Food for Thought…

Many, many times when I was young, my mom told me to “stand up straight”.  My posture was important to her because, “good posture is important for proper young ladies.”  My poor mom, even with all her urging I never achieved ‘proper young lady posture’, mostly because I was one of the tallest girls in my class and I didn’t like that designation, so I always slumped.  Like many other things from childhood, I say, “if only I knew then what I know now…”  I would have heeded my mother’s advice and stood up straight.    

Standing up straight is healthy.  With our posture in proper alignment, our core is its strongest and in its best working order.  A strong spine is crucial to our overall wellbeing.  Standing up straight is also a significant part of our appearance.  Slumping distorts our proportions and overshadows our best features.  But even more important than either of those, is what standing up straight and tall means to us in our minds.

Standing straight and tall conveys confidence.  When we stand tall with our head held high, not only do we look confident; we feel confident.  We are able to look at challenges right in the eye and deal with them because our eyes are not downcast.  Confidence means that we are not intimidated, we are solution-minded.  Life is full of challenges; and meeting those challenges with confidence helps us to rise above them.   And if we do fall, our confidence allows us to get back up and try again.  When we remain confident, we will continue to stand tall.

Picture this…  You’re back on the playground and there is the big slide, which frightens you.  Then ‘that one’ kid comes along and says, “I dare you to go down the slide”.   You have to save face in front of all the other kids who are watching, so you stand up tall, climb the ladder and go down the slide.  (And usually find out that the slide is a lot of fun and you’re glad you did.)   As adults, we can picture life’s challenges like a kid’s dare.  Of course our motivation will be different, but our confidence won’t concede to being bullied by a challenge.   

Confidence then leads to determination.  Sometimes we are faced with multiple challenges at once, or what seems like a constant barrage of them.  Our determination gets us through those times.  Life tends to know how to ‘push our buttons’ and discourage us.  But we can stand tall with a strong backbone and determine that no matter what life throws at us, we will get through it.  We can stand up to any amount of mud life flings at us.  And if we get knocked down, we pick ourselves up, wash off the mud and stand tall and strong again.  Standing tall with determination helps us develop a habit pattern of success in our lives. 

Think of a child learning to walk.  He is not daunted by how many times he falls because of his determination to stand up and walk (straight and tall).  Even if he gets hurt, he still gets up and tries again.  And when he is walking capably, the number of times he fell before his success becomes completely insignificant.  We must have that same kind of determination. 

Determination then leads to bravery.  There are times when life throws us a debilitating blow.  These are more than challenges; these are devastating attacks.  These are overwhelming odds from which we are not sure if or how we can recover.  These are the times that we must be brave.  We rally all the confidence that we’ve garnered and the habit pattern of success that our determination has brought us to stand tall with our spine steeled in the face of adversity.  

Bravery is simply not giving in to fear.  Whenever fear rears its ugly head, we must stand tall against it.  We must not give in to its intimidation.  We must not yield to its demands.  I know that this is not an easy task.  But with all the bravery we can gather, we must always try.  We must hold our head up, throw our shoulders back and utilize all the strength in our core to stand tall against the attack.  We must never give up.  Standing bravely offers us every chance of victory, while quitting only offers a chance of failure. 

Confidence, determination, and bravery then lead to pride.  When we stand up to the challenges of life and conquer our fears, we can be proud of our victory.  Standing tall demonstrates that pride.  We no longer need to slump in despair or cower at adversity.  We are proud of our accomplishments and unashamed of the successes that we’ve attained.  We are not arrogant or haughty.  We do not brag.  We simply stand tall and let that speak for us. 

Now, here is the conclusion of the whole matter…

We can be confident in our own abilities or in God’s limitless ability.  We can be determined by our own will-power or by claiming God’s promises.  We can be brave with our own strength or with God’s mighty arm that He bares for us.  We can be proud of our own results or of the deliverance God provided for us.    

I bet that you agree – the choice is obvious.  Our confidence, determination and bravery grow exponentially when we rely on God’s abilities rather than our own.  He is the Almighty God with unlimited resources.  His love for us never fails.  By His power, we can be more than conquerors. 

Let us be confident in everything that our heavenly Father has given us and does for us each and every day of our lives.  Let us be determined to have His sufficiency in the face of every challenge.   And let us stand proudly as His sons and daughters with no fear because He has said that He will never leave us nor forsake us. 

Note to my readers:  My prayer for all of us is that we can stand tall together in this day and time despite the negatives and distresses that surround us.  

I grew up going every summer to Maine and New Hampshire to visit my grandparents (both sets).  One of the highlights of those vacations was going to the ocean.  The rock-bound coast of Maine and the wide sandy beach in New Hampshire were my favorite playgrounds.  Jumping in the waves, playing in the sand, and exploring the tide-pools were my favorite activities. I can still hear the thunder of the waves as they crashed on the shore and smell the salty marine air.  The cold deep-blue water of the Atlantic provided some of my favorite childhood memories.

