Another Ambush of Grief

Trails of memories flowed from my eyes. For the third day, gray clouds blocked the sun. Perhaps the dreariness sparked the tears. 

            Our first Christmas without my dad was six years ago. Not only was there an empty chair at the table, but I knew unless a miracle occurred, it was the last Christmas with Alan and mother. As I looked at the dismal scene around me, memories of that year played in my mind. 

            After the Christmas Eve service that year, we joined Chris, Anne, and the girls at Anne’s mom’s house for dinner which was delicious and enjoyable. However, Alan had trouble breathing a short time later. We had to leave early so he could get home and rest.

            The following morning we left at dawn for Chris and Anne’s home to watch our granddaughters open gifts. We had fun seeing their excitement. Alan felt good and seemed his old self as we celebrated and ate a yummy brunch. 

            Later, we packed up and all went to my brother Ken’s home for dinner with his family. Mother lived with Ken and Kim and had a full time caregiver. With our extended family together, we noticed the empty seat but tried to make the day joyful. 

            Mother was able to sit in her wheelchair and join us for the meal. Alan ate his normal plates of scrumptious food which amazed us both. Side effects from medications altered his sense of taste so he hadn’t been eating much for a while.

            Not only did he eat and enjoy the food, he went for hours without the constraints of his oxygen tank. With no  tubes, Molly got close to him again. At her young age, the strange contraption frightened her. He played with all of the girls. 

            Even in our grief, we all savored the joy of the day. I kept pushing the unwelcome thoughts from my mind and tried to concentrate on what I had at the moment. Miraculously, Alan and mother both had strength for the day. Alan went for the entire day without the oxygen tank. 

            Two and a half weeks later, Alan passed away. On Good Friday, mother passed away. How thankful I was for that last Christmas with them. 

            I don’t know why grief ambushed me today. Tears continue to flow. I miss my loved ones terribly but am so thankful for those who remain. 

            Perhaps my grief is intensified by the sadness of so many that I know who are also grieving. Many face their first Christmas without a loved one. My own grief has made my heart break for others. I know the pain and what they are experiencing. 

            In the midst of grief, Jesus came for us. He comforts us and holds us tightly. 

            Hold your loved ones closely. Treasure each moment and remember those who have left us. 

Merry Christmas.        

Peace Can Begin With Me

 Darkness enclosed my patio. A single light allowed me to read my Bible and daily devotionals. Reading and meditating helped me ignore the blackness around me. 

            Song lyrics in a couple of my devotionals, caused me to sing softly. “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me…” from Let There Be Peace on Earth. 

            When I finished that song, I continued with “Chains shall He break. The slave is our brother…” from Oh, Holy Night. 

            Both songs gave me peace as darkness formed a cocoon around my patio. I thought of the joy and peace of Christmas. 

            However, as the sun rose, my lake returned with unwelcome thoughts of the news. Daily shootings, unrest and conflict screamed against the peace I felt in my little sanctuary. 

            Clouds blocked the bright sunshine. Gloominess shrouded the normal cheerfulness of my view. 

            The words of the song returned. “Let there be peace on Earth and let it begin with me.”

            I can’t repair lives broken by death and divorce. I am unable to stop violence around the world. 

            But I can bring a touch of peace to my world. Hug a hurting friend. Call my ninety-six year old aunt. Send cards to shut-ins. Deliver gifts to the less fortunate. Invite friends to lunch. 

            Jesus lived in a world of turmoil and violence too. He didn’t stop it but gathered normal, often despised, people and taught them to follow His example. 

            Love God. Love others. 

Dear Lord, help us to show your love to those around us. Peace can begin with us. Amen.

“Advent is a time of preparing and waiting. A time to prepare hearts and realize we are called to begin in our corner of world.” Jill Jackson

A Fancy Tea Party

“Grandma, let’s have a tea party,” nine year old Molly said after seeing my new tea set. 

            At a recent charity auction, I won beautifully wrapped baskets. One held a white teapot with a creamer and sugar bowl. 

            “We can have a fancy tea party,” Molly said. 

            “Sure, we can do that.”

            “We can invite people,” she continued. 

