Give us This Day …

Posted on October 12, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

As we build this community prayer platform, we ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.

Let’s remember to approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.

What is one of the most important things we should do as Christians? Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

Jim has been a little ill for the last week. He was hoping it would go away, but it continued to get worse and ended up back in the hospital. He has been very dizzy, hard to hold his balance, nauseous, feeling faint, and a little short of breath. He was diagnosed with labyrinthitis which is similar to vertigo but with a huge difference, possibly caused from exposure to bio toxins which is what took him off his Ride Across America for addiction awareness. He was also diagnosed with dyspnea. He is home now with a new regimen of medications. He asks to keep him as he continues to heal.

Sisters Marianne and Barb are a concern for Cindy and her family. Little sister’s surgery is Tuesday. Middle sister leaves for Cleveland Clinic Tuesday to for tests to prepare for her heart surgery. Cindy feels so far away and is worried about how her mom is doing with all of it! Please lift them up.

Tara had an interview this weekend but North Dakota weather didn’t cooperate. Prayers for rescheduling. Emm also has a job interview planned, one she is in desperate need of!

Paula is still working on getting the house sold.

Roger was sent back to the rehab facility, despite not doing well at all. He’s frustrated and depressed and didn’t eat even a bite of breakfast. The doctor is prescribing an appetite stimulant but the problem is getting Roger to take it. He gags and vomits up even water. Prayers asked by JoAnn for him to start eating again and for his mental outlook to improve.

Mary Jo is having an extra mammogram tomorrow at 1 p.m . Please uplift her.

Carmen is having one of her breasts removed.

Karen asks for prayer God fills her with His love and strength as He removes her anxiety and depression.

Janet is asking for prayers God will restore her health.

Sarah is struggling with her faith in God lately. She feels like she has no connection to Him at all and her belief in Him is pretty much gone. Pray for revival.

Ventura asks for continued prayer for her and her baby, safety and good health all throughout this pregnancy, delivery, and recovery! She is 30 weeks pregnant with nine weeks and five days to go.

Shane started aggressive chemo for metastatic small cell carcinoma  He will be in the hospital for three days for the chemo treatments and then off 21 days, then back for three days in the hospital, etc. Please pray God will remove this aggressive cancer, and Shane will be able to tolerate the chemo. Also pray for his wife Maranda; his daughter, Emzie; his son, Milo; his parents; and brother and family.

A new neck tumor has restricted Andrew’s head movement, but he keeps plugging along with a deep faith, song in his heart, and positive words. Wife/caregiver Barb continue to hurt as her dad and husband linger on and there is nothing she can do. Please keep her in your prayers.

There were a host of unspoken prayer requests and we heard of a number of deaths this week. Prayers for their families as they go through this earthly trial. We grieve … heaven rejoices.

We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week — some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. I ask for Your blessing as I minister to the Howland (ME) congregation. Please be with me, Lord. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We thank You for the blessing of Ivy Lynn and all newborns — Your promise of a future. We thank you for Annie’s recovery . We also know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up Jim, Marianne, Barb, Cindy, Tara, Emm, Paula, Roger, JoAnn, Mary Jo, Carmen, Karen, Janet, Sarah, Ventura, Shane, Maranda, Emzie, Milo, Andrew, Barb and all those needing Your healing touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Keep your joys and concerns coming. They have been and will be included during my prayer time and I trust they will be on your lips as well as you approach the altar. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes under the “Contact Me” button on the top bar {or to the right if you’re not a follower yet}. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site so we can all be viable prayer warriors. You can also comment or reach me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts. — Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

 

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Five Minute Friday — Deep

Posted on October 11, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

Five Minute Friday. Just to remind you what the exercise is really about, it’s free-style writing on a specific prompt word for five minutes, then linking and sharing at our place on Facebook.

I’ve also been sharing snippets taken from Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. They are a testament to the value of the exercise. This week, I’ll share some perspective from Elizabeth, who I hope inspires you to check us out or, better yet, encourage you to try your hand at focused, unscripted writing for just five minutes. And don’t forget to share it on our page.

“Lisa-Jo’s blog [the originator of Five Minute Friday] was one that I started following and pretty soon, I couldn’t keep myself from joining in FMF. At first, I tried to limit it to the comment box but I had things to say, and I needed a place to say them. I started a blog strictly so that I could participate in FMF. My blog became my writing incubator and I didn’t share it with anyone except the lovely FMF participants. My own mother didn’t know I had a blog! I needed to start writing again but I wasn’t ready to share that writing with the world. FMF gave me a supportive but private community with which to share my heart through writing again. I’m incredibly grateful for the push that joining this writing community gave me.”