Then as an adult, I got to go to Hawaii (thanks to my wonderful husband).  It was my first experience with the crystal clear tropical waters of the Pacific around the islands.  I was enthralled with the color of the water, even out in the deep the beautiful aqua shade was a something to behold.  I got to snorkel with tropical fish and sea turtles.  I got to hear whales singing when I ducked underwater and see them breaching from the shore.  A whole new set of favorite memories was formed. 

The sea has an almost universal appeal because of its beauty and majesty.  It also is a source of inspiration for life.  Here are some thoughts…

The oceans are vast. So also are our possibilities.  But we must be honest in this regard.  Possibilities are opportunities to accomplish something, not free tickets to wonderland.   “The sky’s the limit” is available if we are willing to work for it.  And working has two components – believing and doing.  These two are necessary to achieve any success.  We cannot do anything that we don’t believe we can do.  And we can’t demonstrate believing without doing something.  We know that the scriptures say, “with God all things are possible” which means that God is able to do what man cannot.  So it surely stands to reason that we can accomplish much bigger and better things with God’s help than we can by ourselves.  The next time you look at the ocean as it spreads out to the horizon as far as you can see, think about all the possibilities you have with God’s help, and get moving.   

The waves of the sea are constantly rolling in and out.  So also are our thoughts – information is constantly flowing in and out of our minds.  Sometimes it’s high tide with more waves rolling in than out.  And sometimes it’s low tide, with more rolling out than in.  Sometimes the waves are calm and refreshing – those waves we enjoy.  Sometimes the waves are strong and intimidating – we must be cautious around those waves.  On occasion the waves are violent and destructive.  In those circumstances, there is often a forewarning so that we can be prepared and take the necessary protective measures.  But if we are caught without warning, we still can recover and rebuild.  Like we deal with the waves of the sea, so we can deal with our thoughts.  We can harbor the calm refreshing thoughts that edify and encourage us.  We can avoid or refute the intimidating thoughts that could knock us down.  And we can do our best to protect ourselves against the destructive thoughts.  We can be prepared and intercept them before they cause damage.  But if we do suffer loss, we can regroup and heal.  Of course, no matter what waves of thought we encounter, God will guide us, help us, and answer our prayers. 

The oceans are full of majestic beauty.  So also is life.  We all have seen that beauty in the eyes of a loved one or cherished friend.  We’ve heard it in a child’s laughter.  Or felt it in a healing touch or a helping hand.  We smile at sweet memories, or cheer in eager anticipation of great things to come.  We rejoice in God’s love and in His grace. These are just a few of the things that bring beauty and splendor into our lives. For the real beauty of life is not in fame and fortune.  But in the quiet moments of the heart when we are at peace.  We know that we are blessed by a loving God who cares for our every need.  So the next time you visit the ocean, you can not only be thankful for the grandeur of its beauty, but you can also thank God for all His abundant goodness in your life.

Finally, the sea exudes mystery, which is a big part of its allure. We imagine that the sea holds some great treasure that is yet to be discovered.   Sometimes our lives are perplexing.  We don’t always understand why things happen, or what we should do.  But we can pursue our search for life’s treasures (answers) with the patience and zeal of any treasure hunter because God knows all the secrets of life and He knows us.  And even if our treasure remains undiscovered, we can always trust Him to care and provide for us.

Close your eyes and grab your best ocean mind picture; relax and enjoy.  

“The greatest cargoes of life come in over quiet seas.”  Dr. V.P. Wierwille

Note to my readers:  Thank you for being you!

For my blog this week, I thought I would share a poem that I wrote a few years ago…

 What do you see when you look at me?
 Is it just a jar of clay?
 Is it merely a jug well worn with age,
 That’s clearly past its day?
  
 Do you only see the faded paint,
 And the cracks around the base?
 Is your focus caught by the graying rim,
 And the lines about the face?
  
 Is the top too small or bottom too wide?
 Is the shape not what you like?
 Do your eyes stare only at the scars of use?
 And do imperfections fill your sight? 
  
 Perhaps a change is needed
 To fully understand.
 If the surface is what stops your gaze,
 You don’t see who I am.  
  
 Take a moment to look inside
 And consider what is there
 Forget the wrinkles and the bumps
 And all the graying hair.
  
 Look only at the Christ in me
 And all that it entails.
 Think solely with the love of God
 That for me, never fails. 
  
 See through the tender eyes of God,
 A child He calls His son.
 Consider what a price He paid
 To have me for His own. 
  
 Disregard the shallow view
 Which is all the world can see.
 Fill your thoughts with what God says
 And so, walk in liberty.
  
 Again I ask, Oh looking glass,
 What is it that you see?
 If the surface is what stops your gaze,
 Then you’re missing the best of me.  

Sometimes we are our own worst critic because when we look in the mirror, we don’t always like what we see.  A shallow view can do us a great disservice because it misses the most important part of who we are.  Our exterior is merely a container for the wonderful qualities that make us unique and lovely.  If we look only at the surface, we might not see things like kindness or honesty or integrity.  And those are the types of things that make us truly beautiful.

