GOODNESS IN A SHOEBOX

Don't you just love the way God takes care of us?  Even in the little bitty, everyday things....things like a shoebox?

Yesterday, because my daughter had something to do early, she dropped my 4 year old granddaughter off at my house so I could take her to preschool an hour later.  When she arrived, the first thing my daughter asked me was "Do you have an empty shoebox?"  I did and told her I'd get one from the attic.  My granddaughter needed to take one that day for a preschool project. 

Simple request.  But between the question and her leaving, we covered the instructions about things in the backpack, lunch and seeing the granddaughter's newly painted fingernails.  Thoughts of the shoe box went right out the door with my daughter.

We got ready, I dropped off my granddaughter at preschool and then I went on about my day.  Gym and then shopping at Target, where I spent close to an hour or more.   I "just happened" to buy a pair of shoes while there.  They were not on my list, but needed them and when I saw them, decided I'd go ahead and get them. 

It was after noon when I checked out and as the cashier drew the brown shoebox across the scanner, a light went off in my head.  "SHOEBOX!! SHOEBOX! Oh No, I forgot the shoebox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"  Panic struck, knowing that when the teacher had called for the students to get their shoeboxes, my granddaughter would quickly have realized that Mimi had forgotten hers.  I knew the result of that devastating realization to one who wants everything to be PERFECT!!!!  It would have meant a total meltdown.  And it was all Mimi's fault!!!:(

I left Target trying to decide what to do next.  Call the school?  Just apologize and hope the teachers brought extras for those who forgot?  As I was driving down the road, it hit me.  Well, Dummy, you HAVE a shoebox in the car.  Take it to her.  Maybe....just maybe they haven't done the project yet.  "Please God...don't let them have done the project yet."

I sped toward the school, and as I entered I wondered who I would get to go check for me as I knew I could not go in the classroom.  And, lo and behold who should be checking in at the desk but her beloved teacher from last year!!  I explained my dilemma and she asked if I wanted her to take the shoebox inside.  "NO!  If she has already missed it, that will just upset her more. " So she peaked inside and reported "I see a lot of shoeboxes....but, let me check with the teacher and see if they've used them yet."  She disappeared and returned with a big smile.  "They haven't done the project yet.  Give me your box and I'll give it to her." 

Whew!! I was SO relieved and SO grateful to God who cares about the little things in our days.  No this was not an earthshattering thing.  It was not life or death (except to a 4 year old).  But He understood my plight and He intervened out of His great mercy and grace.  He understood the desire of a grandmother's heart not to cause distress to her granddaughter.  He loved His children so much, He graciously met our need. 

God cares about everything in our lives...the BIG and the small.  The important and the not-so-important.  He is not interested just in the tsunamis that shatter a nation like Japan, but He is also interested in the tsunamis that wreck our personal worlds.  He is also interested in the minute, mundane things that can sometimes shake our world too.  God is in the details of our lives.  And I, for one, am so glad He is!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Well, Happy Mother's Day to me....

My day started off well. I woke up at 12:30 am....again at 1:00 am...again at 2:00 am...and again at 2:55 am, after which I could not go back to sleep! So after lying there for another hour, I finally just got up and decided to read. 5:30 the alarm goes off to awaken my husband and I stumble to the kitchen to fix him and me a cup of coffee, only to find that the congealed salad that I made to take to my sister-in-law's for lunch today is still sitting on the kitchen counter! Hmmmm...is it still good? Cream cheese and sour cream topping, sitting there since 10:30 pm the night before..........??? Then, before I could make that crucial decision, I notice that an army of ants are marching, two by two, across the topping of the blueberry salad. Guess I got my answer. Down the disposal it goes! Now what?????? Must find another recipe that I can make without making a trip to the store. Thankfully, I found one!!

Now time to get ready for church..........sure hope Pastor Ernie has a rip - roaring message this morning. I'm going to need it!

But...even with all that..........that just comes with the territory of being a homemaker, a wife and a mom. Never a dull moment!! And yet I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Being a mother is the hardest job you'll ever love, but I DO love it!

My daughter-in-love held her 5 month old bundle of joy the other day and as she snuggled her close for another kiss, she said "No one could have ever told me the love I'd feel for this little baby........NOTHING could have ever prepared me for THIS!!!" And that about sums it up!

I truly believe that the bond between a mother and her child is unique and unlike any other relationship under the sun. Not that daddies do not love their children...they do and very much. But the relationship between a child and a mother is just different. I believe that while daddies love their children, mothers fall in love with their children. That nine months of carrying a child, knowing that your life is sustaining their life, feeling that life within you is like nothing else in this world!!

