I was feeling guilty for not being happier. Sitting in church we spoke in choral reading, make a joyful noise of thanksgiving. The minister asked for announcements of celebrations; I could think of none. We read in Psalm 118: 23 "rejoice and be glad in it." And yet, I don't feel it. For now, I am not happy. And my word of the year is "in joy"--serve in joy! live in joy!
And then during prayer, I heard a bird singing. I realized that I hadn't heard that sound for several days because of the passing storms. And I realized that the bird doesn't sing while it is raining but as soon as it stops, songs break forth. I am reminded of some scriptures: John 16:20 "But your weeping shall suddenly be turned to wonderful joy..." and Psalm 30:5 "Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the dawn." I am assured that this is just a passing rain shower! No guilt needed.
Is it raining on you today? The sun will be out soon! Ding, Dang, Dawn
Life to the Third Power
Have you ever noticed how our life seems to come in threes? As small children, we read books like The Three Little Pigs and Goldilocks and The Three Bears. In school, we were taught to write essays with an introduction, supporting paragraphs, and a conclusion. The scientific theory includes a prediction, the experiment and the outcome or conclusion. Even our most popular phrases sit better on the tongue if we use three—“The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “the good , the bad, and the ugly”, “Go, Fight, Win!”
I began thinking about this, as my teenagers were rushing out the door this morning. I wondered why do they have such trouble getting places on time? And I realized that even in daily living there is a power of 3. In every action, there is a need for preparation, activity, and closure. Take mealtime for instance—you must first cook the meal, then eat it, and then clean up.
Even the simplest of actions follow this rule. Let’s look at going to bed. There is a preparation time—brushing your teeth, putting on your pajamas, going to the bathroom, feeding the pet, locking the doors, plugging in the rechargeable technology, getting the glass of water, fixing tomorrow’s lunches, throwing in that last load of laundry (Okay that was the women’s list—men, just follow me through the first two or three!) Then, the actual sleeping occurs. And then you need to have a wake-up process--the stretch, morning coffee and paper, morning news on TV routine.
The problem occurs when one act merges into another without that closure time. This problem happens more and more when we get busier and busier. We wake up by jumping in the shower and getting dressed, which should really be our preparation time for going to work. We never really closed down sleeping mode.
We get up from the supper table (if we even ever sat down, maybe we went through the drive-thru) and we rush out to the next sports event or meeting without really taking time to eat together and definitely forgetting to clean-up. Which leaves us to do the clean-up or catch up with the kids day during our getting ready for bed time!
As an elementary school teacher, the hardest thing to do in a school day is to make sure we look over and assimilate the work we just did before moving on with our day. Children are just geared toward being finished when they have accomplished the task. But we all know, you must clean up before you move on to something else or the mess will get unbearable. I can hear my mother saying, “Put that game away before you get out a new one.” She was in effect, teaching us the importance of closure.
Back to my teens, I realized they were already behind when they went to bed. In exhaustion, they had not prepared for the next day. The alarms were not set, the clothes were not laid out, the plans were not made. It’s the same scenario in many of our daily lives as we try to get as much out of each day and cram too many activities together, not allowing ourselves time to “put away one game, before we get out a new one.”
I have heard the expression that “a three legged stool never wobbles.” I think we can apply that thought to almost every daily activity in life—prepare, enjoy, and savor!
I began thinking about this, as my teenagers were rushing out the door this morning. I wondered why do they have such trouble getting places on time? And I realized that even in daily living there is a power of 3. In every action, there is a need for preparation, activity, and closure. Take mealtime for instance—you must first cook the meal, then eat it, and then clean up.
Even the simplest of actions follow this rule. Let’s look at going to bed. There is a preparation time—brushing your teeth, putting on your pajamas, going to the bathroom, feeding the pet, locking the doors, plugging in the rechargeable technology, getting the glass of water, fixing tomorrow’s lunches, throwing in that last load of laundry (Okay that was the women’s list—men, just follow me through the first two or three!) Then, the actual sleeping occurs. And then you need to have a wake-up process--the stretch, morning coffee and paper, morning news on TV routine.
The problem occurs when one act merges into another without that closure time. This problem happens more and more when we get busier and busier. We wake up by jumping in the shower and getting dressed, which should really be our preparation time for going to work. We never really closed down sleeping mode.
We get up from the supper table (if we even ever sat down, maybe we went through the drive-thru) and we rush out to the next sports event or meeting without really taking time to eat together and definitely forgetting to clean-up. Which leaves us to do the clean-up or catch up with the kids day during our getting ready for bed time!
As an elementary school teacher, the hardest thing to do in a school day is to make sure we look over and assimilate the work we just did before moving on with our day. Children are just geared toward being finished when they have accomplished the task. But we all know, you must clean up before you move on to something else or the mess will get unbearable. I can hear my mother saying, “Put that game away before you get out a new one.” She was in effect, teaching us the importance of closure.
