Celebrating What I Lack

Naturally creative people always amaze me. That’s probably because I am not one of them. 

Some people think I am creative because I’m a musician. I can learn complicated music and play or sing it well. Back in my worship team days, I could listen to orchestrated music on a recording and use my keyboards and the written piano music to replicate the sounds on the recording, adding orchestral depth to the finished performance. But I don’t write songs, and my fellow worship team members were fully aware of my inability to produce an ad lib solo of any kind. I was known for my ability to produce perfectly practiced spontaneity!

Others think that I must be creative because I am a writer. But again, what I write can best be described as teaching or devotional in nature, reflecting study and deep thinking but not creativity. I regurgitate facts and experiences and look for practical applications. Creative people write stories as their minds wander to places my mind has never been. 

That’s why creativity always catches me off guard and amazes me. It’s something that feels other-worldly to me because it rarely graces the world where my mind lives. Maybe that’s why I love taking photos of the natural world – a highly diverse place developed in the mind of the original Creator. Spring and summer in the Pacific Northwest where I live are especially filled with wonderful colors and long hours of light each day. How blessed we are to see God’s creativity on display 365 days a year! 

I never get tired of seeing what God has made, and I never get tired of seeing the creativity he has planted in many of the people I come in contact with. We humans have truly been “fearfully and wonderfully made” by God! And I’m so glad that he chose to make each of us unique with different but equally important qualities – all made in his image, each reflecting some of the many facets of his nature. Which is why we members of his body all need each other . . . to help us know God better and see who he is more clearly, and to shine his light into the world in our own unique ways.

Seeing With New Eyes

 

My eyes have needed correction for distance vision since I was nine years old, which means I have worn glasses or contact lenses for most of my life. The aging process usually carries with it the slow deterioration of many body parts and bodily functions; but I recently experienced a very positive outcome to one of these inevitable changes.

Although I have an aversion to having anyone touch my eyes and can’t even put drops in my eyes very successfully, the time had come to have cataract surgery in order to improve my vision – which was no longer able to be fully corrected with glasses. I had a lot of fear but desperately wanted to see better, so I went reluctantly to the surgery appointment for my right eye. I didn’t enjoy the surgery (which, FYI, you are fully awake for!), but my ride home was amazing. Everything was bright and very clear; and the difference between my two eyes was like night and day. 

Over the next two weeks before the surgery for my left eye, I was continuously surprised at how dim and yellowish everything looked through my remaining eye compared to the bright clarity in the other eye. It reminded me of the apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” More on that in a minute. 

As the second surgery day arrived, I still was not looking forward to the procedure itself; but I had high hopes and expectations for what the end result would be. And therein was the problem. When the surgery was over, my vision was bright but was not clear; and my eye was very irritated. I had pain every time I blinked. When I woke up the next day, nothing had changed; and my discouragement was palpable at the follow-up appointment with the doctor, who assured me things would improve. By evening there was pain with every minute movement of my eyeball. I went to bed with my expectations shattered and my hope crushed. 

I am happy to report that things were completely different when I awakened the next morning . . . the pain was gone, and my vision was 20/20 in both eyes. No more distance vision correction for me! I was reminded again (as many times before) the role of hope in our lives and the sometimes disastrous ramifications of misguided expectations. Trusting God involves properly placing our hope in him and remembering that what he has planned often far exceeds our human expectations.

And I am encouraged through this hands-on experience to remember that everything we currently see is dim and lacks clarity compared to what it will be like when we see God face to face in heaven. We think we know a lot about how the world works, but we only know part of the picture right now. Thankfully, God knows the whole story and is sovereign over it all. I’m so grateful that he loves me and can be fully trusted! 

Prayers for a New Leader

 

I am not a Catholic, and I don’t usually pay much attention to who the Pope is or what he has to say. As a Protestant, I do not believe that the bureaucracy and hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church through the centuries has been entirely Biblical. But as a Christian believer, I have come to understand that I cannot just ignore what happens at the Vatican.

That’s because, whether I like it or not, for billions of people around the world (both followers and onlookers) the Catholic Pope represents all of Christianity and what it stands for. People everywhere look to him to make moral, social, and spiritual decisions for them and to guide their views on politics and world affairs. Even though I don’t adhere to all of the tenets of the Catholic Church, my identification as a Christian is viewed by many through the lens of what the Pope says. So his character, his words, and his actions affect the witness I have in the world to non-believers. We are connected as “Christians” even though we don’t have the exact same beliefs.

