I try to keep up with technology. I consider myself somewhat computer literate. I have a smartphone that challenges me but mostly does what I want it to do. I use copiers, printers, and ATM machines. I can get our TV changed to the DVD or VCR player so my grandkids can watch their favorite videos. I can take pictures....well maybe that is an exaggeration.
Megan and I purchased a camera together last year. She assured me that I didn't have to worry about settings and all I had to do was push the button and it would take a good picture. I thought I could handle that. Things went pretty well. I would snap pictures and I learned how to transfer them to my computer and either post them on Facebook or save them in a file for future use. So far so good.
Of course my favorite people to take pictures of are my grandkids. They grow so fast and I like to have updated pictures of them so I often have the camera with me when we are together and try to take a few pictures of them. Getting them to cooperate is another matter. Lydia doesn't sit still and Alexis likes to ham it up for the camera usually resulting in ridiculous pictures. Mark stares in horror at the flash and doesn't smile. Nevertheless, I get enough to keep the background picture on my computer current and to display on Facebook, at work, and on my basement wall.
The other week Steve and I were at Jay and Kristen's house keeping all three children while they enjoyed a night out. Steve was holding a sleeping Mark and I was entertaining the girls. We decided to watch a video. I wasn't familiar with how their DVD/VCR worked but was quite proud of myself when the picture came on the screen and the music started. However, it was too quiet and I fumbled to find the volume button, hit the wrong one and the screen went blank. I tried everything but couldn't get it to start up again. Lydia patiently sat on the sofa twirling her hair and sucking her finger but Alexis stood beside me and offered advice. Finally in exasperation she put her hands on her hips and said, "Grandma! You're not a very good grandma!" Holding back the laughter, I agreed with her and went and got good grandpa to fix the problem.
While the video was playing, I decided to take some pictures of the girls. I got out the camera, focused on one or both girls and snapped. The camera acted weird. Every time I pushed the button a light kept flashing for a long time. I thought it was the flash but couldn't figure out why it stayed on. When I looked on the camera at the pictures I had taken, they seemed okay, so I just shrugged it off and took a few more pictures before putting the camera away.
A couple of days later when I transferred the pictures to my computer I was astonished to see that I had taken a chopped up video of the girls. I couldn't believe my eyes. I don't even know how to take a video and had never done it before. How did that happen? That evening I told Megan about it and showed her the video. I said to her, "How did I do that and how could I be that stupid?" She got this funny look on her face and then started laughing. Apparently she had been playing with the camera and had set it to something called "movie digest." On this setting it automatically takes a 3 second video every time you take a picture. She had forgotten to change the setting back and that is why I ended up with a comical stop-and-start video of my granddaughters. Oh the joys of being over 50 in this technological age.
Enjoy.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Friday, March 22, 2013
Sisters :)
With over a decade between me and my sister (11 years to be exact), it didn't even feel like I had a sister when I was growing up. By the time I was old enough to appreciate a sister, Lois was already dating and pretty much out of the house. One faint memory comes from when I was about 5 years old. Up until that time I had slept in a corner of my parents' bedroom and they were anxious to get me out of there. Lois was told that I would be moving to her bedroom. I was excited but Lois was not. My parents compromised by putting me in a single bed and not making Lois share a double bed with me. In the next few years, Lois graduated from high school, went to nursing school, got married and moved to Colorado and then Kansas. To me, she was just a distant member of the family; someone who I knew was my sister but not anyone that I related to closely.
The years passed and and she and her family moved back to the area. After I got married and became a mother we began to connect with each other a little bit. I found that I liked talking and sharing my life with her. So this was what it was like to have a sister!
In many ways we are different. She loves gardening. I hate it. She is competent at sewing. I am not. She is always excited about a new project. I tend to like things to stay the way they are and not try something new. She is often late. I am almost always on time. She is somewhat forgetful with appointments, etc. I usually am not (although I will admit that the older I get the more forgetful I am becoming).
We also have a lot in common. Both of us got married at the age of 20 and we each have three sons and one daughter. We dislike cleaning and we like reading, scrabble and cooking. Another thing we share is the need to spend time alone. Some people can't understand this but we just laugh and nod understandingly when one of us says, "I just need an hour or two by myself to get my life back in order." There is something about solitude that refreshes both of us.
I learned a lot from Lois. Once when my boys were small, one of them dumped a huge glob of mustard on new carpet we had just put in our living room. I couldn't get the stain out and I was furious. After unloading to Lois she made this comment which I have never forgotten: "In 5 years, this incident will make no difference in your life." This was such good advice and I have remembered it many times through the years. Most of life's hardships or "catastrophes" that are huge at the moment will only become a small dot, if not completely forgotten in the future. It has helped me to put my life in perspective and to focus on the things/relationships that really will make a difference to me in 10 or 20 years.
The bottom line about a sister is that she is someone who will always be there for you. There are times when we rarely speak and there are times when we speak every day. However, I always know that if something happens in my life (good or bad), my sister will be happy or sad with me. She is the one I will turn to when I just need someone to understand.
The years passed and and she and her family moved back to the area. After I got married and became a mother we began to connect with each other a little bit. I found that I liked talking and sharing my life with her. So this was what it was like to have a sister!
In many ways we are different. She loves gardening. I hate it. She is competent at sewing. I am not. She is always excited about a new project. I tend to like things to stay the way they are and not try something new. She is often late. I am almost always on time. She is somewhat forgetful with appointments, etc. I usually am not (although I will admit that the older I get the more forgetful I am becoming).
We also have a lot in common. Both of us got married at the age of 20 and we each have three sons and one daughter. We dislike cleaning and we like reading, scrabble and cooking. Another thing we share is the need to spend time alone. Some people can't understand this but we just laugh and nod understandingly when one of us says, "I just need an hour or two by myself to get my life back in order." There is something about solitude that refreshes both of us.
I learned a lot from Lois. Once when my boys were small, one of them dumped a huge glob of mustard on new carpet we had just put in our living room. I couldn't get the stain out and I was furious. After unloading to Lois she made this comment which I have never forgotten: "In 5 years, this incident will make no difference in your life." This was such good advice and I have remembered it many times through the years. Most of life's hardships or "catastrophes" that are huge at the moment will only become a small dot, if not completely forgotten in the future. It has helped me to put my life in perspective and to focus on the things/relationships that really will make a difference to me in 10 or 20 years.
The bottom line about a sister is that she is someone who will always be there for you. There are times when we rarely speak and there are times when we speak every day. However, I always know that if something happens in my life (good or bad), my sister will be happy or sad with me. She is the one I will turn to when I just need someone to understand.
Last Friday was my birthday. Dutifully, my husband, children and siblings called, texted, or in some way wished me a happy birthday. All except Lois. I told you she was forgetful! On Tuesday, I was sitting at my desk at work when a man walked in carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I'm sure the shock showed on my face when he said, "Mary Lehman?". As I took the flowers, I was trying to figure out who would have sent them to me and for what occasion. Of all the names and possibilities that flashed through my brain, Lois never made the list. Here is what I read when I opened the card:
Missed your birthday?
NO WAY!
Your Sister
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Indy
There is one member of the family that I have not introduced yet. His name is Indy and he is a toy fox terrier with a little bit of Jack Russell in him. Soon after Shawn & Melissa's marriage in 2003 they brought Indy home to live with them. He was actually born on the exact day as Chip so the two of them are twins but that is where the likeness stops. Whereas Chip is an outside dog, Indy lives inside. Whereas Chip is big, Indy is little. Whereas Chip is timid, Indy is bold. You get the picture.
I first met Indy when Shawn brought him for a visit soon after they got him. We had just finished eating and there was some leftover barbecue sitting in a dish on the counter. Shawn offered Indy some and my how that tiny doggie did eat! He gobbled up the little bit of meat and sniffed around to see if he could get a second helping. As much as Shawn fed him, he chowed down in a hurry and begged for more. That is my first memory of the little guy, happily eating all the barbecue that Shawn offered him.
I have to be perfectly honest and explain that I am not a natural dog-lover like my dad and some others in the family. However, I did think dogs could be cute and fun as long as they stayed outside and I didn't have to pay too much attention to them. I had absolutely no problem with anyone else that had an indoor dog, and was happy for Shawn and Melissa who were thrilled with their new addition. After all, it wasn't going to affect me that they had a dog. I didn't mind that he came along whenever they were at our house. He came right in and we fed him scraps at the table and it was no big deal. They always took care of him and he preferred them (especially Melissa) over any of us so everything was great. It wasn't like he was going to come and spend the night or anything. Wrong.
Shawn and Melissa were going away for the weekend and they couldn't take Indy. Would I keep Indy for them? I said "Sure!" but inwardly I was thinking, "Oh no." On Friday afternoon, they arrived with Indy and doghouse in tow. We put the doghouse in the corner of our basement and Melissa fixed his blankets just right and left him with plenty of food and a few of his favorite toys. He ran after them as they left him at the door and when he realized they weren't taking him along, he glanced at me and then headed for the basement and his doghouse to sulk. Eventually, he came out of his house and sat on the sofa, but when I came down to the basement to keep him company and watch TV, he wouldn't even make eye contact with me. He just sat there forlornly with his chin on his paws. I sat on the recliner and talked to him and tried to coax him out of his misery. After a while I gave up and just watched TV. All of a sudden I felt movement and a little body hurled itself across my lap and snuggled down between me and the side of the recliner. We looked at each other warily and slowly and tentatively, I reached out my hand and gently patted him on his head. We held each other's gaze for a long moment and gradually both of us came to the same conclusion--"maybe you aren't so bad after all."
The rest of the weekend went really well. We enjoyed Indy and I think Indy enjoyed us. We played with him and I spoiled him by giving him a doggie treat every time he came in from "piddling" outside. Whenever we sat down on the sofa or recliner he would jump up and sit on our laps or right beside us. Even Steve got in for keeping him company when Indy chose him to sleep with for their Sunday afternoon naps. They made quite the picture--both contentedly dozing.
The only one who suffered was Chip. We keep Chip's food in a dish on the porch and the first time I left Indy out to do his business, he found it and starting eating as fast as he could. Chip didn't like this and approached Indy cautiously to try and reclaim what was his, but stopped in his tracks when Indy growled ferociously at him. The next thing we knew, Chip was backing up with his tail between his legs as Indy continued to growl and glare at him and munch away on Chip's food. It was hard not to laugh at our poor big dog being humiliated and afraid of this miniature dog who definitely was not intimidated by Chip's size. We rescued Chip's food and put it in a safe place where Indy couldn't get to it. Chip contented himself thereafter by simply following Indy around and peeing on everything that Indy peed on. Whenever he did risk an occasional sniff at him, Indy promptly flattened his ears and barred his teeth causing Chip to cower away again. Fortunately we kept Indy inside most of the time so it wasn't much of a problem.
