Category: Living fully

"Strategies to make every day better." It sounds too simple, doesn't it?

I hear you saying, "If I'm having 'one of those days,' how on earth can I make it better?"

But you can, I can, we all can.

If we choose to grab hold of the power. Here's how.

1. Decide to make it a good day

When I was a young mom I read a book that challenged my thinking.

The author maintained that more than any other factor, our thoughts dictate the happiness level of our lives. Each day we decide it will be a "good" day or a "bad" day and then act accordingly.

Could that be true? I thanked God our life was good and I wanted to be a happy mama, but most days I was more of a dreary mama.

The next day I woke up in a lousy mood, then remembered what the author said. (Insert groan.) Okay, I would try it for myself. I would fake smiles and act cheerful and not expect much in return.

Surprise. My husband smiled back and kissed me more enthusiastically before he left the house. All day our children squabbled less and seemed happier. When problems arose instead of awfulizing and complaining to God, I murmured, "Lord, help me."

And one way or another, He did.

Looking around the dinner table each family member seemed more contented, including me. At bedtime even our balkiest child trotted upstairs without argument.

As for me, instead of my usual rundown of "what ifs" I fell asleep quickly.

The next morning I tested that far-out theory again, with the same pleasing results. I promised myself that every day I would decide to have a good day.

Over time that simple practice bore a lovely crop of good fruit in our marriage and our kids.

Did I slip up now and then? Sure. Then I would start over again, asking the Lord's ever-present help.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. –Isaiah 41:10 NIV

2. Believe you are–or will be–well and strong

At first this strategy made no sense. If I'm feeling achy or have an actual health problem, that's beyond my control. Right?

Not necessarily.

Chalk it up to how suggestible we all are. Healthy or not, any time we ask ourselves, "Where do I hurt?" we can find some area or body part that doesn't feel quite right.

Then we begin to wonder what it means, maybe even spend time on Google trying to figure it out.

That line of thinking guarantees we'll feel worse.

Even if we have chronic health problems, our thoughts make us feel better or worse.

Every time it helps to concentrate on, "I know God is with me and He will never leave me."

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7 NIV

3. Choose to live love

Love is all about emotion. We're "in love" as long as we feel love toward another person.

Isn't that what we all believe and read and watch on the screen? (That's fiction, remember?)

To build something more lasting we do well to consider a basic principle of Marriage Encounter. It runs contrary to popular thought:

"Love is a daily decision."

Not a feeling. Not a mood. Not an emotion.

Every day we decide all over again to love. To speak and act in loving ways and work to strengthen our relationship.

We decide today to love the person our spouse is today.

If that sounds artificial, think back to before marriage. Didn't we take care to speak love and show love even on our bad days?

In every stage of life we can pick out what's good or fixate on what's missing. Whichever we choose will affect how we treat each other.

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other's faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. –Ephesians 4:2-3 NLT

It's not rocket science

I wouldn't pretend I've lived these strategies perfectly and I'm not much for "programs." All I know is these principles changed me and changed my life for the better.

Whatever your situation, why not give it a try?

Lovingly,

Lenore

Strategies to make every day better

January 29, 2020
Have you ever wanted to scream because you were so busy you felt your life was out of control and this time you might snap?

Me, too.

I've learned it has nothing to do with our age, or whether we're married or single, with children or none. Nor does it matter if we work for a salary or are a full-time homemaker.

It's all about being over-committed.

Usually by our own choice.

One author, Christine Carter, labels it "the busy-ness trap."

Three words packed with meaning

We feel squeezed and squashed. We look through our lists for what to cut, but hardly make a dent. We are needed . . . everywhere. By everyone.

That's why it's so difficult to carve out pieces of our days for ourselves.

Yet our inner wail persists: I need some time marked "me." And if we don't take it–or make it–we become as dry as the Sahara.

Then we'll drudge through our days without heart, without joy–even when we're with the people we love most.