            Her plans exceeded my own. I assumed we would each have a cup of tea at my counter.  But her enthusiasm spread to me too. 

            When I turned around, she wore a purple and white checked apron her sister, Ashlyn, had made for me. Molly was prepared to follow her dream. 

            While she began setting the table for our special event, I called three friends who were also widows. Two of them accepted our invitation even though it was such late notice. 

            Molly beamed when I told her we had two guests. I could have invited more but decided we needed to quickly prepare the food. We only had an hour to get ready. 

            She placed read and green placemats, cloth napkins, flowers and a candle on our table. With no advance notice, we had to search the kitchen for food we could serve. Pumpkin bread and chocolate covered pretzels with peppermint sprinkles from my Bible study lunch the day before went into glass bowls. 

            My mother’s decorative glass plates went onto the table. I pulled ornate bowls from the cabinet. Molly filled them with tea, tiny tomatoes, and gummy bears from my auction basket. I cut cheddar cheese and she arranged crackers on a plate. She also formed a circle of triangular pieces of Swiss cheese, also from my auction basket. She picked mint from my plant and arranged it on a wee plate. 

            “I have never been a hostess before,” Molly said. “This is fun.”

            As I thought of more goodies, I remembered small quiches in the freezer. Those went into the oven. Water heated for the teapot in the tea kettle on the stove. The candle’s light shone. 

            With preparations done, Molly took pictures of the beautifully set table. Then we changed into fancier clothes. Molly put on her church dress and added one of my scarves. 

            The doorbell rang. Two smiling friends entered. One brought a small bag for Molly. Inside was a lovely thank you note and large piece of jelly roll. 

            Following Molly’s previous instructions to me, I led our guests to the table through the living room and not the kitchen. We sat and talked while she placed each item of food on the table. She took her job as hostess seriously. 

            The fancy tea party made us all smile. We talked, ate and drank tea.

            “I put the gummy bears out for me,” she said with a gleam in her eyes as she took some. I placed one in my mouth. She ate hers. No one else indulged. 

            Before they left, our guests thanked us and gave us hugs. My friend, who almost didn’t come because she was feeling sad, enjoyed herself.  

                        

            After they left, Molly shared her observation about my sad friend. “I have never seen her look so happy.”

            Because Molly and her sisters had made cards for my friend and we had taken cookies to her, Molly knew the sad look. 

            Molly’s marvelous idea not only made us happy but also two lonely ladies. She taught me that last minute entertaining can be fun. Parties can be fancy on short notice but not extravagant. People don’t care if the house is completely clean but appreciate being cared for and loved. 

            Earlier that day, Molly and I talked of going out for pizza and ice cream but her thoughtful act of kindness was much better for all of us.  

            What a joy it was to watch Molly be a wonderful hostess as she prepared for the tea and served her guests.  

         

         

Grateful in the Grayness

In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.

(1 Thessalonians 5:18 World English Bible)

In the darkness, an eagle squealed. A turkey bellowed. A blush of pink predicted a glorious sunrise. 

            But as light crept behind the trees, haze blurred the lake. The odor of smoke filled the air. My hope for a gorgeous display disappeared into a gray mist.

            Clouds blotted the sun. Muted flowers had no luster. But even in my disappointment, I knew God was there. 

            A bird sang a special melody. Healthy trees stood tall. A lizard scrambled up an oak tree. Dew dotted flowers gathered near my patio. 

            It is often easier to be grateful on sun-drenched days. But even during subdued, downcast times, ponder and be thankful especially for the small, often overlooked gifts. 

Heavenly Father, help me be thankful for all of my blessings during easy times and also  hard ones. Amen

Withstanding the Storm

He stood at attention next to my neighbor’s sunroom. From my patio, I observed him staring at the dark lake. 

            Clouds dimmed the sky. Sheets of rain rushed across the water to the shore. Gusts of wind slung waves north, west, south and east. 

            Torrents of rain fell onto the solitary sandhill crane by my neighbor’s home. Water dripped from his gray body. Wind ruffled his feathers. Nevertheless, he stood like a statue for at least thirty minutes and braved the storm. 