The weekend passed quickly and late Sunday afternoon Shawn & Melissa returned. As the basement door creaked open, Indy's ears perked up and he ran to the steps to investigate. Upon seeing Melissa he hurled himself into her arms and jumped and wiggled excitedly. He was more than happy to see them pick up his dog house and take it and him with them as they left for home. And you know what? Although I was happy to see him go home too, I actually missed him a little bit.
Over the years, we have kept Indy a lot when Shawn & Melissa have gone on vacation, even keeping him for a week at a time on occasion. By now, we all know the routine and he seems quite content to spend several days with us and I am always happy to see him. Even though Chip and he will never be best buds they have learned to tolerate each other. Now, when Shawn or Melissa ask if I can keep Indy while they go away, I say "absolutely" and inwardly I am thinking "yay!" I think both Indy and I learned a lot from each other. If you are willing to give something or somebody a chance, you may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
I first met Indy when Shawn brought him for a visit soon after they got him. We had just finished eating and there was some leftover barbecue sitting in a dish on the counter. Shawn offered Indy some and my how that tiny doggie did eat! He gobbled up the little bit of meat and sniffed around to see if he could get a second helping. As much as Shawn fed him, he chowed down in a hurry and begged for more. That is my first memory of the little guy, happily eating all the barbecue that Shawn offered him.
I have to be perfectly honest and explain that I am not a natural dog-lover like my dad and some others in the family. However, I did think dogs could be cute and fun as long as they stayed outside and I didn't have to pay too much attention to them. I had absolutely no problem with anyone else that had an indoor dog, and was happy for Shawn and Melissa who were thrilled with their new addition. After all, it wasn't going to affect me that they had a dog. I didn't mind that he came along whenever they were at our house. He came right in and we fed him scraps at the table and it was no big deal. They always took care of him and he preferred them (especially Melissa) over any of us so everything was great. It wasn't like he was going to come and spend the night or anything. Wrong.
Shawn and Melissa were going away for the weekend and they couldn't take Indy. Would I keep Indy for them? I said "Sure!" but inwardly I was thinking, "Oh no." On Friday afternoon, they arrived with Indy and doghouse in tow. We put the doghouse in the corner of our basement and Melissa fixed his blankets just right and left him with plenty of food and a few of his favorite toys. He ran after them as they left him at the door and when he realized they weren't taking him along, he glanced at me and then headed for the basement and his doghouse to sulk. Eventually, he came out of his house and sat on the sofa, but when I came down to the basement to keep him company and watch TV, he wouldn't even make eye contact with me. He just sat there forlornly with his chin on his paws. I sat on the recliner and talked to him and tried to coax him out of his misery. After a while I gave up and just watched TV. All of a sudden I felt movement and a little body hurled itself across my lap and snuggled down between me and the side of the recliner. We looked at each other warily and slowly and tentatively, I reached out my hand and gently patted him on his head. We held each other's gaze for a long moment and gradually both of us came to the same conclusion--"maybe you aren't so bad after all."
The rest of the weekend went really well. We enjoyed Indy and I think Indy enjoyed us. We played with him and I spoiled him by giving him a doggie treat every time he came in from "piddling" outside. Whenever we sat down on the sofa or recliner he would jump up and sit on our laps or right beside us. Even Steve got in for keeping him company when Indy chose him to sleep with for their Sunday afternoon naps. They made quite the picture--both contentedly dozing.
The only one who suffered was Chip. We keep Chip's food in a dish on the porch and the first time I left Indy out to do his business, he found it and starting eating as fast as he could. Chip didn't like this and approached Indy cautiously to try and reclaim what was his, but stopped in his tracks when Indy growled ferociously at him. The next thing we knew, Chip was backing up with his tail between his legs as Indy continued to growl and glare at him and munch away on Chip's food. It was hard not to laugh at our poor big dog being humiliated and afraid of this miniature dog who definitely was not intimidated by Chip's size. We rescued Chip's food and put it in a safe place where Indy couldn't get to it. Chip contented himself thereafter by simply following Indy around and peeing on everything that Indy peed on. Whenever he did risk an occasional sniff at him, Indy promptly flattened his ears and barred his teeth causing Chip to cower away again. Fortunately we kept Indy inside most of the time so it wasn't much of a problem.
The weekend passed quickly and late Sunday afternoon Shawn & Melissa returned. As the basement door creaked open, Indy's ears perked up and he ran to the steps to investigate. Upon seeing Melissa he hurled himself into her arms and jumped and wiggled excitedly. He was more than happy to see them pick up his dog house and take it and him with them as they left for home. And you know what? Although I was happy to see him go home too, I actually missed him a little bit.
Over the years, we have kept Indy a lot when Shawn & Melissa have gone on vacation, even keeping him for a week at a time on occasion. By now, we all know the routine and he seems quite content to spend several days with us and I am always happy to see him. Even though Chip and he will never be best buds they have learned to tolerate each other. Now, when Shawn or Melissa ask if I can keep Indy while they go away, I say "absolutely" and inwardly I am thinking "yay!" I think both Indy and I learned a lot from each other. If you are willing to give something or somebody a chance, you may be pleasantly surprised at the outcome.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Dear Me
Dear Me,
Today you are 53 years young. Happy birthday! You were born in Lancaster General Hospital at 7:30 a.m. on the Ides of March. You completed the Denlinger family which included twins Lester and Lois, who were 11 years older than you, and brothers (Eu)Gene and Glen who were 6 and 3 when you were born. Your parents were Elvin and Edith (Kreider) Denlinger and they named you Mary Ann. They brought you home to a chicken farm in Mountville, Pennsylvania where you spent the first 2 1/2 years of your life. Your family then moved to a chicken farm in Conestoga, Pennsylvania where you lived until you got married.
You spent an idyllic childhood in a family where you knew you were loved. Early childhood memories include tagging along with your father into the chicken house and being terrified of the roosters that were just waiting to jump on you and flap their wings against your back. You always tried to stay close to your dad so he could protect you from their brutal attacks. In spite of the roosters, you liked to follow your dad around as he worked around the farm doing this and that. You also remember going shopping with your mother into Lancaster City. The Watt & Shand store was the highlight of the trip because you loved the elevator ride between the floors. A man operated the elevator and he always smiled at you when you stepped into his domain and asked your mother, "which floor, Ma'am?" He would then close the inner door and then the outer door, push down on a lever and up or down you would go. Another favorite memory is riding along with your mother to pick up the school children. You proudly stood in the center of the front seat of the car the whole trip. That was certainly a very dangerous place to ride in a car but back then no one had ever heard of car seats.
You remember playing ball with Glen, watching lots of sports on TV with Gene, sharing a bedroom with Lois (much to her annoyance) and visiting Lester in Honduras when he was there for Voluntary Service. You attended River Corner Mennonite Church with your family and went to New Danville Mennonite School from first to eighth grade and then spent your high school years at LMH. During your teen years you logged a lot of hours in the chicken house collecting eggs. Every day after school, your job was to gather the eggs either in the "green" house or the "block" house. One vivid memory you have is of having a cart completely full of eggs (approximately 90 dozen) and pushing the heavy load onto the loading dock in the block house to transfer to a larger cart. You misjudged the edge of the landing and the entire cart along with all the eggs went crashing to the floor 20 feet below. That was not a very fun thing to tell your father about.
High school was a pleasant experience and you had a nice amount of friends. In your senior year you had English class and Study Hall with this guy who enjoyed talking with you and you with him. At graduation, you figured you would probably never see him again and so were surprised when two weeks after leaving LMH forever, he called and asked you for a date. Love blossomed and 2 years later on August 23, 1980 you and Steve Lehman pledged to share the rest of your lives together.This year you will celebrate 33 years of marriage!
Life certainly wasn't always easy for the two of you. Agriculture was where your hearts were, but after a failed attempt at hog farming brought you to the edge of financial ruin, doubts crept into your minds and future farming endeavors seemed unwise. Several years later, an opportunity arose for Steve to purchase a small truck that he could use to haul manure out of farmers' pits. Thus was the lowly beginning of Lehman Ag Service, Inc. Although this business usually managed to pay the bills (albeit sometimes late), it was definitely not without its struggles and many a time you and Steve questioned whether you should just quit and walk away from it. During those discouraging times, something always happened that seemed to be a sign that you should continue on. Gradually, things improved and when you eventually sold this business to two of your sons, they were able to continue and expand it and today it is a very successful company. After selling the business, Steve focused on crop farming and managing Green 'N Grow Compost, LLC, a composting operation that he began in 2010 and which has surprisingly (to you) been very successful.
Three sons and one daughter were born to you and Steve--Shawn, Jay, Josh and Megan. You will write more about your family in future blogs but it is safe to say that these children have blessed you beyond anything you could have ever asked or imagined. Each one brought a different personality and added unique diversity to the family but each child was so special and so loved. Parenting was a role that you enjoyed immensely and although there were certainly tough times the joys FAR outweighed the sorrows. Two lovely daughters-in-law, Melissa and Kristen (who are actually sisters), expanded your family even further. You are now loving being a grandparent to Alexis, Lydia and Mark and looking forward to another grandson in July.
Over the years, you always kept a foot in the workplace. After high school and marriage you worked as a bank teller. When children joined the family, you worked part-time off and on as a legal secretary, and also did typesetting in your home for a local publishing company for about six years. You have now worked at New Hope Community Life Ministry as a secretary for seven years. This job is a perfect fit for you and you love it.
Faith is an important part of your life's journey. You accepted Christ as your Savior at 12 years of age and although have questioned God and circumstances, you never doubted that Jesus is Lord and that you have been created by God for a purpose (but have certainly wondered what the purpose is at times). As a Christian you strive to live a life that shows the love of God through you, however, you will be the first to admit that you still have a long way to go in your spiritual walk with the Lord.
This is a very brief outline of your first 53 years. If anyone besides you reads this letter and they want to know more details they will have to ask you. Now that you have started a Blog, maybe some of their questions will be answered in future postings. Enjoy your birthday!
Love,
Mary
Today you are 53 years young. Happy birthday! You were born in Lancaster General Hospital at 7:30 a.m. on the Ides of March. You completed the Denlinger family which included twins Lester and Lois, who were 11 years older than you, and brothers (Eu)Gene and Glen who were 6 and 3 when you were born. Your parents were Elvin and Edith (Kreider) Denlinger and they named you Mary Ann. They brought you home to a chicken farm in Mountville, Pennsylvania where you spent the first 2 1/2 years of your life. Your family then moved to a chicken farm in Conestoga, Pennsylvania where you lived until you got married.
