Category: Thankfulness

It was written long ago, but it still speaks to me. It reminds me other folks in other times have felt that way, too–and later on have seen what was hidden earlier.

I can't know what you're dealing with right now, but somehow it seems a good time to share it with you. Even if you've read it before, hope you find it worth another reading.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve–

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for help, that I might do greater things–

I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy–

I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life–

I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.

Despite myself, my prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

(–Attributed to an anonymous soldier of the Confederacy)

Hope this wisdom blesses your heart as much as it does mine.

Blessings,

Lenore

Your comments welcomed!

When nothing makes sense, think on this…

September 29, 2009
Ever thought about how easily we get stuck in a thought pattern and go blind?

For whatever reason, we fixate on another person's annoying habits, the people we live with or work with. For example, I have 20/20 vision when it comes to spotting ways my husband could "improve."

Or maybe it's a friend or co-worker whom we like–if only s/he wouldn't constantly tap the table or say, "You know…" every three or four words.

Here's how it works between my husband and me, sometimes even now, after all these years of marriage. Somehow I miss the fact that only my perception has changed. What I get hung up on is such a small part of him it's as if I looked at his face and suddenly could see only one freckle.

I learned a long time ago this does nothing to bring us closer. However, that never stops me from falling into the same trap, over and over.

I remember talking with a divorced friend some years ago. She said, "My list of grievances just got too long and finally overwhelmed me. I decided if I got rid of my husband, my life would be happier. I wish I had known then that he wasn't the source of my unhappiness. I was."

I've never forgotten that conversation, because it made me gulp. Who among us doesn't have a "list?"

Maybe the trouble is we so easily keep track of the wrong stuff. What if we tried another strategy and jotted down qualities we appreciate?

Every one of us can find at least five good points about our husbands, our children, or our co-worker. Ten are even better. Never mind looking for headline grabbers like, "Local man saves child from drowning!"

The place to start is with the "invisible" qualities that march past us every ordinary day. Think about your husband. Maybe he gets up and goes to work each morning, or plays catch with the kids most nights. Being considerate around your relatives counts, too. Or how about "Doesn't just talk about faith, but lives it."

If you're stumped, go for the more obvious. "Smiles a lot," works. So does "Takes out the garbage." "Doesn't yell at me." Some of what you write may seem small, but there's always a flip side. Would you prefer this person did the opposite?

Once you have a list, the trick is to focus on that and ignore the rest. When you catch that person in the act of doing something we've noticed, that's the time to say so, along with a hug. Makeovers? Leave that to the other person and to God. (Have you noticed we can't change anyone else?)

My husband and I have worked on cheering for each other ever since we went to Marriage Encounter, decades ago. I, at least, keep re-learning this same principle.

To wit, a confession. In the middle of writing this post he called me to lunch. He had brought home fresh sweet corn, then husked it and cooked it, then assembled lunch and set the table. I sat down, we said grace, then I started chomping…without a word. That's when I heard my old familiar words coming out of his mouth. "I am really disappointed," he said, in my most pitiful tone of voice, exaggerating just a bit. "I thought I fixed something you really liked and you didn't even notice."

Hm-mm. Now, what was I saying? Oh yes, I was talking about that thing in my eye…

(Jesus said) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?"            –Luke 6:41

Here's to learning faster!

Love and blessings,

Lenore

Question for you: How does this work in your life? Why not share and encourage the rest of us strugglers? Just click on the word "comments" and follow directions. Hope to hear from you!

Found: a remedy for blindness-of-the-heart

July 30, 2009
    I don't know about you, but I'm tired of the continual doom-and-gloom talk everywhere we turn. I don't think it helps any of us.

    You know how it goes. One reporter will say, "If … then … and then … we could … ."

    The other talking head responds, "And that could lead to … which would mean that … and then … we'd have ____ more layoffs, which would mean ____ more people couldn't make their mortgage payments. Foreclosures will skyrocket in our area!"

    Nobody seems to notice–or care–that everything starts with that little word, "if."

    For two minutes or so they've drummed up emotion and fear. Their facial expressions and tone of voice make it plain doom is imminent! Yet not one real thing has occurred.

    It's way too easy to get sucked in to this whirlpool of misery. When I do it's no time until I'm venting to my husband … or vice versa. Soon we're forecasting personal doom based more on someone else's conjecture than on fact.