            For a week, weather reports urged Floridians to prepare for a hurricane. Store shelves emptied. Long gas lines formed. Plywood covered windows. Some residents escaped. The rest of us waited.

            Each day new predictions changed plans. Hourly reports foretold disastrous weather. Weariness and uncertainty filled our minds. We waited and waited. 

            When and where would it hit. No one really knew. 

            As Dorian came through the Caribbean, it touched a few islands and then attacked the Bahamas with a vengeance. Destructive winds refused to let go and stayed for hours and then days. The unwanted guest wouldn’t leave and left a trail of desolation.  

            Thankfully, much of Florida will be spared a direct hit. But coastlines are being wrecked. Surges will flood homes and businesses. The nightmare isn’t over. 

            States further north are preparing for their own uninvited guest. Hopefully, the storm won’t be as bad as the predictions. 

            Rarely are sandhill cranes alone. What happened to his mate? Perhaps he faced more than one storm. He didn’t hide but endured it. The lone crane showed me that we can stand tall and endure the storms of life-not just the unpredictable hurricanes.

            Whether we face hurricanes, physical, emotional, financial, or relational storms, God provides strength, patience and endurance. 

            Even though Hurricane Dorian brought frustration, destruction and weariness, it also led neighbors and strangers to help each other locally, in other states and in the Bahamas. People became more important than possessions as residents slowed down, tried to stay safe and waited for the storm to pass. 

…Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. (Isaiah 43: 1-2 NIV)

Heavenly Father, thank you for protecting us in the storms we face. Amen

Rescued from the Clearance Rack

As dawn awakened my garden, an abundance of color welcomed me to a new day. 

            Blooms of purple, white, yellow, pink, and orange lifted their faces to the sun. I enjoyed the mixture of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures in my backyard garden. My front yard is traditional but the rear is more whimsical and fun. 

            Almost every plant was rescued from the clearance rack at Lowe’s. Some ended up there at the end of their growing season. Others were a surplus. A few appeared almost beyond hope. The bargain prices challenged me to provide a nurturing home and revive them. 

            At home, I snipped off dead leaves. Dug holes. Dropped in fertilizer and added water. Often roots had to be pulled apart or cut before planting. With care, I hoped they would thrive. 

            Dry stems revived. New blooms opened. Not only did most of them flourish, they grew and multiplied. Surprise flowers formed from dropped seeds. A few extended their roots to form a larger plant. 

            Small individual plants joined to form an enchanting mixture of color. Pink periwinkles, white daisies, yellow sunflowers, and purple Mexican petunias swayed in the breezes.  

            Bees jiggled blooms as pollen stuck to their bodies. Butterflies frolicked among the flowers. Dew glistened off leaves. 

            Each morning my garden reminds me of the majesty of God’s creation. He carefully fashioned each bloom, leaf and stem into a breathtaking variety of plants. I thank Him for my unique, stunning display. 

            Like my rescued plants, God saves and redeems broken, hurting, and discarded people. He prunes, nurtures and transforms them into healthy, fully alive ones. 

The true God who inhabits sacred space is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows. He makes a home for those who are alone. He frees the prisoners and leads them to prosper. 

(Psalm 68: 5-6 The Voice)

            

Heavenly Father, thank you for creating my exquisite garden. Thank you for loving and restoring  your broken people. Amen 

Behind the Scenes

Fog obscured the lake. Haze wrapped a veil across the trees and flowers nearby. My normally cheery view was subdued. Even the bees stayed away from my flowers. 

            During my early morning devotional time, I kept searching for the hidden lake. The somber mood gave me time to relax and pray for several friends who were facing difficulties. 

            After going inside for breakfast, unexpected treasures greeted me when I returned to my patio. The lake and far shore appeared within the mist. Bees buzzed around my flowers. 

            The most unusual treasures were along the shore in the cana lilies. At least twenty large spider webs stretched across the foliage. Intricate designs in a multitude of sizes and patterns decorated the plants along the lake by my home. 

            At night, the tiny artists created beguiling webs. Fog shrouded their work at dawn. Only when the mist lifted and the sun shone, could I see their work. 