I know that desert territory. How about you?

But isn't taking time for ourselves self-centered?

It feels shallow and selfish to say "No" to someone we care about or to refuse a worthwhile cause. Especially for Christians.

After all, Jesus told us that love means sharing. Serving others. Giving ourselves away. Putting others ahead of ourselves. Besides, if we've walked with Him for very long we know we can get through anything because He strengthens us.

So we pray and try harder. We push ourselves to the max, and give our all. Our bodies pump out adrenaline that enables us to meet the challenge and get through it.

To get through a crisis is one thing. By definition, a crisis has a beginning and an ending point.

Some of us choose to live in crisis mode 24/7. For years on end.

Over time we'll pay the price in our mental and physical health

You probably know someone who is proud of being a multi-tasker. People like that often announce they're over-committed and may feel a sense of pride in their ability to cope.

One friend, "Elle," managed to hold it together as long as she kept to her packed schedule. Everyone who knew her said, "She's amazing!"

Then one morning Elle couldn't get out of bed and landed in the hospital. Test results were inconclusive so her long-time doctor wanted to keep her for observation. Elle promptly fell asleep–and stayed asleep until the next morning.

She woke up hungry and realized she couldn't remember the last time she cared whether or not she ate a meal.

Or anything else, for that matter.

Coming back to life

"When I left the hospital it was as if I hadn't noticed before how bright the sky was and how green the grass," Elle said. "I heard the birds singing in my yard, as if for the first time. Something had to change."

I realized I was trying too hard to be all things to all people. I wanted to be a good mom and a good friend. I tried to be a good employee and do well in my career. And I wanted to be involved at my church.

"Every one of those is a good, worthwhile goal," Elle said, "so I agonized over how to change and set priorities.

"But now I knew I needed to take care of myself, too, or I would fail on all fronts."

That's Priority A

Elle finally faced the inescapable truth: None of us can do it all, all the time.

But we can pick and choose among the non-essentials. It's the only way to feel in charge of our lives.

It's the only way to take care of our bodies and our minds and be there for our loved ones.

Some worthwhile activities may need to go on the "Later" pile.

Antidote to the busy-ness trap

Author Christine Carter's big tip is to give ourselves frequent recesses.

Take a break after every 60 to 90 minutes of work

Schedule regular time with family and friends

Allow yourself time alone to read a book or take a nap

Time to think and feel and pray

Time to just be–and not feel guilty about it

Find what joys your heart, my friend, whether it's stopping for coffee or watching a sunset.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul. —3 John 1:2 (ESV)

Still working on it,

Lenore
Caught in the “busy-ness trap?” Here’s how to escape

August 28, 2019
Do you ever feel as if people hardly notice what you do? Or say?

We all have days–or down times–now and then. That's when we remind ourselves what we know is true. God created us

Have you ever noticed how each link in a chain needs the others or else it can extend no farther than its own length?

It's an imperfect comparison, but God links us to the people around us, too. In ways we may never know, He uses us in the lives of others to carry out His purposes.

We have no need to understand how for that to be true.

All we need to do is trust and pray, then leave the specifics to Him.

Looking at one "chain" through the wide-angle lens of time

In 1824 an ordinary man, Edward Kimball, felt "someone" should start a Sunday school class for boys in a poor neighborhood of Boston.

No one else seemed interested, so even though he didn't view himself as qualified, Kimball took on the task. At first he felt clumsy in his teaching of the Bible, but young men started coming.

An 18-year old shoe clerk attended and came to faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. His name was Dwight L. Moody.

Not long after, D. L. Moody moved to Chicago and established a successful shoe business. Later, he started a Sunday school class, as well. Over time, weekly attendance grew to 1500.

Even though Moody was poorly educated, he felt called to preach the Gospel. Before long, wherever Moody went, huge crowds turned out to hear him.