   That quickly snatches the sunshine out of a room … or a life.

    So let's not join that crowd. Here's my proposal for coping with what comes. First, let's get a realistic grip on what affects our own lives and concentrate our energies there. Manage as wisely as we can, cut expenses where we can, appreciate what we already have. Living bountifully has nothing to do with having money. It's all about how we view our life.

    Second, let's look at what really matters and focus our attention there. Most of us would say that people matter more than things. So let's invest ourselves in other people. It costs nothing to speak encouragement or give someone a hug … and most of us could use more of both.

    Finally, let's count our blessings … over and over again. I think that's more than ticking off a list. Let's form a new habit: Pay attention to what is, more than longing for what isn't. Each time we do we'll feel more confident, more sure of our life, more at peace.

    When we share a life, whether with a spouse or a child, little aggravations often cloud our vision. It helps to set them aside for awhile and look at this person with a stranger's eyes. Do we spot virtues we had been ignoring? Remember, small virtues count. (Ever forgotten to put out the garbage when your husband was out of town? Then you know what I mean.) If you feel shortchanged, ask God to enlarge your perception.

    If you live with those recording devices a.k.a., kids, remember that your attitude(s) become theirs. Your fear(s) become theirs … even when they never say a word or ask a question. No child ever is oblivious to their parents' state-of-mind.

    Finally, when it comes to fear, whether of recession, depression, or a change in government, let's remember who's in charge. Today I got an e-mail you may have received at some point, one with beautiful photography and a meaningful message. It points us to the verse in the center of the Bible: Psalm 118:8. This is the perfect motto for you and me in these troubled times … or any time.

It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.

    Next time we're tempted to sink in despair, let's go back to this verse and pitch a tent. Fortunes come and go. Governments rise and fall. Only One was there before the beginning and will be there after the end. Only One has proven to be absolutely trust-worthy over time. He's the one who watches over us and who blesses your life and mine.

    By the way, here's the address for that video I referenced above: 70670-TheBibleDV.pps (2473KB)   (Sorry, you'll need to copy, then paste it to access it.) Enjoy!

    Have a refreshing weekend!

    Lenore

    What do you think about this? Your comments welcomed!



Let’s not let talk of the “downward spiral” drag us down!

January 24, 2009
    Today is Christmas Eve, and just the words trigger so many memories for me. You see, my father was a pastor, so naturally our family life centered around our church. My earliest Christmas memories center around the small country church across the road and down just a bit from the parsonage in which we lived. We knew every family living within miles, and they knew us.

     Most Sundays my mom played the organ, since, as everyone said, she could "make that  old organ talk!" Often my dad would not only preach a sermon, but also sing a solo, since he possessed a glorious tenor voice. For Christmas he'd sing, "The Birthday of a King," or "Oh, Holy Night," always to a hushed congregation. None of this seemed remarkable to me. These were my parents, doing what they did.

    Christmas Eve centered around the children's program. We would practice for weeks, memorizing our "pieces," and the words to the Christmas songs we sang as a group. Anxiety would grip our little group–and our parents. Would we remember to go forward when it was our turn? Would we freeze when we looked out on that huge congregation of perhaps seventy-five people? Older kids got to recite the Old Testament prophecies, the ones with the big words. We sang "Away in a Manger," "Silent Night" and "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and of course, "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful," and so many more.

   Did we have a white Christmas? Well, of course. It was Minnesota, after all. In that simpler time, shepherds of small flocks often also got to be shovelers of snow on church steps and walks. I'd tag along, stepping on the just-cleared spaces. I remember walking from our home to the church across that country road, our footsteps crunching and squeaking in the snow.

    With frost etching the windows, Bethlehem seemed very far away. To think of shepherds out on green hills, watching over their flocks of sheep seemed impossible to me, since to me, Christmas and snow went hand-in-hand.

    Yet we spoke and we sang of times and places far away … and somehow, we knew the truth of the familiar words of Luke 2:1-20. I could picture the scene. That lowly stable, filled with smelly cows and sheep and donkeys, and in the midst of it all, Mary and Joseph with the newborn baby Jesus, wrapped in cloths and lying in the manger full of hay.

     Every year since I can remember, I've treasured the thought of the glory of the Lord shining around those shepherds and an angel appearing to them, announcing:

      Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign unto you; You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

    Suddenly the sky was filled with angels, all praising the Lord. Only the lowly shepherds heard their glorious music, not the rulers, not the "important" people of the town.