            Often God surprises us by working in the background. We think He is doing nothing to help us. Then we are surprised by how He weaves the situations of our lives into a lovely treasure. 

You made me so happy, God. I saw your work and shouted for joy. How magnificent your work, God! How profound your thoughts! (Psalm 92: 4-5 The Message)

Creator, even when we can’t see it, You are carefully taking the pieces of our broken lives and weaving them into a masterpiece. Amen

Unwelcome Weeds

 Wash yourselves, clean up your lives; remove every speck of evil in what you do before Me. Put an end to all your evil.
Learn to do good; commit yourselvesto seeking justice. Make right for the world’s most vulnerable—the oppressed, the orphaned, the widow. (Isaiah 1: 16-17 The Voice)

Tall weeds protruded from delicate pink blooms. The annoying intruders blemished the landscape in front of my home. 

            When I set down containers of new plants, more pesky weeds caught my attention. Their roots spread out across the mulch and some intertwined with flower stems. 

            As I dug holes for my fresh flowers, I also yanked weed after weed from the ground. 

            Sweat dripped down my face. Dirt clung to my knees as I knelt down to fill each hole with flourishing pink blooms. 

            After the new flowers were positioned, I focused on weeds woven into my existing flowers. My small shovel dug down to get their roots. With a sense of satisfaction, I looked at the long weeds dangling from my hands.  

            Satisfaction turned to alarm when I noticed broken foliage laying on the ground. Even though I tried to extract the weeds carefully, they refused to let go.  Unfortunately, my zeal in removing the weeds also broke off my flowers. 

            Blood dripped down my arm after broken stems punctured my thin skin. Another consequence of unwelcome invaders who preyed on my garden.  

                        While weeds grew within the flowers, they hampered healthy growth. But removal inflicted even more damage.  

            Flowers will grow new shoots and eventually produce healthy vegetation. Over time, my battered arm will heal. 

            Like weeds, bad habits, addictions, unhealthy relationships, unforgiveness, greed… strangle and damage lives. Elimination doesn’t come easily and more damage may occur.

            Pruning and untangling the intruders will eventually allow lives to heal and flourish despite the times of pain and sadness. 

Creator, thank you for pruning the unhealthy parts of our lives so we can be fruitful and follow your path. Amen

A Spectacular Rainbow

Hours before dawn, I awoke. My clock taunted me for an hour before I gave up and slipped from bed.

            Blackness obscured the lake while I read my Bible on the patio. Finally, light broke through as I continued reading daily devotionals.

            Rain dimpled the lake for a while. Days and days of rain had filled the lake. Scraggly, green grass surrounded my home. Light clouds veiled the sky and cast a gloomy ambiance. The morning view matched my tired body and subdued mood. 

            Movement through the screen caught my eye. My neighbor surprised me and said, “Come and look.”

            I closed the patio door soundlessly to not disturb the wildlife. Had she see a bear, bobcat or deer? 

            When I joined her between our homes, my eyes followed her gaze. A complete rainbow spread before us like a proud peacock. Vibrant colors embellished the sky. An arc, with a faint twin beside it, rose from behind a neighbors’ roof and dipped into a stand of trees. 

            We stared and marveled at the perfect rainbow. As I stood in the wet grass, I didn’t want to leave the special gift. 

            Both of us wanted to share the beauty, but her husband was the only one close to us. 

             “We could go knock on doors,” I said. 

            We laughed. Sleeping neighbors would probably not be delighted with our early morning visit.

            After I returned to my patio, I remembered looking at the sunless lake view. Each day I enjoy watching the changing flowers and lake as wildlife drop by. There hadn’t been anything unusual.

            Only when my friend summoned me, did I move from my comfortable chair and see the masterpiece in front of my house. I concentrated on the routine and didn’t see the spectacular. 

            I can become so secure in my safe, little world that I neglect to see what adventure God has for me. 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3: 5-6 NIV)

Loving Father, help me to move from my comfort zone to explore your path for me. Amen 

The Scary Snake

In the dim light before going to bed, I noticed an unwelcome visitor as I walked to the kitchen for a last minute drink of water. 