So, there you have it. Each of us has a story to tell. One of them is how we found this unique group and what it has meant to us. The simple format — one word per week — often is the catalyst that forces us to write. By getting in the habit, we hone our word skills, while honoring the Skill Giver.

Enjoy. This week’s prompt is DEEP. The time has been set so it’s time to GO …

I’ve been known to venture into the deep end of the pool a time or two or a hundred, And I’ve gotten into some deep doo doo when I neglected to keep my kids in my travel loop. It seems when I focus on me rather than the end game, I certainly can get in trouble.

It’s usually a slow migration — cut a corner here, shave a few minutes there, stop the heavenly conversation for a day or two. Next thing you know, you’re {I’m} flailing along treading water with my toes far from the bottom of the pool.

Luckily, I have a Lifeguard {who I keep is far too busy} keeping an eye on me. More than once He has tossed a life preserver my way. He has even come to me and lifted me out of the surf and back on solid ground.

I don’t like calling for help but it is comforting to know there is Someone around when I need Him keeping an eye on me … and making sure I don’t venture out too deep. It’s a blessing I deeply appreciate … STOP

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Find joy in the ordinary! — Max Lucado

 

 

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Video Gaming

Posted on October 10, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

My six year old grandson is typically very mellow. I often have to ask him to repeat what he says because of his Massachusetts drawl and the softness of his voice.

The other day I saw a different side of him. He was playing an age-appropriate video game, Lego Batman, which unfolds with Batman’s greatest foes escaping from Arkham Asylum and creating mayhem throughout Gotham City. Tracking criminals, including The Joker and The Penguin, players utilize Batman’s gadgets as well as build and operate fantastic vehicles in one or two player cooperative gameplay.

As he was playing, mesmerized by the flashes from Batman’s gizmos, his demeanor markedly changed. He got louder … and louder … and louder. He contorted his body as he maneuvered the controls. You could sense a rise in his anxiety as the adrenaline kicked it. And it continued well after play was stopped.

Now, I’m not suggesting video games are harmful, just making an observation. I could see the change in demeanor — first hand and up close and personal. I suspect it happens more often than we old timers realize.

Certainly, visual stimulation has changed over the years. Growing up, our stimulation was multi-sensory. We did things. We played. We ran. We scuffed and interacted with others in real time. I don’t see that as much any more.

The stimulation has internalized. It’s learning controls. It’s pushing buttons. If there is interaction, it generally is with another “player” {although I understand there are online games connecting scores of unnamed and often unknown ‘players”}.

I admire the fact a six year old can differentiate between the buttons on a control stick (?) — up, down, jump, shoot, get additional gizmos. I had a hard enough time controlling PacMan through a predetermined maze. But I do worry this fascination with a TV screen or laptop or IPad or phone has robbed the youth today of real interaction. I’ve seen it with the young adults and teens in the family. Apparently it has now filtered down to elementary and pre-schoolers as well.

I’m too old for this shift.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Talk up the good things.

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Midweek Mirth … For Sonni

Posted on October 9, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

I’ve been known to share a joke or two around the house. Okay, many {most} of them are dad jokes, but they did {hopefully} curl the lips into a smile. I always included a joke for my wife sometime during the day by e-mail. Even today, I share little nuggets of silliness to family and friends on a regular basis.

After Karen died, there was this e-mail void … until I connected again with Sonni. She was an eager recipient for my silliness, chiding me when I failed to deliver a message of mirth. And she would respond in kind with just as silly sayings or memes.

She, too, died … four years ago today. I miss her, my angel at a time I  needed one most.

As I was driving and mentally preparing for Sonni’s eulogy, the sky was cloudy, except for two beams of sunshine. I envisioned in my mind’s eye Sonni with her Diet Pepsi and Karen with her water turned into exquisite wine toasting each other on celestial lounge chairs. I can see them laughing at the foolish things I say and do without their physical sphere of influence. I see them taking turns proverbially whacking me in the back of the head when I REALLY do or say something foolish. I really miss them — both of them  — every day.

So, this week’s midweek mirth is for my two ladies. Have a laugh {or groan} from up high. And, Sonni, you owe me a hug!

Big Cavity

“Open wider,” requested the dentist, as he began his examination of the patient. “Good grief!” he said, startled. “You’ve got the biggest cavity I’ve ever seen, the biggest cavity I’ve ever seen.”

“OK, doc!” replied the patient. “I’m scared enough without you saying something like that twice.”

“I didn’t!” said the dentist. “That was the echo.”