You spent an idyllic childhood in a family where you knew you were loved. Early childhood memories include tagging along with your father into the chicken house and being terrified of the roosters that were just waiting to jump on you and flap their wings against your back. You always tried to stay close to your dad so he could protect you from their brutal attacks. In spite of the roosters, you liked to follow your dad around as he worked around the farm doing this and that. You also remember going shopping with your mother into Lancaster City. The Watt & Shand store was the highlight of the trip because you loved the elevator ride between the floors. A man operated the elevator and he always smiled at you when you stepped into his domain and asked your mother, "which floor, Ma'am?" He would then close the inner door and then the outer door, push down on a lever and up or down you would go. Another favorite memory is riding along with your mother to pick up the school children. You proudly stood in the center of the front seat of the car the whole trip. That was certainly a very dangerous place to ride in a car but back then no one had ever heard of car seats.
You remember playing ball with Glen, watching lots of sports on TV with Gene, sharing a bedroom with Lois (much to her annoyance) and visiting Lester in Honduras when he was there for Voluntary Service. You attended River Corner Mennonite Church with your family and went to New Danville Mennonite School from first to eighth grade and then spent your high school years at LMH. During your teen years you logged a lot of hours in the chicken house collecting eggs. Every day after school, your job was to gather the eggs either in the "green" house or the "block" house. One vivid memory you have is of having a cart completely full of eggs (approximately 90 dozen) and pushing the heavy load onto the loading dock in the block house to transfer to a larger cart. You misjudged the edge of the landing and the entire cart along with all the eggs went crashing to the floor 20 feet below. That was not a very fun thing to tell your father about.
High school was a pleasant experience and you had a nice amount of friends. In your senior year you had English class and Study Hall with this guy who enjoyed talking with you and you with him. At graduation, you figured you would probably never see him again and so were surprised when two weeks after leaving LMH forever, he called and asked you for a date. Love blossomed and 2 years later on August 23, 1980 you and Steve Lehman pledged to share the rest of your lives together.This year you will celebrate 33 years of marriage!
Life certainly wasn't always easy for the two of you. Agriculture was where your hearts were, but after a failed attempt at hog farming brought you to the edge of financial ruin, doubts crept into your minds and future farming endeavors seemed unwise. Several years later, an opportunity arose for Steve to purchase a small truck that he could use to haul manure out of farmers' pits. Thus was the lowly beginning of Lehman Ag Service, Inc. Although this business usually managed to pay the bills (albeit sometimes late), it was definitely not without its struggles and many a time you and Steve questioned whether you should just quit and walk away from it. During those discouraging times, something always happened that seemed to be a sign that you should continue on. Gradually, things improved and when you eventually sold this business to two of your sons, they were able to continue and expand it and today it is a very successful company. After selling the business, Steve focused on crop farming and managing Green 'N Grow Compost, LLC, a composting operation that he began in 2010 and which has surprisingly (to you) been very successful.
Three sons and one daughter were born to you and Steve--Shawn, Jay, Josh and Megan. You will write more about your family in future blogs but it is safe to say that these children have blessed you beyond anything you could have ever asked or imagined. Each one brought a different personality and added unique diversity to the family but each child was so special and so loved. Parenting was a role that you enjoyed immensely and although there were certainly tough times the joys FAR outweighed the sorrows. Two lovely daughters-in-law, Melissa and Kristen (who are actually sisters), expanded your family even further. You are now loving being a grandparent to Alexis, Lydia and Mark and looking forward to another grandson in July.
Over the years, you always kept a foot in the workplace. After high school and marriage you worked as a bank teller. When children joined the family, you worked part-time off and on as a legal secretary, and also did typesetting in your home for a local publishing company for about six years. You have now worked at New Hope Community Life Ministry as a secretary for seven years. This job is a perfect fit for you and you love it.
Faith is an important part of your life's journey. You accepted Christ as your Savior at 12 years of age and although have questioned God and circumstances, you never doubted that Jesus is Lord and that you have been created by God for a purpose (but have certainly wondered what the purpose is at times). As a Christian you strive to live a life that shows the love of God through you, however, you will be the first to admit that you still have a long way to go in your spiritual walk with the Lord.
This is a very brief outline of your first 53 years. If anyone besides you reads this letter and they want to know more details they will have to ask you. Now that you have started a Blog, maybe some of their questions will be answered in future postings. Enjoy your birthday!
Love,
Mary
Monday, March 11, 2013
Why Go To Church?
Recently, I have been reading a blog where the writer lists many reasons why people of her generation have given up on church. I will admit that many of her "excuses" are valid and I do understand where she and her peers are coming from. I am obviously from a different era than this young lady and am well aware that unless you can walk a mile in someone else's shoes you can't know everything that they are dealing with in their life. I can see, but not totally comprehend the pressure and distractions that cause so many of today's youth to choose "sleeping in and making blueberry pancakes for breakfast" over waking up early and sitting through a "boring" church service.
However, I would like to share how I have seen church as a positive thing and encourage these energetic twenty-somethings not to give up on the church. Here are some reflections from my personal experience and my family's.
High on this list, is the Bible teaching that is received. From Sunday School classes to sermons, we learn things in a way that is difficult if not impossible to match in a home setting through books and self-study. The ultimate goal for all of us who are Christian parents is for our children to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is definitely not achieved solely through church, however, I believe church should complement what we as parents are teaching our children at home. There is a lot more that could be said about faith and Christianity but for this Blog I am going to focus on the church and how it has affected me.
I think often what people fail to see is that in a church community we ALL need each other. Although it is important to have friends your own age who are going through the same things in their lives, I feel we often overlook the rich reward we receive from interacting with people of all ages. I know that some churches don't have a big diversity in ages but I honestly think they miss out on this golden opportunity. Let me give some examples:
No, our congregation is DEFINITELY not perfect. We make mistakes. We disagree. We have lost dissatisfied members who chose to find another church. Most of all, we have lost vibrant youth who went away to college and/or got married and never came back. Some of them chose to never go to church again, and some of them have found another church that fits their needs and their families. Obviously, some of them never came back to the area, so it wasn't even an option for them to come back to our church.
I am not condemning any of these young people. Two of my own children fall in this category. Mostly, I just feel sadness that this happens. What could we do differently? How can we make it so these gifted adults want to be a part of a church? The church desperately needs them. We need a younger generation to rise up and love the church and want it to thrive. We need their talents, their passion, their enthusiasm. Some of us older ones are tired and we need the energy of youth to sustain us.
I think youth assume that the older generation is not willing to change the way they view church and would not be open to new ideas that young people bring to the congregation. I strongly disagree with that. There will always be a few that feel that way, but as a majority, most of us are willing to accept change, especially if we see that a young person is passionate for Jesus and the church. We WANT to work with the next generation and we WANT them to be involved in the church. Many things get lost from one generation to the next. Will my grandchildren and great-grandchildren even know what church is? I certainly hope and pray that they will.
However, I would like to share how I have seen church as a positive thing and encourage these energetic twenty-somethings not to give up on the church. Here are some reflections from my personal experience and my family's.
High on this list, is the Bible teaching that is received. From Sunday School classes to sermons, we learn things in a way that is difficult if not impossible to match in a home setting through books and self-study. The ultimate goal for all of us who are Christian parents is for our children to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This is definitely not achieved solely through church, however, I believe church should complement what we as parents are teaching our children at home. There is a lot more that could be said about faith and Christianity but for this Blog I am going to focus on the church and how it has affected me.
I think often what people fail to see is that in a church community we ALL need each other. Although it is important to have friends your own age who are going through the same things in their lives, I feel we often overlook the rich reward we receive from interacting with people of all ages. I know that some churches don't have a big diversity in ages but I honestly think they miss out on this golden opportunity. Let me give some examples:
- When I had my first child, every Sunday an elderly lady would come up to me after the service, take a peek at Shawn and say with a big smile, "My, he's growing, isn't he?" This was actually kind of humorous because all of us with infants knew that she would say this to us every week. But you know what? We also learned that in her life Anna had had one stillborn child and one that died of pneumonia at a young age. Her eyes still misted over whenever she talked about it. She loved children and made it a point to talk to us young mothers. Although we laughed, we enjoyed it and I always think of this lady fondly.
- Another thing I noticed is that even though children and youth will roll their eyes about the oldies in the congregation, they secretly love them a lot. Once when we were talking about a certain older woman in our congregation, my daughter made the comment, "I just love her!" Another time, I posted a picture on my Facebook of an older gentleman in our congregation and an 18 year old commented "He is the coolest guy!" In what other setting, would our children get to interact with older people? Sure, they may have their grandparents but they are relatives and it isn't the same thing.
- In our congregation we have a woman in her seventies that loves to entertain and host dinner parties. This winter she invited 10 or 12 of us at a time for a breakfast at her house. We have a young adult class of approximately 10 who attend our church regularly. Joanne wondered if they would appreciate an invitation for a breakfast. She was a little hesitant because she thought they probably wouldn't want to get out of bed early and would they really want to come to her house? Well, she invited them and every single one of them accepted. They were delighted and even though it meant giving up some sleeping time on a Saturday morning, I heard one of them make the comment, "Who wouldn't want to go to Joanne's house to eat?"
- The older people love the youth and children. Over the years, my children were involved in many activities from sports, Bible quizzing, youth group, mission trips, etc. One thing they could always count on was the support of the entire congregation in everything they did, from buying whatever they were selling to fund a mission trip or activity, to showing up at music concerts and Bible quizzing tournaments. If they had a special activity or a trip that they had gone on, someone from the congregation would always ask them about it and want them to share some of the details with them. Where else do you get that kind of support outside of family?
No, our congregation is DEFINITELY not perfect. We make mistakes. We disagree. We have lost dissatisfied members who chose to find another church. Most of all, we have lost vibrant youth who went away to college and/or got married and never came back. Some of them chose to never go to church again, and some of them have found another church that fits their needs and their families. Obviously, some of them never came back to the area, so it wasn't even an option for them to come back to our church.
I am not condemning any of these young people. Two of my own children fall in this category. Mostly, I just feel sadness that this happens. What could we do differently? How can we make it so these gifted adults want to be a part of a church? The church desperately needs them. We need a younger generation to rise up and love the church and want it to thrive. We need their talents, their passion, their enthusiasm. Some of us older ones are tired and we need the energy of youth to sustain us.