            At my feet, a small, brown snake formed an S on my wooden floor. I jumped back and tried to catch my breath.

            Was it dead? Was it waiting to strike? How did it get into my house? How would I get rid of it? I certainly couldn’t sleep with the intruder inside.

            Thoughts swirled in my mind as I tried to think of a plan. From afar, I studied the motionless creature. 

            Realizing that I had to figure out what to do, I inched closer and closer to the scary creature. Then I bent down near the unmoving snake. With trepidation, I reached out and touched the end of his body. 

            His softness surprised me. Laughter overtook me. I was thankful no one was watching or making a video.   

            The “snake” was actually a length of brown yarn. I had no idea how it ended up in the middle of my floor. My yarn bag was not even in that room, and I had not crocheted in several days. 

            The snake incident made me giggle at myself. But that wasn’t the first time I have been afraid and concerned about something that was harmless and not what it seemed to be. What a waste of time and energy!

When anxiety overtakes me and worries are many, Your comfort lightens my soul.

 (Psalm 94:19 The Voice)

Heavenly Father, thank you for being with me in the difficult times and even when I concoct my own troubles. Amen    

A Sunflower Message

A smiling sunflower, on a four-foot plant outside my patio door, greeted me at dawn.  At its feet, several smaller plants bloomed. A garden of unplanned sunflowers made me smile. 

            Last summer, I planted one small sunflower. When the blooms turned brown, I pulled them off and tossed them to the sandy soil. Rain watered them. Sunlight caressed them. Winter’s cold enveloped them. I did nothing and forgot they were there. 

            The exquisite, but unplanned, collection of sunny blooms brings me happiness. They shine whether the day is bright or cloudy. Several times a day, I walk to the window so I can see the surprise gift. 

            I only threw the seeds to the ground. After that, God provided what they needed to flourish and multiply. 

            As Christians, we are to plant seeds. We can invite someone to church, pray for them, listen to their hurts, cry with them, share a meal, or tell them how God loves them. Opportunities come often. We never know exactly how the seeds we sow will be used.

            Some seeds die. Some sprout and grow for a short time. Others germinate, thrive and produce more. At times, we are to nourish the seeds someone else has planted.  

This is what the parable of the sower means. It is about the kingdom of heaven. When someone hears the story of the Kingdom and cannot understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away whatever goodness and holiness had been sown in the heart. This is like the seeds sown beside the road. You know people who hear the word of God and receive it joyfully—but then, somehow, the word fails to take root in their hearts. It is temporary. As soon as there is trouble for those people, they trip: those people are the seeds strewn on the rocky soil. And you know people who hear the word, but it is choked inside them because they constantly worry and prefer the wealth and pleasures of the world: they prefer drunken dinner parties to prayer, power to piety, and riches to righteousness. Those people are like the seeds sown among thorns. The people who hear the word and receive it and grow in it—those are like the seeds sown on good soil. They produce a bumper crop, 30 or 60 or 100 times what was sown.

 (Matthew 13: 18-23 The Voice)

            

Jesus, show us ways we can plant seeds in this uncertain world. Also, help us also know how we are to nourish seeds planted by others so that they will know You. Amen

             

Garage Sale Treasures

But now make sure you shed such things: anger, rage, spite, slander, abusive language. And don’t go on lying to each other since you have sloughed away your old skin along with its evil practices for a fresh new you, which is continually renewed in knowledge according to the image of the One who created you. (Colossians 3: 9-10 The Voice)

The last stop during the community garage sale in my area, brought a surprise. I spied several small vases that would be perfect for our women’s club Mother’s Day outreach project. 

            “How much is this vase?” I asked.

            “You can have all of these for a dollar,” the lady said as she motioned to three or four vases. 

            “I’ve been looking for vases to take to some charities for Mother’s Day since we are giving them flowers,” I said.

            Her husband added more items. They filled a box with various sizes of vases, a large drinking glass and a glass pitcher. Much more than I needed but I decided I would donate the unwanted ones to another charity. One dollar paid for the filled box. 

            At home, the vases stayed in the garage. The smudged pitcher and glass went into dishwater so they would be clean before I donated them.