And now for the bonus …

Get Me One Too

A minister delivered a sermon in 10 minutes one Sunday morning, which was about half the usual length of his sermons. He explained, “I regret to inform you my dog, who is very fond of eating paper, ate that portion of my sermon which I was unable to deliver this morning.”

After the service, a visitor from another church shook hands with the preacher and said, “Pastor, if that dog of yours has any pups, I want to get one to give to my minister.”

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: I try not to spend a day without at least a couple of good hearty laughs, and the rest of it, I try to smile as much as I can. — Steve Harvey

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Where

Posted on October 8, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

So, you want to write a book. We have been tackling the five Ws and the H … that’s What, When, Where, Why. Who, and How. We started a couple of weeks ago with What, followed by When. Today we’ll discuss Where. They are all interconnected.

There are many writers who make a living as a writer. But the majority are just squeaking by or writing to an audience of one. Those in the latter categories are who I would like to help with this overview.

I do believe everybody has a story to tell. We don’t share because we don’t know how to tell the story … then we get frustrated … then we give up. I don’t want you to give up.

Now that you made the decision to do some writing, and decided what you were writing about, it’s time to start honing it.

Like the “when”, your idea will dictate the “where”. It’s the setting you choose to carry your story forward. It becomes part of the infrastructure for the story.

As an example, I recently read a story where the contemporary lead moved from New York City to Detroit to establish an art center in a stately mansion. The parallel story was her ancestors escaping from a Kentucky plantation by way of the Underground Railroad ultimately to Canada. The intersection was the stately mansion in Detroit which served as a stop on the journey and linked the past with the present.

The pitfall for many writers is they don’t identify the “where” and readers get lost trying to figure out where they are and how they got there. From experience I can tell you readers will just give up.

Just like the “when”, the “where” needs your attention as a writer. For example, you can’t move your characters from one location to another in a way that isn’t plausible. To explain, you wouldn’t have 19th century slaves moving through Indiana in the space of a day or two. It was time consuming and dangerous. Those chilling stories have to be incorporated into your story.

It is also important to keep your story line moving, even if it’s at a static point. All of your descriptions have to help identify where the action is taking place. Are the characters moving from place to place? Describe the journey. Are the characters having a discussion? Describe where they are and under what the circumstances are that brought  them to this place.

The “where” is perhaps the most fun hub in the story. It allows you as the writer to bring your readers to the place where your characters are. Don’t get bogged down in too much information, but give descriptive hints where the scene takes place. As an example, “I introduced Jimmy to my crew, picked up my drink and purse and the two of us headed to the corner table. Jimmy started to introduce me, but as my eyes locked on the lone occupant at the table, he just dismissively waved and headed back to the girls.” Now we know the conversation was at a bar and sets the stage for the conversation that follows. Or, “The Mustang muscled its way through the early mid-May night, each twist and turn on the northern New Jersey back roads to Greenwood Lake, NY, responsive to my touch. It was 1966. The top was down, allowing the humid air to whip around the car and its occupants. The radio was turned all the way up, fighting the outside noise with music of the night. The four of us were already screaming to be heard – occasionally punctuated with off-key singing – screeching, actually – when Cousin Brucie picked a relevant platter to play.” Now we know this is a road scene in northern New Jersey near the New York state line in 1966. Or, “I drifted off to sleep and dreamed of myself sitting on a bench on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights. The sky was dark with rolling clouds. The waves were anxious, pounding the pristine sand in a precise, rapid rhythm. The boardwalk was empty except for a few early morning gulls and a man standing by the rail about 100 feet away. As I huddled there, I closed my eyes, soaking in the sounds of the surf, the fresh, clean smell of the air, the feel of the salt air enveloping me in the gentle breeze.” Here we learned it was a dream oceanside at Seaside Heights, which sets up the rest of the scene.

Those examples, by the way, are from my latest book, My Name Is Sam … and Heaven Is Still Shining Through.

Paint that picture in your readers’ minds. Give them a back story that makes the scene pop. But, most of all, have fun with the “where”.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: When you are grateful — when you can see what you have — you unlock blessings to flow in your life. — Suze Orman

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The Need for Courage

Posted on October 7, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

These Words for the Week are from Eric Ritz, courtesy of Sermons.com.

The late Richard Cardinal Cushing, formerly of the Archdiocese of Boston (MA), once wrote about the church’s need for courage. He said, “If all the sleeping folks will wake up, and all the lukewarm folks will fire up, and all the disgruntled folks will sweeten up, and all the discouraged folks will cheer up, and all the depressed folks will look up, and all the estranged folks will make up, and all the gossiping folks will shut up, and all the dry bones will shake up, and all the true soldiers will stand up, and all the church members will pray up, and if the Savior of all will be lifted up … then we can have the greatest renewal this world has ever known.”