Back to my teens, I realized they were already behind when they went to bed. In exhaustion, they had not prepared for the next day. The alarms were not set, the clothes were not laid out, the plans were not made. It’s the same scenario in many of our daily lives as we try to get as much out of each day and cram too many activities together, not allowing ourselves time to “put away one game, before we get out a new one.”
I have heard the expression that “a three legged stool never wobbles.” I think we can apply that thought to almost every daily activity in life—prepare, enjoy, and savor!
Footsteps in the Sand
It sure is nice having 3 sisters. Especially when you hear news like “The cancer’s back.” That’s what we heard yesterday.
It’s nice to be living close to God and focused on “His will not mine” when you hear news like “It has spread.”
It’s nice to see God’s hand in your life when news like this puts your day on a new schedule than the one you had thought you would have.
These are the thoughts that came to me this morning as I look back on my day yesterday. The day really began with texts and phone calls between my sisters and I as we began getting results back from the CT to see what was causing the pain. It soon became apparent that the cancer was probably back and that someone needed to be there when the doctor relayed this information to Mom.
Let me give you some background. I have 3 wonderfully, different sisters. We all have our own God-given personalities, lives, talents, and strengths. And these have served us well during past illnesses and trials, as we have supported each other. During Mom’s current illnesses, our separate personalities have really come in to play-sometimes with a vengence. Some of us are good at doctor’s information (collecting it, relaying it). Some of us are good at facility research. Some of us have been called on to coordinate insurance and physical treatment and care. Some of us have been good at communication with a large family. Some are good at pushing Mom to work hard (you know—being bossy!). Some are good at cheerleading (you know—come on, one more time, you can do it!) Some know what to say, some know what to bring. None of us are good at all of it! For us it takes a village!
I’m amazed at those who are only children. We watched my Mom have to fill all of these roles for her Mom (my grandmother) when the time came to be caregiver and supporter. I have watched friends do it gracefully on a daily basis. And it just makes me appreciate the stepping stones that God planted half a decade ago, when my Mom and Dad began having children. He knew already what this journey would take.
And He continues to plant those stones right up to yesterday’s needs. Let me continue to fill you in….
Consider that I was scheduled to keep a friend’s child this weekend while she went to a conference. Consider “said conference” was cancelled. (I was totally disappointed to not get my weekend with one of my favorite 3 year olds!), but it freed my weekend and made sure my friend was here as well for my support.
Consider that a dear friend and her husband had recently felt the Holy Spirit put me and my family upon her heart and had felt called to give me a gas card to lighten the burden of rising gas prices and driving over an hour to visit. I had shared with some that I was mostly phone visiting with my mom and she had picked-up on the need for a physical visit. Consider my feeling of elation and praise when I used it yesterday and realized first, that gas prices had dropped a few cents and second, that this gas card was substantial and would cover more than one visit, which yesterday’s news was calling me to visit as much as possible!!
Consider my younger sister’s frustration as she was relaying the news to us all and considering how to get someone there to be with Mom when the doctor could be there. It looked like this needed to be yesterday. Schedules seemed to be totally full….until she called me, third in line. Consider her relief as I told her that I had a teacher’s workday—no students, no sub to arrange for, and an early faculty meeting along with a great administration that would support me working from home.
Consider that when I got the call yesterday morning, confirming that the meeting was set and the diagnosis was recurring and spreading cancer, and I was just trying to hold it together and continue to work by printing some labels, my friends (no—my sisters in Christ) began to appear around the printer. It was obvious which ones God intended to be there as I broke down and poured out my heart and they stood around me and picked up the pieces and held them for me in their dear hands as we cried, talked and ultimately (and I mean ULTIMATELY) prayed.
Consider the clarity I had in looking over these stepping stones and in knowing that it was my turn with Mom-that my personality, talents, and strengths were what was needed this time. Consider the honor that I felt that He had once again called me and trusted me in doing something difficult and important and that He would was again provide me with the support and strength to do it.
My God is an awesome God. He provides. He goes before me and makes a path before me. He is my strength. I dare anyone to try to convince me otherwise.
God and I had a great laugh this morning, as I thought through all these events. I hope you know the poem Footprints in the Sand by Mary Stevenson. It has always been a comfort to me in times like I’m going through right now. If you are not familiar with it, please read it first to understand the following image---
This morning I looked back to see yesterday’s footprints,
And I saw not two sets---
BUT MANY, MANY, MANY SETS!!!!!
Of those who carried me because of the call in their hearts that was put there by the Holy One!!!
If you were one of those, I thank you from the bottom of my hollow heart for answering God’s call (even if you did not realize you were doing that!) I’ve noticed that those who live close to God seem to be in the right place at the right time, and you were just where God needed you to be to put His plan in motion yesterday.
To God be the glory!!!
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