I was looking at photos of my family and thinking of how beautiful they all are.  Yet, I still had a negative opinion about myself.  I asked myself why?  And I realized that I looked at my family with loving eyes, but I didn’t look at myself the same way.  It often seems like we are good at looking at others through our eyes of love, but when it comes to ourselves, we miss the mark.  So I began my quest to learn to look at myself the way that the Bible says God looks at me. 

God loves His children more than we can fathom.  He looks at us through eyes full of that love. When we look at ourselves like He does, we will begin to see the REAL us. Our reflection will be that of God’s opinion of us.   We will begin to appreciate all the wonderful things that we have and are because of all that God has given us.  The beauty of God’s love will shine in our face.  And best of all, we will see it (and so will everyone else).  No longer will we see a shallow version of ourselves, but we’ll see what God meant for us to be. 

1 John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…

Note to my readers:  You are lovely inside and out.  Thanks for continuing with me on my journey.

I was taught that sleep, music, nature, humor (laughter), and the Bible are 5 things that relax and invigorate us.  They calm and uplift us.  They encourage and restore.

Sleep obviously relaxes and restores our energy.  That’s a no-brainer.  Music and nature both evoke emotions that can calm and uplift.  We’ve all probably experienced that.  The Bible is full of edification, exhortation, and comfort.  And of course, is the best source for all these things.  But what about humor?  Have you ever thought to yourself that you could use a good laugh?  Have you found yourself yearning for a “laugh ‘til you cry” kind of laughter?   Sometimes you might even think, “When was the last time I laughed?”  We actually need to laugh from time to time.

The internet is full of information about the emotional and physical benefits of laughter.  Here’s a statement I read online:

Laughter enhances your intake of oxygen-rich air, stimulates your heart, lungs, and muscles, and increases the endorphins that are released by your brain, which activate and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, and it can increase and then decrease your heart rate and blood pressure.

Even if we agree that laughter is beneficial, it sometimes eludes us.  (We all know that there are times in life when we cannot laugh and times when laughter is not appropriate.  I’m not referring to those times at all in this blog.)  But there are times when we are stuck in the doldrums, or feel down because of everyday stresses or worldly pressures.  These are the times when laughter can relax and invigorate us.

When I’m in the doldrums or down hearted, I will often seek comical relief – maybe a favorite funny movie.  Finding entertainment (movies, TV, stand-up comedy, books, etc.) that makes us laugh is a welcomed diversion to get our minds off our troubles.  Everyone’s sense of humor is different, but for me a good slapstick works every time… 

The scene is Inspector Jacques Clouseau, a dog, and a man.  Inspector Clouseau, with his almost unintelligible French accent: “Does your dog bite?”  The man: “No.”  The Inspector reaches to pet the dog, which bites him.  The Inspector: “I thought you said you dog does not bite.”  The man: “That’s not my dog.” 

Knowing movie lines that we can quote, or scenes we can replay in our minds, often makes us chuckle.  Those can be quick ‘pick-me-ups’ when we need them.  Of course this isn’t limited to movies.  Many favorite quotes can come from stand-up comics, sitcoms, or books.  Remembering these can lighten our mood.  Sometimes just talking about a favorite comedy triggers our laughter.  Or just saying a comedian’s name can bring amusing thoughts to mind.

Of course humor is found in more than just Hollywood entertainment.  We can have funny conversations with friends and family about silly things that happen.  We can recap a funny memory, especially with those who share it.  We can quip back and forth with witty retorts or banter.  We can tell a joke.  We can laugh at ourselves. And we can laugh about our common quirks.  How about playing a game?  Board games or card games can many times result in uproarious laughter.  Guessing games like Charades can also be very amusing.  One of the times I laughed the longest and hardest was watching my sons dancing to a video game.  All of these episodes of laughter invigorate us.  Any of them can help us feel uplifted or restored. 

Think about tickling.  Why do we tickle our kids?  To make them laugh.  (however, it might cause the opposite effect on adults, so use sparingly.)  Why do we want our kids to laugh?  Because to us their laughter equates to their happiness.  Silly things like tickling or pretend-chasing delight children and thus delight us.  When my grandchildren were younger, I would pretend-chase them in a circle around the couch and coffee table.  I would use very exaggerated arm swings and steps, but still be unable to catch them for several laps around the couch, all the while they laughed with glee.  Then I would stop suddenly and turn around toward them, which would cause screams of laughter and the chase would then proceed in the opposite direction.  This would continue until I ran out of steam, usually to their dismay.  Those are special memories that bring a smile to my face.  There is nothing like the sound of children’s laughter to delight our hearts! 

But that delight isn’t limited to our kids, how about times when you make an adult laugh?  Isn’t that delightful?  Yes, because really, aren’t we our happiest when those around us (especially family) are happy?  Humor can be an avenue toward those happy feelings for both parties.  One of my favorite things is making my husband laugh.  It’s not an easy task.  So when I succeed, it’s a great victory – very satisfying! 

A word of caution, however…  As previously noted, laughter should have positive qualities.  Teasing, pranks and practical jokes may seem funny to you, but may not be funny to the recipient.  Laughter in these situations might not meet that positive criteria.  Of course that doesn’t make all teasing, pranks, or practical jokes bad.  I’ve seen some pranks that were downright hilarious.  Just make sure the recipient is laughing too.  And never laugh at someone’s expense or make fun of someone.  Laughter in those situations is hurtful.  But I think we all know that. 

