Month: June 2021

Recently, the soap dispenser that matches the faucet at our kitchen sink broke.  A replacement was easily found, but the installation of it was quite another story.  The difficulty arose from my trying to maneuver myself around the center post of the cabinet doors under the sink.  After uncomfortable contortions and much frustration, we did complete the task, but it took a team effort by my husband and me.

Sometimes, what we think is going to be a simple task, might not be so easy at all.  And it might require teamwork to accomplish.  In this particular situation, a nut had to be secured from underneath the sink around the pipe that holds the dispenser in place.  Simple?  Sure.  Easy?  No, not really, because of the center-post obstacle.  So it is with situations in life from time to time.  Unexpected obstacles may hinder our accomplishments. 

We may encounter situations in life that are downright hard or ones that should be simple but are not.  How do we handle those situations?  The best way is by teamwork! 

You may be thinking, ‘I don’t need a team for everything I do’.  Well, I guess that depends on who is on your team.  First and foremost you should have God on your team.  Think about it, if you owned a Major League Baseball team, wouldn’t you choose the strongest, smartest, most capable players to be on your team?  Who is stronger, smarter or more capable than God?  (NO ONE!)  So why not recruit Him for your team?  Wouldn’t God’s love and support make any task you do more palatable and successful?

God declares repeatedly in the Bible that He cares for us.  His care is as infinite as His love – they go hand in hand.  If God loves so much that He gave His only begotten son for us, and His love is demonstrated by His care, how great is that care??  Immeasurable!  All of this is to say that God cares as much about the little things in our lives as He does about the big things. 

Sometimes, we might feel like we shouldn’t bother God with our small inconveniences.  Not so.  God is our Father, and He cares about everything in our lives.  I often compare our relationship with God to a parent and a newborn infant.  A newborn is helpless and vulnerable, which stirs the most tender compassions in us.  In addition, we recognize how limited a newborn’s abilities are compared to our own, so it’s easy to see that we are needed. 

Like the great old hymn says, “Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not”, God is full of compassion, kindness and mercy.  And I’m pretty sure that God recognizes the disparity between our abilities and His!  He knows that we need Him.  And He wants to take care of us.  Our day by day lives are greatly enriched by including God on our team.  No matter how grave or how insignificant our challenges might be, God is ready, willing and able to assist us in all of them. 

Now, let’s consider another aspect of teamwork – being a teammate.  Chances are that we have more than just God on our team.  Our family, friends and fellow Christians are almost always on our team and willing to help and support us.  But that also means that we should be on their teams.  We cannot expect people to help and support us all the time and give nothing back.  Our lives cannot be all taking and no giving.  That is self-defeating.  We should keep our eyes open for opportunities to be good teammates and lend a helping hand whenever possible.  And when we do that, a wonderful thing happens – we receive back.  This principle applies to more than just tithing.  It works for all giving.  Giving of ourselves, giving our energy, giving our time, our efforts, our support, our care and our love.  We are never poorer for giving these things away, we are always richer because this is a Godly principle.  Now don’t get me wrong, we do not give in order to receive, that would be selfish.  We give freely from our hearts without requiring anything in return (no strings attached). That is true giving.  And that opens the door for this principle to flourish in our lives.   

Think about how you would want that baseball team of yours to perform.  First, no egos getting in the way.  Then the team should work together for its success.  The team should follow the coach’s instructions. They all should participate using their best efforts.  They should acknowledge each other’s strengths.  And they should pay attention to each other so that they can be at the right place at the right time.  That is the most advantageous way for teammates to act and that’s what we would want for our team, right?  But stop and think… Is that the way we, ourselves act as teammates?  If not, we may be missing out on opportunities to bless and be blessed. 

