Meet the Needs With Beauty

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 274: Today, I am grateful we can meet the needs of our beloveds with beauty.

"Today when you nurture, love, and meet the needs of  your beloveds with beauty, it will make a different in how they face their whole day." - Sally Clarkson

Who are our beloveds? That is a question we must each one answer for ourselves. My thoughts go quickly to the ones who make my heart beat. My family, my friends who are like family, and the precious souls God has placed in my path for daily relationships, even if it is only for a season. 

Years ago my dear friend, Kim, introduced Jill and I to a group of ladies where we were the "youngs" and they were the "olds." They named the group, not us! We were in our 30's and 40s' when they were in their 70's and 80's. We ended up going to lunch together for a precious season. They made us feel young and beloved. Judy and Mercedes were something else! They were vibrant women fully into their senior years. They both appreciated the finer things and things of beauty. We delighted in their company. 

Mercedes had a rule. She was not a snob, but she only dined in places that set a table with cloth napkins. Thinking of it now, I wonder if any establishments continue the practice. We dined together at The Creve Coeur Club one time and another at an inexpensive family restaurant. It wasn't about the cost of the meal. It was about the cloth napkin requirement. The cloth napkin was recognized by Mercedes as going the extra mile in hospitality. 

My Sister-in-Love Jennifer and Cousin Angie have me hooked on vintage handkerchiefs. They are an inexpensive, but fun find at the Third Sunday Market in Bloomington. Like the cloth napkins, they seem special. They are perfect for happy tears at a wedding and sad ones at a funeral. They "do the work" with beauty.  (I do prefer modern disposable tissue when there is illness present.) 

Many years ago, my friend Cindy gave me a long handled bamboo spoon. It was before bamboo spoons became popular. Cindy knew I loved making soups and it was the perfect spoon for the job. I use that spoon almost daily and think of her often. It has a simple design that is practical and beautiful. 

"Let all that you do be done in love."  -1 Corinthians 16:14

Everything. Nurture not just with love, but with beauty. Go the extra mile when you can. Sprinkle the glitter. 

Today, I am grateful we can meet the needs of our beloveds with beauty.

Speech Before God

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 273: Today, I am grateful for the humbling reminder that our thoughts are speech before God.

C.H. Spurgeon hits the nail on the head with that observation. 

"And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." -Romans 8:27

He knows our hearts and our minds. He knows our dreams and our desires. Nothing is hidden from His sight. With spiritual maturity comes the ability to better control our tongues. We are not perfect, but we improve. 

What about those crazy thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere? The enemy of our souls whispers bad ideas. He has not yet been locked away. He grows more nervous as time marches on. 

Today, I am grateful for the humbling reminder that our thoughts are speech before God.

A Palm Full of Mercy

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 272: Today, I am grateful for a palm full of mercy. 

"Our Savior kneels down on the darkest acts of our lives. But rather than recoil in horror, he reaches out in kindness and says, 'I can clean that if you want." And from the basin of his grace, he scoops a palm full of mercy and washes our sin." -Max Lucado

I love Max Lucado. He has such a way with words. His spirit is gentle. His humility is sincere. He explains big theology ideas with simplicity. Many years ago, I added him to my prayers. I asked God to protect him from anything that might destroy his ministry. I don't know him personally (although a friend's sister did attend his church... and her name is Max, too.) I just know him by his fruits. He is a good shepherd. 

I love the imagery created in this quote. To think at our darkest, ugliest, dirtiest, and shameful moments, we have a Savior who longs to gently clean us up... until we are spotless and ready to be presented to the Father. It is the whole "God incarnate come" piece of theology. Knowing what it feels like to walk in our shoes (or sandals), to "live in our skin", and to face our trials and temptations... He chooses love, kindness, redemption, and restoration. 

If grace and mercy had a scent, I think it would be petrichor. Petrichor is the warm, fresh, and earthy fragrance we experience when rain hits dry ground that is produced by bacteria. Fragrance manufacturers have tried to capture it. Isn't it an interesting combination? Dry ground, water, and bacteria. 