The late Pope Francis did a lot to change the Catholic Church in positive ways. By all first impressions, it appears that Pope Leo XIV will continue to bring a softer, more relevant approach to his role as Francis did. Humility goes a long way, and it seems that Leo possesses this trait like his predecessor did. Will he make all the right decisions and get everything Biblically correct now that he is the Pope? Of course not, because he isn’t God; and only Jesus lived a perfect life. But if he daily seeks God’s help, he will be guided by God and lead with both truth and grace like Jesus did.

I hope the Catholic Church continues to see reform and seeks to align itself more closely with the Biblical model of the church body, with Christ alone as the head. What happens at the Vatican affects every Christian worldwide regardless of denomination. And as Protestant Christians, instead of separating ourselves from other denominations and ignoring what they do, we can pray for God’s truth to triumph in our broken world . . . and that He will use each of us, including the Pope, to further His kingdom and bring more and more people in this world to know Him and love Him. Whether justified or not, the Pope carries a huge weight of responsibility and will be held accountable by God. He needs all the prayers he can get.

Grandma's Joy

 

My last post was the day before I left to spend two weeks visiting my son and his family who live several states away. Today, I have recently returned from that trip with a full heart from spending time with my grandchildren. At this point in my life, nothing brings me more joy than being with my grands in person and sharing special moments with them. And this trip was FULL of special moments!

In 14 days, I attended four programs or concerts featuring one or more of my grandchildren; I was privileged to spend a day at their school visiting classrooms, attending chapels, and eating lunch together in celebration of “Grand Day”, an annual event for grandparents of students; we worshipped together at their church for Good Friday and Easter services; we celebrated my younger grandson’s 5^th birthday; and I was blessed to be able to witness in person my two granddaughters’ baptisms as they publicly declared their faith in God and desire to follow Jesus. And it is always a highlight when we’re together to “bake with Grandma” . . . this time special cross-shaped brownies for Easter weekend. It was a busy but wonderful time!

But while I enjoyed attending all of these events and feel blessed to have the opportunity, I think it is the unplanned moments with my grandchildren that mean the most. Like when your 5-year-old grandson burrows into you while watching TV and says, “I love it when you hug me . . . I love to snuggle you.” Or when you hear the words, “Grandma, I’ve missed you so much,” or “I love you so much.” Or when your 5-year-old and 10-year-old grandsons squeeze together into a narrow seat with you on the couch because they both want to “sit with Grandma”. Or the simple beauty of a grandchild spontaneously leaning against you or holding your hand. I could go on, but you get the picture.

The distance between our homes means I don’t see my grandchildren as often as I would like to. But these special moments and memories are what keep me going in between visits. And they remind me that I play an important role in my grands’ lives despite the sparseness of our time together . . . and that God is forming a bond between us as only he can do. Looking forward to our next adventures together down the road! 

A Granddaughter's Love

 

The last time my grandchildren were at my house, my older granddaughter gave me a priceless gift. It was a few days after Christmas, and she was enjoying one of her new Christmas presents – a Polaroid-type camera for kids that could instantly print the photos if desired. As I was reading a book with my older grandson (her brother), she snapped a candid shot of us. Then she printed it and wrote a message on it. As a long-distance grandma, every moment and every word is precious.

But this simple gift was a twofer for this grandma. When my grandson asked me to read with him that day, there wasn’t room in my small chair for both of us. His 10-year-old body had surpassed the usual position of sitting next to me that we had been accustomed to in the past. I was surprised when he decided to climb into the chair and put his legs across my lap. I felt special and cherished the moment, as I know it won’t last forever. Alas, we only have two more books left in the special series of twelve that we have been reading together whenever we have been with each other over the past couple of years.

Not only did my granddaughter unwittingly capture this special moment in time on her new camera, she chose to print the photo and give it to me. But then she decided to write a message on it for me: “You are the best Grandma in the world!” Music to a grandma’s ears! Especially when it comes from someone that I only get to see in person 3-4 times a year. At the end of my most recent visit to her home last August, this same granddaughter spontaneously broke into tears and didn’t want to let me leave for the airport. It’s hard to say goodbye when you’re only nine.