            As I scrubbed away the grime, two treasures appeared. Soap and water transformed the grubby glass into an ideal one to drink from each day.

            What I thought was a dull, plain pitcher became a light blue treasure with flowing lines and circular designs in the glass. It was better and much cheaper than ones I had seen in stores. 

            Only by cleaning the outside of my soiled purchases, did I recognize their value. 

            Greed, lying, addictions, anger, abusive language, gossip, resentment, worry, envy, … smudge and contaminate lives. The world tarnishes and hides the treasure inside. But Jesus can cleanse and set apart those who believe in Him to reveal the treasures of new lives. 

  

Father, thank you for creating new lives out of our old, tarnished ones. Amen

Silent Saturday

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. (John 14: 1 NIV)

For the second day, heavy clouds hovered over the lake. Silence just before dawn. Somberness after yesterday’s storm.

            Across the lake, a strip of light broke through the gray at the tree line. Gradually, the sun lightened the dark clouds to a light gray. Then a ring of blue defied the dreariness. 

            Though still bleak, the morning awoke with singing birds. An eagle flapped his impressive wings as he returned to his nest. 

            During yesterday’s pounding rain and gales, I searched for the new eagle’s nest. But in the storm, I couldn’t see it. I hoped it because of the rain. 

            In the calmness of Saturday morning, I heard the screeches of eagles. They were spared and the nest preserved. My wait was only overnight to find out their nest survived.

            After Jesus’ crucifixion, his disciples waited too. They tried to process his death.  Grief consumed them. They felt abandoned and lost. On silent Saturday, they wondered what to do. In their distress, they lost hope.

            The disciples had a longer time of despair and heartache. On Saturday after Good Friday, God was silent. A time of waiting and contemplation for His followers. They didn’t anticipate the celebration of Sunday. 

            Even though we know about the joy of Easter, we need to remember the times of abandonment, sadness and despair they endured. We also experience similar experiences but we are not alone. Silence doesn’t mean absence. 

Father, even in times of pain, you have not left us. Amen 

Remembering Good Friday

Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus and the ringleaders made faces, taunting. “He saved others. Let’s see him save himself: The Messiah of God-ha!”  (Luke 23: 34-35 The Message)

A gray shroud of clouds blocked the sun. Wind whipped the trees. Waves churned the lake. The dismal morning expressed the day perfectly. 

            As I read the Gospel accounts of Good Friday, I imagined what it must have been like in Jerusalem that day over two thousand years ago.

            A beaten, bloody Jesus hung on a rough-hewn cross. Jeering spectators watched the execution of Him between two other men. 

            Romans placed death crosses along thoroughfares to deter crime and rebellion. To remind occupied residents of Roman control. 

            Soldiers taunted Jesus. Laughed at the sign King of the Jews near his head. They gambled for his clothes. Their laugher and scoffing added to the indignity. Satisfied Jewish leaders looked on from afar. 

            Multitudes of people, in the city for Passover, streamed past the dying men. Some stopped to watch. Perhaps they had become accustomed to the horrible killings. 

            Confusion reigned too. How could that happen to the one who taught and healed? Jesus preached to thousands. Healed and comforted countless people when they were sick, lonely, and dejected. Where were they? Though He saved them, they deserted Him. 

            Even most of those closest to Him hid. Pretended they never knew Him.  

            But a small group of mourners stood at the foot of the cross. Horrified as they watched the spectacle.  In disbelief, they saw life slowly drain from his body.  

            Hour after hour, the grieving followers remained. They ignored the callous soldiers and heartless Jewish leaders. Their love for Jesus kept them close even though they didn’t understand what was happening. Discouragement and heartache consumed them but love kept them at His feet. 

            My gloomy lake scene fit the sorrow of the day Jesus died.  It reminded me the despair of Good Friday came before the joy of Easter. 

Lord, as we prepare for the celebration of Easter, take us to the agony of the cross. Amen

Winter to Spring

Tufts of green swaddled cypress trees by the lake. For months, only a few birds perched on naked limbs. Occasionally, a squirrel scampered to a nest at the top. 