We come from the dirt, made in His image, and God brought us to life with His breath. That will always be mind-boggling for me. Our bodies are more than half water. We know there is good bacteria and bad bacteria in our bodies, too. Our digestive systems need good bacteria to function. When life giving rain falls on dry ground mixing with bacteria in the soil, we get the most amazing scent. 

When His grace and mercy washes our sins away, he makes all things new. It is a fresh start, a new day, fresh rain on a dry thirsty land. 

"Behold, I am doing a new thing;
    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
    and rivers in the desert. -Isaiah 43:19

This scripture fits, too. 

"And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”" - Revelation 21:5

Today, I am grateful for a palm full of mercy... and the smell of rain. 

Book Gathering

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 271: Today, I am grateful for book gathering. 

"Like squirrels gather nuts for winter, autumn signals my need to collect more books for the cold months ahead." -James E. Davis

Audiobooks fit easily into my life. I have used digital books when traveling, but I love the feel of a real book in my hand. 

I like to mark up books I study. I love the smell of books... old and new. When the power goes out for extended periods or we find ourselves away from the power grid, a physical book is a welcome treasure. 

Books can hold recipes, medical treatments, and tips for growing food. A book can transport us to far away places without leaving our comfy chair. 

My favorite book is my Bible. I know Abe Lincoln read it over and over. God's perfect wisdom can be found between the pages.  

Today, I am grateful for book gathering. 

Wash My Face

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 270: Today, I am grateful I can wash my face. 

When I have trouble waking up, I can wash my face. When a headache sets in, I can wash my face.  
When I need to stay awake for a few more hours, I can wash my face. 

I rarely talk about a product, but FarmHouse Fresh(FHF) makes this facial cleanser I love. I introduced my niece to FHF before she was married, and she gifted me with this cleanser. 

It was a product I had not tried. The scent is a soft orange scent, and it washes away every trace of make-up... even  mascara. (Sorry guys... this is kind of a girly gratitude.) 

"Make It Melt" leaves my face clean and hydrated. It is one of my all-time favorite facial cleansers.(Cori Simms at Studio 117 in Morton carries the FHF product line.) The FHF company is known for their philanthropy as an animal rescue, too. 

I don't think I have really given thanks for the simple pleasure of being able to wash my face easily and with warm, clean water. I look forward to the simple task whatever the purpose. To wake up, to invigorate, or to prepare for bed - there is a simple pleasure in washing your face. 

I always look for a scripture to connect to each gratitude. In the past, I have overlooked the simple instructions in this passage. 

In Biblical times, fasting could be quite dramatic. Jesus calls them out on the drama. The verse, in context, gives clear directions about fasting. He instructs them to fast and pray privately, in relationship with the Father. Not in the showy way that was so common in places of worship. He called for an intimacy in the practice, keeping it between ourselves and God. Never for attention or show. Good stuff! 

"But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face." - Matthew 6:17

Don't look like a mess! Wash your face and comb your hair!  It fits perfectly. 

Today, I am grateful I can wash my face. 

Cool Evenings

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 269: Today, I am grateful for cool evenings. 

It was 73 degrees when I left work today. 75 degrees is my perfect temperature. 73 degrees is close enough to evoke pure delight. 

Nature's song changes as we move from summer to autumn. We have the delight of hearing marching band practice... and the neighbor boy who practices his horn after school as we sit outside and take in the perfect temperatures. Not too hot. Not too cold. I adore the 70's (the music of the 70's was pretty special, too). 

Cooler evenings mean sleeping with the windows wide open. The scents of the harvest are unique to the season and welcome... except the pumpkin stink. In truth, after nearly 30 years, even the pumpkin stink hanging on the cooler breezes is not as noticeable. 

Snuggling under a blanket returns as a natural way to end the day. Both two females in the house enjoy the cozy moments at the end of the day. One of them gets to snuggle with The-Love-of-my-Life... unfortunately, it isn't me. Daisy Mae, our nearly 70 pound fur-baby, insists on being under a blanket with Randy. 

The cooler evenings restore my soul. I think it is interesting that a God who does not change chose to create a world that is constantly changing. The earth spins and makes its annual trip around the sun. The seasons change. It is good.