I think youth assume that the older generation is not willing to change the way they view church and would not be open to new ideas that young people bring to the congregation. I strongly disagree with that. There will always be a few that feel that way, but as a majority, most of us are willing to accept change, especially if we see that a young person is passionate for Jesus and the church. We WANT to work with the next generation and we WANT them to be involved in the church. Many things get lost from one generation to the next. Will my grandchildren and great-grandchildren even know what church is? I certainly hope and pray that they will.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Texting
Like a lot of other people in my generation, I have learned how to text. I felt like I was getting pretty good at it on my old cell phone, but since I upgraded to a Smartphone with a flat screen I have been hopelessly floundering at trying to locate the right letters as I text. I sometimes use audio text but often it just isn't convenient to speak out loud when you are trying to text someone and there are others in the room. I have found a lifesaver for me is the word prompts that my phone gives me as I try to spell a word. It is pretty amazing how my "smart" phone knows just the word I am trying to come up with.
The person I text the most often with is Megan. Sometimes we have some pretty funny conversations. Here are a few of my favorites:
I had asked her to get hamburger out of the freezer to thaw. She left with a friend and forgot.
Megan: "You are going to kill me but I forgot to get the hamburger out."
Me: "Bang, bang."
Megan: "Clutches heart, gasping for air in a puddle of blood."
1:48 pm, Jan. 29 - Neil & Elaine are my co-workers
Megan: "In case you care, im deathly ill."
Me: "What's wrong?"
Megan: "My energy level is like -13."
Me: "Neil is praying for you. What's the basis of your energy level we wonder?"
Megan: "The mt everest of tissues beside me."
Me: "You r funny. Neil says u need a mt Zion of energy power."
Megan: "This is true."
Me: "Elaine feels your pain."
Megan: "I'm glad i am the water cooler talk there."
Me: "We love you!"
Megan: "I can tell."
Me: "Does my poor deathly ill daughter need me to bring her anything? I will be leaving at 3:30."
Megan: " Make sure you get more tissues."
11:27 am, Feb. 25
Me: "I'm sorry to say u owe $21.00 in taxes."
Megan: "What?! I am angry."
Me: "I know. I can't believe it. I picked up the taxes this morning."
Megan: "I'm quitting pvd."
2:46 pm, Feb. 25
Me: "If u r looking for something to do look at the wedding dress on this link. I actually like it."
Megan: "Really? I dont."
Me: "Yes I do."
Megan: "Well dont get too attached to the style. haha."
Me: "Haha I won't. What don't u like? It would be a good style on you."
Megan: "I just don't...I don't know."
Me: "I mean the skirt is perfect."
Megan: "I don't like the vertical ruffles, thats what it is."
12:11 pm, Mar. 6
Megan: "I feel i should let you know that i am boycotting the snow by refusing to get out of bed."
Me: "GET UP!!!! Its not even enough snow to worry about."
Megan: "When i look out the small gap of my window I see white."
Me: "Its a mirage. There is no snow in quarryville."
Megan: "I see it it's there. No mirage."
Me: "Well u should still get up. It won't hurt you."
Megan: "Maybe.
Life is interesting. Ten years ago I would have never dreamed that texting would be a common way to communicate with someone else. I wonder what changes another ten years will bring.
The person I text the most often with is Megan. Sometimes we have some pretty funny conversations. Here are a few of my favorites:
I had asked her to get hamburger out of the freezer to thaw. She left with a friend and forgot.
Megan: "You are going to kill me but I forgot to get the hamburger out."
Me: "Bang, bang."
Megan: "Clutches heart, gasping for air in a puddle of blood."
1:48 pm, Jan. 29 - Neil & Elaine are my co-workers
Megan: "In case you care, im deathly ill."
Me: "What's wrong?"
Megan: "My energy level is like -13."
Me: "Neil is praying for you. What's the basis of your energy level we wonder?"
Megan: "The mt everest of tissues beside me."
Me: "You r funny. Neil says u need a mt Zion of energy power."
Megan: "This is true."
Me: "Elaine feels your pain."
Megan: "I'm glad i am the water cooler talk there."
Me: "We love you!"
Megan: "I can tell."
Me: "Does my poor deathly ill daughter need me to bring her anything? I will be leaving at 3:30."
Megan: " Make sure you get more tissues."
11:27 am, Feb. 25
Me: "I'm sorry to say u owe $21.00 in taxes."
Megan: "What?! I am angry."
Me: "I know. I can't believe it. I picked up the taxes this morning."
Megan: "I'm quitting pvd."
2:46 pm, Feb. 25
Me: "If u r looking for something to do look at the wedding dress on this link. I actually like it."
Megan: "Really? I dont."
Me: "Yes I do."
Megan: "Well dont get too attached to the style. haha."
Me: "Haha I won't. What don't u like? It would be a good style on you."
Megan: "I just don't...I don't know."
Me: "I mean the skirt is perfect."
Megan: "I don't like the vertical ruffles, thats what it is."
12:11 pm, Mar. 6
Megan: "I feel i should let you know that i am boycotting the snow by refusing to get out of bed."
Me: "GET UP!!!! Its not even enough snow to worry about."
Megan: "When i look out the small gap of my window I see white."
Me: "Its a mirage. There is no snow in quarryville."
Megan: "I see it it's there. No mirage."
Me: "Well u should still get up. It won't hurt you."
Megan: "Maybe.
Life is interesting. Ten years ago I would have never dreamed that texting would be a common way to communicate with someone else. I wonder what changes another ten years will bring.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
A Dog Story
Ten years
ago when our second son, Jay, turned eighteen years old he announced that he
was going to buy a puppy. Both Steve and I had grown up with dogs, but we had
never had one in our own family. Although the children (especially Jay) would
sometimes beg for one, I was pretty sure that it would be me who would end up
caring for it so the answer always was no.
Now Jay still lived at home, but he assured me that this would be his
dog and he would be responsible to feed, water, train and care for all its needs.
We have a large property with plenty of room to roam, so we agreed to allow him
to get a dog as long as it was understood that it would remain outside at ALL
times.
A few days
later, Jay proudly brought home a cute little yellow lab male puppy that he
named Chip. I will never forget that
first day. Jay made a nice place for him
in the barn and got him settled in. Poor
Chip was so scared. He just stood with his head drooping and his tail hanging
miserably between his legs. I made the remark that I wondered if his tail would
every wag. Well, it didn’t take too long for Chip to realize that our place was
a dog heaven and soon his tail was wagging constantly. The little guy melted our hearts and although
some of us wouldn’t admit it, we were all pretty fond of him. We realized just how much a few short months
later when our oldest son Shawn accidently backed over him with the
pickup. The wheels didn’t run over him
but he tumbled around underneath the vehicle and when we carried him to our
porch he lay awfully still and breathed heavily. I was afraid he had internal injuries and
might not make it. While Chip was on his way to the vet, the rest of us sat at
the lunch table trying to eat food that tasted like cardboard and got stuck in
our throats. I was choking back tears and then I glanced around the table and
saw that silent tears were falling on everyone’s plate. Thankfully Chip was not
badly injured and soon he was running around as if nothing had happened.
Although
some of us had been doubtful about Chip at first, there was one person who fell
in love with him instantly. I’m actually
not sure who was more excited about Jay getting a dog—my dad or Jay. Dad loved
dogs and as a farmer, he always had one as his constant companion. However, my
mother did not share his fondness for them and so when they moved off the farm,
Dad no longer had a dog to share his days with.
My parents lived next door and their property connected with ours so
Chip had free rein between the two places. My mother’s health was failing
rapidly and a few years after Chip’s arrival, when Dad could no longer care for
her, the family transferred her to a retirement home where she died fifteen
months later. During that time, Chip became my dad’s best friend. With my mother no longer living in the house,
Dad welcomed Chip inside during the day to keep him company. He always sent him home at night but in the
morning Chip would walk up the back steps to his deck and wait for Dad to open
the curtains and door and leave him in.
Even though
Chip spent time with Dad indoors (especially over winter) what the two of them
really loved the most was the great outdoors.
Dad’s favorite place on our property was a wooded area that was cleared
out and had a pavilion, small pond and a glider swing. He referred to this haven as “his park”. My
dad’s mode of transportation around the property was a lawn mower and I
honestly don’t think anything got Chip more excited than when he heard that
mower starting up. He could be laying in
the yard looking like he was fast asleep but his ear was always tuned for that
first sputter of the motor (honestly, sometimes I thought he heard the click of
the key). Immediately Chip was on all four feet making a beeline for Dad and
the lawnmower. Together they would go
down to the park and spend many happy hours, puttering around with this and
that and relaxing.
Gradually,
even though we still fed, played and provided Chip with shelter (after we took
the barn down we replaced his dwelling with a comfortable dog house), we all
began to think of Chip as Dad’s dog.
When Jay got married, he moved away and was unable to take Chip with
him. At that time he made the comment, “Even if I could take Chip with me, I
don’t think I would. I couldn’t take him
away from Grandpa.”
As happens
in life, my dad got older and so did Chip.
Both of them slowed down considerably, but without fail Chip would be at
Dad’s back door each morning to greet him when he opened his curtain. Neither
of them moved as fast as they used to, but they still made their way down to
the park and rested in its beauty. Last
winter, Chip spent more time indoors with Dad as Dad didn’t go away much
anymore. Theirs was a beautiful
companionship.
Then it
happened. Dad took ill and died suddenly in early May. On top of all the things that are thrown upon
you and that you need to process when someone you love is taken from you, a
question that was foremost in all of our minds was “what will Chip do?” It broke our hearts to watch Chip go up to
his house each morning and sit on his deck for hours and then eventually slowly
and dejectedly make his way home again. The neighbors on the other side of
Dad’s house were so torn up about it that they cried each time they saw him
sitting there patiently waiting for Dad.
After several weeks of this we breathed a sigh of relief when Chip
stopped going up to the house regularly.
We all tried to show him extra affection and spend a little more time
with him but there was no way we could make up for the friendship that had been
taken from him.
Steve and I
bought the house from Dad’s estate and spent several months cleaning it out and
making small repairs. Chip had finally
given up and no longer went up to the house on his own, but whenever we walked
up to work on the house, he was right there by our side. He would sneak in the
door as soon as we opened it and promptly sit down on the very spot on the
carpet that he had inhabited for years.
As we prepared to rent the house we worried how Chip would react to the
new tenants. We explained to would-be
renters that it was likely they would see Chip around the property, and
although we requested that they be kind to him they were certainly under no
obligation to play with him or let him inside the house.
We rented
the house to a friendly, newly married couple.
At first when Chip saw strange vehicles in the driveway he would bark
and run up to see what was going on.
