Walking a broken road....

Anyone that has known me in my adult life would find it hard to believe that I used to be a runner.  I know, what happened? Right?

Although I don't run anymore, I learned some valuable lessons during those years of my life.  They are just "nuggets" that mean something to me, not necessarily anyone else and as we approach the journey from Lent into Easter, I am reminded of some of the lessons:

-Running, walking or moving forward is a journey.  The path may be familiar or unfamiliar, smooth or broken, but the only way to get back home is to complete the journey. Thank you Lord, for completing this journey for me.

-Most of the time, this journey was traveled alone-there were friends who often ran or walked beside us, but ultimately, the choice to go or not go is an individual one. I am glad you chose to go, Jesus.

-There are often obstacles, broken pavement, scraped knees, turned ankles, cramps,  dehydration and loneliness along the way, prayer often sustained me as I talked to my Father.  Who sustained Jesus on His journey?  Faithful friends, but ultimately, His father.

-The journey provided beautiful sights, things you see from the side of the road that you wouldn't see in a vehicle.  Baby birds, small animals, budding trees, smiling faces. Shadows and sunlight in equal measure. Jesus shared in these beautiful things, the creator walked among his creation.

-As a runner or walker, our destination is fairly sure.  A task completed, a minor victory for the day, a shower and rest. His destination meant so much more...the cross, death, the grave, and a victor's crown. ...the Journey complete...the Victory won.

-I ran that broken road for me....  Just me..

--He ran that broken road too, but not just for me...for you.

Rocks, Paper, Valentines!

Yep, this week was it, Valentine's Day.  I have a "love-hate" relationship with that holiday!   It is great to get Valentine cards and flowers and candy, and all that, but it is also no fun to get left out, is it?  Being a very blessed person that has a Valentine 365 days a year, I don't worry too much about that one day...but then again....

I tend to think about the people who don't have someone to make them feel special...  The people whom getting a little paper card would make all the difference in the world......Like my old friend Charlie Brown...  

I guess it comes from a lifetime of working with kids, or having been a "marginal" kid, or worrying about things I can't control, but Charlie Brown sums it up for me.  He goes through Halloween and only gets a rock when he "Trick or Treats", then on Valentine's Day the best he gets is a used Valentine on February 15th...poor Charlie.


I also love that way that Charlie Brown wasn't discouraged by the rock or the Valentine. Since he got one Valentine, he was so encouraged that he was working on a bigger briefcase for next year to put all his valentines in.

Its amazing what a little thoughtfulness can do....even if it is a day late......I need to work on this ahead of time next year...A little more encouragement and a little more making someone feel special, and maybe they will need a bigger satchel next year!

"We love, because He first loved us!"  1John 4:19

Happy Valentine's Day, Charlie Brown!

Washing Greens

I have to admit, I love "greens".  By  greens, I mean Turnips, Collards and Mustard greens.  As a rule, I like my spinach raw, so it doesn't figure into that equation.  I am kid of  particular about them.... I like to cook them fresh.  Frozen will do in a pinch, but canned  just don't cut it!.  For years, I bought them in the bunch and washed each leaf by hand, just like people have done for centuries.  I learned lots of things over the years;  My dad washed them in the bathtub in an icy bath.  My mother-in-law  taught me how to "look" them (which meant check for bugs and worms), and my boys'  babysitter taught me that my first wash should always be in hot water and salt to knock the sand to the bottom of the sink (It works). Marty's Grandmother told me how to cook them "just right".

BUT, the last few years, I was able to put all of that knowledge aside when I found a marvelous new product at the grocery store...There they were,  right in there in the produce section...Cut," looked" and washed greens!!! Eureka! No more frozen hands and sore back from that hour long process! How great is that!?!?! It must have been how people felt about electricity or indoor plumbing!! (I know, I exaggerate a bit!) So, I have been in "green heaven" for the last few years!

Then..Friday night, we were at Winn-Dixie, and we saw the prettiest full bunch of greens, ever! I saw those wonderful bags, and I don't know if it was the price, or the pretty greens or what, but I bought a bunch instead of a bag.  I knew how much work it would be, and every time I looked in the fridge, I put it off.  Well, you can only do that for so long.  So, Sunday after noon, I just dug right in.  Cutting, "looking", washing and salting! The years had been kind to me, I remembered how to do it, and the most wonderfully surprising part, was that I was blessed with sweet memories of each person that told me how to prepare them.

A few hours later, we sat down to cut, washed, "looked" and cooked greens! Thank you Lord, for this wonderful bounty and for the sweet memories, too!

Playing "Chicken"

For Weeks now, our cat has been playing "chicken" with the garage door...  watching it fall and waiting till the very last minute to dodge underneath it and run in or out.  Last night, I was closing the door like I always do and I saw Atilla at the end of the driveway.  I pressed the button and she just looked at me, then, when it got to about 24 inches from closing she takes off running...and last night, the garage door won. All she got in the garage was her head. I feverishly worked to get the door up, and when I did, she took off for the woods! Spent forever calling and trailing her, I just knew she was gone.  I was rehearsing the phone call I would make to tell my son to let him know that his mom killed his cat.  Not a good feeling!

After a fitful evening, We got ready for bed, checked the garage one more time, and there she was on her bed, like, "Hey, aren't you gonna tuck me in?"  After checking her out, she is absolutely fine, but she has acknowledged defeat, I can see it in her eyes, when she hears the garage door, I can almost hear her say, "DOOR: 1, CAT: 0.  But knowing her....

Smart Cat...A great hunter, a sneaky opponent, but she knows when to bow down to the enemy...or does she? We"ll see.....

Whatever!!!!!

Ever have a "Whatever" kind of day?

That is what I am having today! To me, the word(s) "Whatever" are full of attitude...bad attitude!  When I am really frustrated that is just something that I love to say.  It feels so good to just spit that word out! and usually it means, "just forget it," or "I don't care", or "go away," or "I'm done talking about it, thinking about it, worrying about it,".  I guess what it really means is that an "attitude adjustment" is in order...it does for me anyway!

Well, I started doing a mental "word study" on that word and then found that in the Bible it means something totally different.  "Whatever" is full of instruction and encouragement! No attitude, no defeat, just good sound advice.  Like, what to think about, what to ask for, what to do....

Maybe, just maybe, the day that started out with lots of "Whatever" bad attitude will be full of the good "Whatevers" that were given for our encouragement!

SO...my friends, I leave you with these,  and have a "Whatever: kind of day!

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Philippians 3:7
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true,whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Philippians 4:9
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:11
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.