As I contemplated a scripture for today's post, this one mentioned cool evening breezes: 

"When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees." -Genesis 3:8 (NLT)

At the end of the day... in the cool of the evening... they are about to face the consequences of their poor choice. How many times do I find myself in the same place at the end of the day? Desperately in need of confession and forgiveness, do I attempt to hide from the living God who sees all. I am so grateful for His mercy and grace. 

Today, I am grateful for cool evenings. 

Patient Endurance

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 268: Today, I am grateful for examples of patient endurance.

This is one of those passages it is good to read in multiple translations. I really like it in the New Living Translation. We can patiently endure the difficult seasons when we put our full trust in Him. 

"So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised."                                        -Hebrews 10:35-36 (NLT)

We get into too big of a hurry. We attempt to "take the wheel," wanting to drive our own destiny. When we wait upon His divine guidance, the reward is peace. Divine peace is like no other. It cannot be rattled.

 It is how Daniel slept the night away in a lion's den. It is how Moses raised his staff and the Red Seas parted. It is how three young men stood outside a fiery furnace. It is how Jesus knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane... accepting the Father's will. 

Perseverance and believing in the promises of God... we are not abandoned or forgotten.  He remembers his children.                                                                                                                                 

Today, I am grateful for examples of patient endurance.

The Voice Behind Me

 Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 267: Today, I am grateful for the voice behind me. 

There are times we are absolutely unsure which choice to make and which path to take. We can rest assured that in those moments, we are not alone. How is this for a promise: 

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”- Isaiah 30:21

Listen for His voice. It will never steer us wrong. 

That still, soft voice can steer us clear of danger and so much more. "This is the way; walk in it." Do not fret. Do not overthink it. Simply trust the voice of our Lord. 

Some days, weeks, months, and years are harder than others. Take a deep breath, listen for the voice, and press on. 

Today, I am grateful for the voice behind me. 

All The Pieces

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 266: Today, I am grateful for all the pieces.  

"I am pieces of all the places I have been, and the people I have loved. I've been stitched together by song lyrics. book quotes. adventure, late night conversations, moonlight, and the smell of coffee." -Brooke Hampton

I wish I could claim this quote. It is perfect! 

Life really is a patchwork of all the pieces of our story. If you think of it like a quilt, the many colors, hues, and textures come together into something beautiful. Not perfect, which makes it even more interesting. 

The places we have been helped shape how we see the world. The people we have loved help shape who we are from the inside out. Most of us have a "soundtrack" that runs through our heads when we reflect on different seasons in our lives. You know the songs that take you back to a certain time, a certain place, and the people who shared the moment. 

The songs and lyrics stitch our memories together while our favorite books and quotes help shape our world view. Some inspire and others challenge us. Our hearts need adventure... even small ones... to make us feel alive. 

We are a collection of the late night conversations shared with special people in our lives. We delight in moonlight, especially reflecting on the water. We come alive at the smell of coffee. 

A full life has many pieces. Love binds everything together. Love is a choice... and a commandment. 

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." -Colossians 3:14

Today, I am grateful for all the pieces.  

Yes to Rest and Play

 Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 265: Today, I am grateful for a reminder to say "yes" to rest and play.  

"It takes courage to say "yes" to rest and play in a culture where exhaustion is seen as a status symbol." -Brene Brown

It is a wise reflection on our era and our culture. We need to rest and we need to play. Both are part of being human. Both are necessary. 

God designed our human bodies so they would need to rest and recharge. When we rest, we find time to play. 

"Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." -Mark 2:27

The practice of a Sabbath is beautiful. God delights in our worship, but he does not require or need it. Practicing the Sabbath is good for our bodies, minds, and our souls. In the practice of the pause, we can see Him better. We can even get to nap and play. 

We are instructed to keep the Sabbath holy. He does not want us to mess it up with things that are not honoring to God and good for the Kingdom. Seek His face. Build relationships. Delight in His Word. Rest. Fellowship. Play. 

Today, I am grateful for a reminder to say "yes" to rest and play.  