After all, this was his domain and he was in charge of who went in and
out. However, overall he seemed fine and
we really didn’t see him hanging out at the house too much. We were hopeful
that this transition would be fairly painless. Then one day, I came home from
work and there was Chip camped out on their front porch step! My heart sank. We didn’t want him pestering our tenants, and
sitting on their doorstep so they would have to step over him to enter their
house was not ideal. Later, we were
talking to our tenant and he told us he almost fell over in surprise one of the
first mornings when he opened the curtain to the back deck. There was Chip
standing on the deck, peering in at them! Fortunately the tenants took this
good naturedly and we all had a good laugh over it. I guess we really hadn’t
warned them that they might encounter Chip outside their window.
After these
few instances, Chip seemed to settle down and accept things as they were. He continues to wander both properties
and I am sure that some mornings he still greets the young couple from outside
their deck door, but for the most part he stays at our house and is content
with his surroundings. I had to laugh
out loud when I came home from work a few weeks later. There was Chip plopped smack in the middle of
the yard exactly between the two houses. It was as though he was saying, “It is
my responsibility to guard both properties and this is the best spot to do
that!”
So many
times in life, we are thrown obstacles that we have to overcome. Often they are
really difficult circumstances and sometimes it seems like we can’t accept what
has happened to us. Losing someone close to you, suffering poor health, failing
financially or many other catastrophes can cause us to sink into despair. I
want to take a lesson from Chip and view these difficulties as challenges that
I can accept with grace. Instead of
wallowing in self-pity, I will be like Chip and find the best spot to “sit” and
assess what I can do to make this a time in my life where I am happy and
content with everything that God has given to me.
Philippians
4:12 …I have learned the secret of being content
in any and every situation…
Friday, March 1, 2013
A Compilation of Blogs
A Compilation of Blogs I wrote between April 13, 2011 and February 4, 2013 for New Hope Community Life Ministry's website.
So, as we endure the cold of the winter, I am glad for nourishment that is good for the body and soul and that also warms the heart and mind.
I’ve been taking my turn writing this blog for almost two years
now and I often mention my family in my postings. However, I don’t think that I
have ever written about my grandchildren. We have two granddaughters and are
expecting another grandchild later this month. So, today, I am writing about
them. This is not a spiritual blog, but just a “fun” blog because grandchildren
are fun!
Monday, August 20, 2012
In May of 1994, when I was 6 months pregnant with my youngest child, my 68-year-old mother had a debilitating stroke. I spent the next 3 months juggling my time between my family, which included my husband and 3 sons, and my parents, while at the same time dealing with the latter stages of my pregnancy. My mother was hospitalized for almost 2 months, and when she came home she was a mere shell of the woman that we had known before. Our daughter, Megan, was born in August and she was a much-needed blessing for all of us. As we dealt with the reality that a full recovery was not going to happen for my mother, the sweetness, cuteness and innocence of an infant was a breath of fresh air in an often otherwise gloomy atmosphere.
It was at this time, that I began to hear a lot about the Sandwich Generation and I realized that I was indeed one of them. The Sandwich Generation is described as "those caring for their children as well as their own aging parents." Fortunately my dad was fairly healthy so was able to help my mother, but I spent a lot of time with them, supporting them however I could, both emotionally and physically. I remember vividly going shopping and on one side of me holding my hand was my mother, and on the other side of me holding my hand was Megan. I was truly the middle of the sandwich.
I am not complaining about being the middle of the sandwich. Truthfully, I think I am a better person because of it. It taught me love and compassion and opened my eyes to the many people who are suffering around me, especially the elderly. Even though it was extremely hard to watch my mother struggle to do the simplest things, I realized that I had the opportunity to make her life more enjoyable by spending time with her, encouraging her and loving her. A side benefit was the relationship that developed between Megan and my mother as they also spent time together. I grieved because I felt like Megan never got a chance to know her "real" grandma but eventually I realized it didn't matter. Megan loved her for who she was and my mother benefited as well because Megan did not expect her to do things that she couldn't but just accepted her the way she was.
My mother died in 2006, my children grew up, and I no longer have daily child and elder care responsibilities. However, often my life is still one big juggling act. I am a wife, grandmother, mother, mother-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, secretary, Sunday School teacher, Bible quiz coach, and the list could go on. Sometimes, it feels like I am being squeezed in the middle of a sandwich again.
As I have thought about this over the years, I realized that Jesus lived in the Sandwich Generation. Was he sometimes pulled between his heavenly home and his earthly home? Because he came as a "middleman" I am saved from spending eternity in hopeless damnation. I suggest that we no longer look at being "sandwiched" as a negative thing, but view it as a positive thing. We are the "meat" in the middle of a sandwich and this gives us so many opportunities to be a blessing to those who surround us.
So, as I bid farewell to 2011 and greet 2012, I do indeed have a goal for the New Year. I resolve to find ways to encourage and enrich the lives of those who are the "bread" of my sandwich.
Meet in the Middle
Monday, Feb 4, 2013
Soup
Sometimes when I haven’t thought ahead and I need to have
something on the table to eat in less than 15 minutes, I will go to the
cupboard, grab a can of store-bought soup, open it and dump it into a kettle on
the stove and heat it up. When the family (which includes my husband,
24-year-old son, and 18-year old daughter), sits down to the table I will
apologize that all I have to offer is soup. Without fail, my son Josh will say,
“I like soup.” He means it as somewhat of a joke but it is also true that he
does like soup. He and Megan both consider soup and grilled cheese sandwiches
to be the perfect combination for a complete “two-course” satisfying meal.
At the beginning of the year, I announced that I
would be making and serving soup once a week for our evening meal throughout
the winter months. I have to chuckle at how much excitement this has brought to
everyone. At the beginning of the week, one of them will ask, “which day are
you making soup?” When one of them sees the signs that I have begun the process
of making a homemade soup, they will text the other, “Soup tonight!”
You have
probably heard of the “Chicken Soup for
the Soul” series of books, compiled by motivational speakers Jack Canfield
and Mark Victor Hansen. These books feature a collection of short inspirational
stories and motivational essays. The name “Chicken Soup for the Soul” was
chosen because of the use of chicken soup as a home remedy for the sick, and
therefore it was “good for the body.” The stories included in this series are
meant to be “good for the soul.”
The only reference to soup or stew that I could find
in the Bible was from Genesis 25:29-34.
29 Once when Jacob was
cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to
Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” ….34 Then
Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got
up and left.
I think soup leaves us feeling satisfied and
comforted. I believe the stew that Jacob gave to his brother took away the
hunger that had been gnawing at Esau. We know that on this occasion, the story
does not have a happy ending, as before Jacob gave the soup to Esau he made him
promise to give up his birthright. Nevertheless, the stew still fulfilled the
need that Esau had at that time, and was good for his body.
As one who
really hasn’t made that many homemade soups in my life, I am enjoying looking
through cookbooks and browsing the internet to come up with a different kind of
soup to make each week. I am finding that these soups are not only feeding my
family physically but they are also filling our lives with fun and laughter
around the dinner table as we discuss the “soup of the week” and share with
each other the various activities that we have participated in throughout the
day. So, as we endure the cold of the winter, I am glad for nourishment that is good for the body and soul and that also warms the heart and mind.
Angels Unaware
Sometimes you hear a story that just makes you feel good and you
realize there are still people in this world who are reaching out and touching
the lives of others who are in unfortunate circumstances. These people are not
doing it for prestige or honor but because they have the love of God in their
hearts. I like to refer to these people as "angels unaware" because
most of the world has no idea what they are doing. I recently found out about
some of these "angels" in my own backyard.
A couple of miles from where I live, there is a group of ramshackle buildings that most of us locals just refer to as "the dump." The place has no running water or electric. Trash surrounds the property and although there is a "house" among the junk, it really isn't what any of us would refer to as one. It just looks like a couple of boards were thrown together and a tin roof was tossed on top. For years we would see a man in and about the rubble or pushing his bicycle along the road. He would stop and pick up more trash and take it back to his "home." I am ashamed to say that most of us just ignored him and never really bothered to talk with him or ask him if he needed anything.
A few years ago, the man disappeared and the only reminder of him was the dilapidated buildings that continued to stand out as an eyesore to the community. As far as I knew, no one bothered to ask what had become of the man and even worse, no one seemed to care.
This summer, an out-of-town acquaintance of ours passed by the abandoned, neglected property and asked us about it. We decided to do a little research and see if we could find out what had happened to the man who had occupied the premises. We eventually found someone who told us this story:
Several years ago, the man became physically unable to get around on his bike as he had done for most of his life and became confined to his house. However, a local couple was concerned when they no longer saw him pushing his rusty bike around the neighborhood and checked up on him. Thus began years of "angelizing." These people began to buy him groceries and would deliver them to his house weekly. As it became apparent that he would not be able to continue to live in his humble dwelling, they began to look into a nursing home for him. They found one for him and did all the necessary paperwork to have him admitted. They packed him up and moved him and to this day they continue to monitor his wellbeing. According to the person who told us the story, the biggest adjustment for the man, was learning how to use a regular toilet because he had only ever used a five-gallon bucket for his toiletry needs.
I was touched by this story, but a little embarrassed that I too lived in this neighborhood and didn't even care enough to inquire about the man. I may not be able to do anything of this magnitude but I am determined to be on the lookout for situations where I can be an "angel unaware." How about you?
A couple of miles from where I live, there is a group of ramshackle buildings that most of us locals just refer to as "the dump." The place has no running water or electric. Trash surrounds the property and although there is a "house" among the junk, it really isn't what any of us would refer to as one. It just looks like a couple of boards were thrown together and a tin roof was tossed on top. For years we would see a man in and about the rubble or pushing his bicycle along the road. He would stop and pick up more trash and take it back to his "home." I am ashamed to say that most of us just ignored him and never really bothered to talk with him or ask him if he needed anything.
A few years ago, the man disappeared and the only reminder of him was the dilapidated buildings that continued to stand out as an eyesore to the community. As far as I knew, no one bothered to ask what had become of the man and even worse, no one seemed to care.
This summer, an out-of-town acquaintance of ours passed by the abandoned, neglected property and asked us about it. We decided to do a little research and see if we could find out what had happened to the man who had occupied the premises. We eventually found someone who told us this story:
Several years ago, the man became physically unable to get around on his bike as he had done for most of his life and became confined to his house. However, a local couple was concerned when they no longer saw him pushing his rusty bike around the neighborhood and checked up on him. Thus began years of "angelizing." These people began to buy him groceries and would deliver them to his house weekly. As it became apparent that he would not be able to continue to live in his humble dwelling, they began to look into a nursing home for him. They found one for him and did all the necessary paperwork to have him admitted. They packed him up and moved him and to this day they continue to monitor his wellbeing. According to the person who told us the story, the biggest adjustment for the man, was learning how to use a regular toilet because he had only ever used a five-gallon bucket for his toiletry needs.