At any given time, the world can be an unhappy place with a myriad of stress producing circumstances.  If we find ourselves in the rough seas of worldly pressures, we can use these relaxing and invigorating tools to navigate our way through.  Without any doubt, the Bible offers our best defense against the pressures of life.  (It offers our best offense too!)  But laughter can be an acceptable “cure to what ails you”.  It can aid us in our maintaining a positive attitude and diverting our attention away from the negatives we’re facing.  And as doctors and scientists agree, it can benefit our health.  

So take a moment to think of something funny.  Giggle, chuckle, snicker, hoot, cackle, guffaw or just plain smile.  Try it and see if it doesn’t make you feel just a little better.  😊

Proverbs 17:22

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Note to my readers:  I love you!  Thanks for laughing!

“Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence in society.”
—Mark Twain.

Ted Striker: “Surely you can’t be serious.”
Dr. Rumack: “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley”
—Ted Striker (Robert Hays) and Dr. Rumack (Leslie Nielsen), Airplane!

Having lived my whole life (until recently) up north, I am well acquainted with cabin fever.  For those of you who grew up in the south, cabin fever is the state of mind caused by perpetually being cooped up during the cold and icy weather of winter.  It is a yearning for springtime. 

Remembering cabin fever made me think of why we yearn for spring.  Obviously, we want the return of warmer weather so we can go outside without being cold down to our bones.  And we want to not worry about icy streets and sidewalks.  But more than that, we delight in the rebirth that spring offers.  Barren fields, leafless trees and empty gardens suddenly abound with new life.  The dominant grey shades of winter become a lively green.  Flowers blossom before our eyes with their colorful beauty; and their fragrance fills the air that has finally thawed from winter’s freeze.  The creatures that winter silenced awaken to fill our ears with song and voice.  And the days get longer to satisfy our hearts with glorious sunshine.  All of this new life arouses our nurturing souls.

The Bible often refers to youth and new growth as tender.  And really, isn’t that how we view the burgeoning spring?  Those tender leaves that push their way through the soil to become lovely tulips and the tender buds that appear on the trees elicit our care, concern, and appreciation.  And after the solitude of winter, we are anxious to provide those things.  Think about baby birds in their nest or a litter of puppies, pretty much anything (maybe not snakes or bugs) in a newly born state evokes our tender compassions.  So, I guess we could conclude that tender things not only require tender care, but also encourage it. 

Of course, this also applies to people.  Although, the arrival of our babies is not limited to springtime, newborns require very tender care.  And it is not a difficult decision for us to provide that.  But somewhere along the line, youth matures.  What then?  Is our tenderness no longer needed?  Do we stop tending our gardens when they are fully grown?  No.  Being tender toward adults may not seem necessary because we don’t perceive them as being tender like youth, but often the adults that don’t appear to need our tenderness, require it the most.  

Think of all the people who are trapped in the endless cold-hearted winter of the world.  The tenderness you show might be the only kindness they see.  How about the people who are hopelessly lost?  Your tenderness could give them direction.  What if a friend or family member is irritable because they are having a bad day?  Responding to them with tenderness could change everything (and maybe prevent a fight).

Being tender means that we are considerate, gentle, kind, and compassionate.  It also carries the connotation of being adoring, affectionate and devoted.  It is the particular relationship that determines the level of these.  Obviously, we are more devoted to our families than to strangers, however we can be kind to anyone.  We are affectionate to those in our inner circles, but we can have compassion on a broad scale. 

The Bible, in the book of Ephesians, instructs us to be tenderhearted.  We are to have compassion one toward another and be kind.  This is necessary to combat the hardheartedness of the world.  Too often the world spits out criticism instead of compassion.  Failures are mocked, while successes go unnoticed.  The modus operandi of society generally is to tear people down rather than build them up.  We can step in with compassion for those people who are hurting.  We can show them kindness, gentleness, and tenderness.  Think of what that would do for their hearts! 

Also tied up in being tenderhearted is forgiveness.  I think that this is a critical element in our families (both physical and spiritual) and with our friends.  People are not perfect, so it’s bound to happen that someone hurts us in some manner at some point.  Harboring resentment instead of forgiveness will not only cause the hurt to fester, but also cause separation between us. Both are painful.  But forgiveness covers and mends.  Isn’t that a better way to live?  The standard for forgiveness according to Ephesians is “as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”  Remembering all the things that God forgave us for, will help us to forgive others.  And recognizing our own imperfection will help us to not demand that from others. 

I think we all would agree that the quality of being tenderhearted is a good thing.  The world might say we’re weak, but we know that the strongest man that ever lived, Jesus Christ, was tenderhearted.  The world might say that it’s an outdated concept.  But we know that the things of God are eternal.  The world might say that we’re crazy.  But seriously, has that ever stopped us?  Moving ahead with compassion, being ready to help, serve and bless everyone will open the doors for God’s blessings on us.  Giving equals receiving.  Try it and see for yourself what the benefits are of being tenderhearted. 

