Today I feel sad, not for me, but for friends and family members that are so dear to me.
We just returned from a trip to visit relatives. My sister-in-law has dementia and didn't know who we were and her husband is in rehab after a stroke. This aging thing is no fun.
My neighbour and some good friends are battling for their lives against that Cancer monster.
Some of my siblings are struggling with constant pain and debilitating disease.
My Aunt is very sick and frail and could be breathing her last any day.
My Grandson was so very sick yesterday.
I'm reminded of a song..."Everybody want's to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die".
It's the process of getting there that is so difficult.
Again, I cry out to God for all these people and I read Psalm 23. Thank God, our shepherd is always there to comfort and guide.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Looks aren't Everything
You are waiting in a line-up. In front of you are two mothers with two little girls.
The one little girl is rather unattractive, making strange sounds and obviously disabled. The other is beautiful, has big blue eyes and curly blond hair.
Which one will you smile at and perhaps coo with and talk to? Which one will you ask, "What's your name? How old are you?"
The one mother gets many compliments on how cute her little girl is. The other mother feels the hurt once again, ignored..... perhaps with a glance of pity, sometimes even disgust.
We look at the outside appearance, God sees the heart.....yours and mine too.
The one little girl is rather unattractive, making strange sounds and obviously disabled. The other is beautiful, has big blue eyes and curly blond hair.
Which one will you smile at and perhaps coo with and talk to? Which one will you ask, "What's your name? How old are you?"
The one mother gets many compliments on how cute her little girl is. The other mother feels the hurt once again, ignored..... perhaps with a glance of pity, sometimes even disgust.
We look at the outside appearance, God sees the heart.....yours and mine too.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Hurry,Hurry
This morning I am reminded of a song on an old cassette tape by a group named "Alabama".
I'm in a hurry to get things done, Oh, I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really got to do is live and die, but I'm in a hurry and don't know why.
Isn't it crazy that we even get impatient driving behind someone who is doing the speed limit.
SLOW DOWN AND LIVE!
I'm in a hurry to get things done, Oh, I rush and rush until life's no fun.
All I really got to do is live and die, but I'm in a hurry and don't know why.
Isn't it crazy that we even get impatient driving behind someone who is doing the speed limit.
SLOW DOWN AND LIVE!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
The Sandwich
Forrest Gump said "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get". That sure is true. Life is also like a sandwich. All of us are part of the layers.
The top slice of bread is made up of ages 40 and younger . The bottom slice would be ages 65 and over (of course, in every family situation this varies). In between, is the filling - "the sandwich generation". Each of these time periods come with interesting challenges and demands.
Since I married young, straight off the farm, I had a lot to learn about life on my own. I sort of grew up with my kids. (This time was the top slice of bread) We were getting established at work, stretching the dollar to make ends meet, going to night school & summer school, taking kids to lessons and activities, and very active in our small church. My Dad loaned us some money for a down payment on a beautiful half acre lot which cost us $4,000 dollars. Here we built our first home. Basically, life was good..... till one morning my brother phoned and said, "Dad committed suicide." Talk about life coming to a screeching halt, like your head hitting the windshield!!
Suddenly I found myself in between the slices of bread. My mother-in-law was a widow and looked forward to our visits. Now my mother's life had come crashing down around her, our close family..shattered. We rallied around her the best we could, but my four siblings, our extended families and I were reeling emotionally also. We didn't know how to handle this, but we were carried on wings of prayer. Yet, sometimes I felt like the pastrami and cheese squished between mayonaise, tomato & lettuce. My children and husband were very important and so were our mothers. Each needed my time, love and support. I felt pulled in both directions. Many of you can identify, I'm sure.
As I reflect on this time 30 years later, I praise God for his healing, strength and grace. My mother was a stalwart..... totally leaning on God to carry her through that devastating experience.
She didn't make us feel guilty or feel sorry for her. Totally amazing!
I do not regret... the many trips to see her...bringing her flowers... taking her clothes shopping (where we would laugh in the changing room, because nothing would fit her short, pear-shaped body) ...the many dinners at Chicken Chalet..... the surprise 66th birthday party....listening to her repeated stories...and being at her side when she passed away.