I was touched by this story, but a little embarrassed that I too lived in this neighborhood and didn't even care enough to inquire about the man. I may not be able to do anything of this magnitude but I am determined to be on the lookout for situations where I can be an "angel unaware." How about you?
Monday, October 15, 2012
Grandchildren!
Here is an example of what grand parenting does to you. Last
month was the annual Solanco Fair. To the locals in and around Quarryville this
is a huge event. While I do enjoy a fair, it is not high on my priority list
and when someone asked me if I was going to the parade on Wednesday evening I
replied that I didn’t plan to go. I didn’t have a big desire to fight the
traffic and noise to see something that wasn’t that special to me. Fast forward
to a few days later when I received this phone call from my 3-year old
granddaughter, Alexis.
Alexis: “Granmaw! Do you
want to go to Sanco prade with me?
Suddenly there was nothing I wanted to do more!
Me: “I would love to go
to the parade with you. Are your mommy and daddy coming too?”
Alexis: “Weell, Mommy is gowing out to eat with frens but Daddy
can come. Can Lydia (her 1-year old sister) come too?”
Me: “Of course Lydia can
come. Make sure you bring a basket for candy.”
Alexis: “Weell, it’s upstairs. I’ll get it.”
Me: “What about one for
Lydia?”
Alexis: “Weell, she doesn’t have a baskit. (long pause) She can
share mine.”
Me: “That’s really nice
of you. I’m so glad you asked me! I can’t wait to see the parade with you!”
Alexis: “Okay! Bye!”
Me: “Bye!”
Probably now some of you that don’t have grandchildren are
rolling your eyes. What is it about grandchildren that just melts our hearts
and causes us to drop almost anything to spend time with them? I have often
pondered this question. I can honestly say that I loved raising my children and
I truly enjoyed each stage of their lives. I didn’t wish for them to grow up
faster or want them to hurry up and move on from a phase that they were in. I
tried to live in the moment and just enjoy each and every stage.
So the big question
really is: Do I love grand parenting more than I loved parenting? Honestly, I’m
not sure if that is a fair comparison but I can definitely say I love it
differently than parenting. Here are just a few things that make grand
parenting special:- When they cry because they don’t want to leave Grandma’s house.
- When they call you on the phone and ask, “When are you coming to my house?”
- When they go directly to the cupboard where you keep the snacks and point.
- When they want to go home with you.
- When they look and act just like their daddy did when he was a child.
- When they cry and throw a
tantrum and you realize that you really don’t have to deal with it J
Proverbs 17:6 says that “grandchildren are the crowning glory of
the aged.” Well, if having grandchildren makes one “aged” it is worth it.
Re-connected by Scrabble
I am the youngest of five children. My closest sibling is a
brother, Glen, who is four years older than me. Because of the age difference I
was just kind of a tag-along little sister, but when I reached my teen years,
Glen and I developed a close relationship and enjoyed each other's company very
much. As it often happens in families, we each got married and went our own
ways. Glen and his family moved to Florida and soon there was no communication
between us at all. It wasn't that there was any friction; there was just no
common ground and no reason for us to keep in contact with each other.
We saw each other once a year around Christmas or over the summer and we would chat together, but the rest of the year we would go our separate ways and never have any communication with each other until the next family reunion. Sometimes in passing, we would each lament the distance that had come between the two of us, but there really didn't seem to be any way to resurrect our relationship. In 2008, Glen & his wife moved from Florida to the Washington D.C. area, but even though he was closer geographically it didn't make a difference in how often we communicated together.
My mother loved Scrabble and she passed the love of the game on to her children. In the fall of 2009 when I joined Facebook I was delighted to find that they offered a Scrabble game that you could play with your friends. I began playing with a few people and though I loved it, I soon realized that these people hadn't grown up with it as I had and didn't have the knowledge of the game that I had.
On December 26, 2009, I was enjoying a day free of holiday stress and was sitting at my computer wishing I had someone to play a good game of Scrabble with. I thought of Glen and wondered if he would be interested. Gathering my courage, I finally picked up the phone and called him. He was very agreeable to giving it a try and we were soon playing our first game of Facebook Scrabble. We were hooked. This was real competition. Having grown up playing against the same mother we attacked the game the same way and we both loved to try to out-strategize the other. Since that first time, we have played more than 180 games together.
The best part about our Scrabble playing is that it has opened up the line of communication between the two of us. At first, we talked only Scrabble but gradually we moved on to other topics as well and we began to take more of an interest in each other’s families and activities.
To restore or renew a relationship someone has to make the first move. I remember sitting at my computer that December day debating whether to give Glen a call. "Why would he want to play with me? Would he be annoyed that I called him? What if secretly he wishes I would not bother him? He's probably too busy anyway." These were only a few of the thoughts running through my mind. However, in the end I made the call and the rest is history.
My reconnection came over a game of Scrabble. However, there are many ways to rekindle a lost relationship. Is there someone in your life that you would love to reconnect with? Take the initiative by contacting them in some way (phone, email, text, etc). I think you will find that they will be glad to hear from you.
We saw each other once a year around Christmas or over the summer and we would chat together, but the rest of the year we would go our separate ways and never have any communication with each other until the next family reunion. Sometimes in passing, we would each lament the distance that had come between the two of us, but there really didn't seem to be any way to resurrect our relationship. In 2008, Glen & his wife moved from Florida to the Washington D.C. area, but even though he was closer geographically it didn't make a difference in how often we communicated together.
My mother loved Scrabble and she passed the love of the game on to her children. In the fall of 2009 when I joined Facebook I was delighted to find that they offered a Scrabble game that you could play with your friends. I began playing with a few people and though I loved it, I soon realized that these people hadn't grown up with it as I had and didn't have the knowledge of the game that I had.
On December 26, 2009, I was enjoying a day free of holiday stress and was sitting at my computer wishing I had someone to play a good game of Scrabble with. I thought of Glen and wondered if he would be interested. Gathering my courage, I finally picked up the phone and called him. He was very agreeable to giving it a try and we were soon playing our first game of Facebook Scrabble. We were hooked. This was real competition. Having grown up playing against the same mother we attacked the game the same way and we both loved to try to out-strategize the other. Since that first time, we have played more than 180 games together.
The best part about our Scrabble playing is that it has opened up the line of communication between the two of us. At first, we talked only Scrabble but gradually we moved on to other topics as well and we began to take more of an interest in each other’s families and activities.
To restore or renew a relationship someone has to make the first move. I remember sitting at my computer that December day debating whether to give Glen a call. "Why would he want to play with me? Would he be annoyed that I called him? What if secretly he wishes I would not bother him? He's probably too busy anyway." These were only a few of the thoughts running through my mind. However, in the end I made the call and the rest is history.
My reconnection came over a game of Scrabble. However, there are many ways to rekindle a lost relationship. Is there someone in your life that you would love to reconnect with? Take the initiative by contacting them in some way (phone, email, text, etc). I think you will find that they will be glad to hear from you.
Friday, June 15, 2012
"God Is Faithful"
As the secretary at New Hope, one of my duties is to make the
schedule for writing the blog that we post on our website each week. I didn't
realize when I made the schedule in April that I had assigned myself the
weekend of Father's Day and I certainly didn't realize that when that date
arrived I would no longer have a father.
My dad died on May 3, 2012. Some of you may remember that I wrote about my father in the blog that was posted on September 19, 2011. Dad lived next door to me and for the past six years I have regularly spent the 1/2 hour between 7:00 and 7:30 pm with him as we chatted about the day's events and watched Jeopardy together.
My dad had an easy chair that he liked to sit in and beside the chair he kept his Bible and other reading materials. In the morning he always had his devotions and throughout the day he would meditate on it and write notes to himself and keep them beside his chair or in his Bible. As we visited together in the evening, he usually shared with me the scripture that he was meditating on that day.
On the last evening before he died, my son Jay visited with him. Dad was really tired, and didn't talk much but as Jay was saying his good-bye, my dad thanked him for coming and said to him, "God is faithful." These words were almost the final ones that Dad would say. Early the next morning he died in his sleep.
I miss my dad and I have not been able to bring myself to watch Jeopardy since his death. That show was a special time for the two of us and right now the memory is still too fresh and recent. However, God has been faithful to me as well and I am doing okay. I am able to understand and appreciate what a blessing it was that Dad died peacefully at home. He was ready to die and was excited about meeting his Lord and Savior who had been so faithful to him throughout his life. I know that eventually I will probably watch Jeopardy again and when I do it will bring back good memories of time spent with my father.
Life is a journey. Sometimes the journey is easy and sometimes it is difficult. But through it all, God is faithful.
My dad died on May 3, 2012. Some of you may remember that I wrote about my father in the blog that was posted on September 19, 2011. Dad lived next door to me and for the past six years I have regularly spent the 1/2 hour between 7:00 and 7:30 pm with him as we chatted about the day's events and watched Jeopardy together.
My dad had an easy chair that he liked to sit in and beside the chair he kept his Bible and other reading materials. In the morning he always had his devotions and throughout the day he would meditate on it and write notes to himself and keep them beside his chair or in his Bible. As we visited together in the evening, he usually shared with me the scripture that he was meditating on that day.
On the last evening before he died, my son Jay visited with him. Dad was really tired, and didn't talk much but as Jay was saying his good-bye, my dad thanked him for coming and said to him, "God is faithful." These words were almost the final ones that Dad would say. Early the next morning he died in his sleep.
I miss my dad and I have not been able to bring myself to watch Jeopardy since his death. That show was a special time for the two of us and right now the memory is still too fresh and recent. However, God has been faithful to me as well and I am doing okay. I am able to understand and appreciate what a blessing it was that Dad died peacefully at home. He was ready to die and was excited about meeting his Lord and Savior who had been so faithful to him throughout his life. I know that eventually I will probably watch Jeopardy again and when I do it will bring back good memories of time spent with my father.
Life is a journey. Sometimes the journey is easy and sometimes it is difficult. But through it all, God is faithful.
Monday, April 16, 2012
Sitting on the Bench
It is softball season again. As a senior, this will be my
daughter's last year to play on her high school team. Now, Megan is not one of
those naturally gifted athletes but she is still a pretty good softball player.
She worked extremely hard off season in the hopes that she could land the
starting catcher position on the team. She received much encouragement from her
coaches and from some of the things that were said to her she thought she would
start the first game of the season. However, the start went to the athletically
talented sophomore catcher and Megan found herself sitting on the bench.