And even though springtime only comes once a year, we can have our own spring-like rejuvenation every day.  When we look at our surroundings with nurturing eyes, we will be awakened to provide tender care, kindness, and compassion.  We will see spring-like flourishing, and the cessation of cold-hearted winter for others and for ourselves. 

Note to my readers:  You touch my heart! 

“The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”.  This is an adage my mom used regularly.  It is from a poem by the famous Scottish author, Robert Burns.  I later shortened it to simply, “The best laid plans…”, which I still say today.  In the poem and in general usage, the statement means that your plans don’t always work out the way you want them to.

A change of plans is a common occurrence in our lives.  Sometimes it’s minor, dinner at 8 instead of 7.  Sometimes it’s disappointing, we don’t get that job we wanted.  And sometimes it’s catastrophic and changes everything.  I’ve learned over the years that change isn’t necessarily a bad thing.  That disappointments can lead to better things.  And at the times when life deals us a low blow, we can still steer ourselves toward a positive outcome, even though it’s not exactly what we had planned.  There is no doubt that life can throw us some serious curve balls or knock-out punches.  But even if we are down for the count, we can get up to fight another day. 

When you were a kid, did people ask you what you wanted to be when you grew up?  Think back to your youthful aspirations.  What did you want to be?  I wanted to be a ballerina.  I wanted to wear a tutu and glide across the stage like a butterfly.  However, I did not become a ballerina.  Mostly because I really didn’t have the aptitude to be a dancer, but also because my mom wanted me to learn to play the organ.  I did not want to play the organ, so consequently I’m not a musician either.  All of this to say that both of these best laid plans went awry.  Did that ruin my life?  No.  Do I have regrets?  No. I might have thought, “what if…” from time to time, but I don’t regret not doing those things because I know that I really didn’t have the talent to be a ballerina.  And since I didn’t want to be an organist, I didn’t put forth the effort to become one.  We cannot regret not having something that we were not willing to work hard enough to obtain.  Childhood plans often do not come to pass, and usually we accept that, or even expect it.  If you are living your childhood aspiration, more power to you!  But for the rest of us, most likely, we have moved on.

Later in high school, I wanted to be a research scientist. This was something for which I was well-suited and something that I was more than willing to work for.  I was all set to go to college to pursue that plan, but circumstances hindered me.  These were not bad circumstances, but they changed my trajectory.   Here again the best laid plans didn’t happen, but the results were good, just not what I had intended.  At these times, we usually find ourselves immersed in the new path that our life is taking, and the old plans tend to fade away.  Regrets?  No.  “What if…”?  Maybe some.

Fast forward a decade or so and my life’s course was set.  I was in the place that I assumed I would always be, and I was content.  Then an unforeseen event changed everything.  This was a painful and devasting event that destroyed my plans.  These situations require us to regroup and make new plans. We cannot afford to wallow in the loss of the old ones.  We must be determined to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off and move forward the best that we can.  It’s not an easy thing to do, and often we have to start with baby steps, but as our resolve keeps us moving, we may find that our latter end can be better than our beginning.

Fast forward a few more decades and here I am.  My life has been full of plans that didn’t work out the way I wanted them to, for one reason or another.  There have been devastating experiences and big disappointments.   But what I have learned from the sad or difficult times has made me a better person and has taught me to appreciate all the good times that my life has offered.  I am thankful for all the twists and turns and changes of plans that my life has taken to bring me to where I am today because I am blessed. 

I think of it like this…

Our lives are a compilation of all the good and all the bad that we’ve experienced.  We use what we have learned to weave all those experiences into a colorful tapestry that is uniquely ours (it’s an ongoing process).  All the successes and all the failures, all the joy and all the heartache, all the laughter and all the tears, all the plans that worked and all that didn’t are intricately woven together and contribute to the design of our tapestry.  Things like regrets, bitterness and resentments tear holes in our tapestry and cause it to fray.  We need to avoid those things to preserve the fabric’s strength.   And things like faith, hope and love enhance the quality of our tapestry.  They can also repair any damage done.  So why not enjoy making your tapestry?  It’s the only one you’re going to have in this lifetime.  Why not weave all your experiences into a beautiful work of art that you can be proud of?  With the help of the master-weaver, God, our tapestry can be a glorious reflection of His goodness and kindness. 

That’s a worthy goal, right?

Another reason that my life is so blessed is because of the people that have been and now are in it.  When I consider all the directions that my life has taken, whether planned or unplanned, I am thankful for the paths that I’ve crossed of wonderful people who have helped me, taught me, enriched me, and loved me.  People who showed great strength in the face of cruel adversity helped me learn to be brave.  People who went the extra-mile to help someone in need encouraged me to be caring.  People who found positives in a negative world taught me to be optimistic.  And the list goes on.  Even the people who were hurtful benefited me because they convinced me to be kind.  I sometimes feel like I’m the most blessed person in the world today because I’m surrounded by a wonderful family and terrific friends.  Their love and support have taught me so many things.  My life would be empty without them.