God knew that a child would need both the love of a mother and a daddy. Both have different gifts to share and different strengths to give to their child. A child needs the strength and stability of the dad, and the tenderness and gentleness of the mom. (That's why a child does NOT need 2 mommies or 2 daddies!) God had the perfect plan when he created the family unit. His ways are always perfect.

I have had the privilege this year of teaching a sweet group of mommas and one grandmomma like me in our Mom to Mom group. Oh how it blesses my heart to see them desiring to raise their children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. It's a tough job. Mothering isn't for sissies! Nor is it for the lazy and undisciplined!!

I am so thankful that God allowed me to be a mother. I am so thankful for the two children He graciously blessed me with. I am thankful that I got to have both a boy and a girl. I am eternally grateful for the blessing that they have been and continue to be to my life. I cannot imagine my life without either of them.

And what double joy to see them become parents!! Watching my daughter with our little granddaughter is pure joy to me. She is such an awesome mom!!!!! Much better than I ever was. Seeing my son with his little daughter with his new baby for the first time melted my heart. One of my most treasured photos is of him shortly after she was born, with a tear running down his cheek. Nothing could have prepared him for that moment!! Although he dearly wanted a little boy, this little girl captured his heart from the moment he saw her. And these two little grand-angels are a double-dip delight to this Mimi and their Papaw!

God just keeps blessing and we thank Him for each one. Sooooooooo, although the ants may have made extra work for me and the old eyelids will grow heavy today, I am still one blessed momma and grandmother today and all I can say is THANK YOU LORD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My cup runneth over!!!!!!!! And to my children and grandchildren, I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!!!!!!!!!!!!

STORMS

Why does God allow storms?

Today our forecast calls for high winds, thunderstorms and heavy rain. That is pretty much the outlook for much of the week. Depressing.

Last week was the one year anniversary of the terrible tornados that ripped through the Mid South, causing damage and destruction in the millions in Memphis and Jackson, Tennessee. I'm sure that when many of those people whose homes and lives were affected by those storms hear a thunderclap, something within them shivers!

A fellow class member shared Sunday that he had lived for a time in the Chicago area. He spoke of all the snow and ice and dreary days...all of which he did not miss AT ALL!! He said there was a period of 66 days when there was NO sunshine !! Let me tell you, I would NOT have survived!!

I am solar energized. I do not do well when there are long periods of gray skies! I remember a few years ago, we went for weeks like that. I was miserable! It just so happened after a few weeks that we flew to Miami for our first cruise. I can remember how wonderful it was when we got ABOVE the clouds and we saw the sun break through. It was HEAVEN!!

So back to the original question....Why does God allow storms?

Well, I think there are many answers to that, but the simplist is so that we will appreciate the sunshine.

If all we ever had was sunshine....no rain, no storms, no heavy clouds....we would so take those sunny days for granted. But....when we've spent days inside due to cold or rain, when the skies have been dark and gray, when we've not had the warmth of the sun on our faces for a very long time and then....THE SUN COMES SHINING THROUGH....oh is that not a glorious day?!!!

Last week, after much cold and rain, we were supposed to have beautiful, sunny weather. In fact, it was supposed to be near 65 degrees. I was keeping my granddaughter that day and was looking forward to our spending the entire day OUTSIDE. This child LOVES the outdoors!! She is in her glory digging in the dirt. (Think I may have a gardener on my hands??)

However, the day dawned gray and dismal with a cold wind blowing. We were both disappointed. Finally, about 4:00 the wind begin to die down and the sun emerged from behind the clouds. I said to her, "Hey...I think it's warm enough for us to go outside a while. Do you want to go?" Without a moment's hesitation, she dropped what she was doing and darted for the door, all the while saying with joyful exuberance, "Yeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssss...yet's go, Mimi!!"
As soon as I opened the door, out she flew, running with all her might, with a grin on her face as wide as the Mississippi!

Now in the summer when it's always warm and sunny, with rarely a rainy day, she is still happy to go outside, but the exuberance is not quite the same. Why? Because it becomes a daily occurrence.

God allows the periods of dark in our lives...our storms...to make us realize what a blessing it is to have those peaceful, sunny days when all is going well. We tend to muddle through our busy days, not giving a thought to the peace, until it comes crashing down in the darkness of our storms. Then, suddenly, we LONG for those bright, sunny peace-filled days.

If you are experiencing the dark night of a storm, just remember storms do NOT last forever. The sun will indeed shine again. At first you may see only a glimmer on the horizon, but be encouraged...it will SHINE again. Until it does, cling to Jesus...He will be your light in the darkness of the storm.

