I had the best Grandfather in the entire world. I know some would like to challenge me on that, but they would have quite the contest to think there was ever or ever will be a better Grandfather in this world. He only had an eighth grade education, but my Grandpa was the greatest man I ever knew. He was the smartest and kindest and all round most wonderful Grandpa ever. He taught me many things and he taught me by example that you never don’t take care of family.

My Grandfather took a trip to Europe once. It was pretty amazing really. He had never been on a plane before, but he flew to New York City and then on to Europe. When he came home, he was so excited to tell us about the trip that he spent the next twenty years telling us about it over and over again. I am ashamed to admit that I once thought if I had to listen to another story about Europe, I would fall over and die on the spot. Now, much time has passed since I lost my dear Grandfather and I wish more than anything in the world I could sit on our front porch, share a Whopper from Burger King, and I could listen to him tell me over and over again what he saw and how much he enjoyed on his trip to Europe.

It is because of my Grandfather that I was able to attend nursing and veterinary school. He was my rock. I lived with him as he took care of everything while I studied and dreamed and finished my education. I was younger then and my heart wanted to have a family of my own. There was a time I told God I was upset to have be taking care of my Grandfather when I wanted a family of my own. I heard the Lord whisper to me, “he’s taking care of you.” Looking back, I wish I could tell him how much I miss him and how grateful I am for all the care he took of me. Sometimes we do not see the reality of our lives and I did not see it then, but I do now.

Five years ago, I moved to Florida to spend time with my brother. During that time I have come to know what a precious gift it is to give the ones we love our time. I have always been in a hurry to work and do things. I have few regrets, but the one I do have is not spending more time with the ones I love. Now, I have the wonderful blessing to share time with my older parents. I think what a wonderful blessing it is to have our loved ones with us for a very long time. I consider it an honor and a privilege to be with them. I consider it my blessing to care for what they need me to do for them. I will have memories I will cherish forever for the time I spent with my Grandfather, my brother, my parents, and all those I love.

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A friend once gave me a mug as a gift with the words, “God Danced the Day You Were Born.” This gift was meaningful because it came at at time in my life when I was uncertain of my value as a person. The words on the mug were based on the Bible verse, Psalms 139.14 -“I will …. praise You … for the (awe filled) wonder of my birth!” 

The world idolizes fame, fortune and beauty. It makes me wonder exactly what makes us valuable? One of the saddest moments in my life, but should have been one of the happiest, was the day I graduated from veterinary school. I thought this accomplishment would make me feel important and valuable. The truth was when the lights were out and there was no one to pretend to, I felt like a nothing and a nobody. The truth was, I was no particular ‘body.’ I came from a blue collar family that did average jobs and lived in an average neighborhood, and we were unnoticed by others for the most part.

As I struggled with the question, ‘was I valuable’, others thought I ‘had everything.’ I was a registered nurse and just graduated as a veterinarian? They looked at me as if I had the whole world. But deep inside, things were not okay. These things did not make me feel like my life was valuable. Then, the answer came to me from God’s Word. The answer is that I am valuable because I am me. Sounds so simple, but I had spent a life time being a ‘human-doing’ to make myself valuable, when I was a ‘human-being’ and was valuable to God because I was His and He made me. Human-doings spend their time frantically trying to make themselves approved, lovable, etc. This is exhausting and I don’t think it really works. Human-beings are just that – being human.

I know many people who feel their lives are meaningless and some feel worthless. This hurts my heart badly because I felt that way at one time and am blessed to have been able to realize and accept that my Heavenly Father values me above anything monetary on this planet. I am more valuable to Him than all the homes, cars, boats, treasures collected, or anything in this world. He finds me and you HIS most precious possession. (Exodus 19.5)

It matters what we think of ourselves. If we feel our lives are worthless and others’ lives are  worthless, then we act like it and do self-destructive things or things to hurt others. These only further lead to feelings of worthlessness and it is a vicious cycle. We need to get off the hamster wheel and believe what God has said about us. He loves our brown eyes, blue eyes, curly hair, strait hair, short stature, chubby physique, our sense of humor, and whatever else makes us, us. He danced the day you and I were born. He was there and excited to welcome us to life. He finds us valuable. We do not have to DO anything, all we have to do is BE us.

Yes, I believe we do things as Christians in response to the great Love we have received in Jesus, but that is not where our value is, it is just in being us.

My prayer today is for all to know how special and valuable they are.