    That still speaks to me. No matter who we are, or how many times we've messed up, or what's going on in our lives, the same Good News of Christmas applies. The Savior is born–to us! His love waits for us. He waits for us … and all he wants is for us to open our hearts to Him.

    It's Christmas Eve. Time for new beginnings. Time for you and me to come to that tiny Child in the manger and kneel in wonder, as the shepherds did. That's all it takes, and the same peace and joy they felt can be ours, not just for a season but for always.

    Christmas Eve memories live on. So does the timeless Christmas story.

   I wish you a Merry, Merry Christmas, and may your spirit be bright!

    Lenore

    Your comments welcomed!



Remembering Christmas Eves past …

December 24, 2008
    What do you remember of how the first Thanksgiving came to be?

    Let's step back in time to 1620. Probably we vaguely recall the Mayflower, the ship that brought those settlers from Plymouth, England, to North America. On a family vacation to the East Coast we visited Plymouth, MA. The Plimoth Plantation is a living history museum erected on the site of that original settlement. Anchored at the shore is the Mayflower II, a reproduction.

    How tiny that ship was! Yet 388 years ago people like you and me gathered their families and braved crossing the Atlantic on that ship. Once we stepped aboard, it seemed even smaller. Picture ceiling heights about 65 inches, with berths about 3 ft. by 6 ft. Costumed guides told us each passenger was allowed their berth, including space above and below it, for their trunks and chests. That small ship was crammed with food and supplies, household goods for their future homes, even goats.

    During their long, miserable voyage on the choppy Atlantic, two passengers died and many more sickened. They finally reached harbor on December 11, naming it New Plymouth.

     Imagine yourself one of that intrepid band, weary to the bone from the arduous journey, half-sick, undernourished on the diet of mostly oatmeal, turnips and dried ox tongues. Imagine your dismay at finally arriving at a typical Massachusetts December scene, probably much like this.

    William Bradford, the first governor of the Plymouth colony, wrote: "Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their knees and blessed the God of heaven … They had now no friends to welcome them, no inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies, no houses, or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succor … What could now sustain them but the spirit of God and his grace?"

    That first winter forty-four of the original colonists died. more would have died if not for the Mayflower captain's decision to remain anchored off-shore. With only one makeshift shelter on shore, that cramped ship remained "home" for many months. Once the weather warmed, the survivors finally could hunt the abundant game they had been unable to hunt when landing.

    An English-speaking native they named Squanto befriended them and helped arrange a peace treaty with the Wampanoags. Then Squanto showed them his people's ways of planting corn and other crops. Early summer brought drought, but by autumn these settlers harvested their crops. As they stored away food for the coming winter, they took stock. yes, they had survived, but they had made seven times more graves than huts. Only three families remained unbroken.

    Governor Bradford describes that time this way: The Lord sent them … seasonable showers, and through His blessing caused a fruitful and liberal harvest, to their no small comfort and rejoicing. For which mercy, in time cconvenient, they also set apart a day of Thanksgiving."

    So the settlers invited their Wampanoag friends to join them and welcomed the food and game they brought along. Together, they feasted and rejoiced. Those early settlers, at least, thanked God, even while remembering their departed family members and friends.

    This scene strikes me as especially poignant this year, when financial losses seem to affect most of us, and we're anxious. I think those settlers we call Pilgrims have much to teach us about turning our eyes to what remains, rather than being fixed on what is lost.

    What if we added up what's good and right and meaningful in our own lives? Suppose we, like the Pilgrims, leave our accumulated pain with the Lord and thank Him for His presence with us. Could we, like them, simply trust our future to Him?

    A beloved Bible verse fits every day, but especially at Thanksgiving.

Give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good, his love endures forever.     –Psalm 107:1

    That hard year was not the end of the Pilgrims' story. It was the beginning of a new chapter. That's worth considering, no matter what our age or our situation.

    May you have a blessed Thanks-giving Day, and may you have family and friends to share it with!

    Lenore

    What blessings are you thankful for? Your comments welcomed!

Learning from those early settlers and that first Thanksgiving

November 26, 2008
    I grew up rich … but I didn't know it. Maybe you did, too.