When Moody spoke in Great Britain, one who came was a pastor: F. B. Meyer.

Meyer went home a changed man, with a new view of the Christian faith. He altered his preaching style and soon Meyer, too, began to draw crowds.

Eventually Meyer came to the U. S. to preach and one who heard him was another preacher: J. Wilbur Chapman.

Chapman decided to become an evangelist and went from city to city. His audiences grew and soon he needed an assistant.

The young helper Chapman hired was a baseball player, Billy Sunday.

After awhile, Billy Sunday became an evangelist, too, and preached in the South. He held prayer meetings and people came. In 1894 he held a prayer meeting in North Carolina.

One who attended his North Carolina prayer meetings and came to faith was Mordecai Ham. He resolved somehow he would reach people for Jesus. Ham, too, began preaching the Gospel throughout the rural areas of North Carolina.

In 1934 a 16-year old farm boy with nothing to do came to one of Ham's revival meetings.

That young man's name? Billy Graham.

We live our todays, but God sees time from the beginning to the end

God used each of these "ordinary" men to impact countless lives. For eternity.

They were links in His chain, even though they had no idea that was true.

He uses us, too, although we may not see how. You and I may think what we do for the Lord is small and insignificant. But there's no telling what GOD will do with our humble efforts.

So if today you're dragging and feel you have nothing to offer, no place, no purpose, take heart.

If you believe in Jesus as your Savior you can know for sure, that God IS using you.

Right now.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. –Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV

Read that last sentence again and let it sink in to your heart and your mind.

". . . prepared in advance for us to do."

All we need to do is live our lives, free of anxiety about figuring out what we should be doing for Him. God's got it all covered, so be at peace.

Growing, too,

Lenore

Feeling insignificant? Not true! We’re all links in God’s chain

October 10, 2018
Maybe you're wondering what the color beige has to do with anything.

So did I the first time I heard that description. Our engaging conference speaker–sorry, can't remember her name–had us laughing. And sometimes squirming.

According to my scribbled notes, here's the gist of what she said:

"My friends, I'm here to say, 'Please don't go through life as a Beige Lady! Or a Beige Man!'

"Now don't get me wrong, most Beige Ladies and Men are wonderful people.

"They often work behind the scenes and they're very agreeable, so everyone likes them. What they don't do is speak up when there's a difference of opinion. You see, Beige Ladies–and Beige Men–don't like to make waves.

"What's wrong with being agreeable?

"Not a thing. The problem is, Beige Individuals, as nice and willing and dedicated as they may be, seldom change the world.

"That's a waste. Jesus told us to be salt and light, to 'season' the world we live in, and shine His light in the darkness around us.

"Salt inevitably affects the flavor of a food and even one lighted match sheds light into a dark place.

"God put us here to make a difference, right where we are

"Not by being loud or strident, but by being strong and at the same time, being winsome and considerate. At home, in our marriage and family. Out there, in our church and community.

"Jesus told us to be true to what we believe. But be forewarned, this may cost us, especially if we differ from prevailing opinion.

"That can make it feel safer to be a Beige Lady or a Beige Man and keep our mouths shut, just smile and blend in with the crowd. Yet God put us here to live out out Christ's purpose for us.

"Remember Ephesians 2:10? This verse says it all:

'For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.' –ESV

"My friends, God did not create us to be 'Beige People!' Like Queen Esther in the Bible, you and I were born for such a time as this. To change our world, to be salt, to be light. Now, let's get going!"

Immediately, the entire room was clapping and cheering. From then on, at every break people discussed what she said.

The hard stuff came at home, wondering how could I "change the world?"

Our speaker told us to start where we are and I set out to do that, nibbling off bits and pieces. One big discovery was the difference it makes to start my days right. How to do it?