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When I lived in Ohio, I admit I never drank the daily recommended eight eight ounce glasses of water.  However, in Florida, it seems I cannot get enough. The temperatures and humidity cause insatiable thirst and water is welcome and refreshing. I do get my eight eight ounce glasses a day now. Something that seems so inconsequential, but is monumentally crucial.

Water also makes me think of other things. I am blessed to have many FB and other friends who are doing great things for God. Some are pastors, some are missionaries, some care for orphans, and many others are using their gifts for the Kingdom each and every day. Sometimes I sit and think of how I would like to do so much for God. I think of orphan children I would like to make sure are fed and loved and know they are special. I would love to tell others the truths He has told me. I would love to pray for others I have never met. God has meant so much to me for over forty years and I wish I could give Him just a fraction of what He has given me. I realize I just have a small life. I wonder what I can do for God?

One day God showed me. I shopped for my brother when he was too weak to shop himself. Without letting him know, I removed those hard to remove covers over the tops of his orange juice and lemonade bottles. You know the ones. I knew he was weak and removing them was difficult for him. One day, he caught me removing the tops. I was expecting him to be uspet because he was very independent. He said, “I forgot to thank you for doing that.” I knew he realized I was trying to make things easier for him. Not only did I shop for him, I washed clothes and spent time with him – letting him talk and feel important and valuable. Now, to tell the truth, no one  in the world would consider this important, but I think God does. Matthew 10:42 tells us, “… and whoever gives one of these little ones … even just a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, they will not lose their reward.”

A cup of cold water. Everyone can give a cup of cold water. A smile to those around us, a hug to a struggling friend, a cup of tea and company to a widow. An encouraging word to a friend. We all have a cup of cold water. Look for the opportunities every day. I know they are all around. God is watching and He sees everything we do – even if just give a cup of cold water in His Name.

Our friends and family need us to love them and do what we can to make their lives better.

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Well, it is officially Fall. Many of my friends love the change of seasons, and, like clockwork, time marches on. The days are slowly getting shorter. Some in the North will be enjoying cooler weather with leaves changing to bright yellows, oranges, and reds. I have memories of the Amish in Ohio making apple cider and as I drove the country side in Ohio a few days ago, I saw pumpkins being harvested in the fields. Along with the pumpkins, it is also harvest time for all the crops for farmers.  The land will lay silent again until next Spring. Even with all the wonderful Fall happenings, there will be the knowledge of impending Winter. Brrrrr.

I, however, being back in Florida, will still be seeing Palm Trees this Fall. Am so blessed. I have plans be on the rivers in warm, but not scorching temperatures, boogie boarding the waves in the ocean before it cools, and perhaps a trip to the Florida Keys. There is an  imperceptible change of seasons in Florida. Still lots of sunshine and just a little less humid. I must admit, I do not miss my Ohio winters, but I do miss the Fall in Ohio. I loved caramel covered apples, fresh vegetables, and the cooler nights. I liked the feeling as if it’s the end of a very long day – the feeling that everything is going to go to sleep soon for a little while as we endured the snow and cold and looked forward to the Spring – when everything comes back to life again.

This year, I will have traveling friends seeking relief from their colder climates. We have so much planned I think they will want to stay forever. Thankfully, hurricane season will be ending soon – hopefully without any storm activity. I hope your Fall is filled with lots of fun activities and family. I hope you enjoy the apples and fresh vegetables and all the things you and your family do each fall. Enjoy every moment!!!

Another of my very favorite things about Fall is Thanksgiving. Giving thanks is something I do daily, but even more so during this season of thanks and preparation for Christmas again. Oh, how I love this time of year! Have a great Fall!

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I am a terrible cook, but I love to eat. Especially good food. Especially when someone else is an excellent cook and has prepared something wonderful. Sometimes when I eat, I am so full I do not think I will ever eat again – or at least not for the next few days. But,  in a few hours, I am hungry again.

I am reminded of the beloved Lord’s prayer that asks God to ‘give us this day our daily bread.’ (Matthew 6.11) When God’s people wandered in the wilderness, they were given daily manna – the bread from heaven (Exodus  16). Just as we need our daily bread to sustain our bodies, we need are daily Bread of Heaven to sustain our spirits and give us life. Each day we need a fresh encounter with God. Just as we cannot rely on yesterdays meals to sustain us today, we cannot rely on yesterday’s encounters to be all we need from God. God wants to do a ‘new thing’ for us each and every day.

Elizabeth Taylor played Velvet Brown in the movie, “National Velvet.” In the movie, she feels guilty asking for ‘more.’ She feels she is asking for ‘more than her share.’ I think as believers, we imagine we can exhaust God’s good will and His answers to prayers. Another day, another miracle I say. It is impossible to exhaust Him or His resources.