So this little piece of paper means a lot to this grandma, because it represents relationships that we have been able to develop despite distance. Yes, I wish I could spend more time in person with my four grandchildren. But I am very thankful for the technology that allows us to stay connected even though our homes are several states apart. And I’m also thankful for parents who welcome and encourage our involvement in their children’s lives. I have discovered that it is possible to make a difference as a grandparent even without consistent physical proximity. And part of the reason for that is that we have a shared faith. Many of the things we talk about and share with our grandchildren have eternal significance, even if time spent in person is limited. Only God can bind us together across the miles.

When I leave this world, I’m afraid my children are going to have a lot of sentimental things to sort through. My scrapbooks are full of mementoes and hand-written notes from my own children through the years. But now I also am gathering a collection of special treasures from my grandchildren as well. Sorry, not sorry! And I’m going to keep collecting because these memories bridge the physical distance between me and the ones I hold most dear.

They also remind me to keep listening to each one of my grandchildren and to keep building spiritual truth into their lives while we laugh, read, and play together. Even an old grandma like me can make a difference just by being present and paying attention as they grow, even if it’s more often than not via video calls. But hang on, precious ones, Grandma will be with you in person soon! And I can’t wait.

The Living Word

 

I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I would say I was amazed. In fact, I’m always amazed when it comes to the power of God’s Word. It’s one of the many reasons I continue to believe in its truth after a lifetime of trying to follow what it has to say.

Last week I finished leading a three-month study of my first book, A Faith of a Different Color: Honest Lessons on Trusting God in Real Life, with 15-18 other women. Although I have led this same study at two other churches, this latest timeframe was the first time I have led it at my current church.

The book is a practical look at how to trust some of God’s characteristics on a daily basis, and it grew out of a painful and difficult time in my own spiritual walk that lasted many years. The book is filled (some might say over-filled!) with Bible verses to look up and ponder in our quest to trust God fully, along with personal stories representing each aspect of God’s work in our lives.

So here’s the amazing part: the group of ladies in my latest study ranged from young mothers to middle-aged women to senior citizens – and included brand-new Christians, seasoned lifelong followers, and everything in between. And yet the overwhelming takeaway at the last meeting was that God had used his Word to speak directly into each person’s life through this study, meeting each woman exactly where she was at in this season of her life. And that’s what only God is able to do.

I have read a lot of really great books in my lifetime, and many have taught me important things about God. But if I read any of them over and over, they would lose their ability to hold my interest or change my life. Not so with God’s Word. Verses I might have read thirty years ago or more can take on new meaning in my present life as the Spirit of God does his work behind the scenes and in my heart.

I’ve been experiencing this my whole life, so I don’t know why I still am amazed. Maybe because this ability to enlighten can only come from God. And maybe because every time it happens I am encouraged and spurred on to continue to “work out” my walk of faith as God “works in” me for my growth and his glory (Philippians 2:12-13). I know I can trust him fully and rely on his Word completely to finish the good work that he began in me so long ago (Philippians 1:6). Amazing, but definitely true.

The Promise of Spring

 

It always happens this time of year. I don’t like hot weather, and I love Fall and the coziness of winter. But by March, I’m ready for some brightness and a little warmth. I even recently bought myself a small bouquet of flowers at the grocery store in order to bring a little touch of Spring into my house!

Where I live, we’ve had an especially cold winter compared to usual, so I think I’m even more anxious for spring to arrive than I usually am. But the past few days and the upcoming forecast are an indication that the seasons are colliding. We have had nearly every weather phenomenon occurring, nearly simultaneously, every single day. Spring is trying to come, but winter is fighting to stay. It makes me wish for the legendary perfection of Camelot, where it supposedly never rained until after sundown!

The collision of the seasons reminds me of the ups and downs and back and forth of human relationships. We are temporarily stuck in the imperfection of life on earth in a fallen world, where each of us fights for control and doesn’t always play nice with others. Just like the changing seasons, we sometimes experience overlapping emotions and disagreements leading to conflict and confrontations. And just like my longing for spring, I sometimes long for what the Garden of Eden must have been like in its perfect, harmonious state.

But I have Eden to look forward to again in the future, because this world is not my permanent home! And even though this earthly journey sometimes can seem long and extra cold like this winter, I can choose to look for joy and count my blessings and not dwell on the negatives that sometimes occur. The promise of spring is new life, and I can count on spring to show up eventually because it always does. And this promise of new life isn’t just for this world, but for the next as well.