First thing in the morning, decide to be cheerful, even when life feels like one tough, dreary slog. Better yet, repeat this verse out loud:
This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.                                         –Psalm 118:24 -NKJV

Ignore the lousy mood(s) of people around you. Choose to respond with love and kindness instead of anger.
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.    –Proverbs 15:1 -NIV

Pray for wisdom and strength beyond what you feel at the moment.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.    –Isaiah 41:10 -NIV

Whether it's cultivating a happy home or daring to speak up when we feel outnumbered, our ever-present Helper is at our side.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  –Romans 8:26 -NIV

Expect to be changed–little by little–for the better.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.   –Galatians 5:22 -NIV

What matters most is what we live out

Most of us know by now that words are cheap and actions carry way more weight with both children and adults.

The most effective way to influence our world is not by impressing people. Rather, it's about following Christ's example. Always, we rely on Him for strength and courage.

Meanwhile, we keep our eyes open for ways we can season the world around us with love and hope and faith.

This is not a slam on the color beige

As our speaker said, you and I were created to be more and do more than simply be nice and blend in.

Maybe that's easier than we think. We're mistaken if we think it's about our own strength and our own noteworthy accomplishments.

Rather, it's all about Jesus. He's the never-fail, always-with-us Light and power source and He changes us from the inside out. (Will we fail sometimes? Of course, because we're human. But in Jesus we're forgiven and free to start over.)

The bottom line for you and me as Christians: We can stop struggling to measure up and just relax in Jesus' love and grace.

Our part is to go about our daily lives and let His light shine through us. The rest is up to Him.

Rejoicing, too,

Lenore
Don’t get stuck in being a “Beige Lady”–or a “Beige Man”

September 19, 2018
If Messiah fills the air waves and our arms are getting sore

    From the Christmas cards we've written, but we've still a whole lot more,

    Yet we're feeling jolly, hanging lights and holly on the door,

    The secret's out, there is no doubt, it's Christmas time once more.

If the family's acting funny and we're fuming just a bit

    While we're hunting for the bunting that will surely be a hit,

    Christmas shopping has us hopping, we're about to lose our wits,

    And the object that's a project has turned out to be the pits.

If we have no whammy bunting, only clammy hands and sighs

    'Cause we're sick of spending money. Isn't funny, isn't wise.

    So we go into a huddle, still we muddle, agonize,

    While our dreams of finding "perfect" self-destruct before our eyes.

If we'll pitch the lists and flowcharts, let our hearts start thinking small,

    No more reading. What we're needing won't be found within a Mall.

    All the best stuff is the real stuff. Nothing changes, after all,

    It's still love that makes gifts matter, 'spite of chattter in the hall.

So at Christmas time and all the time, this wish comes from my heart:

    May great joy reign, May all your pain and all your stress depart,

    And may every day be one you say, "I cannot wait to start!"

   Then at day's end, let Christ, our friend, speak peace deep in your heart:

(Jesus said) "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." –John 14:27; For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. –Isaiah 9:6

So . . . Merry Christ-mas to you and yours! May your heart be filled with JOY because you know the Babe in the Manger came for you–to be your Friend and to set you right with God.

Lovingly,

Lenore



It’s Christmas time once more! (with apologies to all you poets)

December 20, 2017
Even though I live in California, winter's dark mornings and short afternoons drag me down.

Forgive me, all you Midwesterners and Easterners who deal with REAL winter. I admit it, I'm a wimp.

When the days start getting shorter my energy levels drop and I gradually notice that I feel less cheery. I hear hot cocoa and a crackling fire calling my name.

Once people called it "the winter blues."

Now it's known as "SAD."

How about you?

If your days feel gray, too, the experts tell us we might have SAD. – Seasonal Affective Disorder. The farther we live from the Equator, the shorter our daylight hours and the more likely it is that we have S.A.D.

That may sound like a fake condition, but here's what the Mayo Clinic website says about how shorter daylight hours affect our bodies:

The specific cause of seasonal affective disorder remains unknown. Some factors that may come into play include:

Your biological clock (circadian rhythm). The reduced level of sunlight in fall and winter may cause winter-onset SAD. This decrease in sunlight may disrupt your body's internal clock and lead to feelings of depression.