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Worrying does not take away tomorrow’s troubles; it takes away today’s peace.

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Looking for an Increase

Posted on October 6, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

 

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.” The Lord replied, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” — – Luke 17:5-6

Theologian Paul Tillich defines faith as our ultimate concern — the thing that claims and transforms us, our personalities and our actions. We know such concern has power because we see the damage wrought when people place their entirety in that which is not God.

A person who has committed themselves to accumulating wealth or power, or one who has sought fame or notoriety, has exercised a kind of faith that has been potent indeed. But it is faith in self, or wealth, or nation.

The opposite of faith, for Tillich, is not doubt, but indifference — total lack of concern. Without faith, we are impotent, untransformed, immovable.

So, with the apostles, we say to the Lord, increase our faith, and let our faith be in Christ alone.

This reflection is by Elizabeth Duffy, a regular contributor to Living Faith and to Image Journal’s Good Letters Blog. Her essays have been published by Our Sunday Visitor, On Faith (at Faithstreet.com/onfaith) The Catholic Educator, Image Journal, Mind and Spirit, and Aleteia. She has written a column and blog for Patheos.com and her personal blog is bettyduffy.blogspot.com/. This reflection was from Living Faith, which provides brief daily Catholic devotions based on one of the Mass readings of the day. It can be viewed or purchased as a quarterly booklet of daily devotions at livingfaith.com/. Individual subscriptions and discounts for bulk orders are available.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and when you are safe and happy, remember someone has prayed for you.

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Prayer Time

Posted on October 5, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

As we build this community prayer platform, we ask the Lord to listen to our petitions with full confidence they not only are heard but acted upon by God according to His holy will. These requests are on my prayer list and I hope you consider putting them on yours as you place your petitions before the Lord Sunday.

Let’s remember to approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.

What is one of the most important things we should do as Christians? Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18).

Lola has shingles in her ear which led to facial paralysis, vertigo, and nausea.  She is on a soft diet but can’t keep anything down so she was hospitalized to get IVs. Please pray for healing and comfort.

Barb needs prayer. Her dear friends must move from Arizona to Texas, she is her husband’s caregiver and her father in Indiana is in his last days. She’s hurting.

Operation Recovery Ministries, Haskell, TX, has two men coming in Monday. One has been clean a few weeks just got out of detox wanting more time in recovery. The other has been homeless for quite some time and is still an active meth addict. Please  keep us in your prayers along with all struggling with addictions.

Frank needs prayers to get through his bout with cancer.

Greda asks for prayers as  she takes her CPA board exam.

Cricket is asking for prayers as she starts a tough round of antibiotics Monday. Her body in the past hasn’t handled antibiotics well so she’s very concerned.

Brenda is facing a dire financial issue.

Cam has mild stages of lupus, is losing hair, and has no immune system. She needs prayers for direction with meds.

Frank, a WWII veteran, is about to pass. Please pray for a peaceful transition from this world to the next to meet the Lord.

Marlene was hospitalized with an abnormal EKG. She’s doing better but still needs tests … and prayers.

Andrew continues to fight the fight.

There were a host of unspoken prayer requests and we heard of a number of deaths this week. Prayers for their families as they go through this earthly trial. We grieve … heaven rejoices.

We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week — some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. I ask for Your blessing as I minister to the Howland (ME) congregation. Please be with me, Lord. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We thank You for the blessing of Ivy Lynn and all newborns — Your promise of a future. We thank you for Annie’s recovery . We also know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up Lola, Barb, Operation Recovery Ministries, Frank, Greda, Cricket, Brenda, Cam, Frank, Marlene, Andrew and all those needing Your healing touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Keep your joys and concerns coming. They have been and will be included during my prayer time and I trust they will be on your lips as well as you approach the altar. All it takes is a couple of keystrokes under the “Contact Me” button on the top bar {or to the right if you’re not a follower yet}. I hope it becomes your best friend as you navigate around the site so we can all be viable prayer warriors. You can also comment or reach me at wisdomfromafather@gmail.com.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Three things in life that are most valuable: Love, Faith, Prayer.

 

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Five Minute Friday — Listen

Posted on October 4, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

The Five Minute Friday assignment is to write for five minutes on a prompt word, post it and share with fellow Five Minute friends at Kate’s place on Facebook at  fiveminutefriday.com. Around 100 of us gather round to encourage and support our fellow Christian writers, writing in a variety of styles and genres. It’s always very interesting to see how a simple word take shape into posts. Sometimes it’s obvious, sometimes not as much and always entertaining. Be sure to stop in and read the diversity of thought at Kate’s place. And don’t be afraid to join in!