I do regret my lack of respect and appreciation for her when I was younger and not saying,"I love you" more.
To my friends who find yourself in the middle of the sandwich, where young and older both vie for your time, care and love... take heart. All too soon they will be gone and won't need you anymore.
The true reality is.... that I am now the bottom slice of the sandwich. Yikes!
The top slice of bread is made up of ages 40 and younger . The bottom slice would be ages 65 and over (of course, in every family situation this varies). In between, is the filling - "the sandwich generation". Each of these time periods come with interesting challenges and demands.
Since I married young, straight off the farm, I had a lot to learn about life on my own. I sort of grew up with my kids. (This time was the top slice of bread) We were getting established at work, stretching the dollar to make ends meet, going to night school & summer school, taking kids to lessons and activities, and very active in our small church. My Dad loaned us some money for a down payment on a beautiful half acre lot which cost us $4,000 dollars. Here we built our first home. Basically, life was good..... till one morning my brother phoned and said, "Dad committed suicide." Talk about life coming to a screeching halt, like your head hitting the windshield!!
Suddenly I found myself in between the slices of bread. My mother-in-law was a widow and looked forward to our visits. Now my mother's life had come crashing down around her, our close family..shattered. We rallied around her the best we could, but my four siblings, our extended families and I were reeling emotionally also. We didn't know how to handle this, but we were carried on wings of prayer. Yet, sometimes I felt like the pastrami and cheese squished between mayonaise, tomato & lettuce. My children and husband were very important and so were our mothers. Each needed my time, love and support. I felt pulled in both directions. Many of you can identify, I'm sure.
As I reflect on this time 30 years later, I praise God for his healing, strength and grace. My mother was a stalwart..... totally leaning on God to carry her through that devastating experience.
She didn't make us feel guilty or feel sorry for her. Totally amazing!
I do not regret... the many trips to see her...bringing her flowers... taking her clothes shopping (where we would laugh in the changing room, because nothing would fit her short, pear-shaped body) ...the many dinners at Chicken Chalet..... the surprise 66th birthday party....listening to her repeated stories...and being at her side when she passed away.
I do regret my lack of respect and appreciation for her when I was younger and not saying,"I love you" more.
To my friends who find yourself in the middle of the sandwich, where young and older both vie for your time, care and love... take heart. All too soon they will be gone and won't need you anymore.
The true reality is.... that I am now the bottom slice of the sandwich. Yikes!
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Pruning
Just give me a clipper or an electric hedge trimmer and I'm in my glory. My rosebushes and evergreens cringe when they see me coming with them in hand. Plants actually go into shock from severe pruning, but when it is done correctly, they soon thrive and flourish. My rose bushes fight back with their thorns, but I keep telling them that it is for their own good that I am cutting away the dead and weak branches. Gorgeous summer blooms will be my reward. I stand back to make sure the green hedge is trimmed level and even. Aah..beautiful and tidy.
The analogy of pruning is used in John chapter 15 where God is portrayed as a gardener, pruning out branches from the grapevine that are not bearing fruit and pruning the good ones to produce better crops. We are compared to the branches of a vine. God uses many things to shape us into what he wants us to beccome and this can be painful. Testings such as sickness, disappointments and convictions from his Spirit point out things that shouldn't be in our lives. This is never a pleasant experience but he is a careful, skillful, loving pruner who can shape us into something beautiful, reflecting His character.....if we submit and allow him to.
The analogy of pruning is used in John chapter 15 where God is portrayed as a gardener, pruning out branches from the grapevine that are not bearing fruit and pruning the good ones to produce better crops. We are compared to the branches of a vine. God uses many things to shape us into what he wants us to beccome and this can be painful. Testings such as sickness, disappointments and convictions from his Spirit point out things that shouldn't be in our lives. This is never a pleasant experience but he is a careful, skillful, loving pruner who can shape us into something beautiful, reflecting His character.....if we submit and allow him to.
