Accepting the Leaps

Circles rippled the glassy lake. Dragonflies fluttered above the water. The serenity was broken by the loud quivering of leaves.

A flying leap propelled a small, brown squirrel from a pine tree to an oak several feet away. He tottered on a swaying limb before scooting to firmer footing. He nibbled at the ends of weaving branches. 

He scampered from tree to tree even when the distance seemed too far. Several times his foot slipped, but he grabbed hold and hung momentarily upside-down. He righted himself and took off for more tasty morsels. Each tree--pine, oak, palm, myrtle, and cypress--offered unique challenges and opportunities. For several minutes his adventures kept him busy but off the ground. 

For the last several months my life has mirrored the squirrel’s. High. Low. Topsy-turvy. Complicated. Constant changes.

With all of his antics, the squirrel never fell. He scrambled to keep going and didn’t give up. God created him with an instinct to climb, feet to grab ahold, and desire to continue.

My squirrel teacher’s lessons will help me face my challenges. When I leap from problem to another, I will also remember that God gives me what I need to survive and flourish. When I depend on Him, I will navigate each trial knowing that even if I slip, He will catch me. 

If you are right with God, He strengthens you for the journey; the Eternal will be pleased with your life. And even though you trip up, you will not fall on your face because He holds you by the hand. Psalm 37: 23-24 (The Voice)

Eternal Father, guide me and hold my hand to keep me steady. Amen

Maybe They Don't Understand

“Up doggy,” Emily instructed.

Her little sister obediently went from the floor to her knees and opened her mouth for a cracker. While laughing and barking, they took turns being puppies.  

When Emily left the room, Molly stretched a headband around her neck. “That my leash,” she said.

“That could hurt your neck,” I told her.

Emily called out, “Molly, put it around your waist.”

I repeated Emily’s command, but Molly just sat at my feet with the headband circling her throat.

Her big blue eyes stared at me. In her two year old voice she said, “I not know where my waist is.” 

With a laugh, I told her it was at the top of her pants. With a yank, the headband was off but still not on her waist.

“I not know how to get it on my waist.”

With some help, she was able to pull the band over her legs and up to her waist. She was ready for Emily to take her for a walk.

Her refusal to follow my directions wasn’t that she was being stubborn or defiant. She didn’t understand the instructions. Her simple statement allowed me to help her instead of assuming she was obstinate. 

 If only adults could learn from the innocence of little children. They don’t worry that they will be embarrassed or judged if they don’t know something. They just speak their minds.

The Little Pine Cone

 A gray scarf draped itself across the morning sky. Yesterday’s rain swept
away unsightly algae and fallen leaves from the lake.


 Birds whistled good morning. Grass and trees sparkled when tiny streams of
sunlight broke through the clouds.


 Pine trees stretched limbs upward. New growth pointed skyward like candles
on a birthday cake. Dark ovals hung haphazardly among the dark green
needles. One golden brown pine cone glittered even when the sun disappeared.


 The small cone defied the clouds and glowed in its muted surroundings.
Somehow from the dreary morning, it found a gleam of light. Its contrast to
the rest of the tree astounded and encouraged me.


 For several days, I have watched the bronze pine cone. Each day it shines
and clings tightly even when wind batters the tree.


 Troubles, disappointments, and pain overwhelm and can cause
discouragement. But when holding tightly to Jesus, He provides support and
strength. His light shines through as a beacon to others.

 *All praise goes to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Annointed One.

He is the Father of Compassion, the God of all comfort. He consoles us as
we endure the pain and hardship of life so that we may draw from His
comfort and share it with others in their own struggles. 2 Corinthians

1:3-4 (The Voice) 

*Comforter, hold us to you so that we can endure the trials of this life.
Amen

*Please continue to pray for my parents. Mother has had more issues the

last day which we hope is'n't C-diff again. Even when she isn't feeling

great, her attitude is good.

*Dad started the hyperbaric chamber sessions this week which can last for 6

weeks. He goes 5 days a week and hopes it will help him heal. He is having

trouble adjusting to a different, less active lifestyle.*

Broken but Still a Blessing

Gusts of wind whirled across the lake. As a precaution, I moved a couple of my smaller orchids from the patio table to the floor. Recently, wind had thrown pots onto the floor so I didn’t want a repeat performance. 

For the first time, five of my six orchids were blooming or had buds ready to pop open. Two tiny yellow blooms decorated the smallest plant. A row of deep purple buds prepared to burst open on a second one. The two largest ones held up to ten large white flowers, centered with yellow. On the last one, purple dots painted a unique pattern. Though all were exquisite, my youngest granddaughters loved the spotted one.

Over the years, I had little competence in raising the delicate plants. I treated them like other flowers, and they died. Only after researching their care, did I finally know how to make them flourish and bloom.

With confidence, my collection grew and delighted me with a splendid exhibition. With the littlest plants off the table, I thought the others would be able to withstand the possible wind.

“Oh, no!” I cried. 

Sprawled on their sides, two of my prizes lay forlorn on the patio floor. Mulch scattered next to a broken stem of blooms. Why hadn’t I moved all of the plants?

Purple spotted blooms looked up at me. The girls’ favorite flowers. Broken. Bruised. Destroyed. 

Setting the pots upright, I replaced the mulch and took the wilting flowers inside. Surprisingly, only two blooms had dropped from the stem. I put them into a glass on the counter. Then I carefully set the stem into a little vase. Though broken, they could still be used. 

Because of my catastrophe, three girls would enjoy the special flowers at their home. What I first thought was beyond help, turned into a new purpose and design. 

God uses brokenness, heartache, and devastation to form surprising gifts which reach beyond our imagination.

We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.  Romans 8:28 (The Voice)

Still, Eternal One, You are our Father. We are just clay, and You are the Potter. We are the product of Your creative action, shaped and formed into something of worth. 

Isaiah 64:8 (The Voice)

Creator, you can create something wonderful from rubbish. Help me to give you all of the pieces. Amen

Then Came the Light

Blackness surrounded me when I stepped onto the patio. An overhead light illuminated my books. While I read Bible passages and my devotionals, light edged into the darkness. 

Birds woke and warbled. Their melodies circled the lake and provided background music for my meditations.

I read about God providing for the Israelites during their forty year trek in the wilderness. He gave them food, water, and clothes that didn’t wear out.  He protected them from their enemies. 

While I read, God brought light into my world. I did nothing to increase its intensity or to hasten its brilliance. Producing daylight wasn’t on my to do list but entered my world on its own timetable. 

Just as God controls night and day, He controls situations in my life too. Each day I feel inadequate to accomplish all of the tasks on my to do list. There is not enough time, energy, or expertise to make it on my own.

The perfectly orchestrated sunrise reminded me of countless instances when God provided for me--often in completely unexpected ways. I worry. He acts. Instead of focusing on my problems, when I focus on Him, the journey becomes manageable.

Numbers 11:23 Do you doubt me? Do you question my power that I can do what I said? Just watch-you’ll see what will happen. (The Voice)

John 14: 27 My peace is the legacy I leave to you. I don’t give gifts like those of this world. Do not let your heart be troubled or fearful. (The Voice)

Dear Lord, thank you for constantly taking care of me and providing what I need. Amen

Mother is feeling much better than she was over the weekend. Dad is continuing his therapy and has returned to the computer. They enjoy being in a house instead of crammed into one room. Yesterday after I took them to the doctor, we enjoyed a stop at Dairy Queen for Blizzards.

Being in Ken and Kim’s home and spending time with family has made life easier for them. They enjoy having tasty food again after bland, rehab meals. 

Thank you for all of the prayers. More are appreciated.