I’ve been sharing snippets taken from Five Minute Friday: A Collection of Stories Written in Five Minutes Flat. They are a testament to the value of the exercise. This week, I’ll share some perspective from Annette, who I hope inspires you to check us out or, better yet, encourage you to try your hand at focused, unscripted writing for just five minutes. And share it on Kate’s website.

“What does FMF mean to me?

“The fun of seeing how others react to the same word. Some weeks it seems like EVERYONE has the same thoughts, and other weeks the thoughts are as varied as the people in the world. It’s always a surprise, The encouragement that people offer is much appreciated. It’s good to meet new people and be exposed to different thoughts, all while having a quick write. Some words take pondering over to see how they resonate and some words simply don’t. It’s great not to be tied down and have the freedom to come and go as desired.”

The word this week is LISTEN. The clock is started, so let’s GO …

I started the assignment and scribbled a few words … sounded familiar (wisdomfromafather.com/2016/09/17/five-minute-friday-listen-2/). I switched my train of thought … still sounded familiar (wisdomfromafather.com/2013/06/14/five-minute-friday-listen/). Hmm. I might not listen well, but I generally remember.

So, where am I going to go with this prompt?

Maybe I should combine the two. Despite general thought by my family, especially my late wife, I DO  listen. I may not react, but I  am listening. I filter the words into key words and compartmentalize them for recall when I actually need them.

That being said, there is a time when you have to block off the world — the background noise, the clatter, the rush — and just be still.

Yeah, we’re told that in Psalm 46:10. Even taking the theology out of it, there is a time to just sit back and listen … to the silence. It’s there where God and nature talk to us, perhaps inaudibly but most profoundly.

I particularly like to sit at the ocean’s edge, close my eyes, and just listen to the lapping — or roaring — waves, the gulls singing a distinctive song, the wind … STOP

… whistling in my ear. That’s where I truly can Be still and know that I am God.

THOUGHTS TO REMEMBER: A blind person asked St. Anthony, “Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?” He replied, “Yes, losing your vision!”

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It’s a Greeeeat Day!

Posted on October 3, 2019 by wisdomfromafather

There’s a new lady in my life. I haven’t formally met her yet, but I can’t wait.

I received some great news last Friday (Sept. 27) … I mean, truly great news! I am now a great-grandfather for the fourth time. My granddaughter Taylor and her husband Michael welcomed Ivy Lynn to the world officially at 3:13 p.m., weighing in at 6 pounds 4 ounces and 18 1/2 inches long. Mom and Dad are doing well, Grandmas and Grandpas are popping their buttons. Taylor noted she picked a good day to arrive … a blessing from Crazy Grandma [Sept. 27 was the 11th anniversary of my wife and crazy grandma, Karen]!

Little Miss Ivy is God’s latest gift to me. He has blessed Karen and I with five children, who in turn have blessed us with 18 grandchildren and now four great-granddaughters. I cherish each and every one in the quiver.

I think it’s amazing. I was an only child and Karen only had one sister.  My only regret is Karen isn’t here to experience this with me.

I look at babies as God’s promise He is still with us. They are a peek at the future, a look at the present and a connection to the past. They link us.

I’m still not sure I’ve settled into the “great” part. I always envisioned great-grandparents as, well, old. I suppose I am old but I don’t feel “great” old, just “grand” old. And, of course, this is my fourth shot at “great”-ness

Ivy’s birth was a reminder I’m in another season in my life, my very blessed life. I’ve managed to grow up {okay, maybe in years, anyway} and watch my children and grandchildren grow up. Hopefully, I’ll get to witness at least some of my great-grandchildren’s lives … and still remember and appreciate it.

I immediately thought of the presentation scene in The Lion King where Simba was lifted toward the heavens. I symbolically lift Ivy toward the heavens, not for the oohs and aahs in this realm, but in appreciation of her Creator.

All I can do is pray for her — as I do for her parents and their parents’ parents. It’s a simple prayer. Lord, keep them close.

To Ivy I utter the same prayer I’ve prayed so many times over the years.

Lord, I thank you for this gift. Give my grandchildren the same strength and wisdom You blessed me and my children with to raise her as Your special child, with potential and possibilities way beyond their belief. They will not be perfect and neither were we. She will not be perfect and neither were we. But, let us all remember whose child she is … Yours. May Ivy grow as a reflection of the One who made her all the days of her life.

THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities. When God doesn’t solve your problems, He has faith in your abilities.

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