraph? Well, that’s life. Faster than a speeding bullet!

Forty five years of marriage has seen many changes, good times and not so good times, like most folks. But for the life of me, I can’t think of one bad thing that overrides the joy of watching our kids grow up; working side by side to pay for our home and farm; celebrating our loved ones’ accomplishments and learning daily to praise God together for every day of every year. I guess all that work was good for me; my doctor tells me every year how healthy I am in spite of a few (well several) pounds over weight and arthritis. My ‘unparty’ hubby is right beside me about to fall asleep, and always has been. Our empty nest holds no grandchildren, but we have the sweetest dog in the world that was dropped right into my lap by a couple of high school friends. (Thanks again Janie Hughes Guizlo and Gwen Russell Hymer!) And both our kids are exceptionally attentive to our well-being; but that’s mutual of course!

Ten minutes before midnight now, and I didn’t know where this was going when I sat down to write, or even if I would post it. I think maybe that the movie we watched tonight has a faint connection – our lives are somewhat played out by the stories we tell ourselves. We may not know exactly what we are asking for when we make our plans, but for my life anyway, there seems to have been a master storyteller, (thank you God) watching and listening, knowing where my heart was and here I am. There really is no place like home! Happy New Year Friends!