So, teamwork in life basically boils down to relying on God, listening to His instructions, and loving one another.  Let’s seek possibilities to be the bless-er instead of focusing on ourselves.  There is no doubt that times occur when we need to be the bless-ee, but in between those times, why not look for every chance you can to be a stellar teammate?  Trust God to take care of you, and as freely as He gives to you, give freely to others.  I bet you’ll find that being the bless-er is even more fun than being the bless-ee!  And we must never forget; “you and God make a majority”.   So, even if He is the only one on your team, you still have a winning combination!  It just takes teamwork! 

Note to my readers:  I’m so glad to have you on my team!  Thanks for reading.

As promised, I am recognizing fathers in this week’s blog.  Fathers are an important part of the family.  They are the underlying strength of the family unit.  Mothers are strong and capable, but even the strongest mom relies on the strength of her husband in certain situations. 

A dad’s job can be tough.  He must be brave in every situation (especially ones involving spiders or snakes).  He must be strict without being unjust.  He must firm without being harsh.  He must be kind without being a push-over.  He needs to be the shoulder for everyone to cry on even if he feels like crying himself. 

I lost my dad last year.  He was 95.  He was the smartest guy I knew.  One time my son had an intricate math problem that involved adding numbers and reciprocals to get a palindrome.  After working extensively on the problem, we asked my dad for help.  So he wrote a computer formula to solve the equation.  And that was long before Excel!  He taught himself the play the organ by utilizing the mathematics of music.  And he was a pool-shark by using geometry. 

My dad was old school.  I grew up in an era when ‘children should be seen and not heard’.  There was one television, and when dad was home, we always watched what he wanted.  (I grew up watching a lot of westerns!)  He didn’t read me bedtime stories or hold my hand when I was sick (that was my mother’s job).  But he did fly from New York to Pittsburgh with a big lime-green stuffed elephant on his lap because I was in the hospital.  Both Dad and “Jumbo” were waiting for me when I woke up after surgery. 

If you read my “Mothers” blog, you may remember that I said we visited both sets of grandparents each summer.  Two of my favorite memories of my dad took place while visiting his parents in New Hampshire.  My grandfather had a two-room fishing cabin on his tree farm back in the woods next to the creek.  I thought it was such a special place.  There was no electricity, and the only water came from a hand-pump at the kitchen sink.  There were two twin beds, two living room chairs, an eating table, and all the necessary kitchen provisions.  Oil lamps offered the only light, and the woods supplied the other necessary facilities.  I used to pretend it was my house and I would play there often.  I wanted to spend the night there too, but I was afraid to do it by myself.  So one night, my dad stayed overnight with me.  It probably wasn’t the most comfortable night’s sleep for him, but he did it for me anyway.  I was elated! 

A few years later brought the advent of color TV, and my grandparents had one!  That year I anxiously awaited our visit so I could watch the “Monkees” in living color.  Fortunately for me, our visit was earlier than usual that summer.  I was so excited when I saw the show in color, that my grandpa offered me deal. He said if I could get my dad to go with me in the ocean, in June, in NH, over our heads, that he would give us the TV.  Now if you know anything about the ocean in New England in June, you know that the water is FREEZING cold at the time of year.  But my poor dad helped me seal the deal and we got our first color TV!  I actually had to ride all the way home (about 16 hours) in the back seat of a Volkswagen Beetle with that TV, (and they were big in those days), but I never complained! 

I will always remember how handsome my dad looked in his tuxedo when my husband and I got married.  I remember the times that I made him laugh.  And I remember the times that he would look over the top of his glasses at me – that’s when he really meant business – and sometimes meant that I was in trouble!  As I write, more memories flow through my mind and warm my heart.  My dad was a good man.

I can’t talk about fathers, without talking about grandfathers as well.  I had wonderful grandfathers.  They were quite different, but each had their own special qualities. 

