I am a Gingerbread House: A Poem

I am a gingerbread house,
My frame made
From the finest ingredients
Imported from a secret place.[i]

Carrying Out Your Mission: Why making your bed is important

Have confidence in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not upon thy own prudence. In all thy ways think on him, and he will direct thy steps.

—Proverbs 3:5-6

“Do you always make your bed?” my niece remarked as she peeked through my open bedroom door.

Taken aback by her unexpected question, I wanted to say, “Why, of course!” Instead, I answered, “Honestly there are days I don’t, especially if I’m in a hurry. But if I’m having company, most definitely. It does make me feel better when I do.”

Since our exchange, I have pondered that question—and my response. Why do I feel better when I make my bed?

                                                       

Down to the River: An unconventional Easter sunrise service

Then the women went away quickly from the tomb, their hearts filled with awe and great joy, and ran to give the news to his disciples.

—Matthew 28:8 PHILLIPS

I arose early on Easter morning and decided to take a walk. As I started out, something stirred in me and I took off running. I am not a runner, so this was odd, but it felt good to run even for a little while, freeing and exhilarating.

My goal was to worship at the water’s edge, but making it to the beach could be a problem. As I had expected, I came upon an obstacle in my path—electrified barbed wire. Normally used to contain cattle in pastures for grazing, it was keeping me from venturing farther. I could see the river in the distance but couldn’t get to my desired sanctuary. I longed to see the sunlight dance like diamonds on the surface, hear the waves lap upon the shore, the rhythm of the river lulling my spirit to a place of peace.

Perhaps I could unhook the three strands that blocked my passage. Carefully, I removed the lower wire and placed it on the ground while it snapped and cracked at me, boasting its powerful punch. Then I attempted to remove the middle strand but found I didn’t have the strength to maneuver the hook out of the wired eye. Now what?

Personalized Stocking: Do you have one?

“Because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

—Luke 1:78-79

Do you have a personalized Christmas stocking? I got mine more than 50 years ago. Mom took my siblings and me to a store to purchase ours. The personalization was done in store. I don’t know how it was done, but it appears to have been written by hand. While we waited for the personalization, Mom took us to see Santa in the same store. But I was too afraid to sit on his lap.

Catching Zzz’s: What do you do when you can’t sleep? Count sheep?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

—Philippians 4:8

A kid on Christmas Eve can hardly sleep. But it wasn’t even close to Christmas and I couldn’t sleep.

“Mom!” I called out.

She came to my bedside. “What’s the matter?”

“I can’t sleep.”

“Try thinking of good things,” she suggested.

“Like what?”

“Like Christmas and decorating the tree.”

So I imagined myself hanging the colorful bulbs on the branches, counting them as I went. I doubt that I reached 10 before I drifted off to sleep. After that night, I continued to use the decorating imagery to catch some zzz’s throughout my childhood years.

Later when I became a mom and heard that same plea from my then 3 year-old Emma, I told her what my mother had suggested and how I had thought of decorating the tree.

The next morning I asked her if she had thought of good things.

Paced for the Weekend: How are you moving?

O God, you cause abundant showers to fall on your chosen people.

When they are tired, you sustain them.

—Psalm 68:9

It’s one of those mornings when I walk around with marshmallow feet. I dare not make a sound that would disturb the love-tones, lulling my spirit. The rhythm of rain, splashing on broad leaves of canna lilies. Hummingbirds, humming in key. And the hushed whisper of God, telling me I am right where I’m supposed to be. The quiet answer to prayer.

It had been a hard week, one that started with sickness and ended with exhaustion, as I pressed through to order my classroom for the start of school. And then I wondered how I should spend the three-day weekend. Travel to be with family to celebrate birthdays and the last official hurrah of summer? I deserved that, didn’t I? I missed my family. But I would have to contend with busy holiday weekend traffic and the expense. Or should I stay home to rest and prepare for the upcoming week and save money in so doing?

As a Man Thinketh...What are you thinking of Today?

Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.

—Philippians 4:8

Every time I go outside and look at the zinnias beside the house, my eyes go straight to the dirty siding instead.

When I look at those that line my sidewalk, my eyes go to the dead leaves that flank the bottom of the flowers. It is not a pleasing sight. 

However, when I sit at my kitchen table with my window open wide, the sight of those same flowers, their faces looking up at me, takes my breath away. 

The difference is in my perspective.

Our view on life, or even ourselves, can be much the same way. We can focus on the negative and miss the beauty before us, or we can zoom in on the good things and be awed by how blessed we truly are.

Cast All Your Care

Cast all your care upon Him, because He cares for you.

—1 Peter 5:7 MEV

One unseasonably warm day in February when my daughter Emma and son-in-law Ricky, along with their two children, were visiting, we all went for a walk on the farm. True to our habit, we stopped at the pond for four-year-old Layla to throw in a few stones. Ricky joined her and challenged himself to throw a stone as far as he could. I watched the concentration on his face as he intently cocked his arm. Then with all the finesse of a Major League Baseball pitcher, he hurled the rock, shooting it higher and farther than I had ever seen. It smacked the water hard, then sunk below the surface, its entrance marked only by ripples that quickly disappeared, returning the pond to its placid state.

Too Important to Miss

Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.

—Ephesians 6:18  

“No!” Mabel stopped me just as I reached down to scoop up the scrap of paper from the floor, “Leave it there. It’s my reminder.”

“What? A reminder on the floor?” I laughed.

“Hey, it works. You noticed it.”

I had to admit she had a point.

How do you remind yourself of important things? Write them on the calendar, leave strategically placed notes, or make lists?

I’ve done it all. In fact, I’ve even been known to write messages on my bathroom mirror with a dry-erase marker.

Hey, it works.

But I’ve also been known to miss the important things because I’ve overlooked my reminder.

I Wasn't Ready For It

God once said, “Let light shine out of the darkness!” And this is the same God who made his light shine in our hearts to let us know that his own divine greatness is seen in the face of Christ.

—2 Corinthians 4:6

I wasn’t ready for it.  I hadn’t dusted or vacuumed. Or prepared my prepare-ahead-of-time dishes.  I hadn’t decorated—I hadn’t bedecked every flat surface with my snowman collection.  My tree was barely up (barely being the operative word). No skirt wrapped around its base.  And worse—no tree-topper crowned its pinnacle!

I wasn’t ready for it.

I didn’t expect family members to come this soon. Family members were on their way. And time was ticking. And…I can’t, Lord.  I can’t do it all. Show me what to let go of and give me peace no matter what unfolds. Help me to focus on what really matters and enjoy every moment.

I wasn’t ready for it.
 

Pack a Heart-Healthy Lunch

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.—Psalm 28:7

After three straight classes, I need this time to relax and refresh—before the next group arrives in 45 minutes. It’s called a planning period, but I find myself doing every other thing but planning—I'm grading papers, writing discipline referrals, reporting on students with special needs, and answering emails from parents.  My desk is littered with paper and my electronic inbox is bursting at the seams. How will I ever get it all done?  And what can I do with my most challenging class—soon to arrive? Just thinking about makes my heart palpitate--despite rhythm-regulating medicine.