Wednesday, June 30, 2010

El Camino

I love the story of John and Wilma. I'm not sure how long Wilma had been following Jesus before her husband John signed up to go on a missions trip with the men of her church, even though he was not yet a Christian.

While working alongside the men, John was amazed. When things went wrong, they did not curse and argue. They praised God and worked hard together to solve whatever problems arose without bickering or blaming.

Not too long after that, John surrendered his life to Christ and began to volunteer on the missions committee at their church. "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." John 13:35

At a point in their lives when many people are finishing their life's work by slowing down and settling in at a warm, sunny retirement community, John and Wilma's life had just begun, and they decided to spend their golden years assisting a missionary family in Central America.

I hope that you will read the rest of the story here.

Lord, please give us an El Camino in our golden years!

Monday, June 28, 2010

Nit Picking Can Be a Blessing, or, A Friend Loves at All Times

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17

Dave and Carol came down to see us this weekend. From the first time I visited them in their country house we were friends. Dave was a close friend of Bill’s who was instrumental in leading him to the Lord.

Once we were married and I finally became pregnant, we planned to sell one of our cars so I could quit my job and stay at home full time. Unfortunately the car didn’t sell, so when our new son was a few months old I was able to find some temporary office work to help out. I had already taken a six-month maternity leave from my teaching job and with summer vacation upon us, the budget was getting really tight. My first assignment was a half hour away from home, but just a couple of miles away from Dave and Carol’s place, and they graciously agreed to care for our baby while I worked that summer. There were a lot of “big brothers and sisters” at the Loringer’s house and the kids are good friends to this day.

When our younger kids were babies and toddlers, it didn’t matter to them that there was such an age difference between our kids and theirs. This was the one place where we could visit and I could totally relax. Carol had a way of dealing with everything that could possibly arise with grace, humor, and ease. As my mother-in-law used to say, “Nothing ruffles that woman’s feathers.” How I longed to be like her!

Years later, when head lice was going around at school, I acquired it, too. As sweet and loving and sacrificing as they normally were, even through hard times, none of my family members would come into our house while I was dealing with it. Carol not only came over to see me, but she patiently sat on the sofa and picked the nits out of my hair while I sat “crisscross applesauce” on the floor in front of her.

Now that we live 300 miles away from each other, our visits are few and far between. It meant so much to us that they drove down for Bill’s 50th birthday party this weekend—the only folks from our northwest PA homeland who were able to make the trip. Our time together was precious and our friendship of more than 22 years is something we are really grateful for.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Unconventional Date

The doctor's office was very busy today.
Almost all of the seats in the waiting area were taken.
But we found two together
Just for us.

Then the room seemed almost empty
And we were like a couple seated in a booth at a restaurant
During the dinner hour,
Surrounded by many,
yet just we two.

Sunday, June 20, 2010

Happy Father's Day!

While Proverbs 31 is remembered mostly for it's description of a godly woman, it is good to take notice of the first part of the passage, which describes a godly man.

Happy Father's Day to Bill, my Proverbs 31 man...

"O my son, O son of my womb,
O son of my vows,

do not spend your strength on women,
your vigor on those who ruin kings.

"It is not for kings, O Lemuel—
not for kings to drink wine,
not for rulers to crave beer,

lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Give beer to those who are perishing,
wine to those who are in anguish;

let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
for the rights of all who are destitute.

Speak up and judge fairly;
defend the rights of the poor and needy."

Many blessings to you, Bill, today and every day...

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Promise Remembered

Lord, why is it that whenever things are going really, really well, then something happens to pull her away from us?

No, it's the other way around. Every time something pulls her away from you, I always bring her back.

"...greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world." 1 John 4:4

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, it's been 12 years! I didn't think we would be waiting so long!

"Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust..." Joel 2:25

I trust you, Lord.




Friday, June 18, 2010

Little Loving Things Today

Aren't you going to cook the vegetables in the gravy?

Well, not everyone wants vegetables in their gravy. Can't you just mix them on your dish?

I guess so. [Goes outside to check on the green beans and radishes that he just planted.]

Hmm, I do have another pot. I'll just cook some of the veggies and half of the gravy in that one.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Oh, I thought everything on this pile was insurance information...but the larger packet is an anniversary present!

Isn't it a little late?

No, it's not for our anniversary; it's for your 10 year anniversary at work--a letter, a plaque--and here's a catalog for your to pick out a gift...

Well, take a look at it and see what you like.

Auntie: It's his anniversary--he should pick out what he wants.

[She keeps looking through the catalog anyway.] The jewelry box on the first page looks nice. Clock? No. Watch? Uh uh. Jewelry--some lovely things there, but I like the special things I already have. Um, Rachel Ray sautee pan? Maybe. Lots of stuff in here, more stuff--luggage, grill--pretty nice stuff!

I really like the jewelry box...

That would be good for you to have.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Untitled

Irritative specks
frustrate sweethearts sworn to love.
As tears fall, pearls grow.

Each tear, sigh, earnest
plea for understanding, strings
lustrous, living strands.