Monday, April 9, 2007
Glen
What a character! I met him about 10 years ago while visiting the seniors rest home. He could be seen flying down the hallways in his wheelchair, kibitzing with the nurses and teasing other residents. This was his favorite line. "I'm the trouble maker around here. I cause trouble and then I help them solve it."
While just a young man of 31, Glen was stricken with Multiple Sclerosis, which had immobilized his lower body, however he had a keen mind and a quick wit. Determined that he would walk again, with a lot of hard work and therapy, he managed a few steps, yet remained confined to that chair for 30 years. He was kind of brash and loved to argue and talk rather than listen. He didn't get many visitors, so my brother, Dave, became his friend and visited him almost every Sunday.
When I was hired to do some gardening around the residence, he would come wheeling down the sidewalk with a cheery hello and off to the local store to buy his lottery ticket.
A few months ago, he was taken to the hospital with pneumonia. It was a sad day at the residence, when they got the news that Glen had passed away at the age of 63. They miss his humour, spark and chatter. The Christmas Party was not the same without him in his Santa suit and the cheery, Ho! Ho! Ho!
I remember him asking me about the different flowers I was planting and offering his unsolicited advice. Pansies were his favorite flower because they looked like smiling little faces. He would park his wheelchair near by and sit in the sun and soon fall asleep. I observed underneath all that bravado, a sad lonely man who had a very hard life and yet made it his mission to bring a smile to peoples faces.
While just a young man of 31, Glen was stricken with Multiple Sclerosis, which had immobilized his lower body, however he had a keen mind and a quick wit. Determined that he would walk again, with a lot of hard work and therapy, he managed a few steps, yet remained confined to that chair for 30 years. He was kind of brash and loved to argue and talk rather than listen. He didn't get many visitors, so my brother, Dave, became his friend and visited him almost every Sunday.
When I was hired to do some gardening around the residence, he would come wheeling down the sidewalk with a cheery hello and off to the local store to buy his lottery ticket.
A few months ago, he was taken to the hospital with pneumonia. It was a sad day at the residence, when they got the news that Glen had passed away at the age of 63. They miss his humour, spark and chatter. The Christmas Party was not the same without him in his Santa suit and the cheery, Ho! Ho! Ho!
I remember him asking me about the different flowers I was planting and offering his unsolicited advice. Pansies were his favorite flower because they looked like smiling little faces. He would park his wheelchair near by and sit in the sun and soon fall asleep. I observed underneath all that bravado, a sad lonely man who had a very hard life and yet made it his mission to bring a smile to peoples faces.
Monday, March 19, 2007
Rain,Rain, Rain
The other day I was complaining about the continual rain, rain, rain, rain. I am so tired of it and my little 3 year-old granddaughter said, "But Grammie, the ducks just love it."
Driving around our area, we see swollen rivers and lakes in places where they shouldn't be, causing havoc in many low lying areas. My sympathies to those who are experiencing tremendous hardship, damage and distress due to flooding.
But there is a field near by, covered in water, attracting hundreds of various fowl species. They are happily having a huge,wonderful party, this menagerie of seagulls, geese & ducks. When I hear the frogs they remind me of a giant choir practice, each one trying to out-croak the other, hoarse and off-key. They're lovin' it.
Now Noah comes to mind. Just imagine having to stay inside your house for forty days and forty nights, hearing nothing but continual heavy rainfall on the roof and you couldn't get out.
It's not so bad, so let's stop our whining. This too will pass.
Driving around our area, we see swollen rivers and lakes in places where they shouldn't be, causing havoc in many low lying areas. My sympathies to those who are experiencing tremendous hardship, damage and distress due to flooding.
But there is a field near by, covered in water, attracting hundreds of various fowl species. They are happily having a huge,wonderful party, this menagerie of seagulls, geese & ducks. When I hear the frogs they remind me of a giant choir practice, each one trying to out-croak the other, hoarse and off-key. They're lovin' it.
Now Noah comes to mind. Just imagine having to stay inside your house for forty days and forty nights, hearing nothing but continual heavy rainfall on the roof and you couldn't get out.
It's not so bad, so let's stop our whining. This too will pass.
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