So throughout our lives, plans may go awry, but that doesn’t mean we should stop making plans.  Life would be pretty chaotic without any plans!  So let’s make our plans, start moving toward our goals and if life gives you lemons, make lemonade.  Learn to roll with the punches, and if you get knocked down, get back up and keep on trucking.  And enjoy making the beautiful tapestry that is your life.

And one last thing, the best outcomes happen with God’s help, and His plans NEVER go awry. 

Note to my readers:  You’re the best!  Thank you for being a part of my life. 

We live in a society that has forgotten the importance of the individual.  Consequently, we may feel like just another face in the crowd, a number on a list, or even irrelevant.  We may think that we can’t make a difference.  But we can! 

I picture society like a king-size bedspread.  If a thread were removed, it wouldn’t be noticeable when viewing the whole bedspread from a distance.  But if you took a magnifying glass to the spot where the thread was missing, it would become more apparent.  And if you looked at it with a microscope, there would be a gaping hole.  So it is with our lives.  From a distance looking at the whole scene of society, we may not realize our importance.  But closer examination reveals the necessity of our presence.  And the closest scrutiny shows what our absence would really mean.  

We don’t live our lives according to some vague script written by a thoughtless society.  The story of our lives is uniquely scripted for us as individuals.  The characters in our life’s story are real people with real-life situations, just like us.  All of us live our lives on a personal level with our own experiences and our own contributions.  It is in this personal environment that we have the opportunities to utilize our distinct talents, to make our special contributions, and to demonstrate our importance.  We are not merely actors on a stage for the audience of society.

We start life in the embrace of our family.  It is in this particular environment that we learn the basics of how to live life.  It is where we build the foundation of our character and begin to recognize our worth.  It is our family who first influences our decisions and our behavior.  Family ties make us important.    

As we grow up, we reach out to include others in our lives.  For instance, we make friends.  These “outsiders” provide companionship and support when we’re away from the comfort of our family environment.  Friends offer new perspectives and additional experiences that further influence our decisions and behavior.  It is in this environment that we encounter new dimensions in our relationships.  It is where we find more people to care for and who care for us.  Our importance expands. 

And somewhere in the midst of living our lives, we might get saved.  If we do, we become part of a greater, yet still individual story.  We become part of a bigger family – the family of God.  And it is the truth of God’s Word that begins to govern our decisions and behavior.  It is in this environment that the greatest love is shared, and the most forgiveness is felt.  It is where friends become family and family becomes closer.  In this environment, our importance expands exponentially. 

You see, what society thinks doesn’t really matter, because our importance is derived from those who think we’re important.  I will explain.  In the natural family bond for example, children are important to their parents and parents are important to their children.  It’s axiomatic and reciprocal.  How important is your child to you?   By answering that question, you have not only determined your child’s importance, but have also defined your own.  And, as a child knowing that you are so important to your parents, how do you feel about yourself?  Important, right?   Think about friendships, are your friends important to you?  By making your friends important to you, you have also made yourself important to them.   And as children in God’s family, we are infinitely important to God.  Consider what that says about our own importance…

Living in these personal environments of our lives, doesn’t need to limit our sphere of influence.  As individuals, we can effect change on a broad scale when we are fully committed to our cause.  We as individuals can touch someone’s life – we can teach them, help them, bless them, love them.  Then that individual does the same for someone else, who does the same for another, and so on.  Then before we know it, change happens. 

Never underestimate how important you are and how much your life means to your family, to your friends and to God.  I think this poem says it best.  YOU make a difference!

One Man Awake

One man awake awakens another,
The second awakens his next door neighbor,
And three awake can rouse the town,
And turn the whole place upside down.
And many awake can raise such a fuss,
That it finally awakens the rest of us.
One man up with dawn in his eyes – multiplies.

By Helen Kromer

Note to my readers:  You are important to me!  I am thankful for each and every one of you and I pray for you.  I hope this journey is as enjoyable for you as it is for me.  I have decided not to go “public” with my blog.  I don’t want my page to become cluttered with a million ads (not much fresh air in that!) and I want to continue to write on a personal level, which may not appeal to the masses anyway.  So, if you know someone that you think would like to visit with me each week, please spread the word. ( terrileewritings.com )

Many thanks! 

When I was a young girl, I took my first trip on an airplane.  In those days, there were no TSA security lines.  Airports had observation decks outside where you could watch the airplanes come and go even if you weren’t traveling.  And (believe it or not) being on an airplane was such a special occasion that people got dressed up for it.  All in all, flying was an enjoyable part of one’s trip. 

For all those reasons, my first flight was an exciting adventure.  But it was what I saw from my airplane window that left an indelible mark on my memory.  It was a dark and cloudy day when we started our journey.  I remember that only because when our plane ascended above the clouds, the sun was shining brightly!  I was young enough that I had no idea that was going to happen.  It made such an impression that I can still picture it clearly in my mind after all these years.  Not only was the sunlight beautiful, but the clouds stretched out like snow covered hills beneath me.  It looked like I could walk on them, and I pictured myself doing just that.  It was the greatest panorama that I had ever seen.  As I grew up and learned about the weather, I understood what I saw, but that never dampened the excitement of that experience.  