    Money was tight at our house all through my growing-up years. Frills were scarce, but my friends had none, either, so I considered that normal. Besides, most people we knew shared a similar life situation. More than I knew then, my father and mother shook hands with struggle every day. Through it all, they coped, mostly with a smile. I only knew that our family life revolved around the church my dad pastored, and people loved my parents.

    Like every child of every time, I remained unimpressed.

    I knew my mom and dad loved each other, they loved us and they loved God. That was bedrock and never wavered, not even when my newborn brother died, or during my mom's illnesses.

    I knew I could count on what they said. They told it like it was, even when I didn't want to hear.

    By today's standards my parents and teachers were unenlightened. They never assured me my life would be wonderful. In fact, they said to expect life to be hard, because life was hard for everyone. But, they said, but … life always would be worth the effort, worth the stumbles and failings and the starting over, and God is faithful.

    When my husband and I met, we two advantaged kids fell hard. We married, reared our daughters, and coped with … whatever. Through the predicted stumbles and starting overs, we held hands. As promised, God was faithful. Life was–and is–good.

    These days who can escape the bad news? Like everyone else we track the financial ups and downs and like most people, do some quaking and a lot of praying. Then we smile at each other, grateful for life itself and each day we share. We remind each other of what's important: We are rich … in all the ways that matter. God is good.

    How about you? How rich are you–in all the ways that matter?

    Take a few moments to inventory your fortune. Maybe your childhood memories hurt. Then leave it behind and concentrate on providing your own children with a legacy. May you be rich!

    Lenore

    Your comments welcomed!!











Maybe you’re richer than you think

November 23, 2008
    We're living in a time when it seems all the news is bad, not to mention scary. Most people I know feel poorer, a lot or a little, and less sure of what their future holds. Some judge there's less to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

    So here's a reality check for all of us, a gentle reminder to re-evaluate our thinking.

    Yesterday I crossed paths with a casual friend whom I hadn't talked with for months. His face revealed the anguish in his heart as he told about his granddaughter, who m he always described as a talented teenage dancer and athlete. This girl, while playing the "safe sport" soccer, experienced a freak accident. Great doctors, top-notch treatment, a loving and supportive family. Now the photo he shows pictures this beautiful young woman wearing leg braces, seated in a wheelchair. By definition she is a "quadriplegic incomplete," because she retains limited movement of her arms. That's her life … for life, at least by medical predictions.

    My heart went out to him, of course. Maybe you know what else I was thinking: That could be one of ours! Oh, Lord, thank you that it wasn't! (Perhaps you just had the same thought.)

    That encounter was like the proverbial plank to the donkey's head, remindingng me what I truly value most in life: the people I love. So let's turn away from the haranguing and fear-talk that clamors all around. When we add up the totals, let's make another list. Instead of centering on what's missing in our lives, real or perceived, let's open our eyes to what is … and give thanks.

    For a refresher course, read Psalm 103. I just did and was reminded how rich I really am.

    Lenore

    How about you? Your comments welcomed!

Before thinking too much is lost, take another look at your life

November 20, 2008
    Today is Veterans Day in these God-blessed United States. We hear a lot about "honoring the veterans," but that's a kind of anonymous phrase. So here's the face of one, one individual Veteran, on which to focus. This face, conveying such emotion, belongs to Joseph Ambrose, at age eighty-six. In this 2005 photo he holds the flag that covered the casket of his son, who was killed in the Vietnam War.



    Maybe he looks like someone you've known, as he does to me. If Joseph Ambrose still can, no doubt he attended his local Veterans Day parade and festivities today.

    At least for today let's set aside the rhetoric and arguing about the Iraq War and the war in Afghanistan. Veterans Day centers on honoring those men and women who over the past two-plus centuries served the United States. They served–and so do those serving now–to ensure this way of life endures, even though we so often criticize and take our freedoms for granted.

    Veterans Day feels more personal to us than it once did. Our two  older granddaughters both are serving in the U. S. Navy–and we are proud of them. Like every family of those who serve in the U.S. military, a touch of uncertainty injects itself into one's thinking. That goes with the territory. We rest in God's protection over them, as we do for all our family members.

  So let us give thanks for our Veterans, not just on November 11th, but every day. Let's be thankful for all those who set aside their lives to serve in the Armed Forces of these United States, in years past and in the present.  You and I are blessed to live in this wonderful country–every day.

    Here's to hanging onto that thankful spirit!

    Lenore

    Your comments welcomed!





A gentle reminder that America is no accident

November 11, 2008