A GIFT FOR ALL SEASONS

"God gives us richly, all things to enjoy" I Timothy 6:17


There are some denominations that believe we should not be happy, enjoy anything or have any pleasure in this life. To do so is sin. But scripture contradicts that. The above verse plainly tells us that God RICHLY gives us things to enjoy.

Matthew 7:11 says "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

We are made in the image of God. God enjoys giving good gifts to us just as we enjoy giving good gifts to our children. What parent does not enjoy giving things to their kids?! I would much rather buy for my children and grandchildren that have anything for myself. It is my joy to give to them.

But the Lord gives many good gifts to us that do not come wrapped in pretty paper and lavish bows, tucked beneath our tree on CHRISTmas morning.

Maybe this year, you are unable to spend as you have in the past due to the economic conditions that our country is now facing. The future is very questionable for many today as every day we hear of more companies downsizing or closing altogether. Jobs hang in the balance, so spending this CHRISTmas has been pared down significantly in many homes.

Still, God has given us many good gifts to enjoy. Look around today and see what good gifts He has given to YOU and your family. Here are just a few He has given me:


* My wonderful husband

* My two precious children and my children-in-love

* Two beautiful, adorable, precious, delightful granddaughters

* My mother

* My mother in law....94 and still going strong!

* Our beautiful home

* A wonderful church family

* God's Word

* Prayer

* Time to be still...to sit with only the CHRISTmas lights on, soft CHRISTmas music playing, a cup of cider and just drinking in the wonder and blessings of the season

* Watching my 2 year old granddaughter at play, listening to the funny things she says, seeing the look of new discovery in her eyes

* Watching my newest granddaughter as she sleeps peacefully in my arms, catching a tiny smile as she dreams

* Seeing the look on my son's face when he looked into his new baby daughter's face

* Watching my daughter an d son-in-love kneel in prayer together each Sunday

* Watching it snow

* Being with friends every month who have been such a blessing to my life and enjoying that special bond in Christ that we have together

* Scrapbooking with my daughter at Scrapbook Weekend

* Sitting on the porch at our farm, listening to the wind in the trees

* Walking through the woods in the fall, drinking in the beauty of God's wonderful creation

* Never ceasing to be amazed at how good God is!!!!!!!


These are just a few of the "good gifts" God has blessed ME with. I urge you today to stop and make a list of all the "good gifts" He has bestowed on you. You will discover quickly just how rich you are !!!

MY CUP RUNNETH OVER

Well, this has been quite a week for me! My "BLESSING CUP" i s running over!

I had a birthday this week, and as the numbers continue to climb up there, it can be pretty depressing. Despite all the hype about "you're as young as you feel" or "you get better with age" or all that other advertising lingo, AGING ISN'T FUN AT ALL!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't like it one bit! The only good thing I can say is that having another birthday means you are still alive! HA!

But, having said that, I must say that this birthday week has been fun. I've been treated to lunch 3 times this week and some of the most luscious chocolate desserts ever! I've gotten to spend time with some special friends and had a lot of great laughs. I also got to go to dinner with my husband to a well known restaurant in our area that we have NEVER been to, even though we've lived here our whole lives! Great ribs! Then we had the fun of going to a music event on the town square where we live (another first) and had a blast just doing the HOMETOWN USA thing! Tomorrow night we will wind up the week long celebration with a cookout with our precious kids! Life is good!

But celebrating my birthday has not been the ONLY blessing of this week! I also have been given the opportunity for ministry through my writing in a totally new and exciting way!! All the details are not in place yet, but suffice it to say, I feel as if God has been preparing me my entire life for such a time as this!

I've been writing since I was a little girl. I didn't realize how much I had written over the years until we went through the Purpose Driven Life. In that book, a chapter was on discovering your passion. I knew what my passion was...writing and speaking/teaching. It went on to discuss how you needed to get involved in that and develop it to use it for the Lord. I began to think back over my life and construct a sort of "time line" of all the things I had done in regard to speaking and writing. I was really amazed. I had forgotten many things, but God began to bring them to mind and as I wrote them down in time line fashion, I began to see His hand at work. Each one had been a stepping stone to the next. God was preparing me for something. I was not sure what, but I knew I was not there yet. I have continued to seek His direction and He has continued to open doors and to direct my path. Starting this blog last year was another stepping stone. And each has led me to where I am today....at the precipice of a new and exciting adventure with Him. Not sure exactly where the road will lead, but I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!!!!!!!!!!!!

And finally.....the icing on the cake for this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER GRANDDAUGHTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Our son and his wife found out just today that they are having a little girl!! So we are just tickled PINK!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

Now you see why my cup runneth over!!! "Praise be to God who daily loads us with benefits!"