Healthcare Professionals

Year 8-Day 92:Today, I am grateful for healthcare professionals. 

So many of our family and friends are involved in healthcare as first responders in one way or another. It is humbling to think that most of them is putting their own health and families at risk because they show up to work to keep their oaths to protect, serve and heal. 

Love is doing the right thing, even when it is hard. Even when it seems beyond what should be expected of any one human being. Love is washing the feet of another... and the back and in some cases... wiping the bottom. 

The trenches of healthcare and rescue services isn't pretty. It can be exhausting physically, mentally and emotionally. Still, they go. In the wee hours of the morning and answering midnight calls... they are there for help and comfort.

Tonight, we can say a special prayer for those who must triage, assess and evaluate how care for the masses of sick people around them. Tonight, we can leave a light on for them. 

I borrowed this picture from my cousin, Angie. Four of her five children are in healthcare or first responders. Our future daughter-in-law is on her way to being a nurse, but as she works her way there, she serves as a CNA with a tenderness her nursing home residents desperately need, as most cannot have visitors at this time. We are grateful for the ones who care for my Mama while she is not allowed visitors. 

Those who care of the sick and weakened by age are doing important work, from the custodial staff to the administrators making weighty decisions. I am always reminded of this passage:

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ "And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,] you were doing it to me!’" -Matthew 25:37-40

Thank you for your service to the sick and hurting... and to the King. 

Today, I am grateful for healthcare professionals. 

Marker Remover

Year 8-Day 91:Today, I am grateful for marker removers.

"I decided to make sure my Husband woke up with a smile on his face this morning. Now, I can't have Sharpies in the house anymore." 

One of my favorite books to read to the boys when they were little was by Robert Munsch. Chase requested Munsch's "I Love  You Forever" and I would chose "Purple, Green & Yellow" (Listen to the author read the story here: https://robertmunsch.com/book/purple-green-and-yellow#.).  Same author. Two very different books. 

Purple, Green & Yellow was silly and witty and it had “super-indelible-never-come-off-until-you’re-dead-and-maybe-even-later coloring markers.” What's not to love, right? Colors, markers and art coming to life. Okay, maybe it caused a little trouble, too. What is art without some risk? 

A permanent marker can be a real friend... and maybe a foe if it is left in the wrong hands. Did you know you can remove a Sharpie mark with an alcohol wipes, a Magic eraser or hand sanitizer?  There is a list of ways to remove Sharpie marks, depending on the surface. 

It is Lenten season. It is the a reminder that we were permanently marked by sin. Nothing pretty about it. Just like Brigid didn't mean to get in trouble with her “super-indelible-never-come-off-until-you’re-dead-and-maybe-even-later coloring markers”, we make choices with big consequences. Her lack of self control in the story reflects our human nature. Jesus paid the price to fix our mistakes. 

"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all." -Isaiah 53:5-6

Sin's stain was washed out. Removed. Never to come back even if it rains, even if a disease spreads through the land... even if we lose jobs, homes or our earthly treasures because of disasters or poor choices. When His forgiveness and healing cover us... we are covered. 

"Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins." -Psalm 51:1

"He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross."-Colossians 2:14

Cancelled debts. Sins nailed to the cross. The consequences removed. We are no longer marked by our super-indelible-the-price-is-death sins that separate us from God. The cross wins. Death becomes a door not a destination. There is reason to celebrate. 

Today, I am grateful for marker removers and the sin remover.

Outside

Year 8-Day 90:Today, I am grateful for outside! 

We are confined to home for the most part. It is not easy. I typically love being home, but nothing is typical about the world at this moment. I am finding respite and restoration in a walk outside, even if is short. The sun today feels like spring. Work out clothing is plenty. No sweatshirt needed.  

If you are feeling claustrophobic, head outside. If you can work from a laptop, outside is a real option in these days of confinement. Opening the slider is another way to bring in fresh air (if you can handle the humidity and the allergens).

Again, I think of Anne Frank. To not be able to go outside would make this quarantine so much harder. We can take advantage of the freedom and the fresh air. 

In the outdoors, our breaths seem deeper, fuller and fresh. 

"Live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air."  –Ralph Waldo Emerson

What will you do with this one precious day? Live in the moment. 

"This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it." -Psalm 118:24

Don't borrow tomorrow's troubles. Today has enough of its own. Embrace what is good and normal. Endure what is hard, knowing that each trial we face is preparation for the next hard thing. Remember, we were not promised this life would always be good. The promise is that our God is always good. Even in challenging times. 

We can embrace the gifts and the goodness in this day. 

 Today, I am grateful for outside! 