Stories Matter

 

Most of the time in our culture, people who are in their nineties don’t get much recognition or respect. And most people at that age don’t contribute a lot to society anymore and aren’t considered to be very productive. But you haven’t met Barbara.

Every month or two at our church, there is a casual get-together for women where one person is asked ahead of time to share their story. I have heard many of these stories and also had the opportunity to share my own story a few months ago. But last night we had the rare privilege of listening to 91-year-old Barbara’s story.

Barbara is one of my friends, so I already had heard most of what she had to say. She has a lot of energy and joy, and she never fails to give God the glory for everything that has happened in her long life. But I was struck last night with how inspiring it is for the rest of us to hear about God’s faithfulness in Barbara’s life and how it encourages each of us to keep trusting God individually. It reminded me that our stories matter and that we need each other. Because that’s the way God designed us – to need him and to need each other.

No two people will share all of the same experiences, and we each have to walk the life of faith as individuals. But God knew that we couldn’t do it completely on our own, so he designed us to be In community with others to find the full expression of what faith is all about. Even one of the most solemn books of the Bible recognizes that “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12). We all need encouragement and to be lifted up by others at times.

So don’t be afraid to share your own story with the people in your community, whoever they are. We never know who might need to be encouraged in any given moment and how our words might be used to inspire someone else. One thing I’m sure of: God is always faithful and will use us when we are willing to be used by him. Even as we age, and even if we live to be over ninety years old!

Looking Back

 

It’s almost time to renew my passport, which means another ten years of my life has gone by. It’s got me reminiscing and thinking about all that has happened in the last decade. Life has changed a lot in those years.

In 2015, my husband and I were looking forward to a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Israel – hence, the need for the passport. Since then we have traveled to many other new places and re-visited a few others. We still like to travel.

The last time I applied for a passport, I didn’t know that within a year I would be moving an hour north and that the next ten years would include a total of three moves and three different houses. Some future things are probably better unknown.

Because I didn’t know I would be moving to a new city, I also didn’t know that I would become a member of two different churches in the next decade and have many new opportunities for ministry with new people I hadn’t even met yet.

Ten years ago, I couldn’t envision what my grandparenting journey would look like and that in 2025 I would have four wonderful grandchildren. I didn’t know back then that one of my future grandsons had already been born and my first granddaughter was already on the way. As grandma to adopted kids, I wouldn’t meet them for another 2-3 years.

I had no way to know at that time that my second son would meet and fall in love with his future wife and that they would be celebrating three years of marriage this week. And I didn’t know that the rest of 2022 would hold our “circle of life” experiences of losing my Mom along with getting a new lease on life for my husband.

And there was no way I could know that my future flights to see my older son and his family would no longer take me to California but rather to the Midwest. Like I said, a lot has changed since 2015.

I’ve heard people say that they wish they could know what the future holds. I’m a planner, so I can understand that sentiment. But after reviewing the past ten years in my memories, I think it’s better that we don’t know everything that’s coming down the line - because life holds both joy and pain, and facing each thing as it comes gives us the opportunity to trust God every step of the way.

And one thing that hasn’t changed is God’s faithfulness and his presence with me through every up and down. That’s something I can count on no matter how many years go by and how many other things change.

A Pat on the Back

Last week, my husband got an unexpected surprise one day at work. He was blessed to be chosen by one of his peers to receive a new award that has been implemented at his company – an award he didn’t even know existed. It is intended to recognize employees who go above and beyond on a regular basis, and the presenter specifically applauded my husband’s professionalism, his great attitude, and his teamwork.

My husband has always had a strong work ethic in every job he’s had through the years, and he made it a priority to teach the same to our sons. His commitment in his work life has made it possible for me to remain a fulltime homemaker for most of our marriage. But he hasn’t always received recognition or praise for how he conducts himself on the job. Unfortunately, some of the values that guide my husband’s work ethic are not widely practiced anymore or looked upon with favor by everyone he works with. And the post-COVID world has caused people to grow even more complacent about doing one’s best in the work force.

I am proud of my husband for choosing to be a good employee even when many people he works with don’t adhere to the same standards. But I also find it refreshing that his company is choosing to recognize those who take their jobs seriously and are making a difference. When most of the company messages are driven by production and sales, it boosts morale to take notice of employees who perform well on a human level with other people. This is a step in the right direction to make the company better in the future.

