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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