Beautiful Doorways

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 264: Today, I am grateful for beautiful doorways. 

"Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul." -Peggy Toney Horton

It is a beautiful and accurate description of September. 

Look behind you, and you can see the remnants of summer days. 

Look ahead, and you can see Autumn is ready to unleash nature's paintbrush on the leaves of the trees. We know it is coming... but we are not quite there. 

Soon there will be bonfires, sweatshirts, hayrides, and flannel... but we are not quite there. 

Savor September. It is fleeting, but it is sweet. 

"Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years." -Genesis 1:14

There are signs as we continue to mark the seasons, the days, and the years. September is a beautiful doorway... may it linger a little longer. 

Today, I am grateful for beautiful doorways. 

The Hard Places

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 263: Today, I am grateful for the hard places. 

We do not choose the hard places... most of the time...  unless the hard places are a consequence of poor choices. The rain falls on the good and the bad, as the old saying goes. If we are honest, none of us is "good." 

"We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins." Romans 3:22-24

I long for the day the image in my mirror reflects Him more than it does me, but I have a long way to go. Every day is a gift. With every prayerful confession there is a fresh touch of His grace and restoration. 

Elisabeth Elliot said this: "The hard place in which you perhaps find yourself is the very place in which God is giving you the only opportunity to look only to Him, to spend time in prayer, and to learn long-suffering, gentleness, meekness - in short, to learn the depths of the love that Christ himself has poured out on all of us." 

There it is. The hard places have a purpose. They are defining, refining, and teaching us to wait on God's timing. They are the seasons that help us grow more cognizant of who He is. 

Slow down. Be still. Wait. He will make a way through the "fire-swamps" of life. ("Princess Bride" reference.) 

Today, I am grateful for the hard places. 

Humility Recipe

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 262: Today, I am grateful for a recipe for humility. 

What does genuine humility look like? Paul gives us a recipe for humility in his letter to the Philippians. 

"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too." -Philippians 2:3-4

This is a perfect passage to support this quote,

 "Humility is not liking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less." -C.S. Lewis

When we begin thinking of others more, we begin to understand that were are one small puzzle piece in God's big picture plan. We are limited to this place in time and space. God sees all. 

Today, I am grateful for a recipe for humility. 

Pray About Everything

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 261: Today, I am grateful for the instruction to pray about everything. 

I don't think we can worry and pray at the same time. Prayer is not a shopping list we give God to tell him what we want. Prayer is an opportunity to come into relationship with the God of the Universe. That He tells us that he hears our prayers. He listens and leans into our trials and our joys. 

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. -Philippians 4:6 NLT

Bring Him your trials and bring him your tears. Talk to him like a best friend, and laugh with Him, too. He wants to hear about everything! Yes, everything. 

The One who granted each of us our soul breath knows the number of the stars in the sky, the number of hairs on our heads, and the number of times our hearts will beat. He is an awesome God, but he wants to be in relationship with us. How can we not find time to answer His invitation? 

Today, I am grateful for the instruction to pray about everything. 

Letters

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 260: Today, I am grateful for letters. 

"If Paul could see the church today, we'd be getting a letter." 

This image has crossed my path a couple of times. It is funny, but there is an ugly truth in it, too. 

I still love letters. They were my lifeline to my church camp friends when I was a child. Long-distance calls were expensive, so we wrote letters. Those letters were treasures.

Email is great, but a handwritten letter holds a piece of a person forever in a handwriting sample. Never underestimate the joy a note can bring. 

Paul's letters to the churches were full of hope, encouragement, and sometimes correction. His notes were brutally honest at times. 

"I am not sorry that I sent that severe letter to you, though I was sorry at first, for I know it was painful to you for a little while. Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way.." -2 Corinthians 7:8-9

Paul sent his letters in love and in truth. They were eager to hear what he had to say. He was their mentor, teacher, and friend. He sometimes told them things they did not want to hear. Still, they savored each letter, memorized them, copied them, and shared them. 

Today, I am grateful for letters. 

Celebrations

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 259: Today, I am grateful for celebrations. 