My dad’s dad was the quintessential grandpa.  He looked like Santa minus the beard.  And he treated me like a princess.  He did puzzles with me, played games, and he taught me things like using a drill press and driving a car, both when I was around 10 years old.  My favorite game was King Kong and Fay Wray.  In this game he would be King Kong and carry me (Fay Wray) around the house with all the sound effects.  Then he would drop me on the couch and the airplanes would shoot him dead and he’d fall into a chair.  We played this game many times until I got too big for him to carry around.  I loved it!   He kept a jar full of silver coins in a little closet by the fireplace.  Whenever I did a good deed, he’d tell me I could go get a quarter or silver dollar out of the jar. You can be sure that I sought every opportunity to do good deeds!  (Too bad I didn’t hold on to those silver coins!)

Both my grandpas were a little ornery.  I say that because both grandmothers would roll their eyes at their antics.  My dad’s dad used to take his dentures out after dinner and have marshmallows for dessert.  He liked to chase them around in his mouth.  My grandmother would just shake her head and roll her eyes.  I would laugh and encourage him. 

And that brings me to my mom’s dad.  I called this grandpa, just “Pa”.

Pa was ornery in a different way.  He loved cars.  In particular, I remember his 1959 white Chevy Impala convertible with red interior.  I thought that was the coolest car that I’d ever seen, and I loved riding around with the top down!  Pa did the driving most of the time when we visited.  But Pa had a bad habit.  He would decide that it was his turn to go despite traffic indications.  Fortunately, we never got into an accident, but it was pretty close sometimes.  As a kid, I never recognized it.  But as I got older – it was a little scary! 

Pa had sayings. They were both silly and funny.  He would ask me where my slippers were every time that I was barefoot; and he’d ask what Tonto said.  Thinking back, in my early teens, I was less than kind responding to his questions, which I regret.  But as I got older, I appreciated his quirkiness.  He always called my grandmother, “my bride” and was totally devoted to her.  I can still hear her saying his name like he was a naughty child when he would say silly things.  It was part of their relationship that made them fun to be around.  Pa had great stories of the ‘old days’.  And he always gave bubble gum to servers as part of their tips.  He was a very likable guy.  I am proud to have his WWI Purple Heart Medal on display in my living room. 

All in all, I am very thankful for these men and the role they played in my life.  They influenced me in different ways and taught me many things.  I often wish that I could have talked with my grandfathers as an adult so that I could really appreciate and understand their experiences, wisdom, and advice from more than a kid’s perspective.  I would have loved to have written their life’s stories! 

And I am blessed to have had my dad in my life as long as I did.  Distance kept us apart physically, but he was always in my heart.  I have the utmost respect for the man he was. 

So this Father’s Day, think about what your dad or grandpas have done for you, and let them know (if you can) that you appreciate it.  Although dads may not show it like moms do, they too need to hear that you love them.

Note to my readers:  It has been fun taking this trip down memory lane.  I hope you enjoyed it.  Thanks for reading! 

Prayer is a rather common concept.   No matter what religion someone follows, they usually pray.  Christians are no different.  In fact, prayer is an integral part of a Christian’s life.

The dictionary calls prayer a reverent or devout petition to God.  And defines petition as a respectful or humble request.  Certainly, we can and do make lots of requests to God.

 But another definition of prayer is:  a spiritual communion with God as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.  I like this definition because prayer is so much more than just asking God for stuff. 

Prayer is an invaluable tool when times are tough.  In those times, we may try to figure things out ourselves; but how much better it is to call in the Expert!  When we don’t know what to do; what a relief it is to ask God for help!  And at the times when there is nothing we can do, our hearts rest in the assurance of the Almighty God’s undivided attention!

Prayer is also thanking God and praising Him.  And thanksgiving isn’t reserved only for answered prayer.    I often thank God just for listening.  He always does!  We can thank God before we receive our answer because we are confident that the answer is coming.  Of course, we shouldn’t forget to say thanks when our prayers are answered too.  And let’s also remember to praise God when everything is running smoothly.  (Sometimes we can forget about that one.) 

As far as confession – it’s not telling God how terrible you are or listing all the bad things you did.  It’s simply telling God that you’re sorry when you mess up.  And what’s really cool about that is that when you say you’re sorry (and mean it!), God forgets all about it.  He holds none of it against us. 