The Bible tell us ‘the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, they are new every morning, great is His faithfulness’ (Lamentations 3.22-23).

I love the words to the poem made into song by Annie Johnson Flint “He Giveth More Grace.”

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

I am so thankful for a God that has endless resources and He giveth and giveth and giveth again. He is our Loving Heavenly Father Who wants to supply our every need and be everything to us.

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I recently posted a video of a mother otter teaching her young one to swim. We frequently see otters in Florida and they are excellent swimmers. I always thought it came naturally to them. Apparently they need swimming lessons. It has always been a thing to me that children learn everything from us as parents and adults – good or bad – and that moms and dads hold their children’s hearts in their hands.

When I lived in Ohio, I did not have exposure to poisonous snakes, alligators, black bears, panthers, or other dangerous critters I see in Florida. There are black bears as close as West Virginia, but that was not close to me. In Florida, I have been excited to see the bears. No one else seems to be excited. I discovered they like garbage.

Each evening, my dog, Rudy, and I have a little routine. We go to a nearby dollar store for my one sweet treat of the day – my diet allowing – some water, and sometimes other supplies. One visit, I took him around the building to potty. Suddenly, a huge black bear torpedoed into the nearby woods and a baby scrambled up a tree. I was excited and went into the store to announce what I saw. The clerk shrugged her shoulders in disinterest and said she was aware of the bears. She informed me the moms give a signal to the little ones to climb a tree when danger is near. I never considered little me and Rudy danger.

The next night my dog and I went to the store as usual. The clerk asked, “Did you see the bear again?” with a smile on her face. I know she was mocking me, but I told her how I was so amazed about it, that was why I made such a big deal about something so mundane to her. Sort of nice she remembered us.

The next night we went to the store, we looked for the bears. None in sight. At the check out, I talked about them with a new clerk. She told me there is a mom bear with two cubs. As we talked, she said they were a problem because they came to get into the garbage. Then she shared how one day, all three bears carried bags of garbage into the woods. The mom had a very large bag and the two cubs had smaller bags. That’s a funny story. We laughed and I could only image this adorable sight. I asked if she took a picture. She said ‘no’ but wished she had. Me too.

Nature has a way of showing us how mothers teach their children everything. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way they should go and even when they are older they will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22.6) Teaching children about the Loving, Living God is the most important thing we will teach them. It is an overwhelming responsibility at times, but we have their hearts in our hands already. Teach them well!

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I love this painting. It is pure chaos. Just like life sometimes. I know people who seem to claim they have an answer for everything. I, however, am not one of them.

I am not certain how this happened, but recently I engaged in debate with two friends about who has experienced the most struggle in life. Weird debate, right? Both shared their stories with me and I wept. I lost the debates. It amazes me how those around me are brave enough to continue each day despite the hardships they endured as children and young adults. Stories of loss of parents through suicide, abandonment as young children, physical and emotional abuse, and more.

Sometimes people  feel there is no God because of all that seems to be wrong in the world. I admit I don’t have all the answers. I don’t think anyone will ever be able to make sense of things that just don’t make sense.

I don’t have an answer for why children get cancer, why mothers die young leaving their families, why houses burn down or floods happen. Why children are abducted, why murder happens as well as war. Why we choose to persecute those not like us. All the things that don’t make sense in life do not shake my belief in a God that loves us and promises to give beauty for ashes. (Isaiah 61.3) I have always held the opinion we have the opportunity to make our pain our pathway to God. I believe we can know Him a way we would never have been able to know Him without the pain that seems to be destroying our happiness.

In the midst of everything, He is always the Answer to everything. Even what does not make sense. He is still Good and Loving and Able to get us through everything and make us able to help those around us. I realized those that struggle with diabetes campaign passionately about diabetes. Those that have lost a loved one to Alzheimer’s passionately campaign for this disorder. Why does it take pain to move us to help those around us? I am not certain, however, the truth is I am passionate about the struggles I have faced in my quest to help those that also struggle with the same.

In the Bible, Job demands to talk to God. Job wants to tell God how unjust He has been and how the suffering has been greater than he was able to bear. God does talk to Job and gently asks Job if he created all we see around us? Are we smarter than God? No. He put all the world together, He knows all the past, present, and future events, He created the horse and the whale, and He is smarter, kinder, more loving, more creative, more everything than we can ever be. In the end of all things, we will understand. I suppose at that time, explanations will not even be an issue any longer.