When dark clouds overshadow the skies, and all we’ve ever done was live on the ground below them, we may not know that the sun is shining brightly above them.  We may think that those storm clouds are all that’s there.  But when we are able to soar above them, we can see the brilliant light that was shining all along.  The clouds may have obscured it from our view, but they didn’t diminish it in any way.  From the ground, storm clouds are dark, grey, and foreboding.   But from the sky, they are dazzling white and inviting. 

Over the years that view from my plane window has helped me through many difficult situations.  Why?  Because it was a real-life reminder that no matter how dark and thick the clouds are, the light is still shining. 

Sometimes the clouds of doubt and fear hang drearily over our lives.  If all we know is life below those clouds, our eyes might get so acclimatized to the shadows that we accept them as ‘just the way things are’.  We might not be aware that the glorious light of God’s deliverance is shining just beyond them.  But when (like the pilot who flew me above the clouds) someone shows us God’s light, we begin to learn that we don’t need to be limited by the shadows anymore.  We can rise above those clouds of doubt and fear into the wonderful light of God’s liberty. 

My mind picture helps me, not only because I saw the brightness of the sun, but also the beauty of the clouds.  When we rise above the clouds of doubt and fear into God’s beautiful light, it changes our perspective.  We see that the storm clouds of life are not so threatening, that they are no match for God’s light.  Those clouds no longer need to overshadow our lives.  They can be like hills we cross on our life’s journey – maybe a little hard to climb sometimes, but the view from the top is always spectacular.

God’s light is always shining no matter how dark and dense the clouds are.  No matter how ominous the impending storm looks, God’s light is greater.  So much of life is conditioned by our viewpoint.  Why not set our sights high above the clouds of doubt and fear?  Why not allow the glorious light of God to illuminate our souls?  Why not expect to soar on the beautiful side of the clouds instead of cowering below them?  

With God, all things are possible. 

Note to my readers:  Enjoy your flight!  Thanks for reading. 

Note to my readers:

This week I wanted to do something a little different.  I wrote this story a few years ago for my sons.  I think this slightly modified version will bless you whether you are a father or not because the point of the story is something we all need to hear. 

A father held his newborn son, thanking God with every breath. Through tears of joy, he explored every feature of the tiny face, committing each perfect inch to memory.  He touched the little hands and marveled at the intricate detail of each miniature finger.  He assessed each toe, each leg, each arm, and ear.  And when he was satisfied that all was in order, he kissed the baby tenderly on the cheek.  “I’ve been waiting for you”, he whispered, “It seemed like it took forever, but now you’re here.”  From that moment, the father’s heart would never be the same.  He could scarcely contain the love he felt spilling out from every pore.  He would nurture and protect this fragile package with every ounce of his being.  Never had that father seen anything so wonderfully made.  He could hardly believe that this precious bundle belonged to him.  Over the next few hours, he watched each movement the baby made, ready to respond to the slightest need.  An unconditional bond was formed, and their souls were connected in an inseparable union. 

The father took his responsibility seriously.  He gently attended to each duty with eager anticipation, trying to make sure that his beloved son wanted for nothing.  Although he knew it was unavoidable, he hated to hear his baby cry.  “If I could, little one, I’d make it so you would never have to shed a tear,” he would often say as he walked the floor with his sleepless son. 

Each passing day, the loving father watched his child grow.  He thanked God for each new accomplishment and bragged to anyone who would listen.  Never had he seen a more perfect child.  He was the smartest infant ever!   As days turned into months, the father rejoiced at the changes he saw in his son: first that he could roll over, then that he could sit up, and all too soon, that he was walking.  Each achievement was met with hardy encouragement from the caring father, and being ever mindful of the learning process, he responded to each failure with comforting reassurance.

Words began a new chapter in both their lives.  For the precocious little boy, a brand new world of learning electrified his young mind.  For the father, it was not only an exercise in patience, but also a constant reminder of the importance of his role as a teacher.   He wanted his son to be smart and wise.  He would teach him to avoid the same mistakes that he had made.  He would instruct his son how to be just and true, to have virtue and praise, to be honest and respected, and to make good decisions.  He would show him the right way of believing and acting. 

Months became years that passed all too quickly.  And each year brought some sort of change to the father and son’s relationship.  Some changes were good, and some were not.  Sometimes it was a battle of wills, and sometimes it was sweet fellowship – and oh how the father loved those times!  He celebrated with his son in all his victories and stood with him through all his losses.  His help was never more than a phone call away.  However, through it all, the kind and loving father never forgot that moment when he first held his newborn son and how all his prayers were answered that day.  Oh, and that bond that was formed?  It could not be broken.

The point of the story is…  GOD IS OUR FATHER.    

Because a newborn baby evokes such a caring response in a parent (in anyone really), I often think that God sees us like one.  He sees us through a Father’s loving eyes, with tender compassion and a yearning desire to provide for us and protect us.  He sees us as innocent, pure, and completely in need of His nurturing love and extraordinary kindness.  And we can be like newborns before Him – depending on Him to fully provide for us and watch over us as we grow.  God is a Father who only wants the best for His sons and daughters.  He showers us with His grace and goodness, and He patiently guides our steps.  He is never more than a prayer away.  God’s love for us never fails and nothing can separate us from it. 