I share all of this because I want to tell you some news.  My husband got a job!  After almost 11 months, our prayers were answered, and he got a great new job.  And I thought that sharing our experience may help anyone who might be in a similar type of situation.

At the end of July last year, my husband was laid off due to the company’s lack of business as a result of the pandemic.  And this happened on the heels of buying a new home, moving to a new state, and my retiring.  Needless to say, at that time, the uncertainty of the future was a scary proposition.  At first, we were undaunted, thinking surely this situation wouldn’t last long.  We thought this would be a little vacation.  But as the months began to stack up, it became a little more difficult to remain positive.  However, when doubt would arise, we would do our best to keep it in check.  We had some money saved, but that was supposed to be for later, not now.  We learned to be more frugal, but we never stopped living our lives.  We paid attention to our budget, but we didn’t live like paupers. 

And all the time, we prayed.  We prayed for ‘financial assistance’, which God aptly provided along the way.  We prayed for the best job that would not only meet our needs, but also would be agreeable.  (I didn’t want my husband to have to work someplace where he’d be miserable.)   And we prayed for God to bless us, so that we could bless others.

The challenge in these types of situations is to remain patient and not become complacent. I have to admit that I had my moments!   But my husband was a trooper.  He would search the employment sites every day and apply to every job within his skillset.  He would get responses, even interviews, and then nothing would follow.  Until one day a colleague referred him for a job, and within a few days, my husband was reemployed! 

When I look back on this situation, I remember the many thoughts that I had to battle in my mind.  And I’m sure my husband was wresting with the same thoughts.  Things like being anxious, discouraged, jealous, resentful, worried, confused, doubtful or afraid.  We can’t always keep these thoughts away from us, but we can stop them from lingering in our minds.  Kick them out as soon as you can catch them!  And don’t beat yourself up for momentary negative thoughts.  Those thoughts are like the ants that slip into our houses through the tiniest cracks.  We are not failures for having those thoughts, we are successes for refuting them! 

God’s handiwork is apparent in these situations.  How do you survive when your income doesn’t cover your expenses?  How do you stay positive after so many let-downs?  How do you help someone else when you’re hurting?  By trusting God in prayer and allowing Him to provide for you.  The Bible says, “casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.”  (1 Peter 5:7)  When we do this, we allow God to work for us and supply His solution.  Our minds may tell us that we can’t wait for God’s solution or that our own solution is necessary.  But if we patiently and continually pray and believe that God will provide, He will.  Don’t settle for second best.  His solution is always better than anything we could come up with!  Just because we don’t see a prayer answered right away does not mean that God isn’t working for us!  It is often a matter of timing, hence the necessity for patience.

If you are facing a similar situation in any category of life, take time to pray.  Ask God for His solution.  Thank Him for His care and concern.  Praise Him for loving kindness.  Ask all your friends to pray and believe with you for your deliverance.  (So many wonderful people were praying for us!)  There is power in prayer; and edification knowing that others are standing together with you.  There is also a great wave of rejoicing when you’re able to share your victory with them.

We never have to beg God.  We simply pray with believing because we have seen what He has already done.  The Bible is full of examples of what God is able to do.  And I’m sure we have seen His blessings in our lives or in the lives of others many times.  This current situation is not any different.  I often tell myself, “If God can do that… He can certainly do this.”  Our confidence is in God; and we refuse to accept any 5-senses evidence that is contrary to His promises.  Remember, “you and God always make a majority”!

Stay faithful to prayer.  Believe that God will do what He said He will do.  Don’t be so proud as to not allow others to help you.  They can be inspired to bless you, allow them to give, especially in prayer.  Be patient and confident.  God is a loving Father who wants to take care of His kids. 

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.    Hebrews 4:16

Note to my readers:  I hope if you are in a similar situation that this was helpful and blessed you.  I pray for everyone who reads my blog.  And I rejoice at your victories.  Thanks for reading!