Today marks two-years-ago my life-long friend (5th grade) Sally's heavenly homecoming after a whirlwind battle with cancer. I still long for our conversations... especially the ones about faith, Jesus, and loving our kids, and families. She prayed for mine and I prayed for hers. 

The ache of missing Sally is real, but the truth of the reunion ahead keeps our eyes fixed on the hope we have in Jesus. Sally's husband, Lyn, posted a quote that resonated deeply, "You can't take anything to heaven but your neighbor." Great quote and perfect to reflect Sally's passion for the life changing power of the Gospel. 

One of my closest friends at church is battling that ugly disease of breast cancer. She is celebrating her birthday today. She is a reason to celebrate every day. Serving with Julie in youth ministry for more than 30 years together has been something I cannot put into words. Her faithful testimony in this trial humbles all of us around her. She has the best parts of "Mary and Martha." She "washes the feet" of everyone in her circle... even when she is sick. She is a faithful servant. 

September 7th marked a decade for Jill in heaven. Jill's celebration of life was on September 11th, which is also Dad's and our nephew Jason's birthdays. Celebration of joy and sorrow seem to almost always overlap. Todd was blessed with Sarah... who just celebrated her birthday on September 6th... a gift of joy around the same dates 

My sister, April, woke up in heaven on August 26, 1995... next year, it will be 30 years next year. We buried April on my Sister-in-Love, Jennifer's birthday, September 2nd, when Jennifer was very pregnant with my niece, Ciara. April had a beautiful military funeral instead of a wedding. Ciara arrived just a few days past April's birthday, giving us great joy to ease the sorrow. 

September 9, 1985, was to be April's wedding celebration to her fiancé, Mark.  A wedding uncelebrated. Twenty-nine Wedding Anniversaries that did not happen. Learning to trust God's heart when His ways make no sense at all. 

Sister-in-Love Jennifer's brother, Jeff, died on September 8, 2022, after a 7 month cancer battle. September 13th was his celebration of life. Cancer makes every single birthday more special. Jeff's last big outing was Ciara and Cody's wedding day. We had the best conversation about God that day. He was a special guy. I write each of these gratitude posts at a desk surrounded by his woodworking skills. Jeff shared his skills and talents with all of us. 

Our special friend, Tonya, celebrated her birthday yesterday. She is a beautiful person with a beautiful soul. Tonya has filled a sister role for Randy, because she and his sister, Lola, are so much alike. We are very grateful she was born and placed in our lives. God provides our every need. 

Just around the corner, Donna (Emma and Leah's Mom and our dear friend), has a birthday ... her second in heaven. I celebrate all the "mom things" we shared. We are so grateful she raised the perfect wife for Chase. Last year, on September 9th, Emma's father, Jeff, married a beautiful girl named Sherry. New love is a sweet gift after great loss. It does not betray the memory of loved ones' lost, it is a reminder that God does not abandon His children. We were born for relationships. 

This week, a dear sister, Linda, at church said good-bye to her sister. She stood with us at April's grave 29 years ago and gave me the book, "Traveling Light" by Max Lucado that I have shared many times over. She and our church family have traveled to Clifton to be with us in all of our losses. Matt and Jennifer know many of them and have reminded me of the blessing of our church faith community. 

We have had four funerals at church in the past month. By God's grace and Jesus's work on the cross, each one knew the peace of trusting Jesus this world cannot buy. Each one is still grieved deeply. Life goes on, but there are missing pieces of our hearts grieve not on a timeline that comes to an end, but in waves. The waves come and go... even after 30 days, 30 months, and 30 years.  

If you did not follow all of that, don't worry. As I wrote it, it felt a little like the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew and Luke. The purpose of my ramblings is to show that the first weeks in September are full of different kinds of time markers and celebrations. Some are sad. Some are happy. Some come as surprises. Others are anticipated. In September, like every other day of the year, we have to choose how we respond to the good, the bad, the ugly, and the beautiful. Yes, we choose. 

The beautiful-ugly, and some things are both at the same time, reminds us that we must be intentional about our celebrations and in our mourning. God designed us to live in a community that lives, laughs, grieves, and loves with us. 

"Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep." - Romans 12:15

Today, I am grateful for celebrations. 

The End

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 258: Today, I am grateful for the end. 

Every celebration has a beginning and an end. Sweet Nina Milankovic Forret shared this image with me. I knew I wanted to use it for a gratitude post. She framed it beautifully. The sun has now set on another Pumpkin Festival. The countdown until next year's festival begins. Every ending is a new beginning. 

Endings can be happy and they can be sad. Any way you slice it, they are part of life. Nature reminds us all of the time about the circle of life. Soon, I will harvest seeds from my zinnias and my hyacinth bean vine. Their death at the end of summer gives us the seeds for next year. Endings can bring mixed emotions. How we frame them matters. I will choose to frame them with hope. 

The end of the Festival means some traditions were kept. We tried new things, too. Time spent with our grown children is always treasured. Family came to visit (Kathleen & Trinity). Many who have moved away came home for a visit, too. Many apple cider slushies were consumed. It was a jam packed week and weekend. We need an end so we can rest and recover.

" For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.  For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better." -Philippians 1:1-22

This passage has been on my mind. It is one of my favorites. We are so blessed to be able to have the confidence that comes from knowing Jesus.  

Today, I am grateful for the end.. and what comes next. 

The Season of Pumpkins

 

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 257: Today, I am grateful for the season of pumpkins.

Ah, September welcomes what someone once coined as the "-ber" month. In one blink it is halfway done. October is literally around the corner. As "The Pumpkin Capital of the World", we start putting out the pumpkins early. In fact, we always have a few tucked around the house. 

Pumpkins come in so many colors and shades. I do not know know many varieties exist. I tend to describe them by color, shape, and size. Ornamental and pie pumpkins would be another way I tend to sort them out.  I saw a t-shirt where different varieties of pumpkin were listed. I need to get pumpkin educated. After all these years, there is so much to learn. 

One of our favorite newer additions to the Pumpkin Festival is a group that roasts pumpkins and fills them with stew. It is absolutely delicious and they use the money to help the homeless and the hungry. I do not know the pumpkin varieties. I know that pumpkins are squash, but not all squash are pumpkins.  

God is so evident in creation. When the winter is coming, there are foods that keep for a very long time, including fall/winter squash. (Acorn and Butternut are two of my favorites.)

"While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” -Genesis 8:22

Enjoy the fall's bounty. 

Today, I am grateful for the season of pumpkins.

Grown-Up Kids

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 256: Today, I am grateful for our grown-up kids.

Every season of life has its joys and trials. We can choose what we focus on. Watching young families managing the Pumpkin Festival with their littles brings back so many memories of juggling kids of different ages and at different stages. Trying to make everyone happy with food choices, ride choices, and length of stay meant there had to be conversations about expectations. And in a blink, they became adults.   

Now, standing in line means extra time for conversations. (The food lines move fast, even when they are long.) Reminiscing is a part of taking in the festival. The Smiths tend to suffer from motion sickness. We have unique-to-us names for many of the rides that I will spare you here. Ask Chase, Walker, Ryan Leander, and Blake Leander if you want to know those special names. 

The past few years I have volunteered with the Morton 709 crew at the Pumpkin Grill. My job has been to help direct the food line. (It is set up a little like the weaving Disney World lines.) How many times can you give the same directions? "Only stand in line at the foods you want." "Go around the foods you don't want... it helps the line flow quickly and it is not "cutting" or rude." "Near the drinks/sweets you can reunite with family members before you head to the check-out line." "Divide and conquer... one person gets the meat and the other grabs the chili..." "Yes, you can use a card. Save your cash for the Apple Cider Slushies." I sometimes lose my voice by the end of 3 hours... and that might be the perk for the Love-of-my-Life.  

One of the perks of working the line is seeing former "Jr. Potters" who are now grown-up. Some are seniors in High School... others are really grown-up, married, and attending with their babies and children. It makes me love our little village even more. Family and friends who become family are part of the charm. The world is big, but home is home (just like a part of my heart remains in Iroquois county). 