I do not want to be accused of peddling easy answers to difficult questions, but for now, I pray we put our hands in the Hand of the Living God and continue to walk through each day, giving Him our struggles, our dreams, our happiness, our everything. We can trust the Man Who died for us so we can have beauty for the ashes we feel have come to us in this life.

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There are days I just don’t know how I am going to get it all  done – work, deadlines, visiting friends in nursing homes, caring for the home, pets, etc. Stress is a word. It seems I have a heavier ‘cross’ to carry than others. At moments, I am not sure I can bear up under the strain of everything and if someone adds one more thing to my already overloaded schedule, I feel I may just have some bad moments.

I look around and so many others seem to have it easy. They have enough money, enough time, happy families, and on and on. They do not seem to struggle much. I guess if I knew everything, I may think differently. It doesn’t take long to know everyone has concerns.

A friend shared a little story with me, a story of a girl who felt her ‘cross’ was heavier than those around her. When she slept, she was taken to a large room filled with crosses. There were large crosses and jewel adorned crosses and many others. In the corner was a small, plain cross. When the girl saw this little cross, she said, “I would like that one. I think I can manage that one small cross in the corner.” It was then she was then told that was the cross she had been carrying all along. This humbles me.

I ask God to show me my easy load as I watch others caring for disabled children, elderly family members struggling with dementia and other medical conditions, those living on small incomes, veterans returning with emotional concerns, and many other struggles.

I only need to walk the hallways of a hospital to see the faces of those worrying for the ones they love and those who have been given life changing test results. I only need walk the halls of detox centers to see the empty faces of those who do not know how to recover from addictions. I only need walk the streets to see the homeless and those who are lonely. I only need to visit the closest food bank to see ones who struggle to feed their children. I only need to take time to listen to others share with me about losing family when they were young, being raised by single moms, watching other families love each other and wondering why their family is different.

And when I do, my easy load no longer seems to be so overwhelming.  I want to be able to share with anyone struggling how Jesus knows their path and all they face each day and does not disregard them in any way (Isaiah 40.27) but wants to help in every way, every day. And God wants me to help others as much as I am able to make their load a little lighter.

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Birds in flight! How magnificent is that? Every time I see a bird in the air, I am astonished. I don’t know why, they have been flying forever. Their bodies are designed to be light enough for their wing span to lift them off the ground. Without an aviation class, they seem to know how to navigate the airways – the wind currents, the weather, and all – all without a GPS in wing.

As I look around, I see more wonders of  nature. Not only do I see birds traveling great distances without boundaries, I recently noticed large green ‘elephant ear’ – looking plants. I don’t know their names and could not believe how large the leaves were. They were taller and broader than a 6′ man. I am also amazed when I see palm trees bending to  hover over the ocean waters. Who could think of this? They are made of what look like tubular structures surrounded by an outer covering that make them strong and form their shapes. I love Joyce Kilmer’s poem – “I think that I shall never see, a poem as lovely as a tree… poems are made by fools like me, but only God can make a tree.”

I have come to dislike the ants I see crawling everywhere and multiple other bugs that serve a purpose in our ecosystem, but they do intrigue me. Someone is studying bugs right this minute and loving every minute of it! How could this be? And there are so many bugs.

Then I think to myself, ‘What have I ever made?’ Have I made a bird that flies? Have I made an eye that sees? Have I made a nerve cell that carries information from one part of a body to another? Have I ever made something as stupendous as a heart that pumps blood a distance four times across the United States every day and yet rests 10-12 hours a day? No, the answer is no. I have not even made a blade of grass.

Nevertheless, even though I realize how small I am, I find myself instructing the One Who has made everything. I find myself telling Him I would do things differently. Oh how I am in desperate need of His mercy and love and understanding to this little child of His Who forgets that He put the stars in the sky and He names them and cares for the sparrow. He cares for you and me. I am thankful for His patience to remind me how big and awesome He is every day, all day.

The Words used to describe Him are Omnipotent -all powerful, Omnipresent – in all places, and Omniscient – all knowing. But what does He know? Not only does He know how to make the mighty oak tree and put whales in the ocean, He knows everything about us. He knows our every need. Our deepest longing. Everything that makes us feel secure or afraid or loved or even unloved. He knows every word that has ever hurt us deeply, made us feel unworthy, damaged our spirits.

He knows the hairs on our head and the dreams and desires we each have. He knows every word that has ever been written, every home that has ever been lost or made a home in, every time the weather threatens, each answer to every test, how to reach the ones we think are unreachable. Simply put- Everything -that is what He knows.

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