Discerning Hearts

Year 8-Day 89:Today, I am grateful for discerning hearts. 

Proverbs. If you are running out of things to do today, take a gander through the Old Testament book of Proverbs. If you are unfamiliar with the Bible, it is near Psalms. It is in near the middle of the Bible and after Psalms. 

God was pleased with Solomon, he told him to ask for anything his heart desired. Solomon asked for Godly wisdom. (See 1 Kings chapter 3)

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” 1 Kings 3:9

A discerning heart might seem an odd request, but Solomon was feeling the weight of his father, King David's, crown and legacy. David made some mistakes, but he owned them, lived with the consequences and tried to teach his son to do better. 

The nation of Israel was strong willed, intelligent, stubborn, creative and dedicated to pursuing what they wanted. They were not an easy people to govern. Solomon was young, inexperienced and probably overwhelmed at times. 

To be gifted with Godly wisdom was a blessing that added to his success as a leader and likely benefited him in business, too. Solomon's wealth was legendary, even outside of records found in the Old Testament. Solomon was able to lead with a wisdom that brought peace during his reign as king. 

I adore Proverbs. You could spend years unpacking the wisdom found in the pages. It would be time well spent. Discerning hearts are rare these days. Even people who do not claim faith in Jesus can benefit from Solomon's sage sayings and wise instructions. 

Oil and perfume make the heart glad, and the sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel. -Proverbs 27:9

A friend speaks the truth in love. That kind of counsel can add light to our days and lighten our burdens. We should not make light the value of a true and honest friend. 

Today, I am grateful for discerning hearts. 

Unrequited Love

Year 8-Day 88:Today, I am grateful for unrequited love. 

Let's face it. It is much easier to love people who love us back. It is harder with the ones who wear us out physically, mentally and spiritually. Some people refuel us... others exhaust us. 

This quote was perfect today. We are in the Lenten season making our way to Easter. 

"Jesus felt the sting of unrequited love deeper than anyone, yet He still chose to love His people to death." - found at Esthers Row 

Wow, right? Talk about unrequited love. He poured out his love on everyone. He healed the sick, made the blind see, the lepers became clean, the unloved found friendship, forgiveness and hope. Oh, what a Savior! 

As people are living in close quarters, love may seem like more of a choice. Love is a choice and loving someone without worrying about the payoff is true love. It is a love that is deep and wide. 

We can choose to love... every day. Just like Jesus did, even when we least deserved. Frankly, we never deserved it. We have been making poor choices since the beginning.  

I am grateful for the one who mediates for us and reconciles so that we can be called the Children of God. It is a pretty sweet deal for us, but it came at a price. We didn't have to pay the price, but the cost was real. 

For, There is one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.-1 Timothy 2:5-6

Today, we can learn to love deeper and wider, because he love us to death. 

Today, I am grateful for unrequited love.

Wait on the Wonder

Year 8-Day 87:Today, I am grateful for we can wait on the wonder. 

Have you ever tried to show someone something amazing? As you wait on the expected wonder, the excitement grows. You end up saying, "Wait for it.... wait for it... and then... "Wow!" 

Many of us are not naturally patient. It think patience can be groomed, grown, tested and it is a gift by His grace. We can learn to rest in the presence of the Lord, trusting his hand. 

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.-Psalm 37:7

The waiting places grow us like few others. We are all getting a taste of waiting in this season of a global health crisis. We cannot hit "fast forward". If it were only that simple, right? 

Still, in these trying times, we can "wait for it". His hand is moving. Sometimes unseen, but He is still working. We don't know what accidents we've been spared and trials we've missed because we are all simplifying and staying home. 

Some of the unseen blessings will remain unknown. Others, we will in time realize. Time with our loved ones is precious and rare. We are instructed to not be patient. We are directed to "be still in the presences of the Lord." 

Be still... rest... wait on it. He's up to something. 

Today, I am grateful for we can wait on the wonder. 

A Good Laugh

Year 8-Day 86:Today, I am grateful for a good laugh. 

This image made me laugh out loud. Isn't she precious? 

It is so easy to get caught up in the moment, the current crisis or the woes of the world. The truth is... in five years... this moment will be a distant memory. 

Five years? Buddy, I am just trying to make it to Friday. 

When Sarah found out she was pregnant in her senior years, it was wonderful and absurd at the same time. 

And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me.-Genesis 21:6

I am by no means making light of the serious health crisis our world is facing, but I am reminded that laughter helps us get through the tough days. I am confident that we are better together than on our own. I know that the one who holds our tomorrows is still on the throne. 

Perspective is powerful. Hope still floats. 

Today, I am grateful for a good laugh.