Tonight, upon asking if anyone had questions, one young woman said "yes" but not about the food line. She asked if there was any way of knowing when the "pumpkin stink" would start and stop. The answer was simple. "No, It comes and goes."  She was a lovely young woman in her early to mid twenties and loving life here in Morton, but the "stink" is unique. It is not all the time. We endure the "stink" so we can enjoy pumpkin pie and all of the other fabulous pumpkin items our nation enjoys at our local Nestle/Libby's canning plant. (The stink is associated with the pumpkin carcass waste left when the pumpkins have been processed.) 

Those who grew up here associate the "pumpkin stink" with the Pumpkin Festival and happy times, so the stink brings a sense of nostalgia (a perfect word borrowed from Allison Vastine). I remember our  Walker coming home from college for the first visit in the fall of his freshman year at college.  He rolled down his windows at the Morton exit and that stink brought a sense of joy.  Allison mentioned the exact same experience on her way into town this week. That "pumpkin stink" stirs memories of childhood and increases the joy factor. It is all about perspective. 

Perhaps the title of today's gratitude should have been "pumpkin stink" but it is the grown-up perspective that reframes the smell into something special... of not exactly "good." 

Usually a scripture comes to mind by the end of a daily gratitude post. Today, I had to dig a little deeper, but found one I think fits just right. As I reflect on the first days of the festival, I have witnessed kindness, humble service, celebration, generosity, patience, delight, affection, laughter, reminiscing, and making new memories. It really is the best week because of the people.

"Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other." -Romans 12:10

Love the place you live. Embrace your local festivals and homecomings. Delight in your grown-up kids. 

Today, I am grateful for our grown-up kids.

Apple Cider Slushies

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 255: Today, I am grateful for Uncle Bud's Apple Cider Slushies. 

I love pumpkin. I really do. But my favorite treat each year at the Pumpkin Festival is the Apple Cider Slushies from Uncle Bud's. They are incredible. Sweet and tangy at the same time. 

I have a motto, "A slushie a day until the festival goes away (and two on Saturday)." 

The nicest people run it. They greet each customer with kindness. Even when the lines are wild and long, they understand customer service. They move fast but never skimp on service. 

I am sure there are many faces that become familiar as they make their rounds from spring until fall. Still, it is so nice to be recognized. There is something special about being known. I am reminded of this passage I recently shared with a friend battling cancer. It is one of my favorites for troubled times, too. 

In our joys and in our sorrows, we have a God who sees us. 

"Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the LORD, who had spoken to her. She said, ‘You are the God who sees me.’ She also said, ‘Have I truly seen the One who sees me?’” (Genesis 16:13)

In Hebrew, the name is "El Roi." What a beautiful thing it is to be known by "the God who sees me." It reminds of that old song, "Someone to Watch Over Me." It whispers comfort when the day is long or the situation is difficult. 

Today, I am grateful for Uncle Bud's Apple Cider Slushies... and for a God who sees me.

Patriot Day

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 254: Today, I am grateful for Patriot Day.

Patriot Day... here we are 23 years later. We said we would never forget, but humans are prone to short memories. It is a day of remembrance.. as is Patriot Day. Let us remember. 

On a plane over Pennsylvania, at the Pentagon, and in New York City we saw heroism that reflects the best in us. It came from first responders, our military, and from ordinary men and women who demonstrated love, compassion, and caring on the very worst day of their lives. They reflexively responded with a desire to protect and provide what others needed. In their own injuries and brokenness, they reached out to help the person next to them. Many were strangers. 

As we look around today, many were too young to remember. They were not even born. We guarded our children from being consumed by our own fears as the skies went silent for days. Air travel stopped. The images on our TV screens did not. They played over and over the horrors of that day. 

In those days, we came together in unity. Through tragedy and brokenness, we found common ground. We showed respect to our first responders, our military, our flag, and our God. When things are falling apart and burning around us, it is suddenly permissible to talk about God and prayer. 

There were so many miracles that day. Missed trains. Doctors appointments. Missed flights.  Each inconvenience or change in schedule meant a life was saved. Do we thank God for our delays? That day, we did. 