Obviously, this was extremely disappointing and Megan was crushed. She held herself together for the game, yelled encouragement to her teammates and congratulated them when they did well. After the game, she left quickly so she could be alone with her churning emotions. She talked her situation over with friends and family and ultimately came to this realization: She had done everything she could possibly do to earn the starting catcher position. The final decision was not up to her but her coaches and that was out of her control. The only thing that was in her control was how she handled the situation. She could be bitter and angry and sulk or she could continue to work hard, think positively and look for ways that she could be an asset to the team.
This is such a parallel to real life. Many times, we work so hard to earn something. It might be a good grade, new job, or someone's approval. If we don't get it does this mean we are a failure? Absolutely not! The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:23,24 that "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." When we try our best we must remember that we are not doing it for ourselves or for someone else but for God. We do not need to earn God's approval. That is the wonderful thing about God's salvation. There is nothing we need to do, except believe and accept it. Ephesians 2:8 says "for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."
I am happy to say that Megan made the right choice. She chose to keep a positive outlook and support the team the best way that she could, even if it meant sitting on the bench. In her case, some unfortunate things happened to the other catcher and Megan has been doing most of the catching for the games. Thankfully, because she had continued to work hard to improve her skills she was ready when she was needed to take the catcher responsibilities. I think this is a good lesson for all of us. While we are sitting on the bench are we preparing our minds and bodies to be ready when the Lord asks us to answer a call that he gives to us.
Obviously, this was extremely disappointing and Megan was crushed. She held herself together for the game, yelled encouragement to her teammates and congratulated them when they did well. After the game, she left quickly so she could be alone with her churning emotions. She talked her situation over with friends and family and ultimately came to this realization: She had done everything she could possibly do to earn the starting catcher position. The final decision was not up to her but her coaches and that was out of her control. The only thing that was in her control was how she handled the situation. She could be bitter and angry and sulk or she could continue to work hard, think positively and look for ways that she could be an asset to the team.
This is such a parallel to real life. Many times, we work so hard to earn something. It might be a good grade, new job, or someone's approval. If we don't get it does this mean we are a failure? Absolutely not! The Bible tells us in Colossians 3:23,24 that "whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." When we try our best we must remember that we are not doing it for ourselves or for someone else but for God. We do not need to earn God's approval. That is the wonderful thing about God's salvation. There is nothing we need to do, except believe and accept it. Ephesians 2:8 says "for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."
I am happy to say that Megan made the right choice. She chose to keep a positive outlook and support the team the best way that she could, even if it meant sitting on the bench. In her case, some unfortunate things happened to the other catcher and Megan has been doing most of the catching for the games. Thankfully, because she had continued to work hard to improve her skills she was ready when she was needed to take the catcher responsibilities. I think this is a good lesson for all of us. While we are sitting on the bench are we preparing our minds and bodies to be ready when the Lord asks us to answer a call that he gives to us.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Bible Quizzing
During the winter months
my life is filled with Bible quizzing. Bible quizzing is organized by the
Atlantic Coast Mennonite Conference and is one of the best activities that I
have ever been involved in. Young people between the ages of 13 and 20 study a
book or section of the Bible over an 8-week period. The material they are
learning is divided into 8 sections and each quizzer learns an average of 100
new verses a week. This year we are quizzing on the Gospel of John. There are
44 teams divided into two leagues. Quizzes are held Sunday evenings and each
team quizzes every team in their league 1 time during the 8-week regular
season. The season ends with two tournaments. The first one is an all-day quiz
fest between the 44 teams in both leagues and the second one is a weekend
quizzing bash which includes the 44 teams along with additional teams from Ohio
and Virginia.
I have been a coach for over 10 years and nothing warms my heart more than to see so many young people learning God's Word. I love the energy that youth bring to anything and Bible quizzing is no exception. But truthfully, I also love this program for what it does for me. As a coach, I write hundreds of questions to help my quizzers study the material. In the end, I often know the material as well as, if not better than, my quizzers. I have found this to be a great Bible study for myself. I often struggle with keeping up with my devotions and Bible reading during the year, but during the quizzing season I immerse myself in the Bible. The Gospel of John is one of the most wonderful books of the Bible. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this book inside and out. Did you know that the soldier whose ear Peter cut off was a relative of one of the high priest's servants who challenged Peter saying, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" It was after Peter denied it that the rooster crowed. Or that the man who had been blind from birth and whom Jesus healed by making mud from saliva and putting it on his eyes, was actually a very feisty man and stood up to the Pharisees who eventually threw him out of the synagogue for telling them that Jesus was from God?
If you ever get a chance to attend one of these quizzing events I recommend you take it. You can read more about this program and see the quizzing schedule at http://www.accquizzing.org/. For now, I will leave you with some of my favorite verses from the Gospel of John. These are the words of Jesus:
If you hold to my teaching, you
are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will
set you free.
~ 8:31,32I have been a coach for over 10 years and nothing warms my heart more than to see so many young people learning God's Word. I love the energy that youth bring to anything and Bible quizzing is no exception. But truthfully, I also love this program for what it does for me. As a coach, I write hundreds of questions to help my quizzers study the material. In the end, I often know the material as well as, if not better than, my quizzers. I have found this to be a great Bible study for myself. I often struggle with keeping up with my devotions and Bible reading during the year, but during the quizzing season I immerse myself in the Bible. The Gospel of John is one of the most wonderful books of the Bible. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this book inside and out. Did you know that the soldier whose ear Peter cut off was a relative of one of the high priest's servants who challenged Peter saying, "Didn't I see you with him in the olive grove?" It was after Peter denied it that the rooster crowed. Or that the man who had been blind from birth and whom Jesus healed by making mud from saliva and putting it on his eyes, was actually a very feisty man and stood up to the Pharisees who eventually threw him out of the synagogue for telling them that Jesus was from God?
If you ever get a chance to attend one of these quizzing events I recommend you take it. You can read more about this program and see the quizzing schedule at http://www.accquizzing.org/. For now, I will leave you with some of my favorite verses from the Gospel of John. These are the words of Jesus:
- I am the good shepherd. The good
shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ~ 10:11
- I have come into the world as a
light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. ~12:46
- It is finished. ~19:30
Tuesday, December 27,
2011
"Sandwiched"
This time of year is
usually reserved for reflections or goal setting and you may wonder how this
topic fits in with either of them. Well, I have been thinking about this for 16
or more years, so that makes it a reflection, and I will get to the goal
setting at the end of the blog.In May of 1994, when I was 6 months pregnant with my youngest child, my 68-year-old mother had a debilitating stroke. I spent the next 3 months juggling my time between my family, which included my husband and 3 sons, and my parents, while at the same time dealing with the latter stages of my pregnancy. My mother was hospitalized for almost 2 months, and when she came home she was a mere shell of the woman that we had known before. Our daughter, Megan, was born in August and she was a much-needed blessing for all of us. As we dealt with the reality that a full recovery was not going to happen for my mother, the sweetness, cuteness and innocence of an infant was a breath of fresh air in an often otherwise gloomy atmosphere.
It was at this time, that I began to hear a lot about the Sandwich Generation and I realized that I was indeed one of them. The Sandwich Generation is described as "those caring for their children as well as their own aging parents." Fortunately my dad was fairly healthy so was able to help my mother, but I spent a lot of time with them, supporting them however I could, both emotionally and physically. I remember vividly going shopping and on one side of me holding my hand was my mother, and on the other side of me holding my hand was Megan. I was truly the middle of the sandwich.
I am not complaining about being the middle of the sandwich. Truthfully, I think I am a better person because of it. It taught me love and compassion and opened my eyes to the many people who are suffering around me, especially the elderly. Even though it was extremely hard to watch my mother struggle to do the simplest things, I realized that I had the opportunity to make her life more enjoyable by spending time with her, encouraging her and loving her. A side benefit was the relationship that developed between Megan and my mother as they also spent time together. I grieved because I felt like Megan never got a chance to know her "real" grandma but eventually I realized it didn't matter. Megan loved her for who she was and my mother benefited as well because Megan did not expect her to do things that she couldn't but just accepted her the way she was.
My mother died in 2006, my children grew up, and I no longer have daily child and elder care responsibilities. However, often my life is still one big juggling act. I am a wife, grandmother, mother, mother-in-law, daughter, daughter-in-law, secretary, Sunday School teacher, Bible quiz coach, and the list could go on. Sometimes, it feels like I am being squeezed in the middle of a sandwich again.
As I have thought about this over the years, I realized that Jesus lived in the Sandwich Generation. Was he sometimes pulled between his heavenly home and his earthly home? Because he came as a "middleman" I am saved from spending eternity in hopeless damnation. I suggest that we no longer look at being "sandwiched" as a negative thing, but view it as a positive thing. We are the "meat" in the middle of a sandwich and this gives us so many opportunities to be a blessing to those who surround us.
So, as I bid farewell to 2011 and greet 2012, I do indeed have a goal for the New Year. I resolve to find ways to encourage and enrich the lives of those who are the "bread" of my sandwich.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Meet in the Middle
We all relate to people in one way or another. It could be
husband and wife, parent and child, boss and employee, friend and friend, or
any numerous types of relationships. One thing is certain; any time you have
extended interaction with other people, there WILL be times when you do not
agree. How you handle this, can make or break the relationship.
I am not a big fan of country music, but since I have a 17-year-old daughter who listens to it a lot, I hear more of it than I would sometimes like to. The other day, I heard the song "Meet in the Middle" by Diamond Rio. Obviously, like most country music songs, this was a guy-meet-girl love song, but I think the message can extend to any type of relationship. I know there are issues (moral, religious, etc.) where there should not be give and take; however, in instances where it is just a matter of preference or opinion, maybe we could give a little like the lyrics of this song suggest. We may be pleasantly surprised how this improves a relationship.
I'd start walking your way
You'd start walking mine
We'd meet in the middle
'Neath that old Georgia pine
We'd gain a lot of ground
'Cause we'd both give a little
And there ain't no road too long
When you meet in the middle
I am not a big fan of country music, but since I have a 17-year-old daughter who listens to it a lot, I hear more of it than I would sometimes like to. The other day, I heard the song "Meet in the Middle" by Diamond Rio. Obviously, like most country music songs, this was a guy-meet-girl love song, but I think the message can extend to any type of relationship. I know there are issues (moral, religious, etc.) where there should not be give and take; however, in instances where it is just a matter of preference or opinion, maybe we could give a little like the lyrics of this song suggest. We may be pleasantly surprised how this improves a relationship.