Everyone needs a pat on the back once in a while, and I’m thankful this happened this week. But fortunately my husband’s work ethic is driven by something deeper than the kudos he may or may not receive from others. It is the result of his relationship with God, because he knows that he is serving Christ in everything he does. So whether he gets any rewards here on earth, he will continue to be a good employee so that he can please God. As Christians, we can all make a difference in our world by standing out from others in everyday ways like our jobs. A great attitude goes a long way in any relationship.

Liberty and Justice for All

 

Today marks two very different things in our country, but one is likely to be talked about more than the other. Most people will see the inauguration of the next president as far more important than the remembrance of a life given in service to the principle of equal rights for all. But the fight for proper treatment of all God’s creatures should always take precedence for Christians over the rise to power of any individual human being.

This past week I watched the movie “Cabrini”, which tells the story of Francesca Cabrini, a Catholic nun who fought for services and the rights of Italian immigrants in America and other poor people around the world between 1880 and 1917. She helped thousands of immigrants and established 67 institutions like schools, hospitals, and orphanages worldwide. With Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the horizon, I couldn’t help but think about how little has changed between the beginning of the 20^th century and today.

More than forty years after Mother Cabrini’s death, MLK Jr. was fighting terrific prejudice and opposition regarding civil rights for black Americans that mirrored the battle Cabrini had fought for Italian immigrants. And nearly sixty years after King lost his life, we are still struggling to treat every human being in America with equal respect. Programs and services are not the problem; human nature is.

Not surprisingly, Jesus was faced with the same kinds of issues in his day – the powers that be doing everything they could to increase their power while failing to treat marginalized people with the God-given respect they deserve. There’s something about our sin nature that is drawn to power and resists caring about other people above ourselves.

But the Bible makes it clear that all people are created in the image of God, and this includes every person regardless of race, color, economic status, or any other distinction. Each person exists because God thought they mattered; and God loved each of us so much that he was willing to send his Son to die for us in order to restore our relationship with him. No one is excluded. How God’s heart must break to see how little regard we humans sometimes have for those he loves.

So as we celebrate another Martin Luther King Jr. Day today and another Sanctity of Human Life month (January), let’s not get caught up in the rise of another human to a powerful position with the presidential inauguration also happening today. As our country’s founding document stated, we are all equal; and God loves each of us equally. And let’s make sure that, as Christians, we are modeling God’s love to ALL people and truly loving our neighbors as ourselves.

A Faithful Witness

 

I didn’t vote for Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential election. As a naive 18-year-old non-political first-time voter, I wasn’t thrilled with either candidate. So I wrote-in the name of someone else who I thought would do better. Of course, the result was a wasted vote.

I know there are mixed feelings about Jimmy Carter’s presidency, and I am still a non-political person who hasn’t studied the history enough to comment on that. But there is one thing that has stuck out to me during the two weeks since his passing: both political foes/rivals as well as loved ones and friends all seem to agree that Jimmy Carter was a man of integrity – the same person in private settings as he was in public ones.

As I watched his funeral service last week, I heard the same adjectives describing Carter over and over again from both Republicans and Democrats alike. Words like humble, honest, kind, tenderhearted, principled, disciplined, and frugal. Everyone seemed to agree that he was a man of character with a strong work ethic and an unwavering faith who lived a life of service to others. Jimmy Carter treated all people with respect regardless of their color or station in life, and he put people over politics and chose to love his neighbor as himself. He stood for truth, peace, and justice; and he fought for both human rights and civil rights long after his presidency ended.

We know that Carter’s real relationship with God guided his life completely, but he seemed to excel at allowing faith to direct everything he said and did. As a former President of the United States, he chose to return to the small town of his origin and put down deep roots with the people who lived there. He seemed to have no problem living most of his life in a county where a large percentage of the residents belonged to a different race and social class than him.

These glimpses into who Jimmy Carter was make me stop and think. How many of us will be able to have the same kinds of things said about us when we leave this world? How many of us are exactly the same in private as we are in public? How closely do I follow in Jesus’ steps, placing people and relationships above any other agenda I might have? I’m pretty sure Jimmy Carter heard “Well done, good and faithful servant” when he entered his heavenly home, but what about the rest of us?

Food for thought, but don’t forget that we don’t have to succeed on our own. Praise God for his presence with us and that he helps us to live in ways that bring him glory. And thank you, Jimmy Carter, for your selfless example for us all.