When times are tough, or even when they’re not, we need to remind ourselves how much we are loved by God, our Father.  It is an unconditional constant that we can rely on through any and every situation we face.  God’s love is unchanging, unstoppable, and unending. 

And God loves you!

End Note:  Here’s a challenge for you…  For the next 7 days, every time you look in the mirror, say to yourself, “God loves me.”  Forget about whether you think you deserve it or not, (we don’t, but God loves us anyway), just remind yourself that God loves you.  See what happens to your heart in a week. You may find that you want to continue this practice. 

Love to all.  Thanks for reading!   

It seems that one of life’s favorite games to play with us is ‘hide and seek’.  Life wants to play this game with us often, in different ways with varying degrees of difficulty. 

“Where are my keys?” is one of the most frequent versions of the game that life plays.  Glasses, wallets, pens, or TV remotes are also used in this version.  Life distracts us at just the right moment so that something ends up not in its usual spot and consequently we can’t find it.  Apparently, life thinks it’s funny to hide these things and watch us search high and low for them.  This version is usually played with us at home, work or sometimes in the car and usually has a successful outcome for us – after a modicum of frustration.    

A more complicated version is played with file cabinets, ‘safe’ hiding places, or computer storage.  We put that important document (paper or electronic) in the most logical place in the file, but when we want to retrieve it, it’s not there.  So, the hunt begins.  The degree of difficulty in this version depends on the length of time since life has hidden the document and the size of the area where it could be found.  We typically do find it eventually, but seldom without repeated rifling through many papers or computer files.  And how often does life hide something that we put in a special place for safe keeping? It’s almost like life is trying to keep it safe even from us!  In this version of the game, life seems to be mocking us. 

Then periodically life goes beyond misplacing things to actually losing them.  An earring falls off or a jacket gets left behind.  These scenarios involve seeking, but not always finding.  This version of the game is also played when you move.  Something inevitably gets lost during the process and may never be found.  In this version, life shows a little of its meaner side because of the length and futility of the searching we do.  Although this version of the game may be annoying, it can be winnable. Miracles do happen and things that are lost do get found on occasion. 

Life shows its meanest side by hiding the most important things from us.  Indispensable things like love, peace, companionship, deliverance, or other essential elements may elude us at times.  And our seeking for them can result in much disappointment.  We can’t always prevent life from hiding these things from us, but there are steps we can take to help us find them.

In just about everything we do, there are basic steps which can be mastered and applied to complex situations.  Let’s use the misplaced keys for an example.  Anger clouds our judgement and impatience overshadows our logic.  These two things actually hinder our search.  Either of these attitudes can cause us to ransack our house and affect disorder, which does not help us find our keys.  We must keep them under control.

Furthermore, complacency interferes with our seeking.  The attitude that the keys will find themselves with no effort from us, is an unrealistic expectation.  This may be apparent to us in this illustration, but maybe not so clear with regard to weightier matters.  We cannot just sit and wait for success to come to us.  We must act.

Another thing that never works is quitting.  This might seem obvious but think of the times discouragement has thwarted our progress.  When this happens, we have two options; give up or push through.  The decision made at this point makes all the difference.  When we push through, we have a chance of succeeding.  When we give up, we have no chance.  And if we quit, who knows if our next step would have revealed the location of the missing keys?

So, those are some things that don’t work, but what does?

First of all, whenever we are in seeking mode, we must maintain a positive expectation of finding.  This may not be too hard when looking for our keys because we know that they have to be there somewhere.  But what about seeking love?  Since love is not something we can see with our eyes, we might not be so confident that it is there.  But it is!  The Bible says that God is love.  So, where God is, love is.  Wherever we are seeking, love is there because God is everywhere.  Thus, we can allay that doubt.  The same is true for peace or joy or whatever quality we need in our lives.  The promises of God are true, and we can depend on them and remain steadfast in our quest.

We must also remember to seek patiently.  Life is very skilled at the game of hiding things.  I would go so far as to say that life is an expert hider.  So, if we don’t find what we’re looking for right away, we simply remind ourselves that we are up against a shrewd expert and keep seeking with the expectation of successfully finding our needed answer.  Life may be an expert at hiding things, but with God’s help we can be superlative finders! 

Some other steps to help us in our pursuit of life’s hidden treasures are having an organized strategy, using the right tools for the job, and maintaining relentless determination.  God will help us with all of these.  God guides our steps; prayer the BEST tool for any job; and “if God be for us, who can be against us?”

Whether life has hidden your TV remote or a much needed job, practicing these steps in your search will help you win life’s game of ‘hide and seek’.  Life may be a formidable opponent, but it is no match for you with God on your side!  We can beat life at its own game!! 

Note to my readers:  It’s mid-January 2021 already!  Time flies!  And time also has a way of healing our wounds.  Let’s believe together for a wonderful year ahead.  Thanks for being here!