I'd start walking your way
You'd start walking mine
We'd meet in the middle
'Neath that old Georgia pine
We'd gain a lot of ground
'Cause we'd both give a little
And there ain't no road too long
When you meet in the middle
Monday, September 19, 2011
Feeling Needed
One of the things that older people often state about their
lives is that they no longer feel useful to anyone. My 84-year-old father
struggles with this. He lives next door to me and if I am home I will visit him
in the evening and watch Jeopardy with him. We will usually talk about
the day and the activities that we did. My day is normally very busy and his is
quite the opposite. Some days he will have done nothing except stay at home and
watch TV and listen to music and read. The days get long and he has no one to
talk to and no where to go. There is no one who really needs him. I know that
my 1/2 hour visits with him are often the highlight of his day and I try to
encourage him, however, words just can't compensate for the real deal
sometimes.
On Saturday, I was mowing my yard for the first time since Tropical Storm Lee. We have a creek that runs through our property and it was still quite wet and muddy. I intended to stay away from it, but I misjudged and before I knew it I was stuck in mud halfway up my tires. There was no way I was going to get out of this mess myself. I was in despair because no one was home to help me and I had barely gotten started mowing my huge yard.
My dad has trouble walking but he still mows yard and he often uses his lawnmower as a means of transportation to get from his house to mine. I wondered if he could possibly help me out of my predicament. "I'll be right there," he said when I called him. I waited, doubtfully, yet hopefully. He soon arrived on his lawnmower with a chain in tow that he kept stored in his garage. Keeping his lawnmower clear of the mud we hooked one end of the chain to his mower and the other end to mine. He began to pull forward and miraculously my lawnmower followed and was soon safe on solid ground. I was so happy and grateful. As I thanked him profusely he said, "You have no idea how good it feels to be useful. This just made my day and possibly my week."
Everyone needs to feel useful, and it is especially important for older people as they struggle with difficulties that come with aging. Now, I don't recommend that you go get a lawnmower stuck so they can help you out, but I encourage you to watch for things that an elderly person could do for you. You will be blessed and so will they.
On Saturday, I was mowing my yard for the first time since Tropical Storm Lee. We have a creek that runs through our property and it was still quite wet and muddy. I intended to stay away from it, but I misjudged and before I knew it I was stuck in mud halfway up my tires. There was no way I was going to get out of this mess myself. I was in despair because no one was home to help me and I had barely gotten started mowing my huge yard.
My dad has trouble walking but he still mows yard and he often uses his lawnmower as a means of transportation to get from his house to mine. I wondered if he could possibly help me out of my predicament. "I'll be right there," he said when I called him. I waited, doubtfully, yet hopefully. He soon arrived on his lawnmower with a chain in tow that he kept stored in his garage. Keeping his lawnmower clear of the mud we hooked one end of the chain to his mower and the other end to mine. He began to pull forward and miraculously my lawnmower followed and was soon safe on solid ground. I was so happy and grateful. As I thanked him profusely he said, "You have no idea how good it feels to be useful. This just made my day and possibly my week."
Everyone needs to feel useful, and it is especially important for older people as they struggle with difficulties that come with aging. Now, I don't recommend that you go get a lawnmower stuck so they can help you out, but I encourage you to watch for things that an elderly person could do for you. You will be blessed and so will they.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Refreshment
Summer usually means vacation. Not only do children get a break
from school but also adults often take a one or two week vacation from their
jobs during the summer months. I guess I am no different than most people, as
the 3rd week of July, my husband and I enjoyed a few days in the beautiful
hills of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. We played a lot of golf, did some
sightseeing, walking, talking, and reading. We ate when we felt like it, and
basically did what we wanted and didn't do anything that we didn't feel like
doing. This is called refreshment, right? And we all deserve it, right?
One of the things that I noticed during our sightseeing was how dry everything was. The grass was brown and hard, but it was the corn that struck me the most. It was small and spindly and its leaves were pointed straight up. It was as though they had their arms outstretched to God and were pleading for water. I couldn't help but parallel this with my thirst for God. Do I have my arms outstretched and open for him to pour down his love on me? All of us feel like we deserve a vacation from our jobs and maybe we do. However, I want to realize that God is always there for me and all I need to do is reach up my arms to Him and He will pour down refreshment on me.
The day we came home it rained. I couldn't help but think that God saw the corn's distress and answered its pleading. If this is how God refreshes the corn, which is here today and harvested in the fall, will he not refresh me more?
One of the things that I noticed during our sightseeing was how dry everything was. The grass was brown and hard, but it was the corn that struck me the most. It was small and spindly and its leaves were pointed straight up. It was as though they had their arms outstretched to God and were pleading for water. I couldn't help but parallel this with my thirst for God. Do I have my arms outstretched and open for him to pour down his love on me? All of us feel like we deserve a vacation from our jobs and maybe we do. However, I want to realize that God is always there for me and all I need to do is reach up my arms to Him and He will pour down refreshment on me.
The day we came home it rained. I couldn't help but think that God saw the corn's distress and answered its pleading. If this is how God refreshes the corn, which is here today and harvested in the fall, will he not refresh me more?
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Changes
Sometimes it seems like I blink and another season has rolled
around. Summer is here and all the heat, humidity, vacations, outdoor
activities, and fun that comes with it. I love the changes of the seasons and
the diversity that each one brings. Our lives change also--sometimes the
changes are anticipated and looked forward to and other times we reluctantly
accept them. However, no matter where we are in our lives, God is constant and
we can rejoice in the fact that though everything and everyone around us
changes, God does not. As I personally am experiencing some reluctant changes
in my life right now, this is a wonderful promise to me.
"Great is Thy Faithfulness"
Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
"Great is Thy Faithfulness"
Great is Thy faithfulness, oh God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Little Things
All of us go through times where we feel completely overwhelmed
and discouraged. Things just aren't going right. It may be relationships,
finances, busyness, or any number of things that creep into your life that you
feel you just can't handle. Sometimes it feels like when one thing goes wrong
then everything goes wrong.
I have noticed that when I feel down, it is often the little things that can pick me up. Last week was a good example of this. I was feeling overwhelmed with things that needed done and people who needed my attention. My aging father was complaining of chest pains, finances were tight, my housework was not getting done and the lawn needed mowed. On top of all this the lawn mower was broken so the hope of getting it mowed in the near future was slim.
I decided to start with one small thing. I swept my kitchen floor. It made me feel SOO much better. From there I cleaned the bathroom and my mood brightened considerably. I walked outside and peeping out from the unkept flower beds were bright red tulips. Suddenly I felt like weeding a little bit. I pulled away the weeds and soon more flowers appeared. Amazingly, my world didn't seem so bad any more.
I think sometimes we believe something big has to happen to improve our situation and outlook on life. However, I am amazed how something small--like a flower, or a kind word--can make a huge difference in the way we perceive things. Look for something small today that you can do or say to cheer you or a friend. After all, if God takes care of the lilies of the field and the sparrows, (Matt. 6:28) He will surely take care of you and I.
P.S. I am happy to say that the lawn mower is now fixed and my lawn is mowed!
I have noticed that when I feel down, it is often the little things that can pick me up. Last week was a good example of this. I was feeling overwhelmed with things that needed done and people who needed my attention. My aging father was complaining of chest pains, finances were tight, my housework was not getting done and the lawn needed mowed. On top of all this the lawn mower was broken so the hope of getting it mowed in the near future was slim.
I decided to start with one small thing. I swept my kitchen floor. It made me feel SOO much better. From there I cleaned the bathroom and my mood brightened considerably. I walked outside and peeping out from the unkept flower beds were bright red tulips. Suddenly I felt like weeding a little bit. I pulled away the weeds and soon more flowers appeared. Amazingly, my world didn't seem so bad any more.
I think sometimes we believe something big has to happen to improve our situation and outlook on life. However, I am amazed how something small--like a flower, or a kind word--can make a huge difference in the way we perceive things. Look for something small today that you can do or say to cheer you or a friend. After all, if God takes care of the lilies of the field and the sparrows, (Matt. 6:28) He will surely take care of you and I.
P.S. I am happy to say that the lawn mower is now fixed and my lawn is mowed!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Encouragement
The pitcher wound up and threw another pitch. Her shoulders
slumped as the batter jumped on it and slammed it over the center fielder's
head. I was watching my daughter's softball game and it had been a rough
inning. The other team suddenly seemed to be able to hit everything our pitcher
threw at them. Our team and fans grew silent as we watched yet another run
cross the plate. The coach called time. He and the entire infield gathered at
the pitcher's mound. He talked to them for a little and then everyone resumed
their positions.
Suddenly, out of the stillness the catcher yelled, "You got this Katelyn! You are doing great!" The other infielders came to life and started pumping their gloves and yelling encouragement to the pitcher. All of a sudden the outfielders picked up on it and called in words of encouragement from their positions. Katelyn wound up and whizzed a strike across the plate. The fans cheered and Katelyn's teammates continued to tell her how great she was doing. Katelyn's shoulders straightened and she threw another strike. On the next pitch, the batter hit a weak ground ball to first base. After a few more pitches, we were suddenly out of the inning and the team came running off the field, patting Katelyn on the back and telling her what a good job she was doing.
I thought about this as I drove home from the game. No, we did not win but the way the team came together and encouraged not only Katelyn but each other was heartwarming. If only life could be that way. How many times have we not bothered to give those words of encouragement that could have made someone's day. Do you remember when someone encouraged you and it made you hold your head higher? Everyone needs encouragement and there is way too little of it being handed out. I think sometimes we are just too busy and don't feel like taking time to write a note or an email of encouragement to someone who could really use it. I am making a commitment to try to do or say something each day that will be an encouragement to someone. How about you?
Suddenly, out of the stillness the catcher yelled, "You got this Katelyn! You are doing great!" The other infielders came to life and started pumping their gloves and yelling encouragement to the pitcher. All of a sudden the outfielders picked up on it and called in words of encouragement from their positions. Katelyn wound up and whizzed a strike across the plate. The fans cheered and Katelyn's teammates continued to tell her how great she was doing. Katelyn's shoulders straightened and she threw another strike. On the next pitch, the batter hit a weak ground ball to first base. After a few more pitches, we were suddenly out of the inning and the team came running off the field, patting Katelyn on the back and telling her what a good job she was doing.
I thought about this as I drove home from the game. No, we did not win but the way the team came together and encouraged not only Katelyn but each other was heartwarming. If only life could be that way. How many times have we not bothered to give those words of encouragement that could have made someone's day. Do you remember when someone encouraged you and it made you hold your head higher? Everyone needs encouragement and there is way too little of it being handed out. I think sometimes we are just too busy and don't feel like taking time to write a note or an email of encouragement to someone who could really use it. I am making a commitment to try to do or say something each day that will be an encouragement to someone. How about you?
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