            A couple of weeks ago, a hint of green appeared on brown branches. Each day, I observed the growth. Soft needles poked out in all directions. A halo of emerald began to fill in bare spots. Soon the needles will change the trees into a mass of spring green. Then wildlife will hide and be protected within the branches. The trees will offer shade and reflect their beauty on the lake. 

            What appeared dead during the winter, burst into life during spring. The transformation didn’t surprise me because I watch the cycle every year. Even though I prefer the beauty of spring, I have learned to appreciate the trees during each season. 

            In my own trials, I have learned that God is with me in every cycle of my life. Sadness and tears fade as He takes me to the next phase. Since He has been faithful in other circumstances, I can trust that He will continue to be with me. 

Have faith in Him in all circumstances, dear people. Open up your hearts to Him. The true God shelters us in His arms. ( Psalm 63:8 The Voice)

Creator, You are the God of the spring and of the winter. You are faithful to be with us in all of our seasons. Amen

A Marred Image

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)

From my patio, I surveyed the abundance of purple, pink, white, and orange 

spring flowers in my garden. Tiny bells, spikes and clusters of dainty blooms decorated the variety of plants. 

            The dark lake reflected a forest on the opposite shore. Sunlight streamed through empty branches of the cypress trees. Only the birds joined me in welcoming a new day. Peacefulness wrapped me like a cloak. 

            However, within the loveliness, I noticed imperfections. Clumps of algae spoiled the lake’s surface. Dead blooms intermingled with the colorful ones. Weeds popped up in the grass. A broken limb dangled high in the cypress tree. Roaring cars and motorcycles almost drowned out the bird melodies. 

            This world is filled with pain, trials and uncertainty. We can focus on the imperfections or we can appreciate and be thankful for our blessings. Even in our hard times, we know that God can take our difficult circumstances and use them for good.  

Loving Father, you are with us in this imperfect world. Thank you for using all of our situations for good. Amen

Unhearlded Servants

For I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was homeless and you gave me a room. I was shivering and you gave me clothes. I was sick and you stopped to visit. I was in prison and you came to me. 

Then the King will say, “I’m telling you the solemn truth. Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me-you did it for me.” 

(Matthew 25: 35-36, 40 The Message)

Wheelchairs. Walkers. A few residents strolled in on their own. The recreation room began filling up for the weekly service. 

            With two of his children, a young pastor moved around the room as soon as they arrived. The elementary aged boy and girl shook hands with every person. Their dad shook hands and greeted each one by name. He introduced himself to my cousin and me as we joined my aunt for the Sunday service. 

            At the small organ, he played familiar hymns and then asked for requests. Elderly voices blended with younger ones. 

            With confidence, the young girl and boy sang several verses of “Jesus Loves Me” and signed the chorus. What a delightful part of the afternoon church service. 

            The simple, but powerful sermon about faith, touched my heart. Earlier in the day, I had attended my own church with thousands of worshipers. Both pastors used Scripture and preached a significant message for their congregation—large or small. 

            Days later, my cousin and I returned to the assisted living facility to attend another service with my aunt. A different man led the gathering and moved around the room to greet each person by name too. 

            While we sang selected songs, the leader constantly scanned the room and moved to those who needed a little encouragement. Throughout the service, he motivated and uplifted the audience with his kindness and compassion.

            One young and the other old, both men faithfully serve the tiny congregation every week. They treat each person with love and dignity. The love of Jesus shows through as they serve the aged. Some with dimming eyes, impaired hearing, and fuzzy minds. Men and women who lived full lives working and serving others, now have two devoted men doing the same for them. The dedicated men see every person living in the facility as precious in God’s sight.

            Their preaching and faithfulness to the elderly will never be announced on the news. There will be no monetary compensation for their time. The reward will be to hear, “Well done, thy good and faithful servant.” 

            How many others quietly serve with no expectation of fame or riches? Instead of elevating those who love the limelight, look for the humble servants who make life richer and more meaningful for the lonely, widowed, and orphaned. 

            I went to the services to support my aunt but received a powerful lesson in serving from two godly men. 

Loving Father, thank you for those who faithfully serve even when many fail to notice. Help me to love and serve like Jesus. Amen