Twenty-three years... it is the age of some of our youngest school teachers, firemen, EMTs, and police officers. What feels like yesterday to those who lived through it, does not evoke the same emotion from those who view it as history. 

Patriots can be recognized by their courage, character, and consistency. They show up when they are needed. They stay until they have done all they can do. They wipe the tears and hold the broken in their arms. They pray over the dying at their last breath. They deliver the news to the widows and widowers. They "wash the feet" of others day after day. 

9/11 was Dad's birthday. 
9/11 was the day we buried Jill in 2014

Time marches on. 9/11 will continue to be a day of births, deaths, and burials as life marches on. We do not know the end date on our dash. We can know the Author of our Days and our  Lord and Savior. He is our refuge, help, and hope. 

"I look up to the mountains— 

 does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!" -Psalm 121:1-2

Today, I am grateful for Patriot Day.

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 253: Today, I am grateful for the book of Acts.

I spent years asking God to be a part of whatever I was doing. When I read the book of Acts. I see people privileged to play a part in what God was doing." -Francis Chan, Forgotten God 

This is a great quote. I remember as a child reading the Bible that the book of Acts seemed scary. As a child I hyper focused on the beatings, persecution, and the many days in prison. I found it scary. 

Several  years ago, we spent some time in Acts during a Sunday School class. I remember seeing Acts with new eyes. Instead of inducing fear, I found the wonder in it all. Some had walked and talked with Jesus. Saul/Paul had done his best to destroy the spread of the  Gospel. Then, he came face to face with the one he had persecuted. The change in Saul was so radical, his name was changed to Paul. His sold out, crazy love for Jesus is woven into so many chapters of Acts. 

The book of Acts calls for unity between the Jews and the Gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ. As you read through the chapters it is easy to see a perspective shift. 

"All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper ), and to prayer." - Acts 2:42 

Immersed in what God is doing! What a way to live. 

As an adult, I see the challenge and the wonder in His invitation to each one of us. He longs for us to be excited by his invitation to take part in what He is doing. It is not the other way around. 

Today, I am grateful for the book of Acts.

The Invitation to "Remain In Me"

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 252: Today, I am grateful for the invitation to "remain in Me." 

Stay is such a lovely word. It is an invitation that says I want you with me. We often think of the word in the romantic sense. 

The church is called the "Bride of Christ." What does that look like? 

I think it reminds us that once we say "yes" to an intimate relationship with Jesus and experience his goodness, we want to stay near to him. We do not want to be apart. 

 Being together brings a sense of contentment. Knowing we are loved, treasured, forgiven, wanted, and welcome is a special kind of love. That kind of love is powerful. It can act as a compass and as a comfort.

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." -John 15:4

The picture is from a word study I did on the word "abide." In Greek, the word is Meno. It means to stay, to remain, to be held. The comparable Hebrew word is "Yashab." Yashab means to sit, to remain, and to dwell. It is the greatest of invitations. 

I once heard it described as steeping ourselves in Christ like a tea bag steeps in hot water. I love the image it conjures up in my head. The tea bag does not do much until you add the water. Hot water brews it to perfection faster than a cold sun-brewed option. Perhaps there is a lesson in that, too. 

Remain... abide... stay. 

Today, I am grateful for the invitation to "remain in Me." 

Warning Labels

Daily Gratitude Year 12 - Day 251: Today, I am grateful for  warning labels. 

"For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment or even common sense." - C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis was a great thinker and observer. He  takes the most complex spiritual thoughts and gives them clarity. I am grateful for the many times his words act as warning labels. 

Warning labels help increase safety. They bring our attention to hidden and unseen dangers. They remind us to think before we act. 

The world is full of dangerous things, but C.S. Lewis often wrote words that act as warning labels for our souls as we sift through modern living. Isn't it funny that his books seem timeless? I think it is because they are deeply reflective of the scriptures he read often as he sought truth. 

I discovered this as my verse of the day, after the gratitude was written. It is a better fit than the one I thought of first. (That is always a God-wink. He wins again.) 

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." - Psalm 143:10

His Word and His Spirit often give warning when we approach dangerous ground or waters.

Today, I am grateful for  warning labels.