Serotonin levels. A drop in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that affects mood, might play a role in SAD. Reduced sunlight can cause a drop in serotonin that may trigger depression.

Melatonin levels. The change in season can disrupt the balance of the body's level of melatonin, which plays a role in sleep patterns and mood.

If you want to read more about SAD go to http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder/basics/causes/con-20021047

Avoiding the downward slide

The problem is when we feel down, our thoughts are, well, less positive.

And have you noticed how one dark thought begets another? I like the way that brilliant poet, "Anonymous," puts it.

Your mind is a garden,

your thoughts are the seeds.

You can grow flowers or you can grow weeds.

All day long, with no conscious effort we drop "seeds"–random thoughts that come and go–into our minds.

Those fleeting thoughts become the background noise of our lives

We tell ourselves we pay no attention to street noise, for example, except we do. We can't help but register it at some level.

I've found it takes a lot of discipline and prayer to overcome letting my mood go dark.

It helps to keep telling myself what I know is true:

Whether we think we're happy or not depends on what we ask ourselves. And tell ourselves.

Whatever our situation–and whatever the season–our thoughts determine how we live and relate to the people around us.

Dealing with down days

Let's face it, some days we're in the pits–even in the midst of summer.

It helps me to write Bible verses that lift my heart on sticky notes and post them around the house. Storing verses in smartphones and tablets allow instant access, too, as do index cards tucked in a pocket or purse.

For starters, here are verses that speak to me:

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" –Jeremiah 32:27

Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. –Joshua 1:9

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak . . . those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint. –Isaiah 40:29, 31

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he [or she] is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! –2 Corinthians 5:17

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. –Ephesians 3:20-21

I know of no better way to drive out the dark than to focus on the Son and bask in God's love for us.

Why not share some of your favorite verses in the Comments section below?

Still growing,

Lenore

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January 8, 2015
Sometimes a chance conversation teaches us a lot. Like the day a friend talked about her childhood.

"Our family was poor when I was growing up," she said, "but I never knew it.

"I remember the year Dad was out of work. Mom suddenly announced she was really tired of fixing turkey every Thanksgiving and announced our First Annual Rice and Beans Festival.

"We kids made silly paper hats out of grocery bags. Mom dug up some old candles and sent us out to pick up pretty leaves to decorate the table. Before we ate we went around the table and each of us, even my bratty brother, said our own thank-you prayer.

"Guess we kids forgot we didn't much like rice and beans because we stuffed ourselves. After dinner we had a contest to see how many blessings we could name, then played games.

"We all still talk of that as the best Thanksgiving ever.

"Friday nights were special, too. We always had popcorn and Kool-Aid. Then we'd sit around and watch TV together or play games. I know now that's all we could afford, but as a child it felt like a party every week.

"Whenever the power went out, Dad would clap his hands and say, 'Let's celebrate!'

"He'd light candles while Mom made peanut butter sandwiches. Then he'd spread out an old blanket and we'd sit in a circle, like around a campfire. We'd sing camp songs and one of us would make up a funny story, then the next one in the circle would have to keep it going.

"We had so many good times, so much laughing–small wonder I thought we must be rich. My parents simply knew how to make the most of every little thing.

"I hate to admit it, but my husband and I and our kids have a lot more stuff now than my parents ever did and we never celebrate any of it."

+++++++

That conversation stayed in my mind for a long time. Obviously, her parents were super-gifted with a thankful spirit. They have a lot to teach . . . me.

A lovely old hymn speaks truth to my heart. How about yours?

For The Beauty Of The Earth

For the beauty of the earth,

For the beauty of the skies,

For the love which from our birth

Over and around us lies,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour

Of the day and of the night,

Hill and vale, and tree and flower,

Sun and moon and stars of light,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth, and friends above,

Pleasures pure and undefiled,

Lord of all, to thee we raise

This our grateful hymn of praise.

Blessings to you, my friend, at Thanksgiving and every day,

Lenore

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November 21, 2013
Twenty-four hour news sounds good, but there seems to be no escape.

The bad always outweighs the good, because every journalist knows that bad news sells.
It becomes the background noise of our life and fear seeps into our subconscious.

Think of the past few months. We can tune out faraway places, but what of the terror that comes closer to home?

Movie-goers get mowed down in a Colorado theatre. School children in Newtown. Every school and college is on high alert, because some lone shooter may be ready to open fire.

Then comes another Boston Marathon and what promised to be life returning to normal, even if just for a day. Then comes more horror. Bombs, killings and a major American City locked down in fear until the remaining shooter is found.

Next a solid, unexciting fertilizer plant suddenly explodes in a quiet town in Texas. The blast kills at least 14 people and injures 200 or more, devastating a large section of West, population 2,500.

That's Life in Twenty-first Century America

Parents fear for their children. Schools are on high alert.

Experts say to proect kids from viewing the violence. Parents ask how to do that when there's nothing else on television and every break carries a "teaser" for the news.

How do we reassure our children when we're quaking inside? Where do we dredge up confidence when we have none left to give?

The real question is, How do we live with this?

I have no answers on my own, but I know where to look.

In the Bible, of course. Hope and comfort thread through it from beginning to end. Take Psalm 121 for example, here from the New American Standard Bible:

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord willprotect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in from this day forward.

Let's take our cues from the Word instead of the news

Imagine if we read or spoke those words every morning instead of turning on the news to see what's happening now.

Suppose every night at bedtime we quietly repeated these beautiful words to our children. Before long they'll be speaking them with us. Instead of saying, "Have a good day," we could let this blessing echo in the minds of our families.

The point is if we regularly take in fear, we live out fear. Some of us have internalized this constant low-level anxiety for so long we think it's normal.

It's even worse for children, because they don't understand it and feel even more powerless than adults.

That's not the way we're meant to live.

In case you wonder, yes, I struggle with this, too. I can build a whole scenario on "What if . . . ?"

(I'm a writer, remember?)

Events of the past week remind us again that life holds risks and earthly protection sometimes fails. Our security rests in the One who watches over us and neither slumbers nor sleeps.

So we can live–and sleep–in peace.

Growing along with you and trusting the One who keeps us,

Lenore

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April 23, 2013
How do you see the glass of your life? Is it half-full or half-empty?

Every day of our lives, we choose.

We can focus on what have or on what we lack. Give thanks for what is or wail about what is not.

Truth is, we decide what kind of life we're living.

That makes no sense, especially in the middle of a hard time, right?

Wrong. It makes perfect sense. Why make a bad situation worse by holding a never-ending pity party?

I know a woman who as a teenage girl heard her doctor announce, "You have Muscular Dystrophy. I'm sorry, but there is no treatment and there is no cure."

That was more than forty years ago. Since that dark day "Mary" has experienced the progressive weakening of her body. She and one of our daughters have been friends since both were in their twenties. Whenever I go to visit that daughter I also see Mary and I've observed the progression of her M. D. At this point she astounds her doctors just by being alive. In order to remain in her home she depends absolutely on the help of caregivers, family and friends.

They all love her. So do the paramedics who sometimes rush her to the hospital, as well as her doctors and nurses.

Why wouldn't they? Mary accepts the facts of her life without bemoaning her fate. Her smile is as wide as a house and her sense of humor never fails. Through it all, she maintains her feisty spirit and exudes life.

I never heard Mary complain. Her faith in a loving God remains strong and her eyes reveal the peace within her.

Mary spends her days in a motorized wheelchair and accepts various physical indignities calmly. Does she ever give in to frustration? Of course. She's no plaster saint. Does she take it out on caregivers and people who love her? Not by all accounts. Despair may come knocking, but if so, she apparently refuses to answer the door.

Her horizons broadened some years ago when friends installed a user-friendly E-mail program she could manage. She promptly became an E-mail champ, exchanging messages with people all over the country. Since she had unlimited time, she became the go-to person for Google research.

When holding books and newspapers on her own became impossible TV viewing seemed the only way to fill her days. Kindle changed all that. Once again the wider world opened up to her. Mary quickly became the authority on which new book(s) to read.

This past year her increasing weakness threatened to cut all this short. Then came the I-Pad. Now once someone places a stylus in each of her hands she can E-mail, watch movies or read a wide assortment of books, plus several newspapers.

Nevertheless, most of us would consider her glass half-empty.

Not Mary. She focuses on the fullness of her life, the gift of modern technology and on friends and family who take her places and treat her with love. Mary would say she knows a blessing when she sees one.

Each of us deals with our own set of challenges and our own testings every day. Yet the question for us is the same as for Mary: How will we choose to perceive our lives?

One thing more. Mary calls on God to get her through her days. We can, too.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble . . . I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

–Psalm 46:1; Philippians 4:13

What do you think? Comments, please.

Here's to having eyes that see the fullness in our lives,

Lenore

Half-full or half-empty?

January 25, 2011
Around this time of year, as we look at our To Do lists, I expect some of us long for a "shot of Christmas," to get us energized.

I don't have a magic potion, but this YouTube should do the trick. You may have seen it, but if you take time once again, I promise you'll find yourself smiling by the end.

Are you smiling?

Some of us have been hearing or singing Handel's Messiah for years, especially Hallelujah. Not so many know the story of how Handel came to write this glorious music.

Picture the scene. It is the summer of 1741, in a small house in London. Discouraged and miserably in debt, 56 year-old George Fredric Handel considered himself something of a failure. Not long before he had given what he thought of as his farewell concert. Then a friend passed on a libretto based on the life of Christ. Its writer hoped someone could write music to go with his script, all of it quoted from The King James Bible.

Handel, a strong believer in Christ, read it through and was deeply moved. So on August 22nd, he set to work composing. After that no one saw him except the servant who faithfully brought him food, then every day removed the untouched tray.

One day the servant opened the door to find his employer with tears streaming down his face. Handel said, "I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself."

George Frederic Handel uttered those words just after completing the movement that ever after has been known around the world as the Hallelujah Chorus.

He wrote the entire work in an amazing 24 days. In that short span of time Handel not only personally inked each note of the four-part vocal score, but also the music and every instrumental part for the orchestra. (If you've sung the Messiah, you know just the choral arrangement plus piano accompaniment runs to more than 250 pages.) Whether we call it genius or divine inspiration, for more than two centuries this piece of music has been performed all over the world.

Handel died April 14, 1759, eight days after his final performance where he conducted his mansterpiece, Messiah. If you visit Westminster Abbey in London, look for his statue. He's shown holding the manuscript for the solo that opens part three of Messiah, "I know that my Redeemer liveth."

It seems to me we can draw some lessons for ourselves. At the time, Handel would have been considered elderly and people around him considered him finished. So did he. It seems he never said, "Well, I can't do that because . . ." Maybe we, too, need to set aside our labels and our familiar thinking and step out in faith. Otherwise, who knows? We might miss out on doing something great.

As for getting in the mood for Christmas, I know what I need to do. I need to take my eyes off how much I have to do and focus on what Christmas really means. The Joy-Giver is just as capable of giving meaning and joy to our work as He was back in Handel's time. Sure, our "tune" may be small, but the world around us needs to hear it. So let's smile and give thanks, then go for it!

Comments?

Here's to letting our JOY show in this most wonderful time of the year,

Lenore

Need an injection of Christmas spirit